Day #247: Daily Bible Reading Plan - September 1st
Scripture Reading: Numbers 13 - 16 ...
I thank God that through the Bible there is a message of hope for those who draw near to God in confession and repentance, who place their faith in the Mediator, the High Priest, whom God has provided, whom we know today is Jesus Christ, "the only Mediator between God and man" (I Timothy 2:5). But there is another message that runs throughout the Bible, not only in the Old Testament, but in the Gospels and the rest of the New Testament, all the way through the book of Revelation. It is a message of judgment upon those who do not believe God's Word, who do not trust God's promises and who do not desire to worship the LORD, the only true God. Salvation is available ... the promised land of eternal life lived in the very presence of God is offered ... but in their stubborn rebellion and grumbling most of mankind continues to choose death.
My purpose in writing these daily readings is to help those who are seeking God to know Him, not by reading my words, but by reading HIS. I want only to point out what God has said and is saying today, praying that His Spirit will open hearts and minds and hearts and move YOU to grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord and to worship Him alone, for apart from that you will someday face the same judgment those in our text today faced for their rebellion against God. He is the same God today that He was then. In His love and grace He sent His own Son, Jesus, the Christ, to pay the penalty for sin ... yet those who reject God's offer of forgiveness and life by refusing to believe in Jesus WILL face His just judgment in an eternity of suffering. God's offer of love and forgiveness comes to all ... have you received it? WILL you receive it?
Our reading today reveals so clearly the two choices. God told Moses to send out spies into the land of Canaan, the land He had promised to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and their descendants. The spies went out and explored the land for forty days, then reported that the land was indeed a beautiful land that "does flow with milk and honey!" (13:27). Then, in what is often the biggest mistake people make after they say what is right and good, they added the word, "BUT ..." (13:28). It's all downhill from there. Ten of the twelve spies declared that the people were too strong and could not be defeated. Only Joshua and Caleb believed God and encouraged the people to enter the land: "We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it" (13:30).
Were Joshua and Caleb being overly optimistic? Or did they know something the rest didn't? The truth is that they knew GOD ... the God who had already displayed His power and glory in bringing these people out of Egypt, through the Red Sea and in countless other miracles. These people SAW, with their own eyes, more miracles in a short span of time than perhaps God has done (at least in such grand ways) in the history of mankind since! Yet their stubbornness and rebellion reveals the reality of the spiritual death that plagues all of mankind apart from the work of God's Spirit. Sin makes people blind to the things of God and leaves them in bondage to SELF.
When the people believed the report of the ten spies, Joshua and Caleb testified again, saying, "The land we passed through and explored is exceedingly good. If the LORD is pleased with us, He will lead us into that land, a land flowing with milk and honey, and will give it to us. ... Do not be afraid of the people of the land. Their protection is gone, but the LORD is with us. Do not be afraid of them" (14:7-9). What a powerful testimony - but the people did not listen. Then God said to Moses that He was going to destroy all the people and make a new nation from Moses. This is where Moses, and later his brother, Aaron, become pictures of Christ, interceding for the people. Moses said to the LORD, "In accordance with your great love, forgive the sin of these people, just as you have pardoned them from the time they left Egypt until now" (14:19).
God gave His forgiveness, but then declared that not one of those who had seen His glory ... all those twenty years old or more, would enter the promised land. They would die in the desert. Only Joshua and Caleb would enter the land. All those who had grumbled against God would die in the desert. What a picture of the plague of sin on mankind today! We worry about viruses and other diseases, about war and all sorts of things that kill the bodies of millions around the world throughout the centuries, but the plague of sin causes eternal death because it leaves people in their rebellion against God and finally judgment comes.
Some of the people, after hearing God's sentence, confessed their sin and tried to go into the promised land, against the protests of Moses, who told them their efforts would fail. They were defeated, for the LORD was not with them. In the midst of this "death sentence" for all those who had grumbled against God, God instructed Moses concerning offerings that were pleasing to the LORD. Even those who were aliens among them would be allowed to bring offerings according to the same rules that God gave to the people of Israel. And in the midst of the instructions, God said, "WHEN you enter the land to which I am taking you ... " (15:18). God continued to point those who believed His Word to the future, as He does today.
The role of the "High Priest" is revealed in Aaron. God had appointed Aaron and his sons as the only ones who could bring the atonement offering into the Most Holy Place, where the Ark of the Covenant rested. God said, "The priest is to make atonement for the whole Israelite community, and they will be forgiven ..." (15:25). This atonement was for unintentional sins. All sin deserves judgment and must be "atoned for," PAID for, and God has made a way! Jesus, the perfect eternal Son of God, became a man, born physically to Mary and Joseph, a descendant of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, from the tribe of Judah, as God had foretold, and offered the perfect "atonement" for sin on the cross, where He suffered the wrath of God in the place of all who by the work of God's Spirit would believe in Him.
Through Jesus Christ all who believe WILL enter the promised land of eternity. Praise God from whom all blessings flow!!! But those who continue to grumble and to rebel against God and His Anointed One, will face the same fate as those in the days of Moses. Korah, Dathan and Abiram and others, 250 others, challenged the authority of Moses and Aaron. THEY wanted to offer the offerings themselves. God dealt with them in a way that made it clear beyond any question that what they were trying to do was forbidden by God: The earth opened up and swallowed them and their families and their possessions. Then God sent fire to consume the 250 men who had followed them and who were offering incense before the Lord.
Why such a violent judgment from God? What was the big deal? Let's ask the question in another way? How can anyone approach God? God had appointed Aaron and his descendants as priests. No one else could come and burn incense before the LORD. Grumbling, complaining, rebelling against the authority that God had appointed resulted in severe judgment because it revealed hearts turned away from God ... proud hearts that did not take sin seriously and that rejected GOD's authority. The same is true for those who reject the One whom God has appointed to be OUR Great High Priest ... His Son, Jesus Christ. He not only gave Himself as the perfect sacrifice for sin, but He intercedes for believers before the throne of the Father. No one else can do what Jesus has done and is doing.
Would you attempt to come to God yourself, apart from Jesus? Only we who by faith confess Jesus as Savior and Lord and who come to God through Him will avoid God's judgment and enter the final promised land. These real life events picture the reality of the present and the future. God will not put up with the grumbling and rebellion of mankind for much longer. As certainly as those who refused to believe God's promise and enter the promised land died in the desert, so all those who refuse to believe in Jesus will never enter the promised land. And as those who attempted to enter God's presence in a different way, without a Mediator, were killed by fire, all who do the same without Jesus will face the fire of God's judgment forever.
We who believe, like Joshua and Caleb, will enter into the promised land and through the offering of our Great High Priest, we will stand in the presence of the LORD, our God, without fear, for He has promised! Praise God for His gift of salvation and for a future that will be lived out in a new heaven and a new earth ... a land flowing with milk and honey ... and MORE! A land where God will live WITH His people - FOREVER!!!
"O Father, how can we thank You for all You have given us?! You have opened the way into the promised land of eternity with You and have given us access to Your very throne through the blood of Jesus. Help me to believe ALL Your promises and to know that I have nothing to fear from the enemies who may come against me, for You, my God, are with me. I will enter Your perfect presence and live with You forever, in a new world of Your making. As Your judgment falls upon the world around me, I humbly thank You for Your grace and forgiveness. In Jesus' name, Amen"
Sunday, August 31, 2014
Saturday, August 30, 2014
"Beware of those who refuse to preach God's Word!"
Day #246: Daily Bible Reading Plan - August 31st
Scripture Reading: II Timothy 3 - 4 ...
We are in the last days of planet earth. I don't mean we're in the last days as in the time between the birth of Jesus and His return ... I mean the end, the last days as in the last decades ... or less. What about Jesus' words that we would not know "the day or the hour." We don't know the day or the hour ... or the week or the month, but God told us that we WOULD know the time. Paul writes to the Thessalonians: " ... you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, 'Peace and safety,' destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape" (I Thessalonians 5:1-3). Most people stop reading there, but there's more.
"But YOU, BROTHERS, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief ..." (I Thessalonians 5:4). There are signs given in the Scriptures that give specific details of the last seven years prior to the battle of Armageddon and the return of Jesus Christ to defeat the Antichrist, and to establish His millennial kingdom in Jerusalem. But there are also signs that point very clearly to the time leading up to the last seven years. One of those signs is so clear today that we who believe the Bible to be the Word of God MUST speak about it and call people to recognize it and to be ready, willing and able to stand firm. The sign I am speaking about is the widespread rejection of sound doctrine IN THE CHURCH today.
