September 15 Reading (Job 25-31)
Bildad tries to soften his remarks by reminding Job that everyone is a schmuck! Job still will not relent on his position that he has not sinned. "I will not deny my integrity. I will maintain my righteousness and never let go of it; my conscience will not reproach me as long as I live."
In chapter 29, I see Job answering some of the alligations from earlier in the readings. He lays his claim how how "good" and "righteous" he was. This only leads him to lament about how bad he has it now. Why is it that our minds often think back to the "good ol' days." I find, too, that our memory is usually softer than reality. Was it really as good as I remember it to me?? Likely not.
Job ends this long reading with a clear defense of his position. This is his closing arguement. Have you ever just wanted to be heard? That's Job. He just wants to know that God is listening. He wants justice. "Prove me wrong, God!" is what he is declaring.
I'm connecting well with Job and realize that he is living his faith out in very practical and powerful ways. Much better than I am. My faith pales in comparison to his ...
Friday, November 21, 2008
September 14 Reading (Job 22-24)
This reading was much of the same. I noticed that Eliphaz waged some pretty serious aligations against Job that Job never addresses. Interesting.
The other thought that struck me was that Job has a pretty sombered approach to humanity ... lot's of talk about how we are going to be eaten by worms and such ... pretty gruesome!
This reading was much of the same. I noticed that Eliphaz waged some pretty serious aligations against Job that Job never addresses. Interesting.
The other thought that struck me was that Job has a pretty sombered approach to humanity ... lot's of talk about how we are going to be eaten by worms and such ... pretty gruesome!
September 12-13 Readings (Job 15-21)
Some of the coolest sections of Job are in these chapters ...
"Even now my witness is in heaven; my advocate is on high. My intercessor is my friend as my eyes pour out tears to God; on behalf of a man he pleads with God as a man pleads for his friend." I'm amazed my this view point of God. I actually believe that Job has been given a vision of the Messiah ... Jesus ... as he serves as our "High Priest" going to the Father on our behalf.
"I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand upon the earth. And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God; I myself will see him with my own eyes - I, and not another. How my heart years within me!" I want this kind of faith! I now can see why God told Satan that he could mess with Job ... he could handle it! His faith is rock solid and this statement is a beautiful expression of his understanding of God's future deliverance!
Some of the coolest sections of Job are in these chapters ...
"Even now my witness is in heaven; my advocate is on high. My intercessor is my friend as my eyes pour out tears to God; on behalf of a man he pleads with God as a man pleads for his friend." I'm amazed my this view point of God. I actually believe that Job has been given a vision of the Messiah ... Jesus ... as he serves as our "High Priest" going to the Father on our behalf.
"I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand upon the earth. And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God; I myself will see him with my own eyes - I, and not another. How my heart years within me!" I want this kind of faith! I now can see why God told Satan that he could mess with Job ... he could handle it! His faith is rock solid and this statement is a beautiful expression of his understanding of God's future deliverance!
Thursday, November 20, 2008
September 11 Reading (Job 11-14)
Friend #3 ... Zophar ... he doesn't buy into Job's "holiness" speech. He is convinced beyond reason that God only condemns the sinners and if Job is getting knocked around this bad, he had lot's of sin in his life to deserve it. I'm finding that in a perfect world, I like the advice I'm hearing from Job's friends. "Yet if you devote your heart to him ... you will stand firm and without fear." There is good stuff here ... but this argue is muted when we come back to reality. Good people get cancer for no reason. Good people are in car accidents and suffer great loss. Good people lose the jobs and struggle to find work. Good and God fearing people!! That's what makes their arguements not worth the paper they are written on. We need to be careful not to use such reasoning in the advice we give to be people as well.
"Though He slay me, yet will I hope in Him; Indeed, this will turn out for my deliverance, for no godless man would dare come before Him."
