The Joy of the Lord

Readings for today: 2 Kings 18:1-8, 2 Chronicles 29-31, Psalms 48

There is nothing like the joy of the Lord. It is powerful to experience. It moves the heart. It transforms the mind. The impossible becomes possible. The improbable becomes probable. The unexpected becomes expected. Miracles become common. The extraordinary becomes ordinary. All kinds of possibilities are unleashed. All kinds of resources are unlocked. The joy of the Lord forges a unity between people that God uses to advance His Kingdom purposes in the world.

The nation of Judah experienced a revival under King Hezekiah. A revival marked by and driven by the joy of the Lord. It begins as the Levites are reconsecrated and cleanse the Temple. This leads to a ritual burning of all the idols and unholy things Ahaz had brought into God’s sacred space. It builds as Judah celebrates the Passover for the first time in generations. A seven day feast that goes an additional seven days because the people don’t want to stop worshipping the Lord. Hezekiah literally feeds this revival by offering an additional thousand bulls and seven thousand sheep to the affair! It culminates in an overwhelming abundance of freewill offerings as the nation brings the best of their flocks and the produce of their fields. There’s so much the Levites have to literally pile it up in the Temple precincts. It’s just incredible.

It begs the question. Is such a thing still possible today? Is revival still possible today? And the answer is absolutely! But it requires a single-mindedness. A whole-hearted devotion. A passion to serve God and submit to His will and follow His way. One cannot have revival on one’s own terms. One cannot manufacture revival through human means. One must seek the Lord faithfully and fervently. One must put aside all idols. One must reject all sin. One must cast aside anything that would distract or detract from the worship of God.

So where does one begin? We begin with prayer. We pray through Psalms like Psalms 48. We ask God to pour out His Holy Spirit on us and on those we love and on those we worship and serve alongside in the church. We ask God to fill us with His Spirit. We confess our sins and purify our hearts before Him. We humble ourselves and commit to His will above our own. We give generously and sacrificially of our time, talent, and treasure and we encourage others to do the same. Most of all, we come with a sense of expectation into His presence. Whether we are worshipping at home in our personal time with God or worshipping at church with the family of God, we come with a sense of expectation that God will move. God will answer. God will bring about revival and it will begin with me.

Readings for tomorrow: Isaiah 27-30

The Earth

Readings for today: Isaiah 23-26

God loves the Earth. He loves the world He has made. He loves everything about it. He loves everything within it. He spoke it into existence and shaped and formed and fashioned it with His own hands. God’s desire is to see the earth flourish. To see the world become what He designed it to be. He wants to see all the creatures, great and small, within it live lives of blessing and contentment and peace. This is God’s will. It has been His will from the beginning. It remains His will today. And it will be His will until the end of time. God is the same yesterday, today, and forever and His plans for the world have not changed, will not change, and do not change.

However, the creature God made in His own image. The creature God set up to care for and nurture and work and keep the earth has fallen. Humanity abandoned her original purpose. Rejected her original mandate to “be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth, and exercise dominion” over all God has made. As a result, creation suffers. The world is in turmoil. The Earth herself is cursed. Imagine you come home to your house one day only to find it full of black mold. Black mold everywhere. On every surface. Behind every wall. In every corner. The place would be toxic. Impossible to live in. There is no way to redeem it. No way to cleanse it. No way to get rid of all the corruption. What would you do? You would scrape the house. You would call in bulldozers. Earthmovers to clear the ground. And then you would rebuild. Essentially this is what God is doing in our reading today. He judges the earth not to destroy it but to cleanse it. Not to eradicate it but to prepare it for His great restoration work.

The earth, as it stands, cannot be redeemed. The corruption runs too deep. The rot goes all the way to the core. So God does what any good and faithful homeowner would do. He scrapes it. He scours it. He purifies and cleanses it with fire and judgment. “Look, the Lord is stripping the earth bare and making it desolate. He will twist its surface and scatter its inhabitants: people and priest alike, servant and master, female servant and mistress, buyer and seller, lender and borrower, creditor and debtor. The earth will be stripped completely bare and will be totally plundered, for the Lord has spoken this message.” (Isaiah 24:1-3 CSB) This is not an easy process. It will involve a lot of pain and suffering. A lot of tearing down in order to build up. “The earth mourns and withers; the world wastes away and withers; the exalted people of the earth waste away. The earth is polluted by its inhabitants, for they have transgressed teachings, overstepped decrees, and broken the permanent covenant. Therefore a curse has consumed the earth, and its inhabitants have become guilty; the earth’s inhabitants have been burned, and only a few survive.” (Isaiah 24:4-6 CSB) God will not stop until His cleansing work is complete. He will not relent until sin has been eradicated once and for all. He will purify every nook and cranny, every crack and corner. He will ascend to the heights and plunge to the depths. No stone will be left unturned. No square inch of creation will escape His notice. The result will be complete devastation as God prepares His world for what’s to come. “The earth is completely devastated; the earth is split open; the earth is violently shaken. The earth staggers like a drunkard  and sways like a hut. Earth’s rebellion weighs it down, and it falls, never to rise again.” (Isaiah 24:19-20 CSB)

And what is the goal of all this terrifying work? The restoration and renewal of worship. All of creation joining together in song. The mountains and oceans. The rocks and trees and flowers. The stars and planets and other heavenly bodies. Every creature finding her voice. The fish in the sea. The birds in the air. The animals that walk the earth. Even in the insects that crawl on the earth. And humanity will be God’s great conductor. God’s great worship leader. Drawing all the different melodies into one resounding voice. “They raise their voices, they sing out; they proclaim in the west the majesty of the Lord. Therefore, in the east honor the Lord! In the coasts and islands of the west honor the name of the Lord, the God of Israel. From the ends of the earth we hear songs: The Splendor of the Righteous One. ‭‭(Isaiah‬ ‭24‬:‭‭14‬-‭16‬ CSB‬‬)

Readings for tomorrow: 2 Kings 18:1-8, 2 Chronicles 29-31, Psalms 48

Love for Enemies

Readings for today: Isaiah 18-22

Egypt. The land of slavery. The land of oppression. The land of attempted genocide. For hundreds of years, the people of Israel labored under the whip. Beaten. Abused. Dying young. Their children born to a life of hard labor. Powerless. Helpless. Hopeless. It was a life of constant pain. Constant torment. Constant suffering. Even after they were delivered by God, Egypt continued to be a thorn in their side. Invading. Killing. A perpetual threat on their southern border. It’s tough to overstate the hatred and enmity between these two nations. And yet, God loves the Egyptians.