In our reading today Paul warns that "there will be terrible times in the last days" (3:1). He goes on to explain how people will live - a general description of how sinful people have lived for some time, but in the last days all of these will be extreme. While all of them are obvious in our culture and around the world, there is something more in verse 5 that catches our attention: Paul is describing those who have "a form of godliness." These are people who claim to believe in God and perhaps even claim to be Christians. He warns Timothy to stay away from them, for they lead many astray by their false teaching. They are "always learning, but never able to acknowledge the truth" (3:7).
Today in the church countless pastors and teachers, professors of theology (what a mockery!) and those who follow them speak about philosophy and teach from the traditions and words of men rather than from God's Word. As I listen to sermons from local churches and elsewhere I rarely hear even the name of Jesus, and even more rare is any mention of the cross or why Jesus came. People want to believe that everyone is going to heaven - or almost everyone, and that there probably isn't any such place as hell. The World Council of Churches is focused on social justice rather than the preaching of the Gospel and the Interfaith Movement wants all religions to work together for "the common good."
False teaching is nothing new ... what IS new is that millions IN the church are listening to it AND are criticizing those of us who continue to declare the Gospel and call people to repentance and faith in Jesus Christ! The change in the past ten years has been astounding to those of us who have been fighting against it and watching as those around us embrace the deception of false teachers. One church in our area became well-known because of its pastor's celebrity status, until he finally showed his true colors and it became clear that he was a universalist (some of us had been warning about this for several years). Incredibly, the same type of teaching continues in this body of several thousand, even after he left.
Paul charged Timothy to continue in what he had learned from the teaching of God's Word. He assured him that "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work" (3:16-17). People all around us have turned to the latest "Christian" speaker, without turning to the Bible to discern whether what he or she is saying is true. Many read supposed "Christian" books without realizing that verses from the Bible are being taken out of context and made to say whatever the author thinks will sell books. Peter warned that those who are "ignorant and unstable twist and distort the Scriptures to their own destruction" (II Peter 3:16).
What is going on today is the fulfillment of Paul's words to Timothy in Chapter 4 of our reading. Paul instructs Timothy to "Preach the Word ... in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage - with great patience and careful instruction" (4:2). Why was that so important? Because it was the only defense against what was coming. "For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths" (4:3-4). While that was true to some degree at other times in the past 2,000 years, I do not believe it has ever been the case that the general trend in the church is AWAY from sound doctrine and the teaching of God's Word. Before the Reformation the church was teaching false doctrine, but the people did not have the Word of God in their hands at that time because it hadn't been printed yet. Today is different. People have the Bible in their hands, but don't open it!!
People want to believe that they can somehow save the planet, but God tells us that this earth will pass away. People want to believe that life will go on just as it always has, but all the signs point to a world heading for an imminent change ... of some kind. People want "peace and safety," but it will not come. God says the change will take place suddenly and without warning - for those who do not study God's Word and listen to the voice of the Good Shepherd, Jesus Christ. But for those, like Paul and Timothy and many since, we will be able to come to the end of our lives and say, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day - and not only to me but also to all who have longed for His appearing" (4:7-8).
Are you longing for His appearing? Few are. People want more and more and more in this world, but few are longing for Jesus to return, even though the Bible ends with the words, "Amen! Come, Lord Jesus" (Revelation 22:20). We who believe must be firm in our faith, and the only way for that to happen is to be taught by the Spirit of God through the Word of God. If you are not learning and growing, you are leaving yourself vulnerable and can easily be led astray. Read, study, learn, grow and stand firm in your faith, for the end of all things is near. Be ready!
"Our Father in heaven, the signs of Jesus' return are multiplying all around us. As more and more people turn aside from the truth, listening instead to the words of men, I commit myself to reading and studying and learning and growing, so that I may be mature ... not to be independent, but to learn to trust in YOU for all things. Give me wisdom and strength daily to proclaim Your truth ... to fight the good fight, and to finish the race, knowing that in the end, it will all be worth it. In Jesus' name, Amen"
Scripture Reading: II Timothy 3 - 4 ...
We are in the last days of planet earth. I don't mean we're in the last days as in the time between the birth of Jesus and His return ... I mean the end, the last days as in the last decades ... or less. What about Jesus' words that we would not know "the day or the hour." We don't know the day or the hour ... or the week or the month, but God told us that we WOULD know the time. Paul writes to the Thessalonians: " ... you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, 'Peace and safety,' destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape" (I Thessalonians 5:1-3). Most people stop reading there, but there's more.
"But YOU, BROTHERS, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief ..." (I Thessalonians 5:4). There are signs given in the Scriptures that give specific details of the last seven years prior to the battle of Armageddon and the return of Jesus Christ to defeat the Antichrist, and to establish His millennial kingdom in Jerusalem. But there are also signs that point very clearly to the time leading up to the last seven years. One of those signs is so clear today that we who believe the Bible to be the Word of God MUST speak about it and call people to recognize it and to be ready, willing and able to stand firm. The sign I am speaking about is the widespread rejection of sound doctrine IN THE CHURCH today.
In our reading today Paul warns that "there will be terrible times in the last days" (3:1). He goes on to explain how people will live - a general description of how sinful people have lived for some time, but in the last days all of these will be extreme. While all of them are obvious in our culture and around the world, there is something more in verse 5 that catches our attention: Paul is describing those who have "a form of godliness." These are people who claim to believe in God and perhaps even claim to be Christians. He warns Timothy to stay away from them, for they lead many astray by their false teaching. They are "always learning, but never able to acknowledge the truth" (3:7).
Today in the church countless pastors and teachers, professors of theology (what a mockery!) and those who follow them speak about philosophy and teach from the traditions and words of men rather than from God's Word. As I listen to sermons from local churches and elsewhere I rarely hear even the name of Jesus, and even more rare is any mention of the cross or why Jesus came. People want to believe that everyone is going to heaven - or almost everyone, and that there probably isn't any such place as hell. The World Council of Churches is focused on social justice rather than the preaching of the Gospel and the Interfaith Movement wants all religions to work together for "the common good."
False teaching is nothing new ... what IS new is that millions IN the church are listening to it AND are criticizing those of us who continue to declare the Gospel and call people to repentance and faith in Jesus Christ! The change in the past ten years has been astounding to those of us who have been fighting against it and watching as those around us embrace the deception of false teachers. One church in our area became well-known because of its pastor's celebrity status, until he finally showed his true colors and it became clear that he was a universalist (some of us had been warning about this for several years). Incredibly, the same type of teaching continues in this body of several thousand, even after he left.
Paul charged Timothy to continue in what he had learned from the teaching of God's Word. He assured him that "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work" (3:16-17). People all around us have turned to the latest "Christian" speaker, without turning to the Bible to discern whether what he or she is saying is true. Many read supposed "Christian" books without realizing that verses from the Bible are being taken out of context and made to say whatever the author thinks will sell books. Peter warned that those who are "ignorant and unstable twist and distort the Scriptures to their own destruction" (II Peter 3:16).
What is going on today is the fulfillment of Paul's words to Timothy in Chapter 4 of our reading. Paul instructs Timothy to "Preach the Word ... in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage - with great patience and careful instruction" (4:2). Why was that so important? Because it was the only defense against what was coming. "For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths" (4:3-4). While that was true to some degree at other times in the past 2,000 years, I do not believe it has ever been the case that the general trend in the church is AWAY from sound doctrine and the teaching of God's Word. Before the Reformation the church was teaching false doctrine, but the people did not have the Word of God in their hands at that time because it hadn't been printed yet. Today is different. People have the Bible in their hands, but don't open it!!
People want to believe that they can somehow save the planet, but God tells us that this earth will pass away. People want to believe that life will go on just as it always has, but all the signs point to a world heading for an imminent change ... of some kind. People want "peace and safety," but it will not come. God says the change will take place suddenly and without warning - for those who do not study God's Word and listen to the voice of the Good Shepherd, Jesus Christ. But for those, like Paul and Timothy and many since, we will be able to come to the end of our lives and say, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day - and not only to me but also to all who have longed for His appearing" (4:7-8).
