Today’s Reading: Matthew 1:1-17, Luke 3:23-38

We have spent the last 11 months studying the Old Testament, reading the faith journey of generation after generation of God’s people. We saw them at their best as they trusted in God through the most difficult of situations, and we saw them at their worst when they took their eyes off of God’s perfect plan for their lives. Some chose to abandon their faith when things got hard, and others gave God their “yes” even when they needed the reminder to be strong and courageous.

THE OLD TESTAMENT PROVIDES A GREAT CONTEXT TO OUR STUDY OF THE NEW TESTAMENT.

“Jacob was the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary. Mary gives birth to Jesus, who is called the Messiah. All those listed above include fourteen generations from Abraham to David, fourteen from David to the Babylonian exile, and fourteen from the Babylonian exile to the Messiah.” – Matthew 1:16-17

The New Testament begins with the genealogy of Jesus, which can be used to remind us of the threads of redemption and restoration that are woven throughout God’s story. Two of the writers of the gospels, Matthew and Luke, saw the importance of their readers knowing where Jesus came from. Both genealogies showed that Jesus was a descendant of David, one more indicator that he truly was the Messiah.

Matthew shows us the genealogy of Jesus from his paternal lineage. He starts with Abraham and lists all of the descendants until he lands at Joseph (Matthew 1:1-16). Luke takes it from the perspective of the maternal lineage of Jesus. Mary, too, was a descendant of David and therefore a descendant of Abraham. Mary descended from David’s son Nathan while Joseph could trace his ancestors back to Solomon, the son of David and Bathsheba.

Matthew traces Jesus’ family back to Abraham, showing that Jesus was the promised Messiah of the Jewish people. Luke traces Jesus’ family even farther back to Adam, showing that Jesus came to be the Savior for ALL people everywhere (Luke 3:23-38). “And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21). Who will He save? HIS people. Who are His people? We ALL are His people because we have all descended from Adam. Salvation is for each and every one of us.

When you look at the genealogy of Jesus, you will see a list of people who made mistakes. Almost each one has a story of how God in grace reached out to them and used them even after they had messed things up. Consider your family on both sides. Take a moment to think of the influence the family on your mother’s side has had on your life. Now consider the impact of your father’s family on who you are and where you are at today. You can probably look up at your family tree and see a lot of imperfections in those who have come before you. Yet the God of grace still chose them to give the world YOU!

EACH STORY THAT PRECEDES US SETS THE BACKDROP FOR OUR STORY.

I have always found genealogies fascinating. I find it interesting to look beyond this generation to consider the life experiences of those who came before us and how their decisions continue to impact our lives today. My great grandparents made the decision to follow Christ, which led to getting on a fishing boat in the middle of the night in order to start their journey to Ellis Island, New York. My parents gave their lives to the Lord when I was a little girl, giving God their “yes” to full-time ministry, a decision that greatly influenced the decisions I continue to make today.

Let us not take lightly the role God has played in our lives since before we were born. God has known us, loved us and developed a plan for our lives in spite of our family tree — whether that tree is one of a strong spiritual heritage or a weak faith of our fathers. God had a purpose for the life of Jesus — to save the world. In the same way, the genealogy of your fathers and mothers leads to a moment in history when you carry out God’s plan for your life.

You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion,
as I was woven together in the dark of the womb.
You saw me before I was born.
Every day of my life was recorded in your book.
Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.
How precious are your thoughts about me, O God. They cannot be numbered!
I can’t even count them; they outnumber the grains of sand!
And when I wake up, you are still with me! – Psalm 139:15-18

He knows the plans for your future — plans for you and for those who will follow you in your family tree. What story will be told of you? Will you submit to God’s plan – the plan for which He created you? Those coming after you will be influenced by the choices you make.

Lord, we thank you this morning for the heritage passed down to us from our parents and grandparents. Your workmanship in our lives is marvelous — how well we know it! We thank you for the love and investment of time that has made us who we are today. We pray that you will take our own imperfect attempts to love and allow us to positively influence the next generations. Help us to shine your light onto the path you have set before them — a path marked with hope for their future. Amen.

Today’s Reading: Joel & Malachi

Surely the Lord has done great things! Don’t be afraid, my people. Be glad now and rejoice, for the Lord has done great things. Don’t be afraid, you animals of the field, for the wilderness pastures will soon be green. The trees will again be filled with fruit; fig trees and grapevines will be loaded down once more. Rejoice, you people of Jerusalem! Rejoice in the Lord your God! For the rain he sends demonstrates his faithfulness. Once more the autumn rains will come, as well as the rains of spring. The threshing floor will again be piled high with grain, and the presses will overflow with new wine and olive oil. – Joel 2:24-26a

At times, everything that has sustained you and all that has given you pleasure will be taken from you. It will dry up and with it your joy. You will begin to wonder, “Is God really a merciful and loving God? Am I being punished for something?” God responds to your need for answers and confirms His identity to you. He instructs you to trust in Him through this difficult time — this time of uncertainty.

God is in the middle of all of this. None of this has caught Him by surprise. Trust that He has great plans for your future; believe that your joy will not be dry forever but that you will rejoice again in how your God has provided during a difficult time. You will have a story of God’s provision and His redemption to tell your children and your children’s children.

REMEMBER HIS FAITHFULNESS AND PASS THE STORIES DOWN FROM GENERATION TO GENERATION.

That is why the Lord says,
“Turn to me now, while there is time.
Give me your hearts.
Come with fasting, weeping, and mourning.
Don’t tear your clothing in your grief,
but tear your hearts instead.”
Return to the Lord your God,
for he is merciful and compassionate,
slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love.
He is eager to relent and not punish. – Joel 2:12-13

We serve a God of grace. When we come to him in sincere repentance, genuinely living for Him and submitting to His lordship, we experience His unmerited favor.

We serve a God of compassion. He not not only forgives us, but He also gives us His Spirit to dwell within us. This presence transforms us into the people He created us to be.

We serve a God of mercy. And where there is mercy, hope can be found. Our God is gracious and compassionate, full of mercy and love.

