The Sign of Jonah

"For as Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites, so also the Son of Man will be to this generation.  The men of Nineveh will rise up in the judgment with the men of this generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and indeed a greater than Jonah is here."

 --Luke 11:30, 32  (NKJV)

From the daily Bible reading on August 7, 2013 of Psalm 133; Luke 11:29-36; Ezra 6-7.

Jesus describes mankind during His time on earth as an "evil generation" (please see verse 29).  It seeks some sign of the long awaited Messiah, but Jesus cautions that the only sign they will receive is the same given to the people of Nineveh: the warning from God of impending judgment as delivered by Jonah.  Jesus is in effect saying that He is this era's, this generation's Jonah, and so much more.

When we think of Jonah, we may first remember his reluctance to do as God commanded him.  Rather than give any chance of salvation to the Ninevites, his hated enemies, he tried running the opposite way.  God had other plans, though, and so had Jonah swallowed up by a great fish and dropped off on the very shores of Nineveh.  Upon hearing God's warning from Jonah, the king and all the people did an about-face, fully repented and turned to God.

The comparison between Jesus and Jonah fails in two regards.  First, Jesus never tried to run away from His responsibilities.  He never tried to shirk His duty or escape God's will for Him.  The only glimmer of reluctance He displayed at all was when He asked the Father to take the cup away from His lips if possible, but then immediately added that nonetheless, no matter what He might want or prefer, that God's will must be done (please reference Matthew 26:39).  And unlike Jonah, who hated the Ninevites, Jesus loved those He was sent by God to save.  It is also interesting to note that Jonah rode in the belly of the fish for three days before being delivered up to Nineveh where he could offer the people salvation from damnation.  Jesus died and went to the belly of hell until on the third day He was delivered up to all mankind so that He can offer everlasting salvation from damnation to us all.

Jonah came and issued a warning from God and the people listened and were saved.  Jesus came and issued a more severe warning from God, but most of the people of that time refused to listen.  Fortunately for all mankind, the warning Jesus gave and the offer of salvation He made are still in effect, still valid, still ours for the taking.  Jesus is greater by far than Jonah, who was given responsibility over only a certain segment of people and for a very limited time.  Jesus accepted and bears responsibility over all of humanity for all time.  But His offer will end some day, and maybe soon, when He comes to redeem those who gratefully received Him, when He comes to take His church home.  We must turn our hearts to be more like the Ninevites than the Pharisees.  We must heed God's warning and believe in Jesus as His Son and our Lord and Master so we are not condemned on the day of judgment.  Recognize the sign of Jonah, heed the warning of God, believe in Jesus, and be saved.  Amen.

Father in heaven, thank You for sending Your Son as a special messenger bearing Your warning to us all.  Thank You for giving us a chance at redemption, a way out of condemnation, an escape from damnation.  Thank You, Lord Jesus, for the great sacrifice You made just for us, just that we might be saved.  We love You, sweet Jesus, and know You are our Lord.  In Your precious name, Christ Jesus we pray.  Amen.

A New Dwelling Place

"Surely I will not go into the chamber of my house, or go up to the comfort of my bed; I will not give sleep to my eyes or slumber to my eyelids, until I find a place for the Lord, a dwelling place for the Mighty One of Jacob."

 --Psalm 132:3-5  (NKJV)

From the daily Bible reading on August 6, 2013 of Psalm 132; Luke 11:1-28; Ezra 3-5.

As the 132nd Psalm was composed by King David, it is considered a royal psalm (written by or about a member of royalty), and it is also one of the Songs of Ascents so it is a pilgrimage psalm as well.  All of which simply provides classification for the psalm, giving it a couple of placeholders in the catalog of things that some people like to keep.  What provides food for thought, though, are the words David sings.  He splits his song nearly in half, with the first ten verses asking God to remember how zealously he worked to bring the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem, and the final eight verses reminding the Lord of the covenant He made with David to bless his descendants as long as they stay true to God.  Part of that first half, in today's focus verses, also indicates just how much David wanted to build a house for the Lord, an honor denied him but instead bestowed upon his son, Solomon, during his reign (please reference 2 Samuel 7).

David didn't get to build a house for the Lord, and Solomon built a temple of stone and wood and precious metals galore that sadly was destroyed, rebuilt, and destroyed again.  But God doesn't really need a house, and certainly not one that man might be able to construct with his hands.  Besides, Jesus showed us just where the real temple is:  inside of us.  In Luke's account of the Gospel, Jesus declares the kingdom of God is within us (Luke 17:20-21).  Imagine that: the entire kingdom of God within each and every one of us!  In John's Gospel report, Jesus promises He will send the Holy Spirit to live in us when He returns to the Father in heaven (John 14).  And all through his many letters, Paul assures us that, as believers, the Spirit of God dwells within us.  What could be a more indestructible temple than the body of a believer?  When we pass from this life, we will be resurrected in the body as Jesus was, so the Temple will endure forever.  And spread out over all of us, the Temple will always have a place on earth until that wonderful day when our Lord returns to take His church home.

Matthew, Mark, and Luke all three describe the "veil of the temple" being torn in two when Jesus died on that cross.  In the temple, the veil physically separated man from God.  Sin separates us from God spiritually.  When Jesus' blood sacrifice was completed, the veil was torn, our sins were carried to the grave and forgiven, and a path back to God was opened before us.  We no longer have to be separated from our Father.  That path is Jesus and through Him, and only through Him, we can carry our personal internal temple back to God.  Amen.

Lord Jesus, thank You for Your great sacrifice that tore the veil of the old temple in two and opened the way for us to become the new house of God, carved out in our very souls by Your love and our faith and belief in You as Lord and Master.  You are in us and we in You.  What more could we possibly need?  In Your glorious name, O Jesus we pray.  Amen.

Keep It Simple

Lord, my heart is not haughty, nor my eyes lofty.  Neither do I concern myself with great matters, nor with things too profound for me.   

And Jesus answered and said to her, "Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things." 

 --Psalm 131, Luke 10:41  (NKJV)

From the daily Bible reading on August 5, 2013 of Psalm 131; Luke 10:25-42; Ezra 2.

In the 131st Psalm, another of the Songs of Ascents, David declares that he does not act haughty nor think overly deep thoughts.  We can certainly agree with the first of this as we picture the king playing musical instruments and dancing in the streets leading the procession as the Ark of the Covenant is carried into Jerusalem.  As to the latter, he compares his demeanor to that of a child weaned from its mother.  His soul is calm and quiet, he is not fretful or anxious.  By keeping things simple, David's life goes smoother and he can remain calm.

This may be a lesson Martha should have paid heed to.  Luke tells us of two sisters, Martha and Mary (whose brother, Lazarus, Jesus had brought back from the dead), and their visit from Jesus and His disciples one certain day.  Martha was hustling and bustling about trying to prepare a meal for all the visitors and making their new guests feel welcome and comfortable, while Mary merely sat at Jesus' feet listening to His teachings.  Martha grew quite indignant and practically demanded that Jesus tell her to get up and help with the work.  But Jesus gently rebuked Martha, telling her that Mary was doing the right thing, taking advantage of being with and learning from the Master while He still walked among them.  The Lord cautioned Martha that she was too caught up in the busyness of life to realize what is truly important.