Are you longing for His appearing? Few are. People want more and more and more in this world, but few are longing for Jesus to return, even though the Bible ends with the words, "Amen! Come, Lord Jesus" (Revelation 22:20). We who believe must be firm in our faith, and the only way for that to happen is to be taught by the Spirit of God through the Word of God. If you are not learning and growing, you are leaving yourself vulnerable and can easily be led astray. Read, study, learn, grow and stand firm in your faith, for the end of all things is near. Be ready!
"Our Father in heaven, the signs of Jesus' return are multiplying all around us. As more and more people turn aside from the truth, listening instead to the words of men, I commit myself to reading and studying and learning and growing, so that I may be mature ... not to be independent, but to learn to trust in YOU for all things. Give me wisdom and strength daily to proclaim Your truth ... to fight the good fight, and to finish the race, knowing that in the end, it will all be worth it. In Jesus' name, Amen"
Friday, August 29, 2014
"The Good Shepherd loves His sheep!"
Day #245: Daily Bible Reading Plan - August 30th
Scripture Reading: John 10 - 12 …
Jesus is the Good Shepherd who knows His sheep. Not all people are His sheep. So how do you know if you are one of Jesus' sheep? That may sound like a math problem, but both the statements and the question are important as to whether you have eternal life or will perish in eternal death. Jesus said "I am the gate; whoever enters through Me will be saved" (10:9). "I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full" (10:10). People debate about religion and all kinds of philosophies of life and ideas about how to live life ... but that's not what this is about - it's about life with God, now and forever! Jesus came to call SOME to Himself and He tells us who His sheep are. Not everyone is one of Jesus' sheep and not everyone will have eternal life ... in fact, most won't!
How do you know if you are one of Jesus' sheep ... one of God's chosen people? Jesus says, "I know my sheep, and my sheep know me" (10:14). So first of all, you need to KNOW Jesus. That means that you have a relationship with Jesus through faith. You believe who He is and trust in Him. You believe that He is the perfect, eternal Son of God who entered into the world to bear God's wrath against sin, to die and rise again, to establish His reign, His rule, His kingdom in the hearts and minds of ... HIS SHEEP!! "My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me" (10:27). If you don't know Jesus, if you don't believe in Jesus, if you don't obey Jesus, you are not one of His sheep, it is that simple.
Jesus told the Jews who were following Him that if they were His sheep they would listen to Him, they would believe in Him. Their reaction: "He is demon-possessed!" (10:20). Their reaction: "We are not stoning you for any of these, but for blasphemy because you, a mere man, claim to be God" (10:33). Had ANYONE EVER done the works Jesus was doing? Had anyone ever spoken with such absolute authority? Had anyone ever taught the things Jesus was speaking? As if to prove His point, Lazarus dies. The timing was not by accident. It was almost time for Jesus to go to the cross. The Pharisees were watching. Their power and influence was being threatened and they were more afraid of the Romans than they were of God.
Back to Lazarus. All of this was orchestrated by God to teach all of Jesus' sheep who would live between that moment and His return that even death has no power over those who belong to Jesus. Most of us have heard Jesus' words spoken at the death of a loved one, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die" (11:25). Jesus had promised that not ONE of His sheep would be lost! "I give them eternal life and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand. I and the Father are one" (10:28-30).
Both Mary and Martha, and the Jews as well, believed that Jesus could have healed Lazarus - while he was alive. But after he was dead ... not so much! But Jesus said this was for the Father's glory. God's power is without limit. He is GOD!! To tell God that He can't do something is foolish. If Jesus is God, to tell Jesus He can't do something is foolish. That's what people thought: "Jesus, you can heal people, but you CAN'T raise people from the dead!" Really? "LAZARUS! Come out!! ... Take off the grave clothes and let him go" (11:43-44). Who could doubt Jesus' power now? Who could doubt His words? Who would NOT believe in Him?
Those who are not His sheep! The response of the Pharisees was predictable (because they were not Jesus' sheep - at least, most of them weren't) ... "From that day on they plotted to take His life" (11:53). To those of us who believe, who ARE Jesus' sheep, that response is itself unbelievable. How blind can you BE?! But think of the billions of people around the world who do not believe in Jesus, in spite of the eye witness testimony that is the Gospels. While countless church signs and pastors and teachers claim that Jesus loves everyone the same, the truth is that the Good Shepherd loves His sheep and lays down His life for His sheep. He knows who we are and He came for us ... not because of US, but because of HIM ... because He loves His sheep!
Now the scene has been set. Jesus heads to Jerusalem to give His life FOR HIS SHEEP! As the crowds welcomed Jesus into Jerusalem they fulfilled the prophecy of Zechariah, who predicted that their King would enter on the colt of a donkey (Zechariah 9:9). Jesus predicted His death again and declared judgment on the world and the "prince of this world" (12:21). "When I am lifted up from the earth (crucified), I will draw all men to myself" (12:32). Jesus did not mean "all" as "every person," but people from all nations. "I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen (Jews). I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd" (10:16).
The conclusion: "Even after Jesus had done all these miraculous signs in their presence, they still would not believe in Him" (12:37). Isaiah predicted the blindness of those who were not the sheep of Jesus. A few of the leaders believed He WAS the Messiah, but they were afraid to come forward. Jesus' sheep hear His voice, they believe in Him and they follow Him because they know He loves them. How do they know that? The Good Shepherd lays down His life for HIS sheep! As Jesus raised Lazarus, so He Himself rose from the dead and conquered death FOR HIS SHEEP!!!
You can know that YOU are loved by the Good Shepherd if you hear His voice and believe in Him! He came that you may have life ... REAL life ... ETERNAL life, now and forever. Know His love today and follow Him wherever He leads, for He loves His sheep.
"My Father in heaven, in love You sent Your Son to save those who are His sheep, to bring them into the safety of Your presence, and to give them eternal life. I thank You for saving ME, for making me one of Jesus' sheep. I was helpless and lost until I heard the voice of the Good Shepherd. My life is His, purchased by His blood shed on the cross. Thank You, Jesus, for saving me and opening my eyes to see who You are, moving my heart to believe in You and making me YOURS! Father, I give You glory and praise, in Jesus' name, Amen"
Scripture Reading: John 10 - 12 …
Jesus is the Good Shepherd who knows His sheep. Not all people are His sheep. So how do you know if you are one of Jesus' sheep? That may sound like a math problem, but both the statements and the question are important as to whether you have eternal life or will perish in eternal death. Jesus said "I am the gate; whoever enters through Me will be saved" (10:9). "I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full" (10:10). People debate about religion and all kinds of philosophies of life and ideas about how to live life ... but that's not what this is about - it's about life with God, now and forever! Jesus came to call SOME to Himself and He tells us who His sheep are. Not everyone is one of Jesus' sheep and not everyone will have eternal life ... in fact, most won't!
How do you know if you are one of Jesus' sheep ... one of God's chosen people? Jesus says, "I know my sheep, and my sheep know me" (10:14). So first of all, you need to KNOW Jesus. That means that you have a relationship with Jesus through faith. You believe who He is and trust in Him. You believe that He is the perfect, eternal Son of God who entered into the world to bear God's wrath against sin, to die and rise again, to establish His reign, His rule, His kingdom in the hearts and minds of ... HIS SHEEP!! "My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me" (10:27). If you don't know Jesus, if you don't believe in Jesus, if you don't obey Jesus, you are not one of His sheep, it is that simple.
Jesus told the Jews who were following Him that if they were His sheep they would listen to Him, they would believe in Him. Their reaction: "He is demon-possessed!" (10:20). Their reaction: "We are not stoning you for any of these, but for blasphemy because you, a mere man, claim to be God" (10:33). Had ANYONE EVER done the works Jesus was doing? Had anyone ever spoken with such absolute authority? Had anyone ever taught the things Jesus was speaking? As if to prove His point, Lazarus dies. The timing was not by accident. It was almost time for Jesus to go to the cross. The Pharisees were watching. Their power and influence was being threatened and they were more afraid of the Romans than they were of God.
Back to Lazarus. All of this was orchestrated by God to teach all of Jesus' sheep who would live between that moment and His return that even death has no power over those who belong to Jesus. Most of us have heard Jesus' words spoken at the death of a loved one, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die" (11:25). Jesus had promised that not ONE of His sheep would be lost! "I give them eternal life and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand. I and the Father are one" (10:28-30).