We serve a holy God. He sees the devastation that sin is wreaking in this world, and He will come one day to bring judgment. He will right all wrongs and renew His covenant with all of creation. Praise God, restoration will come after the judgment. He will reign in this world and in our hearts.

“Now return to me, and I will return to you,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.
“But you ask, ‘How can we return when we have never gone away?’
Should people cheat God? Yet you have cheated me!
But you ask, ‘What do you mean? When did we ever cheat you?’”

“You have cheated me of the tithes and offerings due to me. You are under a curse, for your whole nation has been cheating me. Bring all the tithes into the storehouse so there will be enough food in my Temple. If you do,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, “I will open the windows of heaven for you. I will pour out a blessing so great you won’t have enough room to take it in!Try it! Put me to the test! Your crops will be abundant, for I will guard them from insects and disease. Your grapes will not fall from the vine before they are ripe,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. “Then all nations will call you blessed, for your land will be such a delight,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. – Malachi 3:7b-12

SINCERITY — Are we going through the motions of our Christian walk or are we sincerely following Him? He wants us to give from our heart, genuinely showing our love and faithfulness. He wants us to give in order to please Him, not to make ourselves feel good or to satisfy the minimum requirement of being a member of a congregation.

QUALITY — Are we giving our best or doing our best with what God has entrusted to us? Are we hanging on tight to this life or do we live as if everything we have comes from Him and belongs to Him?

LOYALTY — Are we committed to God? Are we faithfully following through on all we have promised before God and to God? Do our priorities reflect our loyal commitment to God?

Lord, open our eyes to the areas of our lives where we are cheating you, and therefore cheating ourselves of your blessings. Lord, open the windows of heaven for us. Pour out a blessing so great we will not have enough room to take it in! Lord, bless us with your presence today and reveal where we have lost our spiritual fervor. Place in us the desires of your heart, and cause us to stir at what moves you. We love you, Lord. We want to live sincerely — everyday giving our best to you, and remaining forever committed to who you have called us to be. Everything we do, we long to do for you and not just to please ourselves. Amen.

Today’s Reading: Nehemiah & Esther

In November, we began reviewing our 2024 journey through the Old Testament. As we finish up these last few book summaries, I look forward to working our way through the genealogy of Jesus as we prepare for our celebration of the birth and life of our Redeemer. Let’s review what we learned about God through the availability of both Nehemiah and Esther.

While Ezra had returned to Jerusalem to teach the people and unify them in repentance, Nehemiah was still back in Persia serving as the cupbearer to the king. When news arrived that the Jews in Jerusalem were experiencing opposition, he mourned on their behalf. The Temple had been rebuilt in the midst of the opposition, but the wall of Jerusalem had been torn down and the gates had been burned.

IT WAS THE DESIRE OF NEHEMIAH’S HEART TO GO TO JERUSALEM TO HELP THE PEOPLE REBUILD THE WALL, SO HE PRAYED FOR GOD TO GIVE HIM THE DESIRE OF HIS HEART.

An invitation was required in order to approach the king of Persia, so Nehemiah would be in the presence of the king as his cupbearer, but he could not ask for permission to travel to Jerusalem without the king first speaking to him. God saw the desire of Nehemiah’s heart to serve his people and faithfully answered his prayer. The king noticed that Nehemiah had a heavy heart and asked him if he was troubled, giving Nehemiah the opportunity to return to Jerusalem. Again, just like Ezra, the king granted Nehemiah’s request in a generous way because the gracious hand of God was on him (Nehemiah 2:8).

When Nehemiah arrived in Jerusalem, he inspected the condition of what was left of the wall. He went back to the Jewish leaders to inspire them to end the disgrace and rebuild the wall. Nehemiah saw God’s movement, recognized that the gracious hand of God was on him and testified to the rest of his people of God’s faithfulness. His bold requests, his intercessory heart, and his testimony of God’s grace are what gave the people courage and inspiration to rebuild the city of Jerusalem, starting with its wall.

Things did not go easily as they rebuilt the wall. They faced criticism and opposition. Nehemiah had to do the same thing that we have to do daily — he had to DROWN OUT the voice of defeat! He had to push away the negativity and criticism in order to keep his eyes focused on the God who had called him to do hard things. His determination inspired those around him.

NEHEMIAH CHOSE TO DROWN OUT THE VOICE OF DEFEAT AND FOCUS ON THE TASK GOD HAD CALLED HIM TO.

After this, they changed their plan. While half of the men worked, the other half would stand armed with swords against the attacks. Some of the laborers used one hand to support the load while the other hand held a weapon. They carried their weapons with them at all times!

So on October 2 the wall was finished — just fifty-two days after we had begun. When our enemies and the surrounding nations heard about it, they were frightened and humiliated. They realized this work had been done with the help of our God. – Nehemiah 6:15-16

Like Nehemiah, Esther found herself living in the palace during her time of exile in Babylon. After Queen Vashti refused to attend a banquet, she was banished from his presence forever. In order to find a new queen, a search was made across the empire to find beautiful young women to be brought into the king’s harem in order to find a replacement for the queen. These young women would go through a year of beauty treatments, spend one night with the king and then be taken to live among the harem of wives in the palace. If King Xerxes remembered his night with her, she was invited back into his presence.

Esther was one of the young women chosen to come to the palace. God was watching over Esther and she found favor with the eunuch in charge of her care. He treated her kindly, ordered a special menu for her, and assigned seven maids to her care, giving her the best place in the harem. She was not where she wanted to be but she was not alone as God watched over her. She was unaware of God’s plans to use her for the preservation of His people.

ESTHER TRUSTED IN GOD IN THE UNKNOWN WHEN SHE HAD NO WAY TO GET BACK TO THE KNOWN.

God intervened on Nehemiah’s behalf and the king noticed that he was distraught. God intervened on Esther’s behalf and the king noticed her standing in the inner court. He welcomed her and held out the gold scepter to her so that she could approach his throne.

Nehemiah saw a need, prayed for the need, and then allowed himself to be part of the answer to that prayer. He allowed himself to be used by God. Esther saw a need, feared for her life and yet boldly stepped into the equation, allowing herself to become part of the solution.