Friend #3 ... Zophar ... he doesn't buy into Job's "holiness" speech. He is convinced beyond reason that God only condemns the sinners and if Job is getting knocked around this bad, he had lot's of sin in his life to deserve it. I'm finding that in a perfect world, I like the advice I'm hearing from Job's friends. "Yet if you devote your heart to him ... you will stand firm and without fear." There is good stuff here ... but this argue is muted when we come back to reality. Good people get cancer for no reason. Good people are in car accidents and suffer great loss. Good people lose the jobs and struggle to find work. Good and God fearing people!! That's what makes their arguements not worth the paper they are written on. We need to be careful not to use such reasoning in the advice we give to be people as well.
"Though He slay me, yet will I hope in Him; Indeed, this will turn out for my deliverance, for no godless man would dare come before Him."
September 10 Reading (Job 8-10)
Today it's friend #2's chance at Job ... Bildad weighs his thoughts. Right away, Bildad's words cut like a knife at Job. My interpretation ... "Dude, your kids were sinful brats and they got what they deserved. Now get up, humble yourself and you'll get back on your feet." However, I will say that those words are pretty common ... but not what Job wants to hear I'm guessing. Bildad's words also speak of the blind faithfulness that I believe trips many people up. God does "fill our mouth with laughter and your lips with shouts of joy"; however, God also allows calamity to come to the just and the unjust. God is NOT some giver of only good to the good people and evil only to the evil people. It's not that easy. Bildad's approach to God is more mechanical than reality.
Job's response is beautiful. He clearly understands the depth of God's sovereignty. Who can argue with God? "IF it is a matter of strength, he is mighty! And if it is a matter of justice, who will summon him?" Job clearly understands the role of man in God's world.
"If I say, 'I will forget my complaint, I will change my expression, and smile,' I still dread my sufferings." I believe this is what many of us try to do ... forget our pain and put on a smile. But eventually we break. Job understands that there is no sense in covering up our expression. There is no value in hiding our feelings (especially toward God himself).
Today it's friend #2's chance at Job ... Bildad weighs his thoughts. Right away, Bildad's words cut like a knife at Job. My interpretation ... "Dude, your kids were sinful brats and they got what they deserved. Now get up, humble yourself and you'll get back on your feet." However, I will say that those words are pretty common ... but not what Job wants to hear I'm guessing. Bildad's words also speak of the blind faithfulness that I believe trips many people up. God does "fill our mouth with laughter and your lips with shouts of joy"; however, God also allows calamity to come to the just and the unjust. God is NOT some giver of only good to the good people and evil only to the evil people. It's not that easy. Bildad's approach to God is more mechanical than reality.
Job's response is beautiful. He clearly understands the depth of God's sovereignty. Who can argue with God? "IF it is a matter of strength, he is mighty! And if it is a matter of justice, who will summon him?" Job clearly understands the role of man in God's world.
"If I say, 'I will forget my complaint, I will change my expression, and smile,' I still dread my sufferings." I believe this is what many of us try to do ... forget our pain and put on a smile. But eventually we break. Job understands that there is no sense in covering up our expression. There is no value in hiding our feelings (especially toward God himself).
September 9 Reading (Job 4-7)
Today's reading is the first time we see Job state his case, his first friend Eliphaz replies, and Job responds to his words. I've come to realize once again that poetry and Terry don't go together very well. This is a tough read for me since it's written with such eloquence. No doubt, you can experience the level of Job's dispare in these words. You can hear his pain and confusion. I'm struck that instead of demanding justice (which we often do) Job accepts what has happened to him and simply asks to die (in an effort to remove the pain).
He is left with a perplexing question ... "What is man that you make so much of him, that you give him so much attention?" Have you ever wondered that? Have you ever doubted that God even knows about you or gives you "attention"? Job says this because he just wants to be left alone ... but ultimately, down deep inside, he realizes an amazing trait about the Almighty ... He is aware of Job ... the Lord is aware of what Job is going through ... the eyes of the Lord God are on him ... and I believe somewhere ... down deep in Job's spirit ... that comforts him.