We need to pay attention to these two brief character studies and how they affect us today.  With round-the-clock news services and instant access to global information and current events, we can easily become completely inundated by matters both great and small.  The big things can drag us down.  Natural disasters and wars in far off lands captivate our attention.  Scientists warn that a huge asteroid may someday strike the earth, wiping out all life as we know it.  These and similar issues are huge and scary, but there is generally very little we as individuals can do about them.  David says keep it simple, don't concern ourselves overly much with such great matters since we can have little or no impact on them.  On the other end of the spectrum are all the little things that clutter our lives on a daily basis.  Rushing around trying to get all our tasks completed, seeing to the needs of our families and our friends and ourselves, serving the church and maybe volunteering with a non-profit agency, these are all good and sometimes necessary but when added to everything else going on it can all just overwhelm us.  Jesus says slow down and take a deep breath.  Don't let all the busyness of life keep us from what truly matters.  Let's spend time with Jesus while we can.  Amen.

Dearest Jesus, thank You for showing us what we should keep our attention on.  Please help us let go of those things that keep us from You.  Help us ignore the little things and not dwell on the huge issues.  Help us be calm and quiet in our souls, focused solely on You.  In Your beautiful name, Christ Jesus we pray.  Amen.

Do You Hear the Warnings?

And the Lord God of their fathers sent warnings to them by His messengers, rising up early and sending them, because He had compassion on His people and on His dwelling place.

 --2 Chronicles 36:15  (NKJV)

From the daily Bible reading on August 4, 2013 of Psalm 130; Luke 10:1-24; 2 Chronicles 36-Ezra 1.

The kings of Judah were a mixed lot.  Some were exceptionally good, doing right in the eyes of God and leading their people to righteousness, by example and by decree when necessary.  But many of the kings proved wickedly bad and downright evil, causing their subjects to sin by turning their backs on God and worshiping craven images and the false gods of their neighbors.  Each time a good king would come along and reinstate God's law and tear down the false idols and the places where these were worshiped, a bad king would follow and undo all the good that had been accomplished.  Toward the end of the second book of Chronicles we read of a string of bad kings, one after another, committing atrocities and abominations to God, some serving for only a few months before being deposed, one only eight years old and still doing evil in the sight of the Lord!  Even the priests and the spiritual leaders turned from the ways of the Lord.  With His anger growing, God punished the kings and the people often, empowering foreign nations to come in and conquer them, to take some captive, and to carry off great treasure, including from the house of the Lord.  And the people simply couldn't or wouldn't take a hint but instead continued their wickedness and evil ways.

Finally, God had enough.  He loved His people and the Temple, but He could not let this behavior continue.  It was His love that made Him act, so that at least some of the people might be saved.  He increased the frequency and severity of the punishments.  He stepped up His warnings, giving His message, His words, to His prophets like Jeremiah, who spoke for the Lord and cautioned the kings and the people that they must return to honoring God and obeying His voice or there would be a terrible price to pay.  When all this failed to change the hearts of the people, God raised up Nebuchadnezzar and his Babylonian Empire to completely defeat and dominate Judah.  The Temple was destroyed, its treasure carried off to a Babylonian temple.  The kings and people were taken captive to Babylon.  And the land of Judah was finally allowed its Sabbath rest, for seventy years, as Jeremiah had prophesied.

God loved the people, but they turned their backs on Him.  Yes, some indeed loved and feared the Lord and tried their best to follow Him and be righteous in His eyes.  But they still had to suffer the same earthly fate as the wicked.  There are so many parallels, too many, between Jeremiah's Judah and our United States today.  We need to learn from the lesson the children of Israel were given.  We need to listen to God's holy people and heed His Word and turn back to Him and follow Him with all our heart.  Otherwise there will be a terrible price to pay.  God loves us, so He has given us plenty of warning.  We must repent of our evil ways and believe in Jesus our Lord and Master, so that some might be saved.  Amen.

Heavenly Father, like the people of ancient Judah, we sin mightily against You.  Although You have been ever faithful to us, we have turned our backs on You and spurned Your Word.  Forgive us, please Father, and help us more closely heed Your voice.  Strengthen us, Lord Jesus, to do what is right in a world that rewards wrong.  In the gracious name of Jesus Christ we seek mercy and we pray.   Amen.

Save or Destroy?

And when His disciples James and John saw this, they said, "Lord, do You want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them, just as Elijah did?"  But He turned and rebuked them, and said, "You do not know what manner of spirit you are of.  For the Son of Man did not come to destroy men's lives but to save them."  And they went to another village.

 --Luke 9:54-56  (NKJV)

From the daily Bible reading on August 3, 2013 of Psalm 129; Luke 9:28-62; 2 Chronicles 34:14-35.

For quite a few chapters beginning with chapter nine verse 51, Luke provides glimpses of Jesus' life that are not given by the other three Gospel writers, although similar teachings do appear in their accounts on different occasions.  Today's focus verses frame a very interesting tableau featuring Jesus, James, and John.  The time was drawing near for Jesus' great sacrifice.  While traveling to Jerusalem, they entered a small Samaritan town, but the people there did not receive Him because that was not part of God's plan for Jesus to tarry there.  Jesus was set on His final destination of Jerusalem to fulfill God's will and to see His fate to the end of His mortal life.  James and John, not really understanding all of this, felt indignation at the response of the townsfolk.  They approached Jesus and asked (we don't know which one actually spoke the words) if He wanted to invoke destruction on them as Elijah had done in the old days (please see 2 Kings 1:10-12).  It is easy to see how these two may have had Elijah on their minds, for they, along with Peter, had just recently witnessed Jesus' Transfiguration when He was briefly joined by Moses and Elijah (verses 28 through 36).  James and John apparently sought to prove to these Samaritans and any witnesses just who Jesus truly was.

But Jesus quietly rebuked them, for they were thinking and speaking purely from the flesh and not from the spirit.  Jesus' ministry on earth had always been all about love and serving mankind, not retribution and destruction.  He taught God's word everywhere He went, not to harm or scare people but to better their lives.  He never made a move to oppress anyone, but always strove to free them.  All His efforts were to save us, not to condemn us.  What Jesus said to him and James must have really impressed John, for nowhere is this sentiment more clearly expressed than in his Gospel account of Jesus Himself telling us, "For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved."  (John 3:17.)

This is God's love, shown in Jesus' intent and mission on earth, not to destroy men's lives but to build them up, not to condemn mankind, but to save it.  God blesses us with His Son, that all who believe in Him might not be destroyed but instead be saved.  Amen.

Loving God, You sent Your Son to save us, not to condemn us.  At any time You or He could easily wipe man from the face of the earth, erasing all memory of us forever.  Yet even though we must tempt You sorely with our disobedience and our serving other gods, You show compassion and forgiveness over us.  Thank You, Father.  Thank You, Jesus.  In the most wonderful and glorious name of Jesus Christ we give thanks and we pray.   Amen.