Mordecai sent this reply to Esther: “Don’t think for a moment that because you’re in the palace you will escape when all other Jews are killed. If you keep quiet at a time like this, deliverance and relief for the Jews will arise from some other place, but you and your relatives will die. Who knows if perhaps you were made the queen for just such a time as this?” – Esther 4:13-14

When faced with opposition while rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem, Nehemiah appointed half of the men to work on the wall while half stood armed with swords against the attack. In the same way, God’s people lifted prayers on behalf of Esther while she worked on protecting or rescuing them. She put herself in harm’s way but not until she knew that her family was covering her in prayer, calling on God to bless her efforts and use this royal position as an opportunity to reverse the decree.

There are days and opportunities when God strategically positions us to be used by Him. There are also times in which God gives us the responsibility to pray for someone else. There may be times in which we feel sorry for ourselves, wishing that we were not in a situation or place. Then what once seemed like an unfortunate coincidence becomes a God-placed miracle, and we find ourselves strategically positioned to be used by Him.

WILL WE ACCEPT OUR CALLING FOR SUCH A TIME AS THIS?

Will we see our situation today as Esther did? Will we boldly step into the equation and allow ourselves to be part of the solution? Perhaps our role today is to enter into the presence of our King, as Esther did. Perhaps it is our role today to stand “with sword in hand” and pray for God’s protection. Maybe God is calling us to take an unfortunate situation and make it an opportunity for His power to be displayed. Let’s be ready to respond today in obedience the moment God calls us into action — for such a time as this.

Today’s Reading: Ezra, Zechariah & Haggai

Return to me. Come to me. Pursue my ways for I have redeemed you.
Rebuild my house. Create space in your life to worship me. Be satisfied with me.
Renew your passion. Be strong in the Lord. Trust me. I will provide.
Repent. Turn from your sin. Return to me.

God stirred the heart of King Cyrus of Persia to let the Israelites return to Jerusalem for the specific purpose of rebuilding the Temple. Then God stirred the hearts of the priests, Levites and all the leaders of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin to return to Jerusalem to rebuild the Temple of the Lord. This stirring of hearts created a culture of generosity. Cyrus generously returned 5400 articles of silver and gold that King Nebuchadnezzar had taken from the Temple. Those who had lived among the Israelites and who had been their neighbors for so many years also gave generously of silver and gold, supplies for the journey, and livestock. They voluntarily lavished God’s people with valuable gifts to take with them.

GOD’S GENEROSITY WAS NOT ONLY EVIDENT, IT WAS OBVIOUS.

In response to this generosity, the leaders of each family unit among the people of God returning to Jerusalem also gave voluntary offerings, each leader giving as much as they could. God was generous, stirring others’ hearts toward generosity, and the response was the desire of God’s people to also be generous (Ezra 2:68-69).

When God’s people arrived in Jerusalem, they assembled with a unified purpose – to rebuild God’s Temple. During the seventy years that the Israelites had been gone, other people groups had settled into the city, making it their home. God’s people were intimidated by the foreigners who had moved into their city, but they found the courage to rebuild the altar and begin offering sacrifices each morning and evening. They overcame their fear in favor of leaning into their faith.

Imagine the excitement after all these years to be back home again, offering daily sacrifices to God – dedicating each day to God. The first Festival they celebrated was the Festival of Shelters, reminding the people of God’s guidance and care for His people as they spent 40 years living in tents in the desert as they traveled from exile in Egypt to their new home in the Promised Land. Wow! How significant this must have been to the people as they had just completed their own journey living in tents, traveling from exile in Babylon back home to Jerusalem. God’s timing is always significant!

GOD’S PROVISION WAS NOT ONLY EVIDENT, IT WAS OBVIOUS.

With praise and thanks, they sang this song to the Lord: “He is good! His faithful love for Israel endures forever!” Then all the people gave a great shout, praising the Lord because the foundation of the Lord’s Temple had been laid. – Ezra 3:11

As often happens when things are going well, opposition began to arise among those from other nations who were living in Jerusalem. They wrote a letter back to King Artaxerxes of Persia convincing him to stop the reconstruction of the Temple. Then, with a show of strength, they forced the Jews to stop building. The construction remained at a standstill until the second year of King Darius of Persia.

This was around the same time that the prophets Haggai and Zechariah were encouraging God’s people to finish what they had started as God had commanded. The building started back up again, as did the opposition. God’s people had confidence that God was watching over them and the local residents once again tattled back to the King, reporting that the work was progressing with great energy and success.

King Darius, however, found a scroll with the decree from King Cyrus that the Temple should be rebuilt on the site where the Jews used to offer their sacrifices, using the original foundation (6:3). His reply back to the opposition was to “stay away…do not disturb…let it be rebuilt…do not hinder…Moreover, I hereby decree that you are to help these elders of the Jews as they rebuild this Temple of God. You must pay the full construction costs, without delay, from my taxes collected in the province west of the Euphrates River so that the work will not be interrupted” (Ezra 6:6-8).

King Darius also donated young bulls, rams, and male lambs to be used for burnt offerings presented to the God of heaven, as well as wheat, salt, wine and olive oil. His desire was that the Israelites would present acceptable sacrifices to God and pray for King Darius and his sons.

Do you ever just get tickled at these kinds of stories? We still hear them today! What others do in hopes of harming or discouraging us, God makes into opportunities to bless us! What comes in the form of OPPOSITION becomes OPPORTUNITY.

• When we are unified with one purpose given by God, we have the strength to move forward even in the midst of fear and opposition.
• When God works through us to accomplish His will, it is time to celebrate and give Him praise!
• When faced with opposition, trust in God to make something wonderful come out of the struggles.

When opposition grows against us, let’s be encouraged to keep pressing forward. We need to continue to do what God has called us to do, even when commanded to do something different. We need to trust that something beautiful will come out of the struggle.

May the messages in Ezra, Haggai & Zechariah give us a new perspective. Let’s celebrate ALL that is going on in our lives and give Him praise, trusting that OPPOSITION will become OPPORTUNITY for God to do something wonderful in our hearts and in our lives. Let’s move forward in strength, praising God for all He has done and will continue to do in our lives.