Assyria. One of the most powerful and brutal empires in the ancient world. They fielded the world’s first professional army. Developed advanced technology like iron weapons and war chariots. They weaponized terror as a military tactic. And they were absolutely ruthless when it came to putting down resistance. They would sack cities. Displace entire people groups. Employed horrific public torture as a means of psychological warfare. Israel hated them. Israel feared them. It’s why Jonah ran to Joppa rather than go to Nineveh. He simply couldn’t stomach the sight of his enemies. And yet, God loves the Assyrians.

The Book of Isaiah is often called, “The Gospel of the Old Testament” and today’s passage is a good reason why…“On that day there will be an altar to the Lord in the center of the land of Egypt and a pillar to the Lord near her border. It will be a sign and witness to the Lord of Armies in the land of Egypt. When they cry out to the Lord because of their oppressors, he will send them a savior and leader, and he will rescue them. The Lord will make himself known to Egypt, and Egypt will know the Lord on that day. They will offer sacrifices and offerings;  they will make vows to the Lord and fulfill them. The Lord will strike Egypt, striking and healing. Then they will turn to the Lord, and he will be receptive to their prayers and heal them. On that day there will be a highway from Egypt to Assyria. Assyria will go to Egypt, Egypt to Assyria, and Egypt will worship with Assyria. On that day Israel will form a triple alliance with Egypt and Assyria a blessing within the land. The Lord of Armies will bless them, saying, “Egypt my people, Assyria my handiwork, and Israel my inheritance are blessed.” (Isaiah‬ ‭19‬:‭19‬-‭25‬ ‭CSB‬‬) This is an incredible passage pointing to an even more incredible reality. The unconditional nature of God’s grace. It comes to us all. Jew and Gentile alike. Egyptian, Assyrian, and Israelite alike. Republican and Democrat alike. Progressive and conservative alike. Black, white, and brown alike. It is no one’s possession. No one has a right to claim it for their own. No one is more privileged than another in the eyes of God.

All have sinned and fallen short of His glory and all stand in need of His grace. This is why Jesus gives us this command…”You have heard that it was said, Love your neighbor, and hate your enemy. But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” (Matthew‬ ‭5‬:‭43‬-‭44‬ ‭CSB‬‬) Jesus knows there are no “enemies” in His Kingdom. No “enemies” beyond His reach. No “enemies” beyond His salvation. Jesus knows there is not a single person or single power on this earth who can stand before His love. Jesus holds the power to turn mortal enemies into family. Jesus holds the power to overcome hate and anger and the desire for vengeance with mercy and forgiveness. Jesus holds the power to transform even the hardest hearts. The question is…do we believe Him? Do we trust Him? And do our lives and our conduct and our speech and our interactions reflect this deep and glorious truth?

Readings for tomorrow: Isaiah 23-26

Kingdom of Love

Readings for today: Isaiah 13-17

The words from Isaiah today are powerful. They present a vision that is foreign to us. Alien to the human experience. In our experience, thrones and dominions and kingdoms are founded on power. Authority. Control. It doesn’t matter whether one is talking about monarchies, dictatorships, socialist republics, or democracies. All human governmental institutions are established in power. They are maintained through power. They often come to an end because some other power rises up against them. This is the way of the world and it has been like this since the beginning. Furthermore, those in power tend to become corrupt. They begin using their power to pursue their own selfish ends. How else can one explain the rampant financial and sexual and criminal abuses that we so often see from our political leaders? Certainly not all of them succumb to such temptations but it must be hard to resist when so many are trying to curry favor. And, of course, the ones who do find the strength to resist are often successful only because they cling to a higher purpose. A greater meaning to their lives that gives them the strength to overcome.

Isaiah identifies that “higher purpose” for his people. It is love. “When the oppressor has gone, destruction has ended, and marauders have vanished from the land, a throne will be established in love, and one will sit on it faithfully in the tent of David, judging and pursuing what is right, quick to execute justice.” (Isaiah‬ ‭16‬:‭4‬-‭5‬ ‭CSB‬‬) When a throne is established in God’s love, justice and mercy naturally flow. When a kingdom is founded on God’s love, it becomes a light to the world. A beacon of peace and righteousness and goodness that shines for all to see. This was the whole point of the nation of Israel. To show the world a different way. To be a light to the nations around them. To be a country built on the foundation of righteousness and justice where steadfast love and faithfulness undergirded how they lived. In such a nation, outcasts would find refuge. Enemies would become friends. Widows and orphans would find care. The poor would be lifted up. Oppression would cease. Destruction would end. Peace would reign. This is a picture of the Kingdom of God and it is what we pray for when we pray the Lord’s Prayer together.

Jesus affirms this Kingdom. He came to establish this Kingdom on earth through His life, death, and resurrection. Jesus is love. He is the love of God incarnate. He is the love of God made flesh and blood. And as He lays down His life for us, He defines love for us. It’s not a feeling. It’s not an attraction. It’s not selfish or arrogant or boastful or impatient or unkind. It is self-sacrificing. Self-denying. It always puts the needs of others before itself. It always focuses on the welfare of others before it’s own. It is costly. It is a high-risk endeavor. It never loses hope. Never gives into despair. It always endures. It always perseveres. It never fails because Jesus never fails.

Ultimately, a passage like the one we read today points us forward to Jesus. He is the One who gives counsel. Who grants justice. Who shelters the outcast and the fugitive. He is the One who puts an end to all oppression and destruction and brings peace. He establishes His throne from the cross, the place where perfect love and perfect justice meet. He sits on His throne with faithfulness and is always swift to do righteousness and justice. As followers of Christ, we acknowledge Jesus is our King. We acknowledge Jesus as Lord. We acknowledge His authority over our lives. As such, we who are called by His name must align ourselves with His Kingdom. We must seek to incarnate His values in our lives. We must reject the ways of this world. The will to power. The will to pleasure. And instead find in Christ the will to love.

Readings for tomorrow: No devotionals on Sundays

Everlasting Faithfulness

Readings for today: Micah 5-7

I grew up going to church every Sunday. I said the creeds. Prayed the prayers. Sang the songs. My mom was a music teacher and she instilled in all of us a great love for music, especially the music of the church. My brothers and I all participated in choir and we learned the great hymns. One of my favorites growing up was a hymn titled, “Leaning on the Everlasting Arms.” More upbeat than most, the chorus goes like this. “Leaning, leaning; Safe and secure from all alarms! Leaning, leaning; Leaning on the everlasting arms.” Though I did not come to faith until college, I’ve always experienced God as a comforting presence. Mainly because of songs like this one that declare His nature and character. Even though I was not a believer, God was instilling in me through the music, prayers, creeds, and sermons I heard a deep understanding of who He is. Building a bridge to my heart that I would later walk across at CU.  