Be Blessed, Be Happy

Behold, thus shall the man be blessed who fears the Lord.

 --Psalm 128:4  (NKJV)

From the daily Bible reading on August 2, 2013 of Psalm 128; Luke 9:1-27; 2 Chronicles 32:24-34:13.

The 128th Psalm is one of the Songs of Ascents, the hymns sung when on pilgrimage to the Temple in Jerusalem for the annual feasts (please see "Glad to Go to Church).  It also touches on how our home lives, our personal lives, affect the life of our community.  If everyone lived as described in the first four verses, our greater community would be a better place, as in the last two verses.  Of course, a neighborhood, for instance, can earn a bad reputation just because of the misdeeds and bad behavior of a few (all of whom may not even live there).  That is sad, and perhaps unfair.  But if everyone within the affected area were to walk in the Lord's ways, the problems would soon vanish, either by making it uncomfortable for the wicked to continue doing business or by divine intervention if God so sees fit, and peace would be upon that neighborhood.

One definition of the word "blessed" is happy, and our psalmist assures us that those who fear the Lord, who respect Him by showing Him reverence and obedience, and who follow His commandments will indeed be happy.  Their home life will be productive yet peaceful, their spouse faithful and loving, their children helpful and obedient.  The psalmist uses the phrase, "like a fruitful vine in the very heart of [the] house" to describe the wife, but it could just as well be applied to the whole family as it works together as one unit to serve God and each other.  The very heart of the family, giving itself in service to God and to others.  Just as the root, the trunk, and the vine must all be as one to bear fruit, the father, the mother, and the children should all be of one mind, one heart, one spirit of doing right in the eyes of our Lord to bring forth the finest fruits of God.

Blessed is the one who fears the Lord, our psalmist says.  Proverbs 3:13 tells us that, "Happy is the man who finds wisdom."  And both Psalm 111:10 and Proverbs 9:10 provide the starting point: "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom."  It all comes back to being reverent and obedient to the Lord.  Jesus teaches us that those who come to Him and follow His words will be founding their lives upon the solid rock, unshakable and immovable in the storm, and in doing so will be blessed and happy.  If we all strive to follow our Lord Jesus, to obey His voice and the Holy Spirit within us, not only will God bless us, but that blessing will overflow and spill out and spread over our entire community, and all can be happy.  Love the Lord, love each other, and be blessed.  Amen.

Heavenly Father, in You and from You we find all blessings.  You so richly reward our reverence and obedience with great and wonderful gifts.  Happiness is ours from You.  Thank You, loving Father, for every good and dear thing in our life, and especially for the salvation offered by Your Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ the Lord.  In the holiest name of Jesus we pray.   Amen.

Prepare Your Heart to Seek God

For a multitude of the people, many from Ephraim, Manasseh, Issachar, and Zebulun, had not cleansed themselves, yet they ate the Passover contrary to what was written.  But Hezekiah prayed for them, saying, "May the good Lord provide atonement for everyone who prepares his heart to seek God, the Lord God of his fathers, though he is not cleansed according to the purification of the sanctuary."

 --2 Chronicles 30:18-19  (NKJV)

From the daily Bible reading on August 1, 2013 of Psalm 127; Luke 8:40-56; 2 Chronicles 30:13-32:23.

King Hezekiah was doing right in the sight of God and leading the people of Judah to do likewise.  He reassigned the priests and the Levites to their correct and appropriate roles.  He reinstated all the rites, feasts, sacrifices, and offerings and commanded the people to observe them.  He had the house of the Lord cleared of all the things that did not belong there, all the rubbish brought in against God's law, and had the Temple cleaned thoroughly and repaired.  He offered to God from his own wealth for the repair work and the sacrifices.  He also sent his trusted men throughout all Judah and into Israel, teaching them about God's law and spreading his proclamation to observe the Passover and all the rest of the feasts in Jerusalem, in the Temple.  And God smiled on his efforts.

And the people responded to their king, coming to Jerusalem from all across Judah.  Some who sought the Lord came from Israel, which had turned its back on God long ago.  But many were not properly prepared to participate in the observances according to the law of Moses, including some priests of Judah who had not all sanctified themselves to God's service.  The Levites bore the burden of administering all the rites of the Passover while the priests hurriedly sanctified themselves.  Yet the people partook of the feast and ate of the Passover without being ritually cleansed, contrary to Mosaic Law.  The exemplary leader, and in a real sense a true servant to his people, Hezekiah humbled himself before the Lord, pleading for atonement for his people, because even though in their innocence and their ignorance they had broken God's law as it pertained to the feast, in their hearts they were earnestly seeking to return to God.  "And the Lord listened to Hezekiah and healed the people."  (Verse 20.)

God showed mercy to these people so dearly seeking Him.  And He also gives us an indication that observance of the Mosaic Law is not as important as what is in our heart.  Our motivation, in this case seeking God, weighs far more heavily in the balance than our blind adherence to ritual.  Jesus confirmed this time and time again in His teachings.  He is the Way, He tells us, and the only Way, for only through Him can we be reunited with our Father in heaven.  Adherence to the law, or any other act on our part, cannot save us.  Only our belief in Jesus gains us spiritual salvation.  Prepare your heart to seek God.  Seek Jesus with all that is in you.  Amen.

Gracious Father, Hezekiah knew his people were not following Your law as handed out by Moses, so he prayed to You for mercy on them because he truly cared for them.  And Lord, You looked into his heart and the people's hearts, and You knew their intent and their purpose, and You forgave them and healed them.  Please, dear Lord, look into our hearts when we do something that displeases You.  Forgive us our sin, for we seek You and Jesus with all our heart.  In the holy name of Jesus we pray.   Amen.

What Great Things Jesus Has Done

Now the man from whom the demons had departed begged Him that he might be with Him.  But Jesus sent him away, saying, "Return to your own house, and tell what great things God has done for you."  And he went his way and proclaimed throughout the whole city what great things Jesus had done for him.

 --Luke 8:38-39  (NKJV)

From the daily Bible reading on July 31, 2013 of Psalm 126; Luke 8:22-39; 2 Chronicles 29-30:12.

Leaving Capernaum for a short time, Jesus wanted to cross over the Sea of Galilee.  While under sail, Jesus was napping when a fierce storm sprang up, with waves driven by the winds funneled down to the lake by the valleys leading to it, threatening to overwhelm the boat and all within it.  The disciples awoke Jesus in a near panic, fearing for their lives.  First Jesus rebuked the storm, and the wind and the seas calmed.  Then He rebuked the men, for having so little faith.  (Jesus never rebuked anyone for having too much faith!)