Today’s Reading: Obadiah & Lamentations

Reading through 1 & 2 Samuel, 1 & 2 Kings and 1 & 2 Chronicles, and also the books of the prophets, gives us new context to the book of Lamentations. Using poetry, Jeremiah mourned the loss of what Jerusalem used to be. He wept over the conditions of those who had been left behind as they starved behind the walls that were built to protect them. It would have been better for them to be captured and exiled than to remain there to watch what Jerusalem had become.

The Lord in his anger has cast a dark shadow over beautiful Jerusalem.
The fairest of Israel’s cities lies in the dust, thrown down from the heights of heaven.
In his day of anger, the Lord has shown no mercy even to his Temple… – Lamentations 2:1

As we read the grief expressed in the book of Lamentations, many of us can relate to a time when we were hurting over a loss of some kind. Perhaps you are in the midst of your grief right now. Most likely, all of us have lost someone we loved over the last five years. Loss is a natural part of life, but goodbyes are hard and grief can be debilitating, making holiday traditions a little harder than they used to be.

“Everything I had hoped for from the Lord is lost!” – Lamentations 3:18

We have all experienced loss and grief in our life and we have all watched others around us suffer. But in the midst of utter sorrow, we have also experienced the mercy of our wonderful Lord and Savior. We serve a God who is faithful and never abandons us, even if it feels like that at times.

WHEN GRIEF THREATENS TO OVERWHELM US, GOD GIVES US A MOMENT OF HOPE.

I have cried until the tears no longer come; my heart is broken.
My spirit is poured out in agony as I see the desperate plight of my people.
Little children and tiny babies are fainting and dying in the streets.
They cry out to their mothers, “We need food and drink!”
Their lives ebb away in the streets like the life of a warrior wounded in battle.
They gasp for life as they collapse in their mothers’ arms. – Lamentations 2:11-12

Many of us have gone through a season in life when one thing after another seems to be going wrong. We cry out to God and dare to hope that He will answer our prayers. We repeat the same prayers over and over again without a clear sign that God has heard or is answering our prayers. We hold on tight to our faith as we push back the wave of doubt that threatens to undo us.

Life as they knew it was gone. They were surrounded by death and grief. The totality of their sin had destroyed their beautiful city and the time of exile had begun. They cried out to God and held on to His promise that He would be with them during this difficult time. He would hold them in His hand and help them. There was not a promise to save them from pain or take away their grief, but there was a promise to be faithful in the midst of the storm. God promised them, just as He promises us, that He would not abandon them but would continue to be their Lord and Redeemer.

“I will never forget this awful time, as I grieve over my loss.
Yet I still dare to hope when I remember this:
The faithful love of the Lord never ends!
His mercies never cease.
Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning.
I say to myself, ‘The Lord is my inheritance; therefore, I will hope in him!’
The Lord is good to those who depend on him, to those who search for him.
So it is good to wait quietly for salvation from the Lord.” – Lamentations 3:20-26

Are you discouraged about a certain situation? I pray that today you are reminded that God is for you, that you are chosen, and that He has not forsaken you. My prayer for you is that you will be reminded that you are who God says you are, and that you will know with confidence that He is who He says He is.

SOME WERE GLOATING INSTEAD OF HELPING — STANDING ALOOF INSTEAD OF CARING.

The prophet Obadiah spoke strongly against the reaction of the Edomites to the defeat of Israel, replaying the animosity that Esau felt towards Jacob. As the Jacob’s descendants were being attacked and carried into exile, Esau’s descendants were celebrating; they were gloating and even going as far as to assist the Babylonians instead of stepping in to help the Israelites.

“Because of the violence you did to your close relatives in Israel, you will be filled with shame and destroyed forever. When they were invaded, YOU STOOD ALOOF, refusing to help them. Foreign invaders carried off their wealth and cast lots to divide up Jerusalem, but you acted like one of Israel’s enemies. You should not have gloated…You should not have rejoiced…You should not have spoken arrogantly in that terrible time of trouble…As you have done to Israel, so it will be done to you.” – Obadiah 1:10-12,15

God, help us! How often have we been found standing aloof while those around us are struggling? How often have we refused to help those around us who are suffering the consequences of their own actions? We stand back and say, “It serves them right” or “I’m not surprised” or “They are getting what they deserve…” Just as God expected the descendants of Esau to step in and help their neighboring brother nation, He communicated strong expectations for how we are to help those around us.

God obviously takes our responsibility to those around us VERY seriously — to the point of punishment here on earth and eternally. For this reason, we also should take it seriously. So how can we apply this? God has blessed us with so much and there are so many around us who have so little.

Dear Lord, show us today to whom you would have us reach out. Forgive us for our complacency and our gloating. Destroy our pride and replace it with compassion for others. This holiday season, may we see with new eyes those who are grieving or in need of an encouraging word or a warm meal. May we not get so wrapped up in our own celebration that we ignore the needs of those who are hurting this Christmas. Amen.

Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other. – Romans 12:9-10 NLT

Today’s Reading: Ezekiel

While Jeremiah was hearing from God from within the walls of Jerusalem, Ezekiel had already been exiled to Babylon when “he felt the hand of the Lord take hold of him” (Ezekiel 1:3). I love that description! Can you testify to that action in your life?

HAVE YOU FELT THE HAND OF THE LORD TAKE HOLD OF YOU?

The call on Ezekiel’s life was a very difficult one but God equipped him for what was ahead, just as He equips us today. Through visions, Ezekiel’s eyes were opened to the horrific things God’s people were doing — the reason God was so angry and His punishment was so harsh. That is a lot for one person to know; that is a heavy burden for one man to carry. With this call came a great deal of responsibility, which added to the weight already on Ezekiel’s shoulders.

“Son of man, I have appointed you as a watchman for Israel. Whenever you receive a message from me, warn people immediately. If I warn the wicked saying, ‘You are under the penalty of death,’ but you fail to deliver the warning, they will die in their sins. And I will hold you responsible for their deaths. If you warn them and they refuse to repent and keep on sinning, they will die in their sins. But you will have saved yourself because you obeyed me.” – Ezekiel 3:17-19

The call on Ezekiel’s life was great, but so is the God who called him and who would equip him! All he had to do was respond in obedience to what God was calling him to do and say. He was not responsible for the choices of others, but he would be held accountable for his own response to God.