Both Mary and Martha, and the Jews as well, believed that Jesus could have healed Lazarus - while he was alive. But after he was dead ... not so much! But Jesus said this was for the Father's glory. God's power is without limit. He is GOD!! To tell God that He can't do something is foolish. If Jesus is God, to tell Jesus He can't do something is foolish. That's what people thought: "Jesus, you can heal people, but you CAN'T raise people from the dead!" Really? "LAZARUS! Come out!! ... Take off the grave clothes and let him go" (11:43-44). Who could doubt Jesus' power now? Who could doubt His words? Who would NOT believe in Him?
Those who are not His sheep! The response of the Pharisees was predictable (because they were not Jesus' sheep - at least, most of them weren't) ... "From that day on they plotted to take His life" (11:53). To those of us who believe, who ARE Jesus' sheep, that response is itself unbelievable. How blind can you BE?! But think of the billions of people around the world who do not believe in Jesus, in spite of the eye witness testimony that is the Gospels. While countless church signs and pastors and teachers claim that Jesus loves everyone the same, the truth is that the Good Shepherd loves His sheep and lays down His life for His sheep. He knows who we are and He came for us ... not because of US, but because of HIM ... because He loves His sheep!
Now the scene has been set. Jesus heads to Jerusalem to give His life FOR HIS SHEEP! As the crowds welcomed Jesus into Jerusalem they fulfilled the prophecy of Zechariah, who predicted that their King would enter on the colt of a donkey (Zechariah 9:9). Jesus predicted His death again and declared judgment on the world and the "prince of this world" (12:21). "When I am lifted up from the earth (crucified), I will draw all men to myself" (12:32). Jesus did not mean "all" as "every person," but people from all nations. "I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen (Jews). I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd" (10:16).
The conclusion: "Even after Jesus had done all these miraculous signs in their presence, they still would not believe in Him" (12:37). Isaiah predicted the blindness of those who were not the sheep of Jesus. A few of the leaders believed He WAS the Messiah, but they were afraid to come forward. Jesus' sheep hear His voice, they believe in Him and they follow Him because they know He loves them. How do they know that? The Good Shepherd lays down His life for HIS sheep! As Jesus raised Lazarus, so He Himself rose from the dead and conquered death FOR HIS SHEEP!!!
You can know that YOU are loved by the Good Shepherd if you hear His voice and believe in Him! He came that you may have life ... REAL life ... ETERNAL life, now and forever. Know His love today and follow Him wherever He leads, for He loves His sheep.
"My Father in heaven, in love You sent Your Son to save those who are His sheep, to bring them into the safety of Your presence, and to give them eternal life. I thank You for saving ME, for making me one of Jesus' sheep. I was helpless and lost until I heard the voice of the Good Shepherd. My life is His, purchased by His blood shed on the cross. Thank You, Jesus, for saving me and opening my eyes to see who You are, moving my heart to believe in You and making me YOURS! Father, I give You glory and praise, in Jesus' name, Amen"
Thursday, August 28, 2014
"Break up your unplowed ground ... it is time to seek the LORD!"
Day #234: Daily Bible Reading Plan - August 29th
Scripture Reading: Hosea 8 - 14 ...
God's call to repent sometimes comes gently, but other times comes in the midst of discipline or judgment. Through the prophet Hosea, God was calling Israel to return to Him, but the consequences of their sin were great. Assyria was God's instrument of judgment and few would be spared. Israel would be scattered throughout the nations and though God will eventually show compassion on a remnant of their descendants, most of them would perish far away from their land, their homes ... and their God. Such is the fate of those who reject the Lord, their God, and who do not repent.
Like many in the visible church today, most of the Israelites took their relationship with God for granted. After all, had not God chosen them as His people? Had He not delivered them from Egypt and brought them into the land He had promised to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob? Yes, BUT they were called to be HIS people, to display His glory, to exalt His name, to make Him known to the nations ... not to become LIKE them!! "Israel cries out to me, 'O our God, we acknowledge You!' But Israel has rejected what is good ..." (8:2-3). Hypocrisy is a sin that God does not overlook. Claiming to be the people of God, then worshiping idols, brings judgment. "They sow the wind and reap the whirlwind" (8:7).
Still, God says, "Although they have sold themselves among the nations, I will now gather them together" (8:10). The patience, mercy and grace of God is far beyond our understanding. Yet we need to understand that it is for His own glory that God does not totally abandon Israel ... or the Church ... HIS Church. God sends Hosea to offer hope to the few who still cared, but judgment to the rest. "The days of punishment are coming, the days of reckoning are at hand. Let Israel know this" (9:7). "God will remember their wickedness and punish them for their sins" (9:9). God says, "I will no longer love them ... they will be wanderers among the nations" (9:15,17). History reveals the truthfulness of Hosea's prophecy. As God declared, so it happened.
Still today God's judgment rests on those who reject Him, whether they claim to believe in Him or not. Mere words do not bring forgiveness or life. There lies a time in the future when "They will say to the mountains, 'Cover us!' and to the hills, 'Fall on us!'" (10:8). John writes in Revelation 6 of a future time when "the kings of the earth, the princes, the generals, the rich, the mighty, and every slave and every free man hid in caves and among the rocks of the mountains. They called to the mountains and the rocks, 'Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! For the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?'" (Revelation 6:15-17).
It is with the knowledge of God's coming judgment that God's call to repentance comes. Those who attempt to come to God without repentance, without a heartfelt sorrow for sin and confession, have been led astray and deceived. These come to God for favors, for "blessings" to meet their own selfish desires, believing God's highest goal is to make them happy. This is not the path to salvation. The road that is narrow leads through repentance and leads to faith in a Savior whose name is Jesus! Hosea's description of repentance is found in Chapter 10, verse 12: "Sow for yourselves righteousness, reap the fruit of unfailing love, and break up your unplowed ground; for it is time to seek the LORD until He comes." Only those whose hard hearts are tilled and softened by the Holy Spirit will seek the Lord and sow righteousness. God tells Israel that they will be judged "because you have depended on your own strength" (10:13).
God continues to proclaim His love for those who are His and for the remnant of Israel. In words that were later quoted as referring to Jesus in Matthew 2:15, God says, "When Israel was a child, I loved Him, and out of Egypt I called my Son" (11:1). God makes it clear to us who live after Jesus was on the earth that those who are truly God's children are only made God's children through their union with Christ (Ephesians 1:3-14). It is only because of the compassion and mercy of our Father in heaven that we are spared His judgment ... only by His grace. As He speaks of judgment God says, "My heart is changed within Me; all My compassion is aroused ..." (11:8). How incredibly amazing is that? The holy God chooses to show compassion ... but not on all. "As a father has compassion on His children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him" (Psalm 103:13).
But the "unplowed ground" must be broken up. "You must return to your God; maintain love and justice, and wait for your God always" (12:6). "You shall acknowledge no God but Me, no Savior except Me" (13:4). To those who will come to Him, God says, "I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death. Where, O death, are your plagues? Where, O grave, is your destruction?" (13:14). The Apostle Paul would pick up these words of Hosea as he speaks of the resurrection in I Corinthians 15: "'Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?' The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ" (I Corinthians 15:55-57).
So God points out the way to repent: "Return, O Israel, to the LORD your God. Your sins have been your downfall! Take words with you and return to the LORD. Say to Him: 'Forgive all our sins and receive us graciously, that we may offer the fruit of our lips'" (Hosea 14:1-2). And God's response is priceless: "I will heal their waywardness and love them freely, for my anger has turned away from them" (14:4). Oh, how great is God's grace, for repentance itself is the gift of God, that He works in the hearts of those whom He has chosen. If that describes you, continue to seek the Lord, your God, asking Him to break up whatever remains of the hard ground of sin and to sow seeds of righteousness, that you may be set free to praise and worship Him and that He may be glorified in your life!!
"My gracious and loving Father in heaven, You alone are God and You alone are my Savior. In Your love and compassion you sent Your own Son to take my place, to bear my sin, to endure Your wrath and to be a ransom for ME! I praise You at this moment for Your holiness and Your justice, and thank You for Your amazing grace. Continue Your work in me as I repent of my sin and seek to follow the paths of righteousness for Your Name's sake. I love You, LORD! In the precious name of Jesus, Amen"
Scripture Reading: Hosea 8 - 14 ...
God's call to repent sometimes comes gently, but other times comes in the midst of discipline or judgment. Through the prophet Hosea, God was calling Israel to return to Him, but the consequences of their sin were great. Assyria was God's instrument of judgment and few would be spared. Israel would be scattered throughout the nations and though God will eventually show compassion on a remnant of their descendants, most of them would perish far away from their land, their homes ... and their God. Such is the fate of those who reject the Lord, their God, and who do not repent.