I love how Micah concludes his prophetic work. “Who is a God like you, forgiving iniquity and passing over rebellion for the remnant of his inheritance? He does not hold on to his anger forever because he delights in faithful love. He will again have compassion on us; he will vanquish our iniquities. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea.” (Micah‬ ‭7‬:‭18‬-‭19‬ ‭CSB‬‬) In this passage we hear echoes of the great epiphany of Moses from Exodus 34 where God literally appears and reveals His divine nature and character to His people. "The Lord, the Lord is a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger and abounding in faithful love and truth, maintaining faithful love to a thousand generations, forgiving iniquity, rebellion, and sin. But he will not leave the guilty unpunished, bringing the consequences of the fathers’ iniquity on the children and grandchildren to the third and fourth generation.” (Exodus‬ ‭34‬:‭6‬-‭7‬ ‭CSB‬‬) Throughout their history. Thousands upon thousands of years. Israel leaned on the everlasting arms of their God. They trusted in His forgiveness and grace. They experienced His deep, loyal, steadfast love. They rejoiced in His great compassion. Every week when they would gather for worship, they sang. They prayed. They declared the glory of God. And they passed on their faith to each successive generation. 

Why is worship so important? Why is reading Scripture every day so important? Why is coming before Christ on a regular basis so crucial for our faith? Because we need to be reminded of God’s great faithfulness. We need to be reminded of His great love and compassion. His mercy and grace. His forgiveness. We need to be reminded in the midst of judgment that while “weeping may tarry for a night, joy comes in the morning.”(Psalm 30:5b) We need to be reminded that while God will not be mocked and will by no means clear those who are guilty of sin, He will not remain angry with us forever. “For His anger is fleeting but His favor lasts a lifetime.”(Psalm 30:5a) We need to be reminded that God knows our weakness and has provided a way for us to salvation. “Bethlehem Ephrathah, you are small among the clans of Judah; one will come from you to be ruler over Israel for me. His origin is from antiquity, from ancient times…He will stand and shepherd them in the strength of the Lord, in the majestic name of the Lord his God. They will live securely, for then his greatness will extend to the ends of the earth.” (Micah‬ ‭5‬:‭2‬, ‭4‬ ‭CSB‬‬)

I don’t know what you might be facing today. The challenges. The crises. The difficulties. Maybe it’s a health issue. Maybe it’s a family issue. Maybe it’s a job issue. Maybe you’re staring at an uncertain future. Maybe you’ve made a huge mistake and you’re paying the price. Let me encourage you to lean on the everlasting arms of Jesus! Trust Him. Believe in Him. Place your faith in Him to carry you through! Maybe things are going well for you. Life is blessed. Success seems to follow you wherever you go. Your kids are doing great. Your career is on the upward swing. You’re surrounded by people who love you. Praise Jesus! Thank Him for His great faithfulness. Rejoice in His favor. Share it with others. God is the same yesterday, today and forever, friends. (Hebrews 13:8) There is no shadow or turning with Him. (James 1:17) Believe Him for your life today!

Readings for tomorrow: 2 Kings 16-17, 2 Chronicles 28

Intervention

Readings for today: Micah 1-4

I often get asked the question, “Why doesn’t God intervene?” Why didn’t God intervene and save the children in the floods in Texas? Why doesn’t God intervene and save the innocent in places like Ukraine and Gaza? Why doesn’t God intervene and stop injustice and oppression and violence in our world? Why didn’t God intervene in my own life when I experienced trauma or abuse or pain or suffering? These are really important questions. Not to be dismissed.

At the same time, whenever I field these questions, I immediately think of a famous C.S. Lewis quote. (Remember C.S. Lewis lived and taught during the Great Depression and Second World War.) He writes, “I wonder whether people who ask God to interfere openly and directly in our world quite realize what it will be like when He does. When that happens, it is the end of the world. When the author walks on to the stage the play is over. God is going to invade, all right: but what is the good of saying you are on His side then, when you see the whole natural universe melting away like a dream and something else - something it never entered your head to conceive - comes crashing in; something so beautiful to some of us and so terrible to others that none of us will have any choice left? For this time it will God without disguise; something so overwhelming that it will strike either irresistible love or irresistible horror into every creature. It will be too late then to choose your side. There is no use saying you choose to lie down when it has become impossible to stand up. That will not be the time for choosing; it will be the time when we discover which side we really have chosen, whether we realised it before or not. Now, today, this moment, is our chance to choose the right side. God is holding back to give us that chance. It will not last for ever. We must take it or leave it.”

This is the kind of intervention the prophet Micah refers to when he talks about the Lord “leaving his place and coming down to trample the heights of the earth. The mountains will melt beneath him, and the valleys will split apart, like wax near a fire, like water cascading down a mountainside.” (Micah‬ ‭1‬:‭3‬-‭4‬ ‭CSB‬‬) It is God coming to earth with overwhelming force. God coming to earth to put an end to evil once and for all. God coming to earth to bring justice and righteousness. It will not be selective. It will not be partial. It will not be only for those with whom we disagree. When His judgment comes, it comes for us all. When His judgment comes, none of us will be able to stand. Every knee will bow under heaven and on earth and under the earth. Every tongue will confess He is Lord whether we have believed or not. All of creation will acknowledge His authority and it will be the end of the world as we know it.

Both Micah and Lewis point us to even more fundamental questions. Are we on the Lord’s side? I think of the recent political debates in my own country and how both parties attempt to co-opt God as if He were on their side. Both parties twist the Word of God to support their own political and social agenda. Both sides pray for God to intervene and stop their opponents. But if God were to truly intervene, both parties would find themselves on their faces before the judgment throne for both parties are corrupt and God doesn’t grade on a curve. Do we believe in the Lord? Do we truly trust Him? I think of so many people I know who proclaim to be Christians with their lips but deny Him in the way they live their lives. They try to have a foot in God’s world and our world. They are what the Bible calls “double-minded” in that they want it both ways. They want the safety and assurance of salvation but they want to live life on their own terms. It simply doesn’t work that way. Do we love the Lord? With all our heart, soul, mind, and strength? None of us can answer this in the affirmative. Not completely. But what we can discern is whether we are growing in our love for Him in all these spheres. Are we seeking Him? Are we pursuing Him? Are we surrendering more and more of our lives to Him? This we can answer in the affirmative if we are walking in the Spirit.

Readings for tomorrow: Micah 5-7

Peace

Readings for today: Isaiah 9-12

One of my spiritual disciplines is to stay up with the news. I make sure to read sources from across the political spectrum. I try my best to discern truth which is not always easy because humanity seems literally hardwired for conflict and hatred and even violence. It is so hard to land on an accepted set of facts that everyone can agree on. If facts are inconvenient or don’t support the narrative we want, we tend to dismiss them. If facts support our pre-determined position or ideology then we cling to them with all our might. One could argue that it doesn’t matter. People have a right to believe what they believe. However, in the real world, this attitude doesn’t fly because while I may have a right to my opinion, I don’t have a right to my own facts. Real decisions are made that have real world consequences and people are often hurt. For example, I was recently talking with an immigration official about the conflict that exists between immigration policy in our state and immigration policy at the federal level. That conflict puts state and federal officials at odds with one another and what ends up happening is the immigrant is caught in the crosshairs. That’s just one example among many I could cite. Taken to an extreme, this can lead to violence. The kind of violence I often see when I travel to other countries around the world.