Today's reading is the first time we see Job state his case, his first friend Eliphaz replies, and Job responds to his words. I've come to realize once again that poetry and Terry don't go together very well. This is a tough read for me since it's written with such eloquence. No doubt, you can experience the level of Job's dispare in these words. You can hear his pain and confusion. I'm struck that instead of demanding justice (which we often do) Job accepts what has happened to him and simply asks to die (in an effort to remove the pain).
He is left with a perplexing question ... "What is man that you make so much of him, that you give him so much attention?" Have you ever wondered that? Have you ever doubted that God even knows about you or gives you "attention"? Job says this because he just wants to be left alone ... but ultimately, down deep inside, he realizes an amazing trait about the Almighty ... He is aware of Job ... the Lord is aware of what Job is going through ... the eyes of the Lord God are on him ... and I believe somewhere ... down deep in Job's spirit ... that comforts him.
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
September 8 Reading (Job 1-3)
If I weren't depressed reading about the exile, now I get to read about Job's troubles! Yeah! I wish now that Job would have been placed in the more traditional spot of near the front of our reading. Many scholars believe that the Job narrative actually takes place more during the time of Abram. In either case ... 10 days of Job ... here we go!
A couple of observations about our opening scene:
1) Job loved his children and was willing to sacrifice for them with a grateful heart.
2) Satan is limited in time and space ... he is a created being ... not diety
3) Satan could do nothing outside of the parameters that God established. He didn't ask for
more ... he knows that God is the one who sets the rules.
Job's perspective is radically different than King Nebuchadnezzar's in our previous story. He starts this ordeal by saying "The Lord have and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised." Perspective.
Job and his wife do not see eye to eye on their journey ... the wife is ready to give up. Even as Job's own life experience worsens, she can't stand his faithfulness and steadfastness. In many ways, she is used to work against him just like the sores on his skin and his broken heart.
Finally, Job is broken and he settles into the beginning stages of a depression ... wishing his life would have never begun ... I can understand why.
If I weren't depressed reading about the exile, now I get to read about Job's troubles! Yeah! I wish now that Job would have been placed in the more traditional spot of near the front of our reading. Many scholars believe that the Job narrative actually takes place more during the time of Abram. In either case ... 10 days of Job ... here we go!
A couple of observations about our opening scene:
1) Job loved his children and was willing to sacrifice for them with a grateful heart.
2) Satan is limited in time and space ... he is a created being ... not diety
3) Satan could do nothing outside of the parameters that God established. He didn't ask for
more ... he knows that God is the one who sets the rules.
Job's perspective is radically different than King Nebuchadnezzar's in our previous story. He starts this ordeal by saying "The Lord have and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised." Perspective.
Job and his wife do not see eye to eye on their journey ... the wife is ready to give up. Even as Job's own life experience worsens, she can't stand his faithfulness and steadfastness. In many ways, she is used to work against him just like the sores on his skin and his broken heart.
Finally, Job is broken and he settles into the beginning stages of a depression ... wishing his life would have never begun ... I can understand why.
September 7 Reading (Ezekiel 29, Daniel 4, Jeremiah 52)
This is a crazy story of Nebuchadnezzar's conversion to faith in the Lord Almighty. We've experienced him offer lip service to God before (through Daniel's dream interpretations and the firey furnace scene) but this time was personal. The miracle wasn't some hebrew boy ... the miracle was seen and experienced in his own life! This did something to change King Neb's perspective ... the perspective that "he controlled the world." Pride is the biggest stumbling block that we have today ... and pride had taken it's toll on this King. So God humbled him by taking his ability to control his own actions ... he went crazy! And when God gave him his right mind back, King Neb bowed before the Almighty with a fresh perspective ... this time he realized that "God controlled the world" and not King Nebuchadnezzar.