Like many in the visible church today, most of the Israelites took their relationship with God for granted. After all, had not God chosen them as His people? Had He not delivered them from Egypt and brought them into the land He had promised to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob? Yes, BUT they were called to be HIS people, to display His glory, to exalt His name, to make Him known to the nations ... not to become LIKE them!! "Israel cries out to me, 'O our God, we acknowledge You!' But Israel has rejected what is good ..." (8:2-3). Hypocrisy is a sin that God does not overlook. Claiming to be the people of God, then worshiping idols, brings judgment. "They sow the wind and reap the whirlwind" (8:7).
Still, God says, "Although they have sold themselves among the nations, I will now gather them together" (8:10). The patience, mercy and grace of God is far beyond our understanding. Yet we need to understand that it is for His own glory that God does not totally abandon Israel ... or the Church ... HIS Church. God sends Hosea to offer hope to the few who still cared, but judgment to the rest. "The days of punishment are coming, the days of reckoning are at hand. Let Israel know this" (9:7). "God will remember their wickedness and punish them for their sins" (9:9). God says, "I will no longer love them ... they will be wanderers among the nations" (9:15,17). History reveals the truthfulness of Hosea's prophecy. As God declared, so it happened.
Still today God's judgment rests on those who reject Him, whether they claim to believe in Him or not. Mere words do not bring forgiveness or life. There lies a time in the future when "They will say to the mountains, 'Cover us!' and to the hills, 'Fall on us!'" (10:8). John writes in Revelation 6 of a future time when "the kings of the earth, the princes, the generals, the rich, the mighty, and every slave and every free man hid in caves and among the rocks of the mountains. They called to the mountains and the rocks, 'Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! For the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?'" (Revelation 6:15-17).
It is with the knowledge of God's coming judgment that God's call to repentance comes. Those who attempt to come to God without repentance, without a heartfelt sorrow for sin and confession, have been led astray and deceived. These come to God for favors, for "blessings" to meet their own selfish desires, believing God's highest goal is to make them happy. This is not the path to salvation. The road that is narrow leads through repentance and leads to faith in a Savior whose name is Jesus! Hosea's description of repentance is found in Chapter 10, verse 12: "Sow for yourselves righteousness, reap the fruit of unfailing love, and break up your unplowed ground; for it is time to seek the LORD until He comes." Only those whose hard hearts are tilled and softened by the Holy Spirit will seek the Lord and sow righteousness. God tells Israel that they will be judged "because you have depended on your own strength" (10:13).
God continues to proclaim His love for those who are His and for the remnant of Israel. In words that were later quoted as referring to Jesus in Matthew 2:15, God says, "When Israel was a child, I loved Him, and out of Egypt I called my Son" (11:1). God makes it clear to us who live after Jesus was on the earth that those who are truly God's children are only made God's children through their union with Christ (Ephesians 1:3-14). It is only because of the compassion and mercy of our Father in heaven that we are spared His judgment ... only by His grace. As He speaks of judgment God says, "My heart is changed within Me; all My compassion is aroused ..." (11:8). How incredibly amazing is that? The holy God chooses to show compassion ... but not on all. "As a father has compassion on His children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him" (Psalm 103:13).
But the "unplowed ground" must be broken up. "You must return to your God; maintain love and justice, and wait for your God always" (12:6). "You shall acknowledge no God but Me, no Savior except Me" (13:4). To those who will come to Him, God says, "I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death. Where, O death, are your plagues? Where, O grave, is your destruction?" (13:14). The Apostle Paul would pick up these words of Hosea as he speaks of the resurrection in I Corinthians 15: "'Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?' The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ" (I Corinthians 15:55-57).
So God points out the way to repent: "Return, O Israel, to the LORD your God. Your sins have been your downfall! Take words with you and return to the LORD. Say to Him: 'Forgive all our sins and receive us graciously, that we may offer the fruit of our lips'" (Hosea 14:1-2). And God's response is priceless: "I will heal their waywardness and love them freely, for my anger has turned away from them" (14:4). Oh, how great is God's grace, for repentance itself is the gift of God, that He works in the hearts of those whom He has chosen. If that describes you, continue to seek the Lord, your God, asking Him to break up whatever remains of the hard ground of sin and to sow seeds of righteousness, that you may be set free to praise and worship Him and that He may be glorified in your life!!
"My gracious and loving Father in heaven, You alone are God and You alone are my Savior. In Your love and compassion you sent Your own Son to take my place, to bear my sin, to endure Your wrath and to be a ransom for ME! I praise You at this moment for Your holiness and Your justice, and thank You for Your amazing grace. Continue Your work in me as I repent of my sin and seek to follow the paths of righteousness for Your Name's sake. I love You, LORD! In the precious name of Jesus, Amen"
Wednesday, August 27, 2014
"Live as though the LORD sees everything you do and hears everything you say … because He DOES!"
Day #243: Daily Bible Reading Plan - August 28th
Scripture Reading: Proverbs 20 - 21 …
The recurring theme of Solomon's proverbs is that a sovereign God rules over the affairs of men and nations, therefore, living in obedience to Him, trusting His Word and living to please Him is the only thing that makes sense. It is irrational to live your life as though such a God does not exist. In the end, you will pay a high price for your foolishness. On the other hand, those who seek God, who desire to live an upright life, and who listen to instruction, will discover that no matter what the circumstances, the "victory rests with the LORD!" (21:31).
As Solomon continues to throw out what may be considered by some as "one-liners," general themes continue to reoccur throughout his proverbs. All of these can be placed into categories, but overall it amounts to two choices: the way of the "wicked" or the way of the "righteous." Those who are wicked live by their own rules, while those who are righteous live according to God's commands. "The righteous man leads a blameless life; blessed are his children after him" (20:7). "To do what is right and just is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice" (21:3). "He who pursues righteousness and love finds life, prosperity and honor" (21:21). "An upright man gives thought to his ways. There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan that can succeed against the LORD. The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but victory rests with the LORD" (21:31).
All of those proverbs point to the truth that seeking first God's kingdom and His righteousness is God's desire for those who know and love Him. Those who know God and believe that He sees and hears and knows everything understand that "The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD; He directs it like a watercourse wherever He pleases" (21:1). Because of sin, "All a man's ways seem right to him, but the LORD weighs the heart" (21:2). Solomon continually points out very basic truths that when applied to our lives bring God's blessing.
"Wine is a mocker and beer a brawler" (20:1) … why? Because they quickly turn the mind away from God and His ways, leaving people vulnerable to the sinful nature that instinctively wants to go its own way, not God's way. The old nature is lazy, (20:4). "Do not love sleep or you will grow poor; stay awake and you will have food to spare" (20:13). Combatting the desires of the flesh requires instruction from the LORD and a desire to please Him. Unjust scales, taking advantage of others, speaking too quickly, making quick decisions, being proud, cheating others … all of these things are what the wicked pursue.
But those who know the sovereign God seek to avoid strife, be honest in their dealings with others, speak knowledge and wisdom (or else be quiet!), make plans by seeking advice, wait for the LORD to defend them rather than seeking revenge, and gladly receive instruction from the Lord. Yes, "an upright man gives thoughts to his ways" (21:29). Why? Because those who are upright are being transformed through the work of the Spirit of God within them. These live in the presence of a holy God who loved them so much that He sent His Son Jesus Christ to bear His wrath and judgment against their sin.
Are you living today as though the LORD, the great "I AM," the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the only true God, the Creator of the universe - YOUR Creator ... are you living as though He sees everything you do and hears everything you say? He is watching over those who draw near to Him in faith through Jesus. We who so believe don't live in this world as others who have no hope ... as those who seek power and wealth and prestige ... who desire the pleasures of this world rather than the righteousness of God. We HAVE all we need in HIM!!! So we live WITH Him and FOR Him, out of love and thanksgiving, for OUR God ... THIS God reigns, and through faith in Jesus we are HIS children. Serving Him is easy because our love is a response to His. "We love HIM because He FIRST loved us!" (I John 4:19).