Once safe on the side of the sea opposite Galilee, they landed in the region of Gadara where they were immediately met by a wild man - demon-possessed, naked, and so crazed that not even chains could hold him.  When he saw Jesus he shouted, "What have I to do with You, Jesus, Son of the Most High God?" (Verse 28.)  The demon possessing this man, speaking through him, knew exactly who Jesus was, just as the devil acknowledged Jesus as the Christ when he tempted Him for forty days in the wilderness (please see "Lead Us Not Into Temptation").  Satan and his minions recognized Jesus as the Son of God even though man did not.  At least, not yet in our story at any rate.  Jesus asked the demon its name and was told "Legion", for there were many.  (A Roman Legion was comprised of from 3000 to 6000 soldiers, so this poor man was indeed possessed by many demons!)  Jesus ordered the demons out of the man, but at their request sent them into a herd of swine feeding nearby rather than to the great abyss where they belonged (and eventually end up).  Upon being possessed themselves, the swine raced down the hill and threw themselves into the sea and drowned.  The man, now clothed and calm, the raging sea within him stilled as the Sea of Galilee had been shortly before, really wanted to stay with Jesus, to follow Him.  But Jesus had other plans for him, instead sending him home to tell everyone all of what had just happened, and all the great things God had done for him.

Sometimes when we realize how much God has done in our lives and the amazing sacrifice Jesus made for us, we want to just stay with Jesus, to not leave His side.  We feel comfortable and comforted there, secure within His arms, knowing we can reach out to Him to calm the storms raging in our lives.  This may translate into our spending more and more time in prayer and in our Bibles, or more time at church and with other believers.  And this is all good.  We should want to do so.  But Jesus also wants us to get out of that comfort zone a little and share our own personal salvation story to others who might not yet believe.  He wants us to go to our "house", into our community, and tell everyone of all the great things He has done for us.  So go now, and spread the Gospel, the Good News, throughout the world, and tell of all the great things Jesus has done.  Amen.

Jesus, our Savior, please forgive us when our faith wanes and we cry out for You to calm the storms raging in our lives.  Thank You for ridding us of the demons that threatened to overtake us, and for keeping them away.  Strengthen us and embolden us, O Lord, to go out into the world and tell others of all the truly great and marvelous things You have done for us.  In Your wonderful name, dearest Lord Jesus we pray.   Amen.

Like a Mountain

Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion, which cannot be moved, but abides forever.  As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds His people from this time forth and forever.

 --Psalm 125:1-2  (NKJV)

From the daily Bible reading on July 30, 2013 of Psalm 125; Luke 8:1-21; 2 Chronicles 26-28.

The 125th Psalm presents us with a song of trust, and specifically the merits of trusting in the Lord.  In it the psalmist equates the stability God provides believers with the immovable Mount Zion and their security with that of Jerusalem itself, both holy and dear to God.  He goes on to encourage the people by reminding them that domination by foreign powers is and has always been temporary, and that God would not put more on them than they could endure.  He then asks the Lord to bless those who remain righteous and upright, and closes with the warning that the wicked will be judged harshly.  And as a benediction he wishes peace over all Israel.

Our psalmist frames his song with beautiful imagery, painting a picture in our mind of believers standing tall and strong, protected by the Lord of all creation.  All we need do is trust in the Lord and He will surround us just like the mountains surrounded Jerusalem, offering an impenetrable shield.  When we are true in our belief, our faith will be able to withstand any assault from the great tempter, Satan.  We can stand firm in our faith, nothing can move us, just like the very mountain of God.  Our Lord encompasses us with His love, which abides forever.

The psalmist probably didn't know it, but he was describing our relationship with Jesus.  Once we have accepted and received Him as our Lord and Master, He will strengthen us to face any circumstance we may find ourselves in.  Like a mighty mountain, no temptation or lure will move us away from God because Jesus is the very rock that forms our foundation, the basis of our entire being.  When the storms of life rage, we will hold our ground.  When the world batters us, we will not be moved but will abide forever, steadfastly and securely rooted in our Lord's love.  God's protective hands surround us, Jesus' love engulfs us, and the Holy Spirit fills us to overflowing.  We are His, from this time forth, and forever.  Amen.

O Lord Jesus, our faith in You gives us a power others may only dream of.  Through Your strength, we can stand as firm and secure in life and in our belief, safe from the constant attacks of the world and of Satan.  Your love surrounds us with a protective barrier that no force can break down.  Because of You, we can live forever in God's house.  Thank You, Lord Jesus, for blessing us.  In Your glorious name, dear Jesus we pray.   Amen.

Cheerfully Giving

Then all the leaders and all the people rejoiced, brought their contributions, and put them into the chest until all had given.

 --2 Chronicles 24:10  (NKJV)

From the daily Bible reading on July 29, 2013 of Psalm 124; Luke 7:30-50; 2 Chronicles 24-25.

Joash, who was anointed king over Judah at the tender age of seven years old, did what was right in the sight of the Lord for all the remaining days that the priest Jehoiada lived.  (His record after Jehoiada's passing was less than stellar, but that is for another study.)  At one point, it came upon his heart to repair God's Temple, which had been ransacked and damaged during the reign of his father Ahaziah.  Joash ordered the priests and the Levites to quickly go out through all the cities of Judah and gather money from the children of Israel for the repair and maintenance of God's house.  When they failed to act quickly as the king commanded, he complained to Jehoiada, reminding him that the law of Moses required that the tabernacle be properly cared for.  At the command of the king and his chief priest, a chest was constructed and placed outside at the gate leading into the Temple.  Then Joash and Jehoiada together issued a proclamation throughout Jerusalem and all of Judah that the people bring their contributions and deposit them into the chest, the collection imposed upon the people by Moses at God's command while they sojourned in the wilderness.  And then what to many of us today might be an amazing thing happened.  All the people, including their leaders, not only contributed to this effort, but they rejoiced at the opportunity to do so!

The Apostle Paul tells us in his second letter to the church in Corinth that God loves a cheerful giver (please see 2 Corinthians 9:7), and this is clearly evident in what comes next in our account of Joash's reign.  The collection chest filled quickly from the donations of all the people and had to be emptied daily.  The people may have felt somewhat compelled to give because of the king's proclamation, but they nonetheless gave freely and abundantly and even with joy because of their love of God.  And God responded by providing far more than was needed for the repairs.

God may have ordered that we give for the maintenance of Christ's church, and Jesus may have ordered that we feed His sheep, but we should willingly do so not because we are commanded to, but rather because we want to!  Our love of Jesus should flow over and allow us to love and care for our fellow man.  Out of this love we should give willingly, cheerfully, generously.  Let us rejoice as we make our offering, for God loves a cheerful giver.  Amen.

Dearest Jesus, You command us to feed Your lambs, to tend Your sheep.  Yet sometimes we give meagerly, if at all, because we feel we have to, or it is expected of us, or others will think us cheap if we don't.  But Lord, You want us to be cheerful givers, to want to give because of our love for You and our brothers and sisters in Your name.  Lord, please help us remember all that You and our Father give us and to rejoice when we give our offering back to the service of Your kingdom.  In Your most holy and precious name, Lord Jesus we pray.   Amen.

