150 Isaiah 025 – 027; Luke 9.37 – 9.62
Sometimes it is good to just say something. You think it and you can even meditate on it, but say it out loud might just be the ticket. When you are alone in your car today, or going for a walk etc. say these words, "God, you are my God. I celebrate you. I praise you." If you have any musical ability, maybe you could sing it--make up a tune. In the middle of all the devastation God is still God. God is especially the God of the remnant. The remnants are those that have not bowed their knee to the other gods. God always has His people who have remained faithful. The land has been taken, the temple over run by the gentiles, but a day is coming when Jerusalem will be the city of salvation for everyone. Where it started is where it is returning. It is sequel two and it's going to be a doosey! In chapter 26 there is exhortation to sing and to throw open the gates so the true people can enter. Make no mistake about it there is a “people of God” and there are the opposing forces.
In Luke chapter 9 you find some tough words spoken by Jesus. It is a way to gain insight into how serious this business of life really is for those who have the life. What are we doing with the treasure that God has placed in us? Christ in you; the hope of glory. His life is to prioritize our life. There are good things we are suppose to give up so we can do the best things or just have time for doing the best things even better. He told that man not to go back and bury his father. If you follow Jesus it is about life.
Saturday, May 30, 2009
Friday, May 29, 2009
149 Friday May 29, 2009
149 Isaiah 022 – 024; Luke 9.1 – 9.36
It is 29,035 feet high and is the quest of any serious climber. On this day in 1953, Sir Edmund Hillary of New Zealand and Tenzing Norgay of Tibet were the first reach the top of Mt Everest. I am sure there was great celebration for reaching this summit, when so many had tried and failed. Isaiah is not a party pooper, he is just trying to figure out why the Israelites are partying. The circumstances do not warrant a party. The state of Jerusalem calls for mourning not cheering. I would surmise that when people are away from God they do not have much discernment. They become more and more blind and deaf to what God is doing and saying.
This chapter is so rich in how man behaves without God. Isaiah recounts what they had done under their own strength. The leaders assessed their defenses, what they had to do to the wall, and even gathered water. They fortified what they could in order to protect themselves. They looked and looked but they never looked to God. I believe we can be guilty of the same thing in the church and in our family’s lives. First look to God and then plan and assess. It is so easy to go with what we have been use to doing and not look up, to seek Yahweh first. Purpose this day to look up and out for God.
The training of the twelve is still the classic for today's church. Jesus called the twelve to be with Him and to train them. In Luke 9 Jesus sends them out to encounter the powers that be, equipped with God's power to defeat the devil and heal diseases. It is said that every believer needs to be in an ongoing training program and in turn training someone else. We are all to be receiving and giving out. It is in this balance of life that we truly live. You find some who only give out and therefore they burn out and some only take in and they cave in. You be careful out there.
It is 29,035 feet high and is the quest of any serious climber. On this day in 1953, Sir Edmund Hillary of New Zealand and Tenzing Norgay of Tibet were the first reach the top of Mt Everest. I am sure there was great celebration for reaching this summit, when so many had tried and failed. Isaiah is not a party pooper, he is just trying to figure out why the Israelites are partying. The circumstances do not warrant a party. The state of Jerusalem calls for mourning not cheering. I would surmise that when people are away from God they do not have much discernment. They become more and more blind and deaf to what God is doing and saying.
This chapter is so rich in how man behaves without God. Isaiah recounts what they had done under their own strength. The leaders assessed their defenses, what they had to do to the wall, and even gathered water. They fortified what they could in order to protect themselves. They looked and looked but they never looked to God. I believe we can be guilty of the same thing in the church and in our family’s lives. First look to God and then plan and assess. It is so easy to go with what we have been use to doing and not look up, to seek Yahweh first. Purpose this day to look up and out for God.
The training of the twelve is still the classic for today's church. Jesus called the twelve to be with Him and to train them. In Luke 9 Jesus sends them out to encounter the powers that be, equipped with God's power to defeat the devil and heal diseases. It is said that every believer needs to be in an ongoing training program and in turn training someone else. We are all to be receiving and giving out. It is in this balance of life that we truly live. You find some who only give out and therefore they burn out and some only take in and they cave in. You be careful out there.
Thursday, May 28, 2009
148 Thursday May 28, 2009
148 Isaiah 019 – 021; Luke 8.26 – 8.56
On that day--what day is that? I believe this phrase "on that day" is speaking about the day that Christ rules in the new millennium. Even when dealing with gentile nations that are being devastated because of their disobedience, God gives Assyria and Egypt hope. Not all will be lost for there is a day that Christ restores this world to what it should have been all along. Until that time, people are to choose what they believe, who they love, and if they will serve the true and living God; this life is serious business!
The demons are shipped off into the pigs. It was a bad day to be a pig! Demons are fallen angels who decided Satan's plan was a better plan. I believe it was the lay away plan because they will be laid away for a long, long time. This poor man who had a mob full of demons was naked and running around in the cemetery. Jesus Christ sets him free and he now is the walking miracle. If you have come to know Christ, you too are a walking miracle. Did you catch the crowds finally asking Jesus to leave--too much change, too fast, and they were scared. A person or a town, as well as a Nation cannot stay neutral when it comes to Christ and His message. Christ is comforting on one hand but He is so discomforting on the other. He is to be all of this to us.