"O LORD, my God, Your Word speaks truth about every part of life. As I live in this world every day I ask You to guide me by Your Word and Spirit. Fill my mind with the knowledge of who You are and how You are at work all around me. Give me strength to overcome the flesh, to resist the temptation to to seek the pleasures of this world, and grant me wisdom to trust You and to proclaim at all times that YOU, and You alone are God! In Jesus' name, Amen"
Scripture Reading: Proverbs 20 - 21 …
The recurring theme of Solomon's proverbs is that a sovereign God rules over the affairs of men and nations, therefore, living in obedience to Him, trusting His Word and living to please Him is the only thing that makes sense. It is irrational to live your life as though such a God does not exist. In the end, you will pay a high price for your foolishness. On the other hand, those who seek God, who desire to live an upright life, and who listen to instruction, will discover that no matter what the circumstances, the "victory rests with the LORD!" (21:31).
As Solomon continues to throw out what may be considered by some as "one-liners," general themes continue to reoccur throughout his proverbs. All of these can be placed into categories, but overall it amounts to two choices: the way of the "wicked" or the way of the "righteous." Those who are wicked live by their own rules, while those who are righteous live according to God's commands. "The righteous man leads a blameless life; blessed are his children after him" (20:7). "To do what is right and just is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice" (21:3). "He who pursues righteousness and love finds life, prosperity and honor" (21:21). "An upright man gives thought to his ways. There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan that can succeed against the LORD. The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but victory rests with the LORD" (21:31).
All of those proverbs point to the truth that seeking first God's kingdom and His righteousness is God's desire for those who know and love Him. Those who know God and believe that He sees and hears and knows everything understand that "The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD; He directs it like a watercourse wherever He pleases" (21:1). Because of sin, "All a man's ways seem right to him, but the LORD weighs the heart" (21:2). Solomon continually points out very basic truths that when applied to our lives bring God's blessing.
"Wine is a mocker and beer a brawler" (20:1) … why? Because they quickly turn the mind away from God and His ways, leaving people vulnerable to the sinful nature that instinctively wants to go its own way, not God's way. The old nature is lazy, (20:4). "Do not love sleep or you will grow poor; stay awake and you will have food to spare" (20:13). Combatting the desires of the flesh requires instruction from the LORD and a desire to please Him. Unjust scales, taking advantage of others, speaking too quickly, making quick decisions, being proud, cheating others … all of these things are what the wicked pursue.
But those who know the sovereign God seek to avoid strife, be honest in their dealings with others, speak knowledge and wisdom (or else be quiet!), make plans by seeking advice, wait for the LORD to defend them rather than seeking revenge, and gladly receive instruction from the Lord. Yes, "an upright man gives thoughts to his ways" (21:29). Why? Because those who are upright are being transformed through the work of the Spirit of God within them. These live in the presence of a holy God who loved them so much that He sent His Son Jesus Christ to bear His wrath and judgment against their sin.
Are you living today as though the LORD, the great "I AM," the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the only true God, the Creator of the universe - YOUR Creator ... are you living as though He sees everything you do and hears everything you say? He is watching over those who draw near to Him in faith through Jesus. We who so believe don't live in this world as others who have no hope ... as those who seek power and wealth and prestige ... who desire the pleasures of this world rather than the righteousness of God. We HAVE all we need in HIM!!! So we live WITH Him and FOR Him, out of love and thanksgiving, for OUR God ... THIS God reigns, and through faith in Jesus we are HIS children. Serving Him is easy because our love is a response to His. "We love HIM because He FIRST loved us!" (I John 4:19).
"O LORD, my God, Your Word speaks truth about every part of life. As I live in this world every day I ask You to guide me by Your Word and Spirit. Fill my mind with the knowledge of who You are and how You are at work all around me. Give me strength to overcome the flesh, to resist the temptation to to seek the pleasures of this world, and grant me wisdom to trust You and to proclaim at all times that YOU, and You alone are God! In Jesus' name, Amen"
Tuesday, August 26, 2014
"Praising God is easy when you know who He is …"
Day #242: Daily Bible Reading Plan - August 27th
Scripture Reading: Psalms 102 - 104 …
"In the beginning You laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of Your hands. They will perish, but You remain the same … and Your years will never end" (102:25-27). The reason most people don't praise God is because they don't know Him as their Creator. The reason most people don't love God is because they have not confessed their sin and their need for forgiveness and then found in God's grace and compassion a Savior named, Jesus! The reason most people don't serve God is because they are convinced that their lives are their own and they are the masters of their own fate. David and the other writers of the Psalms knew otherwise … because they knew God!
In good times or bad, God is God and His character provides hope to those who know Him. The writer of Psalm 102 cries out to the Lord during a particularly difficult time in his life. Who cannot identify with the description he gives: "My days vanish like smoke … I forget to eat … I lie awake …" (102:3-7). He even attributes his agony to God's wrath (102:10), realizing that all of life's burdens ultimately arise from the wrath of God upon mankind because of our sin and rebellion. Yet, there is hope for those who know God!
"You, O LORD, sit enthroned forever … You will arise and have compassion on Zion" (102:12). Those who know God have heard His promises and tasted of His grace and mercy. While these words were written for those who lived centuries ago, they were also written for us as we live in this world today. "Let this be written for a future generation, that a people not yet created may praise the Lord" (102:18). With insight from the Spirit of the Lord the Psalmist pointed all those who would come to believe in Israel's God to find their hope in Him. God even revealed to him His final purpose for the remnant: "So the name of the LORD will be declared in Zion and His praise in Jerusalem when the peoples and the kingdoms assemble to worship the LORD" (102:21-22).
It will happen just as God has planned it. As the prophet Habakkuk wrote, "The earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea" (Habakkuk 2:14). The God the Psalmist knew is the only true God and He is at work among the peoples of the world today gathering those whom He has chosen through the preaching of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the testimony of those who know Israel's God.
Psalms 103 and 104 continue the praise of the LORD, the great "I AM," the Almighty and Everlasting God! David explains the outpouring of God's blessings upon those who are His, who believe in Him, who know Him, and then He speaks of God's character, the character He had revealed to Moses and the people of Israel: "The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love …" (103:8). He is forgiving and loving and compassionate to His children, "as a father" … And having described the character of God, David explains why we need such a God: "For He knows how we are formed, He remembers that we are dust …" (103:14).
Those who boast of their power and strength are foolish. We are like the grass, like flowers in the field. We exist for a time and then we are gone. James writes, "You do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes" (James 4:14). The only way to find significance and importance in your life is to humble yourself before God and draw near to Him in faith, believing that you have been redeemed through Jesus Christ and given new life that now enables you to know God, to love God and to serve God. Apart from that your life is as worthless and meaningless as it seems. But this God receives all those who call out to Him, because when you do so, it is His very Spirit that has moved you to call!!
"From everlasting to everlasting the LORD's love is with those who fear Him, and His righteousness with their children's children" (103:17). We who know God's love in Jesus join with the angels in praising God from the depths of our souls! As we watch the nations of the world descend into greater and greater chaos, we are moved to worship God, who is "clothed with splendor and majesty" (104:1). Reading through Psalm 104 I am reminded of the power and wisdom of my God and moved again to praise! THINK of what God has done as you behold His creation. Those who doubt things like the global flood during the days of Noah cannot doubt that the writer of Psalm 104 believed it happened, as he says describes it in verses 6-9.
He then describes some of the works of God's marvelous creation and says of all creatures, "These all look to You to give them their food at the proper time" (104:27). How humbling to know that every creature that exists on the face of the earth, including you and me, is totally and utterly dependent on God for food, water and everything else associated with life. Were God to withdraw His hand we and all of creation would simply cease to exist. Not one breath is taken without God moving your lungs and mine to do so. God created all things, sustains all things and all things exist for His purposes.
And the Psalmist knew what that purpose was and is: "I will sing to the LORD all my life; I will sing praise to my God as long as I live. May my meditation be pleasing to Him, as I rejoice in the LORD … Praise the LORD, O my soul. Praise the LORD!" (104:33-35). Join with creation in praising our God today, whether in good times or in bad, for He is the same yesterday, today and forever and He is worthy of praise! Cry out to Him and He will hear you and will show His compassion and mercy to you. Jesus is the Way and the Truth and the Life. Come to the Father through faith in Jesus and discover what it means to be blessed as you find joy in praising our God!!
"O LORD, my God, You are all I need in life and I praise You from the depths of my heart! In Your mercy You have given me new life in Christ and by Your Spirit You have opened my eyes to see Your splendor and majesty throughout Your creation. With the Psalmist and the angels and the saints I will sing Your praises all of my life, trusting in Your goodness and resting in Your love. In Jesus' name, Amen"
Scripture Reading: Psalms 102 - 104 …
"In the beginning You laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of Your hands. They will perish, but You remain the same … and Your years will never end" (102:25-27). The reason most people don't praise God is because they don't know Him as their Creator. The reason most people don't love God is because they have not confessed their sin and their need for forgiveness and then found in God's grace and compassion a Savior named, Jesus! The reason most people don't serve God is because they are convinced that their lives are their own and they are the masters of their own fate. David and the other writers of the Psalms knew otherwise … because they knew God!