Thankfully, God has a different vision for the world. One He casts in the eleventh chapter of the Book of Isaiah. “The wolf will dwell with the lamb, and the leopard will lie down with the goat. The calf, the young lion, and the fattened calf will be together, and a child will lead them. The cow and the bear will graze, their young ones will lie down together, and the lion will eat straw like cattle. An infant will play beside the cobra’s pit, and a toddler will put his hand into a snake’s den. They will not harm or destroy each other on my entire holy mountain, for the land will be as full of the knowledge of the Lord as the sea is filled with water.” (Isaiah 11:6-9 CSB) When the Messiah comes in all His power and glory, the world will finally know reconciliation. The world will finally know peace. True shalom. The end of all division and violence and hatred and enmity.

How do we know this to be true? Because of what God did on the cross. There He tore down every dividing wall of hostility that exists between us and He gave us His Spirit to bring unity. The church is therefore called to live in such a way that we give the world a picture of what life will one day look like in the Kingdom of God. Imagine the power of the witness we could have if God’s people would embrace Isaiah’s vision? Imagine a church unified across political, ethnic, tribal, economic, generational, and theological divisions? Imagine a church that took seriously the commands from Psalm 133 and John 17? Imagine a church that chose God’s Truth over particular political, social, or even theological truth? It’s actually not all that hard to imagine if we take seriously the call to have the same mind that was in Christ Jesus and seek to follow the example He lays down in Philippians 2:5-11.

Readings for tomorrow: Micah 1-4

Accountability

Readings for today: Isaiah 5-8

The Song of the Vineyard in Isaiah is a powerful metaphor depicting the relationship between God and His people. It describes all the ways God provided for His people. All the ways God blessed His people. All the ways God worked to establish His people in the Promised Land. But the people turned their backs on God. Instead of yielding a harvest of righteousness and justice and peace, they pursued unrighteousness, injustice, and violence. They oppressed the poor. They exploited the powerless. They refused to care for the less fortunate in their midst. It’s a recurrent theme not only in the Book of Isaiah but throughout the prophetic literature. Over and over again, God asks His people to judge between Him and His vineyard. Who is in the right? Who is in the wrong? What shall be done?

Over the years, I have found the Song of the Vineyard doesn’t just apply to the relationship between God and Israel. It applies to me. It applies to our nation. It applies to all of humanity. I think about my own life and the kind of fruit I am yielding. Is it the kind of fruit that brings glory to God? Is it good fruit that blesses others? Am I seeking the righteousness and the kingdom of God first in my life? These are questions I ask myself almost every single day of my life and they are worth pondering. Then I try to turn my gaze outward. Towards the church I love and serve. Towards the nation I love and live in. Towards the world where I so often travel. Am I leading the church I serve in such a way that we will produce good fruit together? Are we seeking the righteousness and the kingdom of God first as a community? Is our presence in Parker a blessing to the town? Am I engaging our local, state, and national leaders? Am I seeking to do all I can to influence them so they will pursue righteousness and God’s kingdom first? Am I advocating for those who have no voice? The poor and powerless? Those who often get left out or left behind? When I travel abroad, am I helping to create systems that are sustainable, reproducible, righteous, and just? Am I doing all I can to help those I love and serve and train seek God’s kingdom above their own? How am I leveraging my influence to change lives and villages in some of the most remote places on earth?

The Song is worth reading again with these questions in mind. As you read, ask the Holy Spirit to show you the good fruit you are bearing as well as the bad fruit. Ask Him to bring to mind those areas of your life where God wants to affirm you and those areas of your life where you need to confess and ask His forgiveness. Ask Him to give you the wisdom to continue to till the soil of your heart so that you might bear even more good fruit in the future.

“I will sing about the one I love, a song about my loved one’s vineyard: The one I love had a vineyard on a very fertile hill. He broke up the soil, cleared it of stones, and planted it with the finest vines. He built a tower in the middle of it and even dug out a winepress there. He expected  it to yield good grapes, but it yielded worthless grapes. So now, residents of Jerusalem and men of Judah, please judge between me and my vineyard. What more could I have done for my vineyard than I did? Why, when I expected a yield of good grapes, did it yield worthless grapes? Now I will tell you what I am about to do to my vineyard: I will remove its hedge, and it will be consumed; I will tear down its wall,  and it will be trampled. I will make it a wasteland. It will not be pruned or weeded; thorns and briers will grow up. I will also give orders to the clouds that rain should not fall on it. For the vineyard of the  Lord of Armies is the house of Israel, and the men of Judah, the plant he delighted in. He expected justice but saw injustice; he expected righteousness but heard cries of despair.” (Isaiah‬ ‭5‬:‭1‬-‭7‬ ‭CSB‬‬)

Readings for tomorrow: Isaiah 9-12

Justice and Righteousness

Readings for today: Isaiah 1-4

Yesterday was the 4th of July. A day to celebrate the birth of the United States of America. A day to honor the principles on which she was founded. I love how the preamble of United States Constitution lays it out. “We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.” This is a statement loaded with all kinds of meaning, much of which has come under fierce debate some 249 years after the first 4th of July celebration. Whereas the original founders all generally shared a common, biblical understanding of words like “union”, “justice”, “tranquility”, “welfare”, and “blessings”, the definitions of those terms now vary widely depending on your particular political or social or religious point of view. It’s why our fights are so fierce these days. The very heart of our country is at stake. If we can’t find common ground on key ideas like justice, we will never be able to form the more perfect union our hearts desire.

Interestingly enough, the prophet Isaiah was facing a similar situation in ancient Judah. His career spanned the lifetimes of several kings and he saw firsthand how their decisions impacted the nation. He was a court prophet. He spent his time in the royal household and among the leaders of his country. His calling was to preach God’s Word and speak truth to power in the very throne room of the king. And what lay at the heart of Isaiah’s message? Justice. Righteousness. Welfare. Peace. The very things our founding fathers wrote into our constitution. “Wash yourselves. Cleanse yourselves. Remove your evil deeds from my sight. Stop doing evil. Learn to do what is good. Pursue justice. Correct the oppressor. Defend the rights of the fatherless. Plead the widow’s cause. Zion will be redeemed by justice, those who repent, by righteousness.” (Isaiah‬ ‭1‬:‭16‬-‭17‬, ‭27‬ ‭CSB‬‬)

One of the great temptations we face as Christians is to fall into the trap of believing one political party is more “righteous” than the other. The reality is both are corrupt. Both fall short. Both fail to meet God’s standard for justice and righteousness and welfare and peace. We cannot settle for the lesser of two evils. We cannot use ungodly means to achieve godly ends. God’s standard is not of this world. God’s Kingdom is not of this world. And the people of God should never stop praying and advocating and fighting for God’s will and God’s Kingdom to come on earth as it is in heaven. This means we should never stop seeking divine justice over human justice. Divine righteousness over human righteousness. Divine compassion over human compassion. Divine peace over human peace. This world cannot deliver what our hearts truly desire. And it is only as we seek God that we will find ourselves becoming capable of the kind of justice and righteousness and compassion and peace He promises.