What do we take from this? Well, we are not in control. Not of the economy. Not of our investments. Not of our income. Not of many things. God "does what he wants" and is all powerful and knowing. Instead of controling the experiences of life around, let's surrender to what God is already at work doing. What is God doing in your life? What is he doing in mine? Let's live there!! Let's spend time letting God lead (that's how he has designed us to be in the first place).
This is a crazy story of Nebuchadnezzar's conversion to faith in the Lord Almighty. We've experienced him offer lip service to God before (through Daniel's dream interpretations and the firey furnace scene) but this time was personal. The miracle wasn't some hebrew boy ... the miracle was seen and experienced in his own life! This did something to change King Neb's perspective ... the perspective that "he controlled the world." Pride is the biggest stumbling block that we have today ... and pride had taken it's toll on this King. So God humbled him by taking his ability to control his own actions ... he went crazy! And when God gave him his right mind back, King Neb bowed before the Almighty with a fresh perspective ... this time he realized that "God controlled the world" and not King Nebuchadnezzar.
What do we take from this? Well, we are not in control. Not of the economy. Not of our investments. Not of our income. Not of many things. God "does what he wants" and is all powerful and knowing. Instead of controling the experiences of life around, let's surrender to what God is already at work doing. What is God doing in your life? What is he doing in mine? Let's live there!! Let's spend time letting God lead (that's how he has designed us to be in the first place).
Monday, November 17, 2008
September 4 Reading (Daniel 3)
A familiar story from the exile ... as Tony Evans calls it: "Shadrach, Meshach and One Bad Negro!"
My favorite: " O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king. But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up."
Praise the Lord for going INTO the furnace with these 3 and proving faithful in the midst of great struggle!! Praise your most AWESOME Name!!
This story never gets old.
A familiar story from the exile ... as Tony Evans calls it: "Shadrach, Meshach and One Bad Negro!"
My favorite: " O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king. But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up."
Praise the Lord for going INTO the furnace with these 3 and proving faithful in the midst of great struggle!! Praise your most AWESOME Name!!
This story never gets old.
September 3 Reading (Ezekiel 32-33)
perhaps the most perplexing verse I've read in the scriptures ... "Although I had him [Pharaoh] spread terror in the land of the living, Pharaoh and all his hordes will be laid among the uncircumsized..." declares the Lord." This is tough to wrestle with ... why would the Lord have Pharaoh do this, only to punish him for it later? Could this be interpreted "I allowed him to spread his terror ...?" Or is it "I had him do it ..."? There is a huge difference.
Honestly, this can really challenge my inclination on predestination. I'm not sure what to do with this other than investigate a little deeper.
The role of the Watchman: Watch for danger, sound the trumpet, save the people. If the people (who hear the trumpet) don't respond, their blood is on themselves. If the watchman sees the danger, but doesn't sound the trumpet, then their blood is on the watchman!
Application :: I see the pastors of our society as the watchmen of our country and faith in general. If we see the danger of the sin around us, we MUST sound the alarm! If we do - and the people don't respond - that's not on us. But the greater danger is that if we don't sound the alarm, then everyone who is lost, will be on US! Did I really sign up for this?? Which takes me right back to my issue earlier in this post ... God's sovereignty and learning I'm not in control of JACK-POO! Help me God rest in that knowledge today and help me have the courage to sound the alarm!!
"As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live. Turn! Turn from your evil ways!"
"If a righteous man turns from his righteousness and does evil, he will die for it. And if a wicked man turns away from his wickedness and does what is just and right, he will live by doing so."
perhaps the most perplexing verse I've read in the scriptures ... "Although I had him [Pharaoh] spread terror in the land of the living, Pharaoh and all his hordes will be laid among the uncircumsized..." declares the Lord." This is tough to wrestle with ... why would the Lord have Pharaoh do this, only to punish him for it later? Could this be interpreted "I allowed him to spread his terror ...?" Or is it "I had him do it ..."? There is a huge difference.
Honestly, this can really challenge my inclination on predestination. I'm not sure what to do with this other than investigate a little deeper.