I am not sure that there is a better word to describe Ezekiel’s calling than to say that God called him to be WEIRD. Ezekiel could have easily let pride get in the way and said, “No God, that’s just WEIRD. What would people think of me?” But instead Ezekiel experienced things like no one else ever had or ever will, all because he was willing to be WEIRD for God.

EZEKIEL WAS WILLING TO BE WEIRD IF THAT’S WHAT GOD WAS CALLING HIM TO BE.

The story of Ezekiel’s life is bizarre and interesting, but it comes down to one simple statement – Ezekiel was WEIRD because God called him to be WEIRD. He was willing to be WEIRD if that’s what God wanted him to be, if that’s what it took for God to get the attention of His people.

What happens if God asks us to do something outlandish for Him? What happens if He asks us to do something that seems unreasonable, ridiculous, or just plain WEIRD? Are we willing to go there? Are we willing to put pride aside and do whatever God asks us to do? Hmmmm. Will we give God our “yes” no matter how others may question or criticize us?

The book of Ezekiel is full of beautiful word pictures that helped the people of Israel to understand the depth of their unfaithfulness to God, as well as the magnitude of God’s faithfulness to them. At times, communicating these word pictures required Ezekiel to act out the prophecy and at times he experienced amazing visions of both what was happening and what was to come.

God used Ezekiel to express his frustration toward those who were embracing things that were leading them into sin. They were pursuing the things of the world and then seeking God for advice or answers. God let them know that if they were going to reject him, He was going to reject them. They could not be apathetic towards God and still benefit from His blessings. Like a vine that bears no fruit, they had become useless. And if a vine exists for the purpose of producing fruit, yet produces no fruit, what else is it good for?

“And this is what the Sovereign Lord says: The people of Jerusalem are like grapevines growing among the trees of the forest. Since they are useless, I have thrown them on the fire to be burned. And I will see to it that if they escape from one fire, they will fall into another. When I turn against them, you will know that I am the Lord. And I will make the land desolate because my people have been unfaithful to me. I, the Sovereign Lord, have spoken!” – Ezekiel 15:6-8

Father God, thank you for creating us with a purpose in mind for our lives. Thank you for placing a desire in our hearts to please you and to serve you. As we go through our day, give us quiet moments of pondering the purpose for which you have us here today. Prune us and mold us into a grapevine whose produce comes straight from the desires of your heart. May your words in Ezekiel encourage us to turn our attention to You and remove every trace of idols from our lives. May it never be said of us that we have become useless; may our hearts remain tender and responsive towards God. Amen.

And I will give them singleness of heart and put a new spirit within them. I will take away their stony, stubborn heart and give them a tender, responsive heart, so they will obey my decrees and regulations. Then they will truly be my people, and I will be their God. – Ezekiel 11:19-20

REST IN HIS HAND AS YOU FEEL THE STRENGTH OF THE LORD’S HOLD ON YOUR LIFE

“The Spirit lifted me up and took me away. I went in bitterness and turmoil, but the Lord’s hold on me was strong.” – Ezekiel 3:14

Notice Ezekiel did not say that he went in joy and peace, but rather bitterness and turmoil. God allowed Ezekiel’s heart to break at the things that were breaking His heart. The road ahead of Ezekiel would not be an easy one but neither would God leave him alone to face what He was calling him to do. In the same way, God will not leave you alone. What God is calling you to do today is no heavier than the call He gave Ezekiel. Perhaps you are feeling overwhelmed and have fallen on your face before the Lord. Trust God’s Spirit to lift you up off your face and fill you.

Are we ready to accept God’s call? When He places His Word in front of us and tells us to eat, will we find the time to consume his words and let them sink deep into our heart, listening carefully to what He has to say to us?

DO YOU FEEL THE HAND OF THE LORD ON YOUR LIFE? HIS HOLD ON YOU IS STRONG – Do not resist.

Today’s Reading: Daniel

Jerusalem had been attacked and God’s people had been brought to Babylon where they would spend the next 70 years in exile. The king ordered to bring to the palace some of the young men from Judah’s royal family and other noble families who were strong, healthy, and good-looking, as well as knowledgeable in every branch of learning — gifted with knowledge and good judgment. These young men did not have to suddenly prepare themselves for this opportunity; it was given to them because they were ready. They had spent their time learning and listening. They were already healthy and strong.

The king wanted their loyalty so he treated all of the young men very well. They were given fine wine and delicious foods to eat, but the meats prepared were probably unclean by Jewish standards, such as pork. The custom in Babylon was to dedicate their wine to their gods so drinking the wine would have been disloyal to God. Everyone else compromised their standards but there were four young men who remained loyal to the God of Israel. Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah chose a more excellent way, denying themselves the rich foods and choosing vegetables and water instead (1:8-16).

God gave these young men an unusual aptitude for understanding every aspect of literature and wisdom. And God gave Daniel the special ability to interpret the meanings of visions and dreams (Daniel 1:17). No one impressed the king more than these four young men. They were found to be ten times more capable than any of the others.

THEY WERE CHOSEN BECAUSE THEY WERE READY; THEY CHOSE EXCELLENCE, SO GOD MADE THEM EXCELLENT.

Tell me what I dreamed and what it means — this was the unreasonable demand of King Nebuchadnezzar to the wise men of Babylon. When they were unable to do this, he ordered their execution. When the officers came to kill Daniel, he asked for more time and then he went to his friends Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah (whom the king had renamed Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego) and asked them to pray. When faced with a difficult situation, a matter of life or death, Daniel gathered his friends together and they prayed for God’s intervention.

God revealed the dream and its meaning to Daniel, who in turn gave God all the glory when he explained to the king why God was revealing this dream. Daniel in essence said – What you have asked is impossible, but nothing is impossible for God. God doesn’t have to explain this dream, but He has chosen to reveal the future to you because He wants you to understand what is in your heart (2:27-30).