Readings for tomorrow: No devotionals on Sundays

Righteousness

Readings for today: Hosea 10-14

The Christian life is a righteous life. It is a life aligned with God’s heart and God’s will. It is a life lived in concert with God’s purposes and plans. It is a life of humility before the Lord. A life of peace with God. A life surrendered to His way and His truth. It is also a life that runs counter to the way of the world. It cuts against the grain of every human culture. It is a narrow way. A road less taken. A path less trodden. Not because it has been tried and found wanting but because it is has been found difficult and left untried. (GK Chesterton) Last evening, I sat around the table with people I love. They are young and just beginning to make their way in the world. They talked about their anxieties and fears. They talked about the temptations they face. They talked about how so many of their friends are hurting and suffering. And it broke my heart. Why do we resist the righteousness of God when the unrighteousness of this world has so little to offer in return?

Perhaps that’s why I love what the prophet Hosea says in our reading today. “Sow righteousness for yourselves and reap faithful love; break up your unplowed ground. It is time to seek the Lord until he comes and sends righteousness on you like the rain.” (Hosea‬ ‭10‬:‭12‬ ‭CSB) I have found these words to be true in my own life. The more I surrender to the Lord, the more I experience the blessing of His abiding presence in my life. The more I align my life with His life, the more I find fulfillment and contentment and joy. The more I seek His face and obey His commands, the more I am at peace. No longer at war with myself. No longer at war with those around me. No longer at war with the world. Most importantly, no longer at war with God.

Regular self-examination is the key or as Hosea puts it, “breaking up your unplowed ground.” There is so much of my life and heart and thoughts and feelings that has yet to examined. So much ground in my life that has yet to be plowed. So much I am not even aware of and that is why coming before the Lord daily and asking His Spirit to till the soil of my heart is critical. As the Spirit breaks up the unplowed ground, new life emerges. He sows the seeds of righteousness and I reap the fruit of faithful love. This requires intentionality. One must regularly and often submit themselves to the Holy Spirit. It also requires humility. One must surrender to His will when unrighteous aspects of one’s life are revealed. We must let go of thoughts, attitudes, and actions that are not aligned with God. We must be willing to reprioritize and reorder our loves so we might align with His love. Self-examination is one of the primary ways we “seek the Lord until He comes” and it is one of the most effective ways to pursue righteousness in your life.

Readings for tomorrow: Isaiah 1-4

Repentance

Readings for today: Hosea 6-9

Repentance is beautiful. It is life-giving. It is the source of true joy and peace in life for it is a recognition that all of life is lived under God’s gracious and sovereign authority. It is the acknowledgment that God is God and we are not. He alone has the right to rule and reign because He is the Creator of the heavens and the earth and all that is in them. He is all-powerful and all-knowing and always present. Most of all, He is love. He loves what He made so much He sent us His only Son in order to redeem and restore and make all things new and whole again. Humanity’s problem is she refuses to remain in her place. She refuses to accept her God-given, God-created role in the order of all things. Instead, she seeks to be like God herself. She wants to be in charge. She wants to call the shots. She wants the authority to determine how life goes. But she simply doesn’t have the ability to bear that kind of responsibility. She doesn’t have the strength or wisdom or knowledge or understanding or maturity to handle that kind of authority. So she fails. Miserably. Repeatedly. And results are tragic. The evidence is all around us every single day. On every news channel and social media news feed.

God is faithful. He lets humanity suffer the consequences of her sin. He refuses to step in and rescue us from our terrible choices. Instead, He holds us accountable. And though His judgments often seem harsh, they are what humanity has rightfully earned. Imagine how different things could be if we stopped fighting God at every turn? If we stopped resisting His will and His ways? If we stopped trying to do this life in our own wisdom and strength and instead turned to Him? This is the essence and the promise of repentance and it’s why prophets like Hosea are constantly calling out to us. “Come, let’s return to the Lord. For he has torn us, and he will heal us; he has wounded us, and he will bind up our wounds. He will revive us after two days, and on the third day he will raise us up so we can live in his presence. Let’s strive to know the  Lord. His appearance is as sure as the dawn. He will come to us like the rain, like the spring showers that water the land.” (Hosea‬ ‭6‬:‭1‬-‭3‬ ‭CSB‬‬)

Repentance requires self-examination. It requires humility. A willingness to lay one’s life bare before the Lord. Honestly. Authentically. Holding nothing back. It requires us to let go of all we may hold dear. It requires us to relinquish our need to be in control. It requires us to surrender whatever authority we think we have to the Lord. It requires us to submit to His rule and reign. When was the last time you truly took stock of your life? Sat down with God’s Word in one hand and your life in the other and compared the two? When was the last time you truly surrendered a part of your life back to God that you knew was not in line with His will? When was the last time you truly made a significant and lasting change in your life because you knew it was what the Lord commanded?

Readings for tomorrow: Hosea 10-14

Broken Heart

Readings for today: Hosea 1-5

I’ve been a pastor for over twenty years and have spent countless hours counseling people through all sorts of painful circumstances and tragic life events. Death. Terminal illness. Addiction. Abuse. Criminal activity. The breakdown of marriages and families. Honestly, I’ve just about seen it all. One of the worst, in my experience, is helping couples deal with the pain of marital unfaithfulness. There is nothing quite like it. The betrayal of the most intimate relationship one can have in this life cuts a relationship to the heart. The breakdown of trust makes recovery almost impossible. And while with God all things are possible, the burden is too much to bear for most couples and they end up splitting over the affair most of the time.

This is one of the many reasons to read and meditate on the Book of Hosea. Hosea is called to an impossibly shameful life. He is called to marry a prostitute. He is called to give his children horrible names. He is called to live his life publicly in front of Israel with the hope that what he endures will be seen as analogous to what God is enduring through His covenant with His people. Imagine the pain Hosea has to endure. Imagine the heartbreak he experiences on a daily basis. Imagine the suffering he undergoes as he seeks to serve God with all his heart. Don’t let anyone ever tell you again that “God won’t give you more than you can handle.” Hosea absolutely begs to differ!