The role of the Watchman: Watch for danger, sound the trumpet, save the people. If the people (who hear the trumpet) don't respond, their blood is on themselves. If the watchman sees the danger, but doesn't sound the trumpet, then their blood is on the watchman!
Application :: I see the pastors of our society as the watchmen of our country and faith in general. If we see the danger of the sin around us, we MUST sound the alarm! If we do - and the people don't respond - that's not on us. But the greater danger is that if we don't sound the alarm, then everyone who is lost, will be on US! Did I really sign up for this?? Which takes me right back to my issue earlier in this post ... God's sovereignty and learning I'm not in control of JACK-POO! Help me God rest in that knowledge today and help me have the courage to sound the alarm!!
"As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live. Turn! Turn from your evil ways!"
"If a righteous man turns from his righteousness and does evil, he will die for it. And if a wicked man turns away from his wickedness and does what is just and right, he will live by doing so."
September 2 Reading (Ezekiel 37-39)
I wonder if bad times strike just for the sake of restoration. Having friendships restored is great ... but that comes after a period of silence. Something makes that process special. What about the steady friendships, the steady commitments, those that never never, never grow cold?
I love restoration, but can't we just stick with God consistenty, faithfully, and passionately?
I wonder if bad times strike just for the sake of restoration. Having friendships restored is great ... but that comes after a period of silence. Something makes that process special. What about the steady friendships, the steady commitments, those that never never, never grow cold?
I love restoration, but can't we just stick with God consistenty, faithfully, and passionately?
September 1 Reading (Ezekiel 33-36)
I'm reminded again that the Lord is angry with his people for the fact that they: defiled His great name, and that they relied on their sword/strength over His power and might. How true is this of us today? Do we honor His great name enough? Do we give God enough credit for His work in our life? Do we rely on His strength and power? Or do we trust in our own understanding and logic more? The "pride" if Israel, lead to its fall.
Does this strike you? [the Lord speaking to Ezekiel about his followers] "(they) sit before you to listen to your words, but they do not put them into practice. With their mouths they express devotion, but their hearts are greedy for unjust gain." Do I listen, but do not act? I'm afraid my "action" button hasn't been hit enough lately in the practical everyday opportunities that God has given me.
I want this:
I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws."
That's good stuff! Remove that bad - put in the AWESOME!!
I'm reminded again that the Lord is angry with his people for the fact that they: defiled His great name, and that they relied on their sword/strength over His power and might. How true is this of us today? Do we honor His great name enough? Do we give God enough credit for His work in our life? Do we rely on His strength and power? Or do we trust in our own understanding and logic more? The "pride" if Israel, lead to its fall.
Does this strike you? [the Lord speaking to Ezekiel about his followers] "(they) sit before you to listen to your words, but they do not put them into practice. With their mouths they express devotion, but their hearts are greedy for unjust gain." Do I listen, but do not act? I'm afraid my "action" button hasn't been hit enough lately in the practical everyday opportunities that God has given me.
I want this:
I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws."
That's good stuff! Remove that bad - put in the AWESOME!!
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
August 31 (todays reading includes parts of 2 Kings 25, Jeremiah 40, 42, 42, 43, 44)
By the way, did you hear Buddah is back? The reincarnated Buddah came out of the jungle today ... I read about it on Fox News.com. I thought the idea of Buddism is reincarnate to higher levels and then join the divine ... so why would Buddah (the holiest buddist ever) be back in human form? Things to ponder.
The drama in Judah's existence continues as the Babylonian appointed governor is assasinated and those left behind enquire of God - only to do the exact opposite of what God tells them to do. Therefore, they suffer the consequences. Determining God's will is challenging. Honestly, I am REALLY struggling with that. Judah's heart seemed in the right place ... "Pray that the Lord your God will tell us where we should go and what we should do." The answer from God was "stay". They rejected that option and left for Egypt. Is this MY word for the day? Stay?