Ultimate Authority

Then Jesus went with them.  And when He was already not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to Him, saying to Him, "Lord, do not trouble Yourself, for I am not worthy that You should enter under my roof.  Therefore I did not even think myself worthy to come to You.  But say the word, and my servant will be healed.  For I also am a man placed under authority, having soldiers under me."

 --Luke 7:6-8a  (NKJV)

From the daily Bible reading on July 28, 2013 of Psalm 123; Luke 7:1-29; 2 Chronicles 21-23.

Luke tells us of a centurion whose name we never learn, but one thing we do know about this man is that he was not the typical Roman officer.  Pax Romana, the Peace of Rome, was established and maintained with an iron fist.  Its army was fierce, powerful, and feared.  Its troops, while well disciplined, could be cruel, their officers humorless and with little or no compassion.  Many of the soldiers of the famed Roman Legion were pressed into duty from the ranks of the defeated people in Rome's relentless conquest of foreign lands.  Perhaps our centurion was one of these, for he certainly does not fit the image of the usual leader of a hundred Roman soldiers.  According to Luke, this man showed great compassion, to his servant and to the Jewish people under his charge.  Luke accompanied Paul on many of his journeys and spent time with him while Paul served under house arrest in Rome, chained to Roman guards day and night.  So Luke would have closely observed many soldiers and their leaders over the years.  He tells us that this centurion treated the Jews kindly, even building a synagogue for them.  They, in turn, apparently respected him, for their elders were the ones who approached Jesus on his behalf, saying he was deserving of Jesus' help.  For the centurion asked for nothing but the healing of his servant, who meant a lot to him and who was very ill and near death.

The centurion must have sensed exactly who Jesus was, because even though he was a powerful figure in Capernaum and was held in high esteem by the Jews under his control, he felt himself unworthy to talk to Jesus in person, to approach Him, or for Jesus to even enter his house.  But he knew that all Jesus had to do was say the word and his servant would be healed.  And here's the kicker.  Being a commanding officer, he still served under others and his authority came to him from and through those above him in rank.  This atypical Roman centurion recognized that Jesus acted and served with authority, and he knew just where that authority originated - from God above.

Jesus acknowledged the faith this Gentile centurion held in God and His ultimate authority and how he saw this authority being passed to and exercised by Jesus, and so granted the centurion's request and healed his servant.  If we have the same faith as this centurion who had not been told the full story of Christ as we have the blessing of knowing, then Jesus will answer our prayer just as He restored the health of that dying servant so long ago.  God, in His compassion for us, gave Jesus the ultimate authority over all creation, to serve us, and to save us.  Amen.

Lord Jesus, You saw the great faith this humble centurion showed when he recognized Your authority.  His authority was over a few men and came from another man, from Caesar.  Your authority is over all creation and comes from God.  As the centurion tried to serve the people under his charge, You came not as a conqueror but as a servant, not to condemn the world but to save it.  And all we have to do in return is just what that centurion did - to believe in You.  In Your holy and beautiful name O Lord Jesus we pray.   Amen.

Glad to Go to Church

I was glad when they said to me, "Let us go into the house of the Lord."

 --Psalm 122:1  (NKJV)

From the daily Bible reading on July 27, 2013 of Psalm 122; Luke 6:20-49; 2 Chronicles 18:28-20.

Psalms 120 through 134 are all titled "A Song of Ascents" and together form a hymnal that was used by the children of Israel on pilgrimage to Jerusalem (for "going up to Jerusalem", hence "ascents") for the holy annual feasts like Passover and Pentecost.  Psalm 122 is one of four written by David, in which he recounts his own experience as a pilgrim to Jerusalem, the city he praises in his song as both the spiritual and civic heart of the nation.  In its verses he calls to the people to be in prayer that Jerusalem, and by extension all of Israel, be at peace.

David begins his song by expressing the joy he felt when told it was time to go on his pilgrimage.  We can sense his absolute delight at the opportunity to go up to the tabernacle in Jerusalem, to the house of the Lord.  We can feel his anticipation, his growing excitement, as he prepares for the short trip.  As I read his first verse, I envision a child going to bed on Christmas eve, unable to sleep because of thoughts of what wonders would be revealed under the tree come morning.  Was this the source of David's gladness, knowing the wonders that awaited him in the house of the Lord?

Wouldn't it be totally amazing and truly marvelous if everyone who calls themselves Christian would be so excited about going to church each Sunday morning (or some other time during the week if need be)?  We should be, since the wonders of Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit will meet us there if we gather in Jesus' name.  And the fellowship and support we can find there with other like-minded individuals is unparalleled in any other area of our life.  We should climb into bed on Saturday nights thinking, "I can't wait to go to church in the morning!"  The excitement should build and then burst upon us as we walk through the doors of the house of the Lord, the building that shelters God's people, our family in Christ.  But too many of us seem like we can't be bothered to spend an hour or two within those walls even just once a week.  We may have good reasons, most likely we don't.  God gives us so much, and asks so little in return.  The very least we can do is to spend a little time with His family every week and worship Him.  Please don't begrudge Jesus those few hours.  Amen.

Father in heaven, we should be glad to come into Your house with our brothers and sisters in Christ and worship You.  Our delight should be so great as to be infectious, spreading to all with whom we come into contact.  We should be excited and look forward to each weekly visit with great joy.  Yet we too often feel it more of a duty, something we must do if we wish to be considered Christian.  Our misguided importance on church attendance trumps the true meaning of coming together to love and support each other as we thank and worship You for all Your many blessings.  Forgive us, Lord Jesus, for not keeping You in our hearts as we should.  Help us delight in Your presence.  In the name of  Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior we pray.   Amen.

Serving God

So they taught in Judah, and had the Book of the Law of the Lord with them; they went throughout all the cities of Judah and taught the people.  And the fear of the Lord fell on all the kingdoms of the lands that were around Judah, so that they did not make war against Jehoshaphat.

 --2 Chronicles 17:9-10  (NKJV)

From the daily Bible reading on July 26, 2013 of Psalm 121; Luke 6:1-19; 2 Chronicles 16-18:27.

Asa had been a good king of Judah who followed God's commandments and rid his kingdom of most of the high places (for idol worship), but when threatened by Baasha, King of Israel, he turned to Syria for aid rather than to the Lord as he had done earlier when attacked.  This displeased God who constantly seeks ways to show Himself strong for His people against those who would oppose them.  Asa suffered some serious disease that originated in his feet and died.  His son Jehoshaphat then took over and reigned over Judah in Asa's place.  And the Lord was with Jehoshaphat because he obeyed God's laws and walked in the ways of his ancestor David.  Like his father in Asa's earlier years, Jehoshaphat did not permit or condone idolatry as did Israel, but instead destroyed any remaining false gods and their places of worship in Judah and permitted all those who wished to serve the Lord to dwell in his kingdom without fear.

God looked with favor upon Jehoshaphat and firmly established the kingdom of Judah under him, showering him with riches and honor.  And in turn Jehoshaphat heeded God's voice and delighted in His word, so much so that he sent some of his leaders and some chief Levites throughout the cities of Judah to teach the law of God to all the people.  And as they taught, God's word was spread and shared in all the region, causing the fear of the Lord to fall even upon neighboring kingdoms so that they were afraid to make war with Judah lest they upset God Himself.  Instead, some of the people's enemies of old brought gifts of silver and flocks of sheep and rams as tribute to Jehoshaphat, further increasing his wealth and power.