And yet, all is not lost in this story. Throughout there are signs of God’s great faithfulness even in the face of our great unfaithfulness. Though we abandon God to chase after idols. Though we worship so many other things other than Him. Though we give our heart and our resources to other gods, God will not let us go. He continues to pursue us no matter how many different lovers we take. He continues to search for us on the slave blocks of this life. And when He finds us, He redeems us and brings us back home. Not only that but God promises there is a day coming where “Yet the number of the Israelites will be like the sand of the sea, which cannot be measured or counted. And in the place where they were told: You are not my people, they will be called: Sons of the living God. And the Judeans and the Israelites will be gathered together. They will appoint for themselves a single ruler and go up from the land. For the day of Jezreel  will be great.” (Hosea‬ ‭1‬:‭10‬-‭11‬ ‭CSB‬‬)

Make no mistake, our unfaithfulness to God is painful to Him. It is heartbreaking on levels we cannot begin to understand. The story of the Bible is the greatest love story of all time. It’s also the greatest tragedy of all time. It’s the story of God’s pursuit of a people who reject Him and mock Him and ignore Him and abandon Him. But He never gives up. No matter how much pain He endures. No matter how much He suffers. No matter how much heartbreak He must undergo. He will never stop until He wins back the deepest affections of our hearts. That’s truly the message of the cross.

Readings for tomorrow: Hosea 6-9

Anyone

Readings for today: Amos 6-9

God can use anyone. From any background or life experience. From any nation, clan, tribe, or family. No matter how young or old. No matter how rich or poor. From every level of education. No matter your caste or social status. God can use you. All he requires is a ready and willing heart. A humble spirit. Open hands. This is what marked Amos. He was not a priest. He didn’t come from a line of prophets. He was not part of the royal family. He was a simple man. A working man. A man accustomed to hard labor. He was a herdsman. A harvester of figs. Listen to how he describes himself to the powerful people in the northern kingdom of Israel. “I was not a prophet or the son of a prophet; rather, I was a herdsman, and I took care of sycamore figs. But the Lord took me from following the flock and said to me, ‘Go, prophesy to my people Israel.’” (Amos‬ ‭7‬:‭14‬-‭15‬ ‭CSB‬‬)

The Lord took him from the flock and made him a prophet. It’s a great reminder that God doesn’t so much call the qualified as He qualifies the called. At the heart of the prophetic task was the ability to hear and obey God’s voice. To respond to the will of the Holy Spirit. The courage to speak God’s truth to power. The endurance to persevere no matter what the cost. Amos was all of this and more and he stands in a long of line of unlikely people whom God used to call His people back to repentance. Back to faith. Back to the covenant. Amos speaks specifically to the injustices of his day. He sees the wealth gap between rich and poor. He sees how the poor and powerless were being exploited by the rich and powerful. He sees all the idolatry. He sees all the oppression and injustice. And he sees visions of God’s righteous judgment. Like most prophets, he also sees a time when Israel will return to the Lord so he offers a note of hope. He sees a time when God will again show His people mercy and restore their fortunes. “I will restore the fortunes of my people Israel. They will rebuild and occupy ruined cities, plant vineyards and drink their wine, make gardens and eat their produce. I will plant them on their land, and they will never again be uprooted from the land I have given them. The Lord your God has spoken.” (Amos‬ ‭9‬:‭14‬-‭15‬ ‭CSB)

Again, God can use anyone. I remember when God first called me. I was a failed college student with little to no qualifications and nothing to suggest I would make anything of my life. However, I was desperate enough to say “yes” and Jesus has taken me on an adventure greater than any I could have planned or imagined. What about you? Where do you find yourself today? Are you willing to say “yes” to the Lord like Amos and so many others who have gone before you? What’s holding you back? What’s stopping you? What’s keeping you from living out God’s call on your life? Remember, God qualifies those whom He calls. All He needs is a willing heart and a humble spirit and open hands.

Readings for tomorrow: Hosea 1-5

Good and Evil

Readings for today: Amos 1-5

Two conversations. Both with pastors. Both godly men leading vital and vibrant congregations. Both dear friends of mine. The first conversation took place a few weeks back at a denominational event I was part of where I asked my friend how he stays up on the news. Social media? Cable news? News apps? “I don’t do any of that”, he replied, “for the sake of my mental health.” The second conversation took place this week with a local pastor in a community just north of us. As soon as we sat down, he wanted to talk about the Supreme Court decisions that came down that morning that will impact his community. It was clear he’s plugged in and very aware of what’s happening in our culture. As I read through Amos this morning, I found myself wondering what he would say to both pastors.

We are about to begin a journey through the prophetic literature of the Old Testament. The words we read are delivered to the people of God at specific times in specific seasons to address specific issues happening in the world around them. The prophets take no prisoners. They speak God’s Word with boldness and passion and without fear of consequences. They often suffer terribly as a result. They are often supernaturally aware of what’s happening in the courts of kings and princes who govern the different tribal kingdoms around them. They see the injustices and oppression taking place. They take up the cause of the poor and powerless. They fight for the orphan and widow. They never stop calling God’s people to repentance. They are non-partisan. They are more committed to God’s Kingdom than to any human kingdom, even the kingdoms of Israel and Judah. They are not hypocrites. They don’t make excuses for “their team” while attacking those on the “other team.” They simply call good, good and evil, evil. Listen again to the words of Amos for example, “Pursue good and not evil so that you may live, and the Lord, the God of Armies, will be with you as you have claimed. Hate evil and love good; establish justice at the city gate. Perhaps the Lord, the God of Armies, will be gracious to the remnant of Joseph.” (Amos‬ ‭5‬:‭14‬-‭15‬ ‭CSB)

So back to my two friends. I think Amos would have some challenging words to the first pastor. I believe he would challenge my friend to push past his anxiety and fear and engage the culture. I believe he would challenge my friend to follow the news and pay attention to what our local, state, and national leaders are saying. I believe he would challenge my friend to get involved in public policy discussions and teach his people how to engage those discussions with boldness and passion and grace and love. I also think Amos would have some affirming words for the second pastor. I believe he would affirm his willingness to wade into difficult conversations. I believe he would affirm my friend’s willingness to speak prophetically on behalf of his people. Most of all, I believe he would challenge both pastors to remain more committed to God’s Kingdom than to any kingdom of this world. Stay true to God’s Word above any political party or platform and call out both good and evil when they see it. Of course, Amos’ words are not just for my friends. They are for all of us. May we prove faithful.

Readings for tomorrow: Amos 6-9

Anger

Readings for today: Jonah 1-4

I grew up a Star Wars fan. It was almost required as a child of the late 20th century. I remember when all the movies came out. I remember seeing The Return of the Jedi at the movie theater in Estes Park and my little brother standing up and pretending to join the light saber duel at the end. My favorite character was Yoda, of course. Dude was awesome. Not only the most powerful Jedi living but he always had the best lines. One of them has stuck with me even after all these years. “Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering.” I thought about this line as I read through the last chapter of Jonah this morning.