What is more intriuging to me is that later we see that God sends a prophesy about those from Judah who left (against the word of God) and have now settled in Egypt. "He will come and attack Egypt, bringing death to those destined for death, captivity to those destined for captivity, and the sword to those destined for the sword." So what's the point. If we are all destined for something, then we should just live our life the way we want and then take what we get ... what we are destined for. I don't know ... I'm torn with how I feel about this area.
By the way, did you hear Buddah is back? The reincarnated Buddah came out of the jungle today ... I read about it on Fox News.com. I thought the idea of Buddism is reincarnate to higher levels and then join the divine ... so why would Buddah (the holiest buddist ever) be back in human form? Things to ponder.
The drama in Judah's existence continues as the Babylonian appointed governor is assasinated and those left behind enquire of God - only to do the exact opposite of what God tells them to do. Therefore, they suffer the consequences. Determining God's will is challenging. Honestly, I am REALLY struggling with that. Judah's heart seemed in the right place ... "Pray that the Lord your God will tell us where we should go and what we should do." The answer from God was "stay". They rejected that option and left for Egypt. Is this MY word for the day? Stay?
What is more intriuging to me is that later we see that God sends a prophesy about those from Judah who left (against the word of God) and have now settled in Egypt. "He will come and attack Egypt, bringing death to those destined for death, captivity to those destined for captivity, and the sword to those destined for the sword." So what's the point. If we are all destined for something, then we should just live our life the way we want and then take what we get ... what we are destined for. I don't know ... I'm torn with how I feel about this area.
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
August 30 (Lamentations 3, 4)
Take this in today ...
"Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, "The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him." The Lord is good to hose whose hope is in him, to hte one who seeks him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord."
"Is it not from the mouth of the Most High that both calamities and good things come?" This trips many of us ... we want a God that is all good all the time. We need to grow up and understand consequences of SIN stink but there is nothing we can do about it but stop SINNING and beg for God's protection ... still, it will rain.
Justice ... we all want it. We tell our kids that life isn't fair and then we demand fairness everywhere we turn ... are we really this shallow? What have I done recently to make the right real injustices of our world? What did I do to help the man at McDonald's Sunday who was looking through the trash for bottles and cans? NOTHING! How can ... who am I to demand justice when I'm not offering it to those around me?????
You O Lord, reign forever; your throne endures from generation to generation.
Take this in today ...
"Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, "The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him." The Lord is good to hose whose hope is in him, to hte one who seeks him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord."
"Is it not from the mouth of the Most High that both calamities and good things come?" This trips many of us ... we want a God that is all good all the time. We need to grow up and understand consequences of SIN stink but there is nothing we can do about it but stop SINNING and beg for God's protection ... still, it will rain.
Justice ... we all want it. We tell our kids that life isn't fair and then we demand fairness everywhere we turn ... are we really this shallow? What have I done recently to make the right real injustices of our world? What did I do to help the man at McDonald's Sunday who was looking through the trash for bottles and cans? NOTHING! How can ... who am I to demand justice when I'm not offering it to those around me?????
You O Lord, reign forever; your throne endures from generation to generation.
Thursday, November 6, 2008
August 29 (Lamentations 1-2)
"Her fulthiness clung to her skirts; she did not consider her future."
I thought it was striking that Jeremiah laments about the fact that Israel wasn't seeing the big picture. When was the last time you considered where you were heading ... your future? I believe that we can only make effective choices for today when we have a clear vision for where we are headed ... our future. This is deep for me these days.
Let's consider our sins ... "My sins have been bound into a yoke; by his hands they were woven together. They have come upon my neck and the Lord has sapped my strength." Sin has a way of weighing us down. When we allow the temptations of life to creep in, and we act on them, then we are slowed in our journey toward righteousness. Jeremiah was a holy man. God's lone prophet to his people. Why would he be talking about his sins in this way?
"Her fulthiness clung to her skirts; she did not consider her future."