Then the king appointed Daniel to a high position and gave him many valuable gifts. He made Daniel ruler over the whole province of Babylon, as well as chief over all his wise men. At Daniel’s request, the king appointed Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego to be in charge of all the affairs of the province of Babylon, while Daniel remained in the king’s court. – Daniel 2:48-49

When God revealed the meaning of the dream, King Nebuchadnezzar acknowledged that Daniel’s God is the greatest of gods. He did not recognize God as the ONLY true God, just that He was the Most High of all gods. He did not accept that God was the only one to be worshiped. In his arrogance, the king made a 90 foot by 9 foot gold statue in the province where Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were in leadership. He commanded that everyone bow and worship this statue.

Once more, these three young men were given the opportunity to choose excellence, even when faced with the possibility of death. King Nebuchadnezzar may not have recognized who the only true God is, but these young men did. Their new positions of authority and power did not boost their pride, rather they remained humbly faithful to their God. They refused to bow to the statue.

THEIR COURAGE WAS EVIDENCE OF THEIR EXCELLENCE DISPLAYED IN THEIR ACTIONS.

“O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God whom we serve is able to save us. He will rescue us from your power, Your Majesty. BUT EVEN IF HE DOESN’T, we want to make it clear to you, Your Majesty, that we will NEVER serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up.” – Daniel 3:16-18

In anger, Nebuchadnezzar heated the furnace seven times hotter than usual. In arrogance, this king had Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego bound and thrown into the furnace. In shock, he watched as four men walked around the fire unbound and unharmed! In response, Nebuchadnezzar ordered them to step out of the fire. In amazement, he took note that their hair was not singed, their clothing was not scorched, and the smell of smoke was oddly absent.

A similar incident happened to Daniel during the reign of King Darius. When plans were made to place Daniel over the entire empire, the other administrators reacted in jealousy and formed a plot against him. They stroked the pride of King Darius and tricked him into issuing a decree that no one could pray to any god except the king himself.

But when Daniel learned that the law had been signed, he went home and knelt down AS USUAL in his upstairs room, with its windows open toward Jerusalem. He prayed three times a day, JUST AS HE HAD ALWAYS DONE, giving thanks to his God. Then the officials went together to Daniel’s house and found him praying and asking for God’s help. – Daniel 6:10-11

Daniel was not praying because he was now in a difficult situation and needed rescuing; he prayed just as he had always done. Three times a day, without fail, Daniel took the time to direct all of his attention to the God he had given first place in his life. And let’s not miss the initial focus of Daniel’s prayer — thanksgiving. Daniel started by giving thanks to God before he asked for God’s help.

DANIEL PRAYED TO GOD, JUST AS HE HAD ALWAYS DONE; HE TRUSTED GOD, LIKE ALWAYS.

As a result of his decree, King Darius had no choice but to follow through with the punishment as declared in the new law — Daniel must be thrown into the den of lions. Was Daniel scared? Did he question his decision? I choose to believe that Daniel reacted the same way his friends had — he trusted in God to save him, but also loved God enough to say, “But even if He doesn’t…”

The next morning, the king hurried to the lion’s den and called out to Daniel. Daniel answered, “Long live the king! My God sent his angel to shut the lions’ mouths so that they would not hurt me, for I have been found innocent in his sight. And I have not wronged you, Your Majesty” (Daniel 6:20-22).

As a result of Daniel’s faithfulness and his testimony of how God had rescued him from what seemed an impossible situation, God was glorified and given the praise. I pray those around us can see that we serve God faithfully and that we trust in Him through all situations. This kind of faithfulness starts in our quiet times with the Lord. It is in the intimate moments with God that He takes us deeper in our relationship with Him and draws us closer to Him, creating fellowship and oneness with Him.

I have no idea what you are going through right now, but I pray that the depth of your daily private times of fellowship and oneness with God give you the strength of faith to trust in Him. I pray you believe that He can rescue you just as He rescued Daniel. I pray He will strengthen your faith and give you the courage to say — I know my God is able to rescue me from all of this but, even if He doesn’t, I choose to trust in Him, give thanks to Him, and spend time daily praying to Him.

Today’s Reading: Jeremiah

Jonah, Amos, Micah, Nahum, Zephaniah, and Habakkuk. God used the faithful obedience of these prophets to make a difference in the lives of His people and their leaders. The obedience of each of these believers had an impact on the king and, in turn, on the entire nation. God called another man to make an impact on His people; he called a young man named Jeremiah.

I KNEW YOU BEFORE I FORMED YOU. I AM WATCHING OVER YOU. I WILL CARRY OUT MY PLANS.

Jeremiah felt young and ill-equipped for what God was calling him to do. This calling was not an easy one, so God took the time to speak over Jeremiah. And the young prophet heard God’s affirmation — I have known you since you were in your mother’s womb, and I have been preparing you for this moment. I am calling you to be my voice to the people, and I will watch over you as you carry out my instructions.

Jeremiah must have been afraid of what he was being asked to do, because God took the time to ease his fears. He must have been worried about how the people would respond, because God revealed to him that the attempts of his enemies would fail because God was on his side. He was not alone. The God of the Universe was promising to take care of him!

I am so thankful for a God who takes the time to meet us where we are at as He prepares us for what He is calling us to do. He cares about how we are feeling and what we are grieving, and He takes the time to speak over us. He strengthens us for what is ahead, because He knows us and yet loves us deeply.

DO NOT BE AFRAID. I WILL TAKE CARE OF YOU. I SEE WHAT YOU COULD BE.

The Lord looks at us and sees the potential of what could be if we would only submit ourselves to His plan. If we would choose to walk in His ways and find contentment in the Lord, we would be a blessing to all those around us. The world would be a better place because of our obedience and faithful living.

Jeremiah’s obedience meant joining God in grieving the sinful behavior of the people. He was doing what God had called him to do and saying what God had specifically told him to relay, yet this did not make him popular with the people. Instead they plotted to kill him. Jeremiah described himself as a “lamb being led to the slaughter” (11:19). Have you ever felt that way? It is not fun to have to speak out against the sinful behavior of another person. It can be uncomfortable to stand up and call out a wrong or injustice. Obeying God does not always win us popularity, and leadership is often HARD.