Jonah never stops running from God. He runs from God when he is first called. Actually goes in the opposite direction from where he is supposed to go. Books passage on a ship that will take him to what was considered the ends of the earth at the time. The point furthest away from where God wants him. God literally uses a storm and a great fish to turn Jonah around. And even though Jonah accomplishes his mission, he is still as far away from God as he can be in his heart. He is angry about revival. Angry Nineveh survived. Angry that God is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger and quick to relent from disaster. He might as well be in Tarshish. And this prompts an important question. “Is it right for you to be angry?” (Jonah 4:4 CSB)

It’s an important question. One for all of us to ponder. There is so much anger in the world. Anger over injustice. Anger over unrighteousness. Anger over evil and immorality. Anger over corruption. Anger over all the pain and heartbreak. And all that anger leads to hate. Hatred for those we believe are perpetrators. Perpetrators by what they say or do not say. Perpetrators by what they do or do not do. Perpetrators by how they vote or who they support. And that hatred often breaks out in all sorts of violent ways which only leads to suffering. Jonah was angry with the Assyrians because of all the pain they had inflicted on his people. His anger at them led to hatred. And his hatred led him to hope for their suffering. What Jonah failed to see was that he was no different than the Assyrians. He was as much a perpetrator as they were and yet God showed compassion on him. The same is true for us. All of us are perpetrators in some way. We all help perpetuate systems of injustice and corruption and unrighteousness and evil. We are all sinners and yet God showed grace and compassion to us. We have no right to be angry. Instead, we should align our hearts with God’s heart and work for the redemption of all those whom God loves.

Readings for tomorrow: No devotionals on Sundays

Divine Providence

Readings for today: 2 Kings 14-15, 2 Chronicles 25

There is so much about this world that remains a mystery. So much about human life and human history that defies explanation. For example, we all seem to have this innate sense within us that the world should run on justice and fairness and equality and peace. We feel it viscerally when these principles are violated. We hate seeing bad things happen to good people. We can’t understand why good things happen to bad people. We grieve when the innocent suffer. We become enraged when evil seems to be winning. And there’s something deep inside that longs to make sense of it all. So we look for meaning. We look for purpose. Ultimately, we look for hope. Hope for a better world. Hope for a better life. Hope for a better future.

The same was true in ancient Israel. A new king ascends to the throne. He’s not a good king. In fact, he’s an evil king. He doesn’t worship God. He commits all the same sins as his forbears. The nation will descend into chaos after he dies. But he reigns for over forty years. And in that time, he restores the national borders of Israel to their original mandate. He rules over a “golden age” of sorts for the Northern Kingdom. He is blessed with prosperity and power. “In the fifteenth year of Judah’s King Amaziah son of Joash, Jeroboam son of Jehoash became king of Israel in Samaria, and he reigned forty-one years. He did what was evil in the Lord’s sight. He did not turn away from all the sins Jeroboam son of Nebat had caused Israel to commit. He restored Israel’s border from Lebo-hamath as far as the Sea of the Arabah, according to the word the Lord, the God of Israel, had spoken through his servant, the prophet Jonah son of Amittai from Gath-hepher. For the Lord saw that the affliction of Israel was very bitter for both slaves and free people. There was no one to help Israel. The Lord had not said he would blot out the name of Israel under heaven, so he delivered them by the hand of Jeroboam son of Jehoash.” (2 Kings‬ ‭14‬:‭23‬-‭27‬ ‭CSB) Essentially, the ancient authors are trying to make sense of it all here. How can it be that a king who does evil in the Lord’s sight is able to be so successful?

The answer is divine providence. God working in the world and through human beings to accomplish His will. Many may be familiar with the words from Romans 8:28 that talks about God using all things for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose. The point in that verse is that God uses even the bad things for the good of His chosen people. The converse is also true. God uses the good things that happen to bad people for the good of His chosen people. Jeroboam was an evil king and yet God saw the affliction of His people and used even this evil man to deliver them. The point of it all is that nothing is beyond the reach of God. Nothing is outside His sovereign control.

Now think about our own situation in our nation, in our state, in our local communities. Think about the political leaders at all levels of society. All of us probably have opinions on whether they are good or evil and the reality is they all are a mixture of both. Placing our trust in them is a losing proposition because they are human. They are sinful. They will make mistakes. They don’t have much power in the grand scheme of things. So we have to look beyond them and above them to God. We place our trust in Him. We trust He is working out His sovereign purposes through those He raises up regardless of whether we voted for them or what we think of them.

Readings for tomorrow: Jonah 1-4

Mentor

Readings for today: 2 Kings 12-13, 2 Chronicles 24

My first mentor was and is a man named Don Bachman. Don became my mentor soon after I became a Christian in college and we still talk almost every month. It is not a stretch to say that I am the man and the husband and the father and the pastor I am today because of Don’s influence. In addition to Don, I can count any number of other mentors God brought into my life over the years who also shaped me into the person I am today. Charles Tyler. Berk Sterling. Peter Barnes. Doug Garrard. Tom Gillespie. Jim Kay. Cleophus LaRue. Sam Atchison. Burwell Bennett. Steve Hayner. Tom Melton. Bud Sparling. Randy MacFarland. David Schultz. Harry Lightner. Ray Noah. The list is significant. In addition to the godly men, God used to mentor me, there have been any number of godly women along the way as well. Joan Smart. Fran Atchison. Daisy Grimes. Sissy Crowe. Ruth Gamble. Sharol Hayner. Sarah Arnold. Linda Noah. Most of all, my mother, Esther Resler. Yes, the mentoring from these women took on a different tone and form than the mentoring I received from the men but it was formative nonetheless.

By all accounts, Joash was a good king. For most of his life and for most of his reign, he was faithful to the Lord. This was no accident. The Bible makes it clear that he had an exceptional mentor. “And Jehoash did what was right in the eyes of the Lord all his days, because Jehoiada the priest instructed him.” (2 Kings‬ ‭12‬:‭2‬ ‭ESV‬‬) Jehoiada was both a godly man and a godly priest. He served the Lord until the age of 130 and they buried him among the kings of Israel in the city of David because of all the good he had accomplished in his life. Soon after he passed, Joash came under the influence of his fellow princes. They led him astray. He neglected the Temple he had repaired and abandoned the worship of God. He killed those who confronted him, even Jehoiada’s own son! Finally, he was assassinated by his own servants.