On that day--what day is that? I believe this phrase "on that day" is speaking about the day that Christ rules in the new millennium. Even when dealing with gentile nations that are being devastated because of their disobedience, God gives Assyria and Egypt hope. Not all will be lost for there is a day that Christ restores this world to what it should have been all along. Until that time, people are to choose what they believe, who they love, and if they will serve the true and living God; this life is serious business!
The demons are shipped off into the pigs. It was a bad day to be a pig! Demons are fallen angels who decided Satan's plan was a better plan. I believe it was the lay away plan because they will be laid away for a long, long time. This poor man who had a mob full of demons was naked and running around in the cemetery. Jesus Christ sets him free and he now is the walking miracle. If you have come to know Christ, you too are a walking miracle. Did you catch the crowds finally asking Jesus to leave--too much change, too fast, and they were scared. A person or a town, as well as a Nation cannot stay neutral when it comes to Christ and His message. Christ is comforting on one hand but He is so discomforting on the other. He is to be all of this to us.
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
146 Tuesday, May 26, 2009
146 Isaiah 016 – 018; Luke 8.1 – 8.25
What have we here? It is more about the future government in the days of Christ's rule. Isaiah talks about the two advents of Christ. Christ first coming was a Savior--crucified and buried, and raised from the dead. The second advent or His second coming is a literal coming; physical, visible, and with power! Some teach that His second coming has to with a spirit of a new age--NOT.
Israel is asking why are we being judged? God answers; it is simple, you forgot about me. Communion is about not forgetting. Do this in remembrance of me! It is so easy with all the busyness of life to just plain forget our maker and Savior. Remember him today in your own way.
In Luke we have the seed and sower parable to give insight into the Gospel and its results. You share Jesus with a friend and nothing happens. You meet a person for a day and they come to know Christ--why? The answer is in the parable. It is the heart of the person you are sharing with. It is the heart of the person who is listening to this Gospel. Some of our zealous theologians make a big deal that it is the way the gospel is presented. Yet, the Gospel is that Jesus was crucified, buried, and raised from the dead for our sins. They want us to explain what repent means, and Lordship means etc. the list goes on. Here is the deal--I have witnessed some of the poorest presentations of the message of Christ and still the people believed and are saved. I am not saying let's see how sloppy we can do the job, but I am saying that Jesus talked more about the hearts of the recipient than anything else when it comes to salvation. Go present the Gospel and leave the results to God. Oh yes, pray for the hearts of the people you share with. I just met the second person yesterday, who prayed and asked Christ into their hearts on Easter Sunday. He went forward and put his leaf on the vine with a friends help. He has listened to the whole N.T. on C.D. AMEN! Go for it!
What have we here? It is more about the future government in the days of Christ's rule. Isaiah talks about the two advents of Christ. Christ first coming was a Savior--crucified and buried, and raised from the dead. The second advent or His second coming is a literal coming; physical, visible, and with power! Some teach that His second coming has to with a spirit of a new age--NOT.
Israel is asking why are we being judged? God answers; it is simple, you forgot about me. Communion is about not forgetting. Do this in remembrance of me! It is so easy with all the busyness of life to just plain forget our maker and Savior. Remember him today in your own way.
In Luke we have the seed and sower parable to give insight into the Gospel and its results. You share Jesus with a friend and nothing happens. You meet a person for a day and they come to know Christ--why? The answer is in the parable. It is the heart of the person you are sharing with. It is the heart of the person who is listening to this Gospel. Some of our zealous theologians make a big deal that it is the way the gospel is presented. Yet, the Gospel is that Jesus was crucified, buried, and raised from the dead for our sins. They want us to explain what repent means, and Lordship means etc. the list goes on. Here is the deal--I have witnessed some of the poorest presentations of the message of Christ and still the people believed and are saved. I am not saying let's see how sloppy we can do the job, but I am saying that Jesus talked more about the hearts of the recipient than anything else when it comes to salvation. Go present the Gospel and leave the results to God. Oh yes, pray for the hearts of the people you share with. I just met the second person yesterday, who prayed and asked Christ into their hearts on Easter Sunday. He went forward and put his leaf on the vine with a friends help. He has listened to the whole N.T. on C.D. AMEN! Go for it!