Here we see almost a reciprocal arrangement between God and Jehoshaphat, and certainly a pattern of behavior we should consider copying.  Jehoshaphat loved the Lord and obeyed His commandments.  In return, God favored Jehoshaphat and raised his level of influence in the kingdom.  This made Jehoshaphat want to serve God even more, so he had the law of the Lord taught over all of Judah, in every city and village, and not just by any teachers but by the leaders among his most trusted advisers and ministers and Levites.  And for this God assured peace for Judah with her neighboring kingdoms.  When we obey God's voice and follow His Word, His Son, He will give abundantly to us in return.  If not in this life, then in the next we will be rewarded for serving our Lord.  Amen.

Generous Father, we know we should serve You unconditionally, without any thought of personal reward.  But Lord it is wonderful to find assurance in Your holy word that You will indeed gift us with treasures beyond our wildest imaginings.  In this life You provide for our needs and strengthen us in our struggles.  You give us happiness and peace.  In the next our treasure already awaits us.  Thank You, Father, for Your many blessings.  In the name of Your Son Jesus we pray.   Amen.

Calling All Sinners

"I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance."

 --Luke 5:32  (NKJV)

From the daily Bible reading on July 25, 2013 of Psalm 120; Luke 5:17-39; 2 Chronicles 13-15.

In chapter five of his Gospel account, Luke provides a wealth of information about the character and capabilities of Jesus as He begins His ministry.  Luke opens by telling us about Jesus meeting and recruiting Peter, John, and James (and Peter's brother Andrew, although he is not named here by Luke), all by His act of telling them where to cast their nets and their hauling in a catch so huge it threatened to capsize their boats.  Next we meet a leper who knows Jesus can cure him completely if He is only willing to do so.  Jesus is indeed willing and the man is cleansed.  Because of His healing miracles, the crowds gathered around Jesus, followed Him, pressed in on Him, to the point where He often "withdrew into the wilderness and prayed" (verse 16).  Then we are shown how four friends carried a paralytic to be healed, but unable to get near enough to Jesus because of the throng around Him, they cut a hole in the roof of the house Jesus was in and lowered their friend down in front of Him, bed and all.  Because of their faith, Luke tells us, Jesus healed the man by first attending to his greater need and forgiving his sins.

When they left that place, Jesus and His disciples came upon Matthew (who Luke calls Levi), a tax collector working at his toll booth.  Jesus said simply, "Follow Me", and amazingly Matthew laid aside his books and collections and did just that.  Apparently Matthew was overjoyed, somehow sensing the salvation Jesus offered, so he threw a big feast for the Lord, inviting all his tax collector friends and others looked down upon by "polite society" and the religious leadership.  And of course the Pharisees and scribes complained, asking why He would dine with tax collectors and sinners.  Jesus let them, and us, know in no uncertain terms exactly why He came to earth: not to call those who are already righteous and don't need Him, but to call out to sinners, that they might repent and come to know Him.

Jesus points out that only the ill and sick truly need the services of a doctor.  Likewise only those lost in sin need the services of a Savior.  But we are all sinners, we are all born into sin, we all need Jesus.  Our Lord came to mankind when the whole world was dead in sin.  He came to seek out the lost and return them to the right path.  He came to save all who would believe.  He came to sacrifice Himself so that His blood might wash us clean.  He came to forgive us if we but admit to our sin, give up our sin, repent of our sin, and follow Him.  Just as Jesus came to call and save sinners, so should we.  We should step confidently outside the walls of our church into the world and approach others as Jesus did, offering to help lead them if they would just accept Jesus' offer and follow Him.  Amen.

Precious Lord Jesus, thank You so much for coming into this world and walking among sinners, calling out to us to repent and follow You.  Thank You for forgiving us and standing at out side before God our Father when we heed Your call.  Please give us the strength of will to encourage others to follow You.  In Your beautiful name O Lord Jesus we pray.   Amen.

Let My Soul Live

Let my soul live, and it shall praise You; and let Your judgments help me.

 --Psalm 119:175  (NKJV)

From the daily Bible reading on July 24, 2013 of Psalm 119:169-176; Luke 5:1-16; 2 Chronicles 10-12.

Today's focus verse comes from the last stanza of the 119th Psalm, according to the last letter of the Hebrew alphabet, Tau.  Throughout this lengthy wisdom psalm, the Lord has been praised for the giving of His law, which our author steadfastly seeks to comprehend and obey.  The song reveals that everything man needs to know is contained within God's law, if we would only strive to search it out and understand it.  The Lord blesses those who heed His Word so we, like the psalmist, should want to be more obedient.  And through our earlier studies we know that God's Word is His Son, Jesus the Christ.  This knowledge should further strengthen and encourage our desire to follow Him, and by doing so to obey the voice of God our Father.

In this last stanza the psalmist almost summarizes his work while wrapping it up in a neat package.  Here he shows us how the Word of God impacts us in ways we can easily relate to.  He tells us the Word affects our mind ("give me understanding" in verse 169), our mouth ("my lips shall utter" in verse 171 and "my tongue shall speak" in verse 172), our will, and specifically our free will ("I have chosen" in verse 173), our emotions ("Your law is my delight" in verse 174), and even our conscience ("I have gone astray" in verse 176).  If we were to substitute the word "Son" for the word "law" in verse 174, I believe we would see a defining statement for all those who strive to follow Jesus: "And Your Son is my delight".  For in a very true sense Jesus came to us as the human embodiment of God's law, of God's Word.  Jesus taught us that while obeying God's commandments is important, doing so will not redeem us.  Only through our faith and belief in Jesus will we be saved, and it is for that belief that we desire to obey God's voice.

Because through Christ we live, we want to praise God.  Jesus working in us and through us begins a new creation within us, to be completed on that day when He comes to us again.  We want to keep this new person going and growing, to get closer and nearer to Christ and to God.  And one way to do so, as the psalmist so wisely observes, is to use God's judgments as a guide.  We can read in our Bible of the Lord's past judgments over His people and of His judgments to come when Jesus returns and treat them as warnings as to what could happen to us.  And we can also take to heart any judgments God has already pronounced in our own life.  God does not just capriciously cause hardship and pain for no reason, and especially not for His own entertainment.  He does so for our good, so that we might learn and improve ourselves.  So that we might live forever with Him in Paradise.  Let God's judgments help us.  Amen.

Gracious Father, thank You for all You have done for us in our lives.  Thank You for Your commandments and for Your Word, for Jesus who offers redemption and salvation.  Because He grants our souls life, we will praise You.  Please help us with Your judgments so that we might grow nearer to You.  In the name of Your beautiful Son and our Lord Jesus we pray.   Amen.