When you look back over the course of your life, who are the godly influences who shaped you into the person you are today? And who are you, in turn, mentoring in your life right now? I am blessed to meet with several men on a regular basis and we talk about life and faith and how we might follow God more closely. We discuss deep issues and we pray for each other regularly. It’s intense work at times but it’s good and I can see the difference it is making in their lives. The same difference I hope Don and all the others can see that they’ve made in my life. Mentoring is a key component to discipleship. Make sure you have people in your life who are mentoring you and make sure you are mentoring others. This is how we pass on the faith.

Readings for tomorrow: 2 Kings 14-15, 2 Chronicles 25

Judge

Readings for today: 2 Kings 9-11, 2 Chronicles 22:10-12, 23

Today’s reading is harsh, brutal, and terrifying. How can we begin to get our minds around the judgment we see in this passage? First of all, we have to remember God’s commitment to work through human beings to bring about His sovereign will. Justice in the ancient near east was a communal affair. It involved not only the person who committed the crimes but their entire families. It included those who supported them. Everyone connected with the former regime was hunted down and put to death. So when God calls Jehu to execute justice on the entire line of Ahab, the impact ripples out to every man, woman, and child connected to them.

I know it’s hard to get our minds around the blood and violence. It’s hard to understand how this could be fair and just and righteous in God’s eyes. How could a good God allow such unrestrained violence in His name? Once again we have to take a step back and remember that though the Bible was written for us, it was not written to us. What happens in today’s passage would have made perfect sense to the people living in ancient Israel at the time. They would have perceived it to be fair and just and righteous according to the cultural standards of their day. And while we may struggle to understand why they made the choices they did, it should cause us to reflect on the justice systems of our own day and age. What will future generations say about us three thousand years from now?

Once we take a step back from all the blood and gore, we can begin to understand and see the greater purposes of God. He alone has the right to judge. He alone has the right to execute justice on the earth. The line of Ahab got what they rightfully deserved after generations of false worship and murder and theft and corruption. God proved faithful to His promise to avenge the death of Naboth and his family. He proved faithful to His promise to bring an end to the pagan ways of Jezebel. And their lives serve as a warning to us. Unless we turn from our sin and place our faith in Jesus Christ, we too will come under the judgment of God. Only the blood of Jesus Christ shed on our behalf can satisfy the justice of God. May we humble ourselves before Him, confess our sin, and call on the One who is “faithful and just” to “cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:8-9)

Readings for tomorrow: 2 Kings 12-13, 2 Chronicles 24

Legacy

Readings for today: 2 Kings 8:16-29, 2 Chronicles 21-22:1-9

Ahab was a terrible king for all kinds of reasons. He broke just about every one of the Ten Commandments. He chose to worship Baal rather than Yahweh. He made graven images. He took the Lord’s name in vain. He lied. He coveted. He murdered. He stole. He treated sin flippantly and “did more to arouse the anger of the Lord” than any of the kings who came before him. His wife Jezebel was at least his equal in unrighteousness. She partnered with him in all of his crimes. She sought the death of Elijah, Israel’s greatest prophet. Together, they did more to lead Israel astray than any other king in her history.

It shouldn’t come as a surprise to us when their influence exerts itself generationally over their descendants. Jehoram, king of Judah, came under their sway by marrying their daughter. As such, he chose to walk away from his own father’s example of faithfulness and instead “walk in the ways of the kings of Israel.” The results are predictable. The same things that happen to Israel begin to happen in Judah. War breaks out on their borders. Tribes like Edom successfully revolt and set up kingdoms of their own. Pagan shrines known as “high places” are re-established throughout the hill country. God’s people begin to worship other gods. After Jehoram (or Joram) dies, his son Ahaziah follows his ungodly legacy. He even makes a strategic alliance with the house of Ahab against Syria but it ends in great tragedy. The house of Ahaziah comes to an end. Jehoram, Ahaziah’s father, dies “to no one’s regret.”

It’s a sobering reminder to us all. Generational sin is real. The sins of the fathers and mothers are often passed down to the children. Sin that goes unaddressed in our lives is often repeated by those who follow us. We exert a shaping influence for good or for evil on those around us, especially those in our own homes. How often have I seen my own weaknesses and struggles reflected in my children? How often have I seen my doubts and fears reproduced in the people I serve? How often have my own sinful tendencies come back to haunt me? Thankfully, God is faithful. As I humble myself and repent before Him, He is faithful to forgive and He is faithful to make my life a living demonstration of the gospel. Through my brokenness, His surpassing grace and power makes itself known and this too ripples out across the generations. So it comes down to this…what kind of legacy do I want to pass on? And what I am doing today to build that legacy?

Readings for tomorrow: 2 Kings 9-11, 2 Chronicles 22:10-12, 23

Opportunity

Readings for today: 2 Kings 5-7, 8:1-15

Every challenge presents an opportunity. It’s simply a matter of perspective. As I think back over the course of my ministry career, I cannot tell you the number of times I have walked with someone through a challenging situation like a terminal diagnosis or an impossible business decision or a seemingly irreparable marital conflict only to have God show up and perform a miracle. I’ve seen the same thing in the churches I’ve served. Challenging circumstances that take us to the edge of our resources and beyond. Those present the best opportunities for us to experience God in a powerful way. I think of when the little church in Mobile, AL I served became a staging point for relief efforts after Hurricane Katrina. I think of the time that little church opened her doors to host families dealing with homelessness in our community. Both of these efforts were beyond us. We simply didn’t have the people or the resources to pull them off. But God called us to step out in faith and met us in a miraculous way.

The readings for today are full of such opportunities. I think of Naaman, the great general of Israel’s enemies, coming to Israel to be healed of his disease. The initial response of the king makes perfect sense. Aram must be looking for a pretext for war. There is no way the king of Israel can guarantee miraculous healing. It’s not possible from a human perspective and yet the Lord had other plans. “When Elisha the man of God heard that the king of Israel had torn his clothes, he sent a message to the king: “Why have you torn your clothes? Have him come to me, and he will know there is a prophet in Israel.” (‭‭2 Kings‬ ‭5‬:‭8‬ ‭CSB‬) We know from the New Testament that God desires all to be saved and come to a knowledge of His truth. This was true in the Old Testament as well. Israel was to serve as a light to the nations. A blessing to the nations. And here was a chance for her to fulfill her calling. So Naaman is healed and restored and sent back to his king where he will worship the one true God for the rest of his life. It must have been a powerful testimony.

It’s often been said that in order to have a testimony, one must first endure a test. Think about the tests you’ve had to endure over the course of your life. The challenges you’ve had to face and overcome. Did God not show up in those moments in a powerful way? Did God not meet you in those moments and work miraculously on your behalf? As you reflect back on those memories of what God has done for you, does it not encourage you as you think about your future? Does it not shape your perspective as you think about the challenges you may be facing today?

Readings for tomorrow: 2 Kings 8:16-29, 2 Chronicles 21-22:1-9