Monday, May 25, 2009
145 Monday, May 25, 2009
145 Isaiah 013 – 015; Luke 7.36 – 7.50
Mayhem and destruction are the bywords of the day. It is not always easy to read verses like these that contain so much violence. We, or at least I, sometimes want people to change without having to bring out the big stick. It would seem that people would want to change without having to go through so much pain. The biggest story of course has to do with Israel, God’s own people. God sent in the Assyrians and the Babylonians to punish God’s people who would not surrender. They had every chance to change, yet they chose to keep doing things their way. What we have to understand in order to understand all the violence in the Old Testament is that God really hates sin. I do not believe that most people really grasp how much God abhors sin. After God had used Babylon to judge Israel, the Lord is letting Babylon know they are not off the hook either. In the middle of what Isaiah is telling people as to what God is going to do to Babylon the Lord let’s Israel know that they will come back, but not the Babylonians. In the midst of all the hopelessness God shines His light on the promises of God. Israel, God’s people, will always be in the game. They will be there not because of their grand obedience, but because of the grace of God.
Now on a brighter note we have a woman who really gets who Jesus is and how to treat Him. The problem is this tribute to Jesus is being done by a woman who has a really bad reputation. She is paying this tribute in front of the religious crowd who ought to get who Jesus is but they are slow of mind. They are upset that Jesus is allowing her to worship him in this way. Jesus takes the Pharisee’s on in this debate and they lose hands down. The bottom line is they did not even treat him as a regular guest in their home. This woman of ill repute not only treated him as guest but as Lord as well. How do you treat the Lord? Do you treat Him as an unwanted guest? Do you treat Him as the Lord that He is?
Mayhem and destruction are the bywords of the day. It is not always easy to read verses like these that contain so much violence. We, or at least I, sometimes want people to change without having to bring out the big stick. It would seem that people would want to change without having to go through so much pain. The biggest story of course has to do with Israel, God’s own people. God sent in the Assyrians and the Babylonians to punish God’s people who would not surrender. They had every chance to change, yet they chose to keep doing things their way. What we have to understand in order to understand all the violence in the Old Testament is that God really hates sin. I do not believe that most people really grasp how much God abhors sin. After God had used Babylon to judge Israel, the Lord is letting Babylon know they are not off the hook either. In the middle of what Isaiah is telling people as to what God is going to do to Babylon the Lord let’s Israel know that they will come back, but not the Babylonians. In the midst of all the hopelessness God shines His light on the promises of God. Israel, God’s people, will always be in the game. They will be there not because of their grand obedience, but because of the grace of God.
Now on a brighter note we have a woman who really gets who Jesus is and how to treat Him. The problem is this tribute to Jesus is being done by a woman who has a really bad reputation. She is paying this tribute in front of the religious crowd who ought to get who Jesus is but they are slow of mind. They are upset that Jesus is allowing her to worship him in this way. Jesus takes the Pharisee’s on in this debate and they lose hands down. The bottom line is they did not even treat him as a regular guest in their home. This woman of ill repute not only treated him as guest but as Lord as well. How do you treat the Lord? Do you treat Him as an unwanted guest? Do you treat Him as the Lord that He is?
Sunday, May 24, 2009
144 Sunday, May 24, 2009
144 Isaiah 010 – 012; Luke 7.1 – 7.35
‘You served my purposes, but that does not excuse you from your evil.’ Assyria was a weapon of God's anger against Israel, but now they are doomed. God's ways are not are ways and His thoughts are not our thoughts. God is sovereign and reigns over the affairs of the world. Who are we to challenge His plans and purposes? Many times I think I would not have done it that way, but I don't remember God consulting me on how to conduct His business. God has scattered Israel and is ready to devastate Assyria, there is hope. A little shoot, a sprout as a budding branch will come and give the answer--His name is Jesus. On that day the lamb will lie with the lion. A comedian said yes they lie together but the lamb won't get much sleep. In that day the lamb and lion will lie down together and they both will sleep. Isaiah has now taken us to the 1000 year reign of Christ. Isaiah gives the bad news and then the hope that is to come. There is always hope with the God of all hope.
The town harlot comes to a party for Jesus as an uninvited guest. Jesus gives her honor because she got it. She understood who Jesus really was and what should be done for Him.
She pours perfume on His feet and then wipes them with her hair. By the way the religious crowd gets all offended. What have you done for Christ? What expensive gift have you poured upon Him for pure worship of Him?
‘You served my purposes, but that does not excuse you from your evil.’ Assyria was a weapon of God's anger against Israel, but now they are doomed. God's ways are not are ways and His thoughts are not our thoughts. God is sovereign and reigns over the affairs of the world. Who are we to challenge His plans and purposes? Many times I think I would not have done it that way, but I don't remember God consulting me on how to conduct His business. God has scattered Israel and is ready to devastate Assyria, there is hope. A little shoot, a sprout as a budding branch will come and give the answer--His name is Jesus. On that day the lamb will lie with the lion. A comedian said yes they lie together but the lamb won't get much sleep. In that day the lamb and lion will lie down together and they both will sleep. Isaiah has now taken us to the 1000 year reign of Christ. Isaiah gives the bad news and then the hope that is to come. There is always hope with the God of all hope.
The town harlot comes to a party for Jesus as an uninvited guest. Jesus gives her honor because she got it. She understood who Jesus really was and what should be done for Him.
She pours perfume on His feet and then wipes them with her hair. By the way the religious crowd gets all offended. What have you done for Christ? What expensive gift have you poured upon Him for pure worship of Him?
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