Wisdom and Wealth

Now when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon, she came to Jerusalem to test Solomon with hard questions, having a very great retinue, camels that bore spices, gold in abundance, and precious stones; and when she came to Solomon, she spoke with him about all that was in her heart.

 --2 Chronicles 9:1  (NKJV)

From the daily Bible reading on July 23, 2013 of Psalm 119:161-168; Luke 4:14-44; 2 Chronicles 8-9.

We do not know her name, but we know her legend.  Sheba was a region of southern Arabia, near the base of the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, the land of the Sabeans where our anonymous queen reigned.  Solomon's presence was felt even to the Gulf of Aqaba, for his fleet plied the entire length of the Red Sea bringing back wealth to Jerusalem.  The rulers of the region may have feared that Solomon's reach threatened the caravan routes that brought great riches into southern Arabia, and that may have prompted the queen's visit.  But for whatever reason, she traveled about 1200 miles on camel-back to meet this man Solomon and to see for herself if everything she had heard of him was true.  She not only bore great wealth in her caravan to present to the king, including around four and a half tons of gold (120 talents; please see 1 Kings 10:10), she also prepared and brought along a series of difficult questions, most likely clever riddles, with which to test the reputed wisdom of this king.

Solomon prepared a feast for the queen, in her honor.  As the two came together and talked, the queen posed her questions to the king.  He was able to answer each without hesitation or a hint of difficulty.  She asked nothing he could not explain.  And when she heard his answers, saw his house and the Temple of God, ate at his table and witnessed the demeanor and the attire of all those who served and ministered to him, the queen realized that all she had heard of Solomon, of his wisdom and his wealth, had not been exaggerated but instead had only scratched the surface.  Both his wisdom and his wealth exceeded what she had been led to expect.

This tale presents two interesting points to consider.  The first is that sometimes, like the queen of Sheba, we need to go to whatever lengths are necessary to check things out for ourselves rather than take someone else's word for it.  The same can be said for our relationship with Jesus.  We need to establish it and grow it ourselves, learning as much about Him as we can from what He tells us in our Bible, rather than listen to the world that would prefer we not believe in Him.  The second point is that all the wealth Solomon amassed did him little good in the end.  He died like the rest of us will, taking nothing with him.  Even the great wisdom God gave him he used poorly, for he was not wise enough to follow God's commandments throughout his days.  Our wealth is laid up for us in heaven if we are wise enough to believe in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior.  Amen.

Heavenly Father, You gave Solomon more wisdom and wealth than any other king throughout all history, yet in the end it did not really help him.  You bestow upon us so many blessings each and every day, that if we consider all You give we should feel just like Solomon.  Please forgive us when we take Your blessings for granted.  Thank You for our treasure that awaits us when we come home to You.  In the name of our Lord and Master Jesus Christ we pray.   Amen.

Lead Us Not Into Temptation

Then Jesus, being filled with the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness, being tempted for forty days by the devil.  And in those days He ate nothing, and afterward, when they had ended, He was hungry.

 --Luke 4:1-2  (NKJV)

From the daily Bible reading on July 22, 2013 of Psalm 119:153-160; Luke 4:1-13; 2 Chronicles 6:12-7.

Luke tells us that Jesus was about 30 years old when He began His ministry (Luke 3:23).  Now earlier, Luke assures us that his chronicle of Jesus' life is given in chronological order (Luke 1:1-4).  So with his being an orderly and ordered account, we can surmise that Jesus began His ministry on earth just after being baptized by John, the son of Zacharias and Jesus' kinsman through His mother Mary.  After leaving the Jordan River, where the Holy Spirit descended upon Him and filled Him, the Spirit led Him into the wilderness region near Jericho.  There, Luke tells us, Satan tempted Jesus for forty days!  Sometimes when reading the Gospel accounts it may seem that the devil's efforts were too brief or meaningless to mention (as in Mark 1:12-13), or that he only offered three lures to Jesus (as in Matthew 4:1-13 or what follows in Luke 4:3-13).  No, Luke clues us in to the fact that Jesus had to withstand far more temptation than that.  For forty days Satan poked at Jesus, whispering in His ear, pestering Him, tormenting Him.  For forty days the devil tried to turn our Lord away from the path He knew He had to walk.  For His part, Jesus fasted and prayed and ignored the devil's bait.

God sent His Son to man as a mere baby, born in the inglorious setting of a stable, laid down to sleep in a straw-lined feeding trough.  God's Word was given flesh and made into a man, not that God could know how man feels, for God knows all, but so man could better identify with God.  Just like we have to daily endure the temptations Satan offers and the stumbling blocks he lays in our path, so did Jesus.  But unlike us, Jesus resisted every one of Satan's attempts.  Knowing full well that this was the Son of God, Satan attacked Jesus for forty days because He was the ultimate prize.  If he could cause Jesus to sin, then he would completely thwart God's plan for the redemption of man.  He would disqualify the Savior and man could not be saved so would be lost forever.  Instead, he was foiled.  Remember that it was the Holy Spirit that led Jesus into the wilderness, knowing perfectly what was to come.  God took a huge chance giving Satan the prime opportunity to do his worst.  But Jesus could not be turned.  Christ remained sinless, guaranteeing our redemption and salvation if we but believe.

We don't possess all the resources of Jesus, but we do have Jesus and God's Holy Spirit within us.  He will help us resist Satan just as He resisted if we only turn to Him for help.  And if we fail, if we fall prey to the devil's allure, Christ allows us to repent and turn back to Him and our merciful Father will forgive us.  The devil may not ever give up on us in this life, like He finally gave up on Jesus and left Him alone, but neither will Jesus give up on us.  And with His strength we can resist all temptations.  Amen.

O Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name.  Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.  Give us this day our daily Bread, and forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.  Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.  For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever.  In the glorious name of Jesus Christ our Lord we pray.   Amen.

I Hope in Your Word

I rise before the dawning of the morning, and cry for help; I hope in Your word.

 --Psalm 119:147  (NKJV)

From the daily Bible reading on July 21, 2013 of Psalm 119:145-152; Luke 3; 2 Chronicles 4-6:11.

In the 19th stanza of the 119th Psalm, following the Hebrew letter Qoph, the psalmist cries out to be saved, to be delivered from his afflictions, because he has obeyed God's commandments and promises to continue heeding His laws.  He puts his whole heart into this plea, begging that God hears him.  He almost sounds as if he is trying to make a deal with God when he says, "Save me and I will keep Your testimonies" (verse 146b), or maybe he's just appealing to the Lord's sense of fair play when he adds, "Hear my voice according to Your lovingkindness" (verse 149a).  But clearly the psalmist is dedicated to God's law, as he lies awake at night meditating on His word.  And while he fears that those who refuse to heed God's commandments have drawn near to him, he takes comfort in knowing that God is also near, closer than his enemies, and His law, which the psalmist follows, is truth.  Our psalmist closes this stanza by proclaiming that God's laws have not changed throughout history, have held true through all time, and have been founded to endure forever.