I thought it was striking that Jeremiah laments about the fact that Israel wasn't seeing the big picture. When was the last time you considered where you were heading ... your future? I believe that we can only make effective choices for today when we have a clear vision for where we are headed ... our future. This is deep for me these days.
Let's consider our sins ... "My sins have been bound into a yoke; by his hands they were woven together. They have come upon my neck and the Lord has sapped my strength." Sin has a way of weighing us down. When we allow the temptations of life to creep in, and we act on them, then we are slowed in our journey toward righteousness. Jeremiah was a holy man. God's lone prophet to his people. Why would he be talking about his sins in this way?
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
August 28 (2 Kings 25 some of Jeremiah 39 & 40)
I must admit, I've never taken time to thoroughly discover what spiritual impact that is in the Jewish exiles. I appears from our reading that they have been under attack forever! Today, however, the fall of Jerusalem finally happens and the end of the kingdom seems to be at hand ...
The Babylonia commander, Nebuzaradan, destroyed Jerusalem - knocking down the outer wall, ransacking the temple, killing all the leaders and even sending many people away. I see this little "good" in him when he gets to the poor people of the city ... he lets them stay. Even more, he gave to them vineyards and fields ... imagine the role reversal taking place in their minds.
I must admit, I've never taken time to thoroughly discover what spiritual impact that is in the Jewish exiles. I appears from our reading that they have been under attack forever! Today, however, the fall of Jerusalem finally happens and the end of the kingdom seems to be at hand ...
The Babylonia commander, Nebuzaradan, destroyed Jerusalem - knocking down the outer wall, ransacking the temple, killing all the leaders and even sending many people away. I see this little "good" in him when he gets to the poor people of the city ... he lets them stay. Even more, he gave to them vineyards and fields ... imagine the role reversal taking place in their minds.
Monday, November 3, 2008
August 25 (Ezekiel 25, 30)
This reading is a clear indication of what life could be like when you are on God's "bad side." I'm ready for some uplifting readings!
August 26 (Ezekiel 26-28)
Today is about the realization of "who" is in control. The great sailors or Tyre thought they had the seas figured out - they were prideful about their naval accomplishments ... and then God humbled them and said, "In the pride of your heart you say, "I am a god." ... But you are a man and not a god, though you think you are as wise as a god." Isn't this where we find ourselves today? With 50% of western Europe now believing there is no God, aren't we in danger of following a path that says, "I understand - I am self-sovereign." I see so much of this in our world today ...
Again I'm noticing that God is doing alot of destruction and humbling of these nations all for the purpose of "then you will know that I'm the Lord their God." Hmmm ... can you find another way to get my attention??
August 27 (Jeremiah 37-38)
Today is about doing what the Lord says. King Zedekiah is told to surrender to the Babylonians in order to spare his life. He thinks that's not of God so he decides to change those plans. I wish I had a prophet telling me what God's plan is for me. That would be sweet ... but would I follow it ... would I believe it? Hard to say on this side.
This reading is a clear indication of what life could be like when you are on God's "bad side." I'm ready for some uplifting readings!
August 26 (Ezekiel 26-28)
Today is about the realization of "who" is in control. The great sailors or Tyre thought they had the seas figured out - they were prideful about their naval accomplishments ... and then God humbled them and said, "In the pride of your heart you say, "I am a god." ... But you are a man and not a god, though you think you are as wise as a god." Isn't this where we find ourselves today? With 50% of western Europe now believing there is no God, aren't we in danger of following a path that says, "I understand - I am self-sovereign." I see so much of this in our world today ...
Again I'm noticing that God is doing alot of destruction and humbling of these nations all for the purpose of "then you will know that I'm the Lord their God." Hmmm ... can you find another way to get my attention??
August 27 (Jeremiah 37-38)
Today is about doing what the Lord says. King Zedekiah is told to surrender to the Babylonians in order to spare his life. He thinks that's not of God so he decides to change those plans. I wish I had a prophet telling me what God's plan is for me. That would be sweet ... but would I follow it ... would I believe it? Hard to say on this side.
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