I NEVER PROMISED YOU POPULARITY WHEN I ASKED FOR YOUR OBEDIENCE.

Jeremiah was called by God to proclaim to the people of Judah their future destruction and captivity. Although intimidated by God’s call on his life, Jeremiah was obedient and listened to God, passing on each message that the Lord gave him. Yet, as we read through the book of Jeremiah, we see that life was not easy for him.

I am so thankful for a God who knows us, who watches over us, and who answers us when we call. He is with us when things are going great and He is with us when life is at its toughest. He does not promise us that the task will be easy or that our obedience will result in popularity, but He does promise to take care of us. He does not guarantee that we will be comfortable, but He does promise to never leave us. What a joy it is to have the Lord as our hope and confidence.

“But blessed are those who trust in the Lord and have made the Lord their hope and confidence. They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water. Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought. Their leaves stay green, and they never stop producing fruit.” – Jeremiah 17:7-8

We see clearly in the book of Jeremiah that we serve a God of justice who is jealous when we serve something other than Him and who is angry when we are self-serving at the expense of others. He does not tolerate our misrepresentation of Him and He will not stand by and let leaders deceive His people — to destroy and scatter the very ones they are expected to care for.

But we also see in Jeremiah that we serve a God of love and mercy who plans for the redemption of His people. He cares when we turn away from him; He pursues us for the sake of our salvation. Even as God was declaring their consequence, He was unveiling His plan to redeem them through a Savior.

“Is not Israel still my son, my darling child?” says the Lord. “I often have to punish him, but I still love him. That’s why I long for him and surely will have mercy on him. Set up road signs; put up guideposts. Mark well the path by which you came. Come back again…” – Jeremiah 31:20-21

These verses sum up the prophecies of Jeremiah well. Because God loves, he punishes. Because He is our Father, he longs for us to respond to punishment so that He can have mercy on us. He wants us to find our way back to Him. This is why Jesus died on the cross for us, in order that we could experience forgiveness and restoration. This is why He rose again — to give us hope for our future!

Jeremiah is a difficult book to read. It’s hard to hear chapter after chapter of the painful consequences God’s people suffered due to their sin and unfaithfulness. But there are several chapters in the middle of Jeremiah that speak strongly of God’s love and His mercy – of HOPE FOR THE FUTURE of God’s people.

“For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” – Jeremiah 29:11

THERE IS HOPE FOR YOUR FUTURE.

This is a wonderful promise for those who have walked away from God’s perfect plan and are wondering what comes next. There are often natural consequences to our sin, to a life of doing what we want to do instead of following God’s plan for our lives. But God’s plan does not go away! When we seek Him with our whole hearts, we will find Him! Even in the midst of suffering the results of our sin, God will be with us and we will see His blessings in our lives. He will restore us and bring us joy. He has a plan.

It’s time to stop resisting God’s plan for our lives. If you seek Him, He will be found and there will be HOPE for your future. Lord, I thank you for the hope you give us even in the darkest of situations. I thank you for your love for us that is revealed when you restore and renew us. Thank you for being the God who gives rest to the weary and joy to the sorrowing. Help us to trust you and find hope for our future. Amen.

Today’s Reading: Habakkuk & Zephaniah

The book of Habakkuk is a conversation between the prophet and his God. He dares to ask God some pretty tough questions — Why do you allow injustice, God? Do you even care? Why do you tolerate evil? Are you still in control, Lord? I must admit that I have asked some of these same questions.

My questions: Why is sin celebrated? How did sex become such a dominant addiction in our society? Why aren’t people held accountable when they blatantly lie about someone else or twist the truth for their own benefit? Where is God in all of this? What hope is there for future generations?

How long, O Lord, must I call for help?
But you do not listen!
“Violence is everywhere!” I cry, but you do not come to save.
Must I forever see these evil deeds?
Why must I watch all this misery?
Wherever I look, I see destruction and violence.
I am surrounded by people who love to argue and fight.
The law has become paralyzed, and there is no justice in the courts.
The wicked far outnumber the righteous, so that justice has become perverted. – Habakkuk 1:2-4

Have you ever prayed a similar prayer? Watching the daily news can be aggravating and I find myself asking God where He is at in all of it. I foolishly ask Him to see all of the sorrow and injustice around the world, as if He isn’t already looking. I tell Him my heart is breaking, as if His heart isn’t more affected than mine. I ask Him where He is and if He is listening, as if God doesn’t see all and know all and love more than I am capable of. God saw the honest heart of the prophet and took time to give him answers — answers that show our God is sovereign!

“Look around at the nations; look and be amazed!
For I AM DOING SOMETHING in your own day,
something you wouldn’t believe even if someone told you about it.” – Habakkuk 1:5

God’s answer: Look around! There is evidence of my movement all around! I am never without a plan. Don’t try to fix the world around you with your own strength – trust in my power and wisdom. Look for ME and seek MY plan. Be willing to do what I ask you, instead of depending on yourself. Be a part of my plan instead of forcing your own.

God was using the growing strength of the Babylonian nation to punish His people, and Habakkuk was struggling with God’s plan. The Babylonians were taking over much of the region, including Nineveh and the Assyrian nation. This idolatrous nation was growing in power and pressing in on the nation of Judah. With a sincere heart, Habakkuk made his struggles known to God and asked God for answers.

God’s answer: My judgment may seem slow in coming but wait patiently, for it will surely take place. It will not be delayed. Those that are being taken captive will one day taunt and mock their captors as they get what they deserve (2:3,6).

It was during this time that the prophet Zephaniah was trying to move God’s people to renew their covenant relationship with God. He spoke of how our jealous God would punish the wicked but how God’s faithful people would enjoy the home He has prepared for them. In the meantime, while we are still in this world, God is calling His people to action — to unite our voices in petition and repentance of our nations.