In today's focus verse our psalmist lets us get a sense of the angst he feels, giving us just a taste of the bitterness life must be dishing out at that moment.  His day begins before sunrise, when he climbs out of bed and immediately seeks God's help.  He knows he needs God to get through the day, to survive the next series of setbacks and attacks.  We all have days like that, and sometimes they run on day after day, week after week, until it seems as if the last couple of years have been nothing but a constant battle, a sequence of conflicts broken only by fitful periods of sleep.  We feel battered and bruised and wonder if things will ever get better again, if our life will ever return to more peaceful times or has this tempest become our new normal.  The first thing in the morning and with our last thought before sleep at night we cry out to God for help, praying He will respond to our plea.

The psalmist provides the answer we desperately need to hear and understand: we must hope in God's Word.  The Word is Jesus and in Him we can place all our hope and trust.  Why?  Because through Him and our belief in Him we are redeemed of our sins of this life and granted eternal life in heaven.  While each day on this earth may seem like hell, this will pass shortly and then we'll have an eternity in Paradise.  Take hope in God's Word.  Take hope in Jesus.  Amen.

Dearest Jesus, You came to this earth to live among us, to teach us the path we must walk, to show us the way to our Father and heaven.  No matter how difficult it may become just to get through each day, we can go to bed at night assured of Your love and Your redeeming grace in our lives.  What we face now will be forgotten when we see Paradise.  In You, precious Jesus, we can place all our hopes and trust.  And in Your holiest name, blessed Jesus we pray.   Amen.

Your Word Is Pure

My zeal has consumed me, because my enemies have forgotten Your words.  Your word is very pure; therefore Your servant loves it.

 --Psalm 119:139-140  (NKJV)

From the daily Bible reading on July 20, 2013 of Psalm 119:137-144; Luke 2:21-52; 2 Chronicles 1-3.

God is righteous, and so is His word.  That is the message our psalmist delivers in the 18th stanza of the 119th Psalm, the eight verses associated with the Hebrew letter Tsadde.  This is clear from the opening verse, when he recognizes God as being righteous and His judgments upright.  Normally when we look at the word "righteous", we consider it as being and doing right, living correctly, in the eyes of God.  But how does it apply to God Himself?  Being righteous can also be defined as being free from guilt or sin.  That is certainly true of God.  He could never break His own commandments or sin against Himself.  If He ever should, in that very instant the whole universe would fall apart for everything there is depends upon God and His being true and faithful.  So the Creator of all cannot be guilty of breaking His own laws, nor can He sin against Himself.  Another definition of righteous is to be morally right or justifiable.  The psalmist states that God's judgments are upright, meaning they are morally just, and justifiable.  And since God Himself is righteous, then so must His word also be righteous, morally right and justifiable.

With this basic premise established, we can look at today's focus verses where the psalmist shows how his adherence to God and His laws provide him an edge over those who torment him.  Of course, even in the psalmist's eyes it isn't his love of God's word that gives him the advantage, it comes from God Himself.  Because the psalmist follows God's word and his enemies don't, God favors him over them.  The psalmist readily admits that because God's word is pure (another way to describe righteousness) he loves it.

And that brings us to God's Word, which we know from the Apostle John is Jesus our Christ, who was with God from even before time began (please reference John 1:1-5).  The psalmist declares God's Word to be righteous and pure.  Jesus indeed fits this description and all definitions of righteous and upright apply to Him as well.  Jesus as a man was free from sin, the Spotless Lamb sacrificed for us all.  God's Word strengthens us to stand and face our true enemy, Satan.  Through Christ we gain the advantage over the powers of this world, and only through Him do we gain salvation.  Jesus is righteous and pure and we, His followers, love Him.  May we always be His servants.  Amen.

Son of God and Son of Man, You are the true Word of God - righteous, upright, and pure.  In You all our hopes are founded.  In You our salvation is assured.  May we ever praise Your most holy name.  May we ever acknowledge Your sovereignty over our lives.  In Your beautiful name, Lord Jesus we pray.   Amen.

Seek the Lord

"As for you, my son Solomon, know the God of your father, and serve him with a loyal heart and with a willing mind; for the Lord searches all hearts and understands all the intent of the thoughts.  If you seek Him, He will be found by you; but if you forsake Him, He will cast you off forever."

 --1 Chronicles 28:9  (NKJV)

From the daily Bible reading on July 19, 2013 of Psalm 119:129-136; Luke 2:1-20; 1 Chronicles 28-29.

King David was nearing the end of his days.  He had already named his son Solomon to reign as king after him, and God had chosen Solomon to build His temple.  David turned over all his plans and all his wealth to Solomon for the construction of the Temple of God, and now was leaving his last blessings and instructions for his son and for his people, the children of Israel.  David tells his son to know the one true God, and to serve Him loyally and willingly.  But he cautions that the Lord can search man's heart and mind, that He knows everything we think and feel.  Not only is God aware of our actions, but He even knows the full intent of our actions.  Jesus also cautions us not to do things so as to impress our fellow men, but so as to please God.  Our charity should be unassuming and heartfelt, not boastful or done toward fulfillment of some hidden agenda.  Nothing can be hidden from God.  David warns that neither Solomon nor we can hide from His all-seeing eye, but he then encourages that if we seek God we will find Him.  Unfortunately, the reverse also holds true.  If we abandon God completely, He will turn His back on us.

We know from the scripture that although Solomon loved God and wanted to serve Him, almost from the beginning he started turning from God's ways.  He burned incense and offered sacrifices in the high places (please see 1 Kings 3:3).  He married the daughter of the Pharaoh of Egypt (1 Kings 3:1) and he loved and married many foreign women, of the Moabites and Ammonites and Edomites and Sidonians and Hittites (1 Kings 11:1-3), even though the Lord had commanded His children not to intermarry with the women from these lands because they could turn God's people away from Him (Exodus 34:12-16 and Deuteronomy 7:3).  And sadly, this is exactly what happened.  In his later years, Solomon's wives turned him completely away from the Lord and to the false gods of these other lands.  For this, his people suffered.  The united kingdom split in two after his passing.  The people were defeated and taken into exile, with many lost.  The Temple was destroyed.  God cast them off, but not forever.  By His grace He relented and sent His Son Jesus to offer us one more chance.

Solomon probably thought that since he loved God and served Him by building His Temple and by generally doing good, it would be OK in God's eyes for him to bend God's rules a little, ignoring the parts that didn't fit the lifestyle he wanted to live.  We may all be a little guilty of this behavior.  We truly do love the Lord and believe in Jesus and try to follow His ways.  But we also from time to time ignore His commands and do things that displease Him because we want to, doing so feels good, it is more convenient, it fits the lifestyle we desire and find comfortable.  If we truly love the Lord, we must remain true to Him and seek Him and only Him.  Amen.

Lord Jesus, please forgive us when we think we deserve some sort of special consideration, when we allow what we want to become some sort of false god that draws us away from You.  Help us to stay focused on You, knowing full well that You can see even the very motives behind our thoughts and deeds.  Search our hearts, Lord, for the love we have for You.  In Your most holy name, Lord Jesus we pray.   Amen.