In good times or bad, God is God and His character provides hope to those who know Him. The writer of Psalm 102 cries out to the Lord during a particularly difficult time in his life. Who cannot identify with the description he gives: "My days vanish like smoke … I forget to eat … I lie awake …" (102:3-7). He even attributes his agony to God's wrath (102:10), realizing that all of life's burdens ultimately arise from the wrath of God upon mankind because of our sin and rebellion. Yet, there is hope for those who know God!
"You, O LORD, sit enthroned forever … You will arise and have compassion on Zion" (102:12). Those who know God have heard His promises and tasted of His grace and mercy. While these words were written for those who lived centuries ago, they were also written for us as we live in this world today. "Let this be written for a future generation, that a people not yet created may praise the Lord" (102:18). With insight from the Spirit of the Lord the Psalmist pointed all those who would come to believe in Israel's God to find their hope in Him. God even revealed to him His final purpose for the remnant: "So the name of the LORD will be declared in Zion and His praise in Jerusalem when the peoples and the kingdoms assemble to worship the LORD" (102:21-22).
It will happen just as God has planned it. As the prophet Habakkuk wrote, "The earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea" (Habakkuk 2:14). The God the Psalmist knew is the only true God and He is at work among the peoples of the world today gathering those whom He has chosen through the preaching of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the testimony of those who know Israel's God.
Psalms 103 and 104 continue the praise of the LORD, the great "I AM," the Almighty and Everlasting God! David explains the outpouring of God's blessings upon those who are His, who believe in Him, who know Him, and then He speaks of God's character, the character He had revealed to Moses and the people of Israel: "The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love …" (103:8). He is forgiving and loving and compassionate to His children, "as a father" … And having described the character of God, David explains why we need such a God: "For He knows how we are formed, He remembers that we are dust …" (103:14).
Those who boast of their power and strength are foolish. We are like the grass, like flowers in the field. We exist for a time and then we are gone. James writes, "You do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes" (James 4:14). The only way to find significance and importance in your life is to humble yourself before God and draw near to Him in faith, believing that you have been redeemed through Jesus Christ and given new life that now enables you to know God, to love God and to serve God. Apart from that your life is as worthless and meaningless as it seems. But this God receives all those who call out to Him, because when you do so, it is His very Spirit that has moved you to call!!
"From everlasting to everlasting the LORD's love is with those who fear Him, and His righteousness with their children's children" (103:17). We who know God's love in Jesus join with the angels in praising God from the depths of our souls! As we watch the nations of the world descend into greater and greater chaos, we are moved to worship God, who is "clothed with splendor and majesty" (104:1). Reading through Psalm 104 I am reminded of the power and wisdom of my God and moved again to praise! THINK of what God has done as you behold His creation. Those who doubt things like the global flood during the days of Noah cannot doubt that the writer of Psalm 104 believed it happened, as he says describes it in verses 6-9.
He then describes some of the works of God's marvelous creation and says of all creatures, "These all look to You to give them their food at the proper time" (104:27). How humbling to know that every creature that exists on the face of the earth, including you and me, is totally and utterly dependent on God for food, water and everything else associated with life. Were God to withdraw His hand we and all of creation would simply cease to exist. Not one breath is taken without God moving your lungs and mine to do so. God created all things, sustains all things and all things exist for His purposes.
And the Psalmist knew what that purpose was and is: "I will sing to the LORD all my life; I will sing praise to my God as long as I live. May my meditation be pleasing to Him, as I rejoice in the LORD … Praise the LORD, O my soul. Praise the LORD!" (104:33-35). Join with creation in praising our God today, whether in good times or in bad, for He is the same yesterday, today and forever and He is worthy of praise! Cry out to Him and He will hear you and will show His compassion and mercy to you. Jesus is the Way and the Truth and the Life. Come to the Father through faith in Jesus and discover what it means to be blessed as you find joy in praising our God!!
"O LORD, my God, You are all I need in life and I praise You from the depths of my heart! In Your mercy You have given me new life in Christ and by Your Spirit You have opened my eyes to see Your splendor and majesty throughout Your creation. With the Psalmist and the angels and the saints I will sing Your praises all of my life, trusting in Your goodness and resting in Your love. In Jesus' name, Amen"
Monday, August 25, 2014
"The everlasting God chose Israel ... and all who believe in Israel's God!"
Day #241: Daily Bible Reading Plan - August 26th
Scripture Reading: I Chronicles 15 - 19 ...
It seems unfair, it seems impossible, it seems far-fetched, but it's true: the God of Israel is the one true God and only those whom He has chosen and who put their trust in Him through faith in Jesus Christ, the Seed of Abraham, the Son of David, will inherit eternal life. All that we read in the Old Testament, the Gospels and the rest of the New Testament confirm this truth. No other book explains the plan of God to redeem for Himself a people from the entire human race to be His own. Remarkably, God revealed all of this to David, and through him to others whom God chose to hear and believe. If you are reading this and believe in Jesus, it is because God has chosen YOU and you are one of His people, by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. That is God's way ...
Having moved the capital of Israel to Jerusalem, David determined to bring the Ark of the Covenant there. The Ark was the symbol of God's presence and was placed in the tabernacle in the Most Holy Place. David had attempted to bring the Ark back before, but those in charge did not have the priests carry it and God's anger burned against them. This time David said, "No one but the Levites may carry the Ark of God, because the LORD chose THEM to carry the Ark of the LORD and to minister before Him forever" (15:2). Then he instructed them to "consecrate yourselves and bring up the Ark of the LORD, the God of Israel, to the place I have prepared for it. It was because you, the Levites, did not bring it up the first time that the LORD our God broke out in anger against us. We did not inquire of Him about how to do it in the prescribed way" (15:12-13).
Partial obedience is never obedience. God calls His people to worship and to do it according His instructions. Why? Because He is God ... and He is ISRAEL's God. An important part of worship, then and now, is MUSIC! Look at the people who were assigned to lead the people in worship! They had instruments and a large choir of people to lead the people in singing God's praises. "So all Israel brought up the ark of the covenant of the LORD with shouts, with the sounding of rams' horns and trumpets, and of cymbals; and the playing of lyres and harps" (15:28). How glorious it must have been and how glorious is the worship of God's people today as we offer it to the Lord, our God, the God of Israel!!
David's psalm of praise in Chapter 16 is so full, so heartfelt, so informative of God's plan to gather for Himself a people. Most people today just do not understand the Bible or God's purpose in the world. If they worship at all, they worship a generic god who is supposedly a god who takes various forms and who is whoever people make him/her/it to be. This god is an impersonal "force" who is at work in creation and in all people. Every person is the "captain of their own fate" and able to find their own salvation in their own way. But this "god" is an illusion, a counterfeit, a cruel hoax produced by the enemy of God and the foolish hearts and minds of people who are spiritually dead and blind.
As David and all of Jerusalem celebrate the return of the Ark, David breaks out into song ... and recorded here are words from a number of the songs recorded for us in the Psalms. Reading through Chapter 16 is like entering into David's heart - a heart overflowing with love, thankfulness and praise for God, but not just any God, the God of Israel, the God who "remembers His covenant forever ... the covenant He made with Abraham, the oath He swore to Isaac, and confirmed to Jacob as a decree, to Israel as an everlasting covenant: 'To you I will give the land of Canaan as the portion you will inherit'" (16:15-18). To those today who would seek to eliminate this people from the land of Israel, it will not happen, for you are not only fighting against Israel, but against Israel's God.
At the present time most in Israel do not know the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. The world is ignorant of the great "I AM" who revealed Himself to Moses and the people in Egypt and at Mt. Sinai. But the calling of those who know Him, to whom He has revealed Himself by His Word and Spirit, is to "sing to the LORD ... to proclaim His salvation day after day. Declare His glory among the nations, His marvelous deeds among all peoples. For great is the LORD and most worthy of praise!" (16:23-25). There IS no other God! It is Israel's God who sent His Son, the descendant of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Judah, David ... to be the perfect sacrifice for sin. There IS no other God, no other Mediator between God and man, no other Savior!