Gather together – yes, gather together, you shameless nation.
Gather before judgment begins, before your time to repent is blown away like chaff.
Act now, before the fierce fury of the Lord falls and the terrible day of the Lord’s anger begins.
Seek the Lord, all who are humble, and follow his commands.
Seek to do what is right and to live humbly.
Perhaps even yet the Lord will protect you –
protect you from his anger on the day of destruction. – Zephaniah 2:1-3

GATHER TOGETHER. ACT NOW. SEEK THE LORD TODAY.

God’s message through the prophet Zephaniah is clear and leaves us with a choice. There is judgment for those who claim to follow the Lord but no longer worship Him — for those who no longer ask for the Lord’s guidance or seek His blessings. But when we humble ourselves and trust in the name of the Lord, he delights in us! We are surrounded by His love and our fears are calmed. Not only are we blessed with His presence, He rejoices over us with singing! What an incredible realization! The Lord is with us and He takes delight in us, expressing His joy in song. So let’s trust in God and humble ourselves in His presence!

Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked,
or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers.
But they delight in the law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night.
They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season.
Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do. – Psalm 1:1-3

Lord, our hearts are breaking over the evidence of evil all around us. We cannot put our hope in government officials, for they make decisions based on their own agendas and redefine what is moral and what is not. We cannot put our hope in people for they will disappoint us. You are our only hope. Give us eyes to see the woundedness among us but also give us hearts to see your activity all around us. Help us to trust that you are DOING SOMETHING — that you are watching, that you are moving, that you are responding. Lord, hear our cries and give us a willingness to be a part of your solution. Amen.

Today’s Reading: Micah & Nahum

God had made a covenant with His people but they had ignored their promises, forgetting His faithfulness. They put themselves on the throne where God was meant to reign. They used this covenant as an excuse to sin. They said, “No harm will come to us for the Lord is here among us” (3:11). God used Micah to call his people back to righteousness through a message of rebuke and a call to redemption.

GOD IS NOT OBLIGATED TO REWARD OUR SIN. HE CREATED US FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS, NOT REBELLION.

“O my people, what have I done to you?
What have I done to make you tired of me? Answer me!
For I brought you out of Egypt and redeemed you from slavery.
I sent Moses, Aaron, and Miriam to help you.
Don’t you remember…” – Micah 6:3-5a

What can we bring to the Lord?
What kind of offerings should we give him?
Should we bow before God with offerings of yearling calves?
Should we offer him thousands of rams and ten thousand rivers of olive oil?
Should we sacrifice our firstborn children to pay for our sins?

No, O people, the Lord has told you what is good, and this is what he REQUIRES of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God. – Micah 6:6-8

Micah’s message to God’s people included words of hope — words that held a promise for the future. This time of exile would not last forever, and Jerusalem would one day be strong again. And the Lord Himself would be king forever!

As for me, I look to the Lord for help.
I wait confidently for God to save me, and my God will certainly hear me…
Though I sit in darkness, the Lord will be my light.
I will be patient as the Lord punishes me, for I have sinned against him. – Micah 7:7-9

It is extremely uncomfortable to be called out on an error and have to admit you were wrong. I have no problem apologizing but suffering the consequences of my mistakes or sins is miserable. To be surrounded by the mess I have made is a rough place to be. I am so thankful I serve a God who RESCUES and RESTORES me when I REPENT of my sins in true REMORSE.

I look to you for help, Oh Lord – my God will certainly hear me. When I am surrounded by darkness, the Lord is my light. I can survive the ruins because I am not alone. My God, you are with me on this path to redemption — this journey of grace. Thank you for being a loving God!

Where is another God like you,
who pardons the guilt of the remnant,
overlooking the sins of his special people?
You will not stay angry with your people forever,
because you delight in showing unfailing love.
Once again you will have compassion on us.
You will trample our sins under your feet
and throw them into the depths of the ocean!
You will show us your faithfulness and unfailing love
as you promised to our ancestors Abraham and Jacob long ago. – Micah 7:18-20

The people of Nineveh had repented of their sins after Jonah came to them, but they turned back to wickedness. The prophet Nahum declared God’s judgment on the city — the city that appeared to be beautiful, but was full of evil. Those who were oblivious to its wickedness were also naive to what God was capable of doing. Nahum’s prophecy against Judah’s enemy came at a good time — a time when they needed to hear that God is powerful, He is paying attention, and He will punish His enemies.

The Lord is good, a strong refuge when trouble comes. He is close to those who trust in him. But he will sweep away his enemies in an overwhelming flood. He will pursue his foes into the darkness of night. – Nahum 1:7-8

GOD IS NOT OBLIGATED TO REWARD OUR SIN. HE CREATED US FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS, NOT REBELLION.

Scriptures like this convince me that God will someday put an end to the many industries leaving a path of destruction behind them, industries like pornography, sex-trafficking and abortion. They glamourize sin and collect their riches, but God sees that they are surrounded by those they have destroyed. He hears the cries of the men and women who have been deceived and lied to; he sees the wounds of those who have been abused and mistreated.

What sorrow awaits Nineveh, the city of murder and lies!
She is crammed with wealth and is never without victims.
Hear the crack of whips, the rumble of wheels!
Horses’ hooves pound, and charioteers charge past!
There are countless casualties, heaps of bodies – so many bodies that people stumble over them.
All this because Nineveh, the beautiful and faithless city, mistress of deadly charms, enticed the nations with her beauty.
She taught them all her magic, enchanting people everywhere.
“I am your enemy!” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.
“And now I will lift your skirts and show all the earth your nakedness and shame.
I will cover you with filth and show the world how vile you really are.
All who see you will shrink back and say, ‘Nineveh lies in ruins. Where are the mourners?’
Does anyone regret your destruction?” – Nahum 3:1-7

Lord, we thank you for being a God of power — a God aware of the hurts, pains and injustices of this world. Lord, forgive our nation for allowing and promoting the death of those who cannot defend themselves. Strengthen us to protect those who are mistreated, and equip us to speak your truth to this lost and dying world. Expose evil empires that veil themselves as if to appear beautiful. May those who work in these industries see that you are the only true God and sincerely repent, finding forgiveness in our merciful God. Lord, break our hearts over what breaks yours and calm our troubled souls. Oh God, we trust in you for you are the God of love and the God of justice. Amen.