As God promised David that his "house" would continue before Him forever, He was pointing to Jesus. "I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, one of your own sons, and I will establish his kingdom. He is the one who will build a house for me and I will establish his throne forever" (17:11-12). That must have been Solomon, right? Solomon was the son of David and Bathsheba and he built the temple for God. But HIS kingdom didn't last forever. In fact, it was during the reign of Solomon's son, Rehoboam, that the kingdom of Israel was divided and eventually overthrown. God was pointing to David's "greater Son," to the One who would be born of a virgin, who would be "Immanuel, God with us." He was pointing to Jesus, the Christ, the Anointed One, the KING of kings and the LORD of lords!!
Jesus came to build God's spiritual "house," the Church, the temple of the Holy Spirit, and eventually (perhaps soon) He will come to gather the remnant of the Jews, the physical people of Israel, and to establish His kingdom on the earth. He will rule over all the nations and He alone will be Lord! As he hears God's promise through the prophet, Nathan, David is humbled beyond words and prays once again, giving praise to God, knowing that all this was done "according to Your will" (17:19) ... that this was GOD's doing. "There is no one like You, O LORD, and there is no God but You ... And who is like Your people Israel - the one nation on earth whose God went out to redeem a people for himself, and to make a name for Yourself ..." (17:20-21). "You made Your people Israel Your very own forever, and You, O LORD, have become their God" (17:22).
Through Jesus Christ, the Seed of Abraham, the Son of David, God has sent a message out into the world, delivered by His Spirit into the hearts and minds of those whom He has chosen from the nations, bringing forgiveness and life to those who repent and believe, who receive His grace through faith in Jesus. God knows those who are His and not one shall be lost. If you have believed in Jesus you can KNOW that you were "chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world" (Ephesians 1:4) and that "nothing can separate you from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 8:29).
Join with David in thanksgiving and praise for God's covenant with Israel and with all who believe in the Son of David, the Anointed One, the Messiah, the Christ, the King ... Jesus! Read through David's song in Chapter 16 again and give praise to the LORD, the God of Israel!
"My Father in heaven, as You chose Israel to be Yours, so You have chosen me to be one of Your children and have given me Your Spirit and moved me to believe in Your Son, Jesus Christ. I thank You for Your Word, for revealing Your way of salvation through Your covenant with Abraham and his descendants, and for Your faithfulness to those who place their hope in You. In Jesus' name, Amen"
Scripture Reading: I Chronicles 15 - 19 ...
It seems unfair, it seems impossible, it seems far-fetched, but it's true: the God of Israel is the one true God and only those whom He has chosen and who put their trust in Him through faith in Jesus Christ, the Seed of Abraham, the Son of David, will inherit eternal life. All that we read in the Old Testament, the Gospels and the rest of the New Testament confirm this truth. No other book explains the plan of God to redeem for Himself a people from the entire human race to be His own. Remarkably, God revealed all of this to David, and through him to others whom God chose to hear and believe. If you are reading this and believe in Jesus, it is because God has chosen YOU and you are one of His people, by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. That is God's way ...
Having moved the capital of Israel to Jerusalem, David determined to bring the Ark of the Covenant there. The Ark was the symbol of God's presence and was placed in the tabernacle in the Most Holy Place. David had attempted to bring the Ark back before, but those in charge did not have the priests carry it and God's anger burned against them. This time David said, "No one but the Levites may carry the Ark of God, because the LORD chose THEM to carry the Ark of the LORD and to minister before Him forever" (15:2). Then he instructed them to "consecrate yourselves and bring up the Ark of the LORD, the God of Israel, to the place I have prepared for it. It was because you, the Levites, did not bring it up the first time that the LORD our God broke out in anger against us. We did not inquire of Him about how to do it in the prescribed way" (15:12-13).
Partial obedience is never obedience. God calls His people to worship and to do it according His instructions. Why? Because He is God ... and He is ISRAEL's God. An important part of worship, then and now, is MUSIC! Look at the people who were assigned to lead the people in worship! They had instruments and a large choir of people to lead the people in singing God's praises. "So all Israel brought up the ark of the covenant of the LORD with shouts, with the sounding of rams' horns and trumpets, and of cymbals; and the playing of lyres and harps" (15:28). How glorious it must have been and how glorious is the worship of God's people today as we offer it to the Lord, our God, the God of Israel!!
David's psalm of praise in Chapter 16 is so full, so heartfelt, so informative of God's plan to gather for Himself a people. Most people today just do not understand the Bible or God's purpose in the world. If they worship at all, they worship a generic god who is supposedly a god who takes various forms and who is whoever people make him/her/it to be. This god is an impersonal "force" who is at work in creation and in all people. Every person is the "captain of their own fate" and able to find their own salvation in their own way. But this "god" is an illusion, a counterfeit, a cruel hoax produced by the enemy of God and the foolish hearts and minds of people who are spiritually dead and blind.
As David and all of Jerusalem celebrate the return of the Ark, David breaks out into song ... and recorded here are words from a number of the songs recorded for us in the Psalms. Reading through Chapter 16 is like entering into David's heart - a heart overflowing with love, thankfulness and praise for God, but not just any God, the God of Israel, the God who "remembers His covenant forever ... the covenant He made with Abraham, the oath He swore to Isaac, and confirmed to Jacob as a decree, to Israel as an everlasting covenant: 'To you I will give the land of Canaan as the portion you will inherit'" (16:15-18). To those today who would seek to eliminate this people from the land of Israel, it will not happen, for you are not only fighting against Israel, but against Israel's God.
At the present time most in Israel do not know the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. The world is ignorant of the great "I AM" who revealed Himself to Moses and the people in Egypt and at Mt. Sinai. But the calling of those who know Him, to whom He has revealed Himself by His Word and Spirit, is to "sing to the LORD ... to proclaim His salvation day after day. Declare His glory among the nations, His marvelous deeds among all peoples. For great is the LORD and most worthy of praise!" (16:23-25). There IS no other God! It is Israel's God who sent His Son, the descendant of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Judah, David ... to be the perfect sacrifice for sin. There IS no other God, no other Mediator between God and man, no other Savior!
As God promised David that his "house" would continue before Him forever, He was pointing to Jesus. "I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, one of your own sons, and I will establish his kingdom. He is the one who will build a house for me and I will establish his throne forever" (17:11-12). That must have been Solomon, right? Solomon was the son of David and Bathsheba and he built the temple for God. But HIS kingdom didn't last forever. In fact, it was during the reign of Solomon's son, Rehoboam, that the kingdom of Israel was divided and eventually overthrown. God was pointing to David's "greater Son," to the One who would be born of a virgin, who would be "Immanuel, God with us." He was pointing to Jesus, the Christ, the Anointed One, the KING of kings and the LORD of lords!!
Jesus came to build God's spiritual "house," the Church, the temple of the Holy Spirit, and eventually (perhaps soon) He will come to gather the remnant of the Jews, the physical people of Israel, and to establish His kingdom on the earth. He will rule over all the nations and He alone will be Lord! As he hears God's promise through the prophet, Nathan, David is humbled beyond words and prays once again, giving praise to God, knowing that all this was done "according to Your will" (17:19) ... that this was GOD's doing. "There is no one like You, O LORD, and there is no God but You ... And who is like Your people Israel - the one nation on earth whose God went out to redeem a people for himself, and to make a name for Yourself ..." (17:20-21). "You made Your people Israel Your very own forever, and You, O LORD, have become their God" (17:22).
Through Jesus Christ, the Seed of Abraham, the Son of David, God has sent a message out into the world, delivered by His Spirit into the hearts and minds of those whom He has chosen from the nations, bringing forgiveness and life to those who repent and believe, who receive His grace through faith in Jesus. God knows those who are His and not one shall be lost. If you have believed in Jesus you can KNOW that you were "chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world" (Ephesians 1:4) and that "nothing can separate you from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 8:29).
Join with David in thanksgiving and praise for God's covenant with Israel and with all who believe in the Son of David, the Anointed One, the Messiah, the Christ, the King ... Jesus! Read through David's song in Chapter 16 again and give praise to the LORD, the God of Israel!
"My Father in heaven, as You chose Israel to be Yours, so You have chosen me to be one of Your children and have given me Your Spirit and moved me to believe in Your Son, Jesus Christ. I thank You for Your Word, for revealing Your way of salvation through Your covenant with Abraham and his descendants, and for Your faithfulness to those who place their hope in You. In Jesus' name, Amen"
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