http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%203,%20Mark%201,%20Luke%203&version=ESV
Mark 1:14-15 "14 Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, 15 and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand;AH)"> repent and believe in the gospel."
The Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke are known as the Synoptic Gospels. They have similarities, and yet are different as well. Matthew was written to a Jewish audience. Mark was written to more of a Roman audience, and Luke was written to more of a Gentile audience.
But that being said, they were also intended and written for us as well. In both Matthew and Luke there are genealogies of Jesus's birth. In Mark there is not.
The Gospel of Mark is a Gospel of action. Beginning in chapter 1, we read that the time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe the gospel.
Friends, this is how we are to continue to live. We need to keep on repenting and keep on believing in the Gospel. We repent of our sins and place our faith in the Gospel of Jesus Christ at the beginning of our new life in Christ.
Yet, even though we are new creations in Christ (2 Cor. 5:17) we still sin. And when we sin, we need to repent of the sin and continue to believe in Jesus. No sin is to big to be covered by the Gospel.
Does this mean we should sin big, because we have a big Gospel that will cover those sins?
I think Jesus says it best:
"You are my friends if you do what I command you." (John 15:14)
Believe in Jesus and what He did for you on the cross. Don't ever take your eyes off the cross. Live a life of continual repentance and faith. This is the life of the Christian.
Soli Deo Gloria.
Today's post was submitted by Russ Shellhamer.
Thursday, October 7, 2010
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Matthew 2
Today's passage: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%202&version=NIV
Who were the Magi? They were a hereditary priesthood tribe, among the Medes, who practiced their own religion and pagan rituals. Over the years, they had been introduced to and influenced by Judaism (In Daniel 4:9 and 5:11, during the exile, we learn that Daniel was made chief of the magicians, enchanters, Chaldeans, and astrologers. Magi priests would have been a part of that circle) and another religion that focused on the study of astrology (Interesting that God chose to lead them to the manger with a star in the heavens).
The influence of the Magi was so great that they even controlled who became king. In order for a Persian to become king, he had to master the disciplines of the Magi and be approved of and crowned by the Magi.
Centuries passed since the Magi had learned about the God that Daniel worshipped, but there must have been a few who had believed and were looking forward to the fulfillment of the prophesy of a Messiah. Those faithful Magi were led to the birthplace of Christ by a star. When these king-makers showed up and asked Herod “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews?”, Herod was indeed troubled. His jealousy and pride flared up and he plotted to eliminate Jesus.
What I love about this story of the Magi, is their purpose for traveling across the desert: “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” (Matthew 2:2).
These guys were king makers. They decided who became king. They trained, appointed and crowned kings. But they didn’t follow that star across the desert to the manger in Bethlehem to make a king. They did it to worship the one who was born a King. He was born King of the Jews. And Matthew 2:11-12 tells us that worship is just what they did: “And going into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh.”
These king makers from far away acknowledged and worshiped Jesus as King. Meanwhile, Herod missed the ultimate opportunity to meet the King of Kings, Lord of Lords. Jesus was right there in his own back yard, but jealousy and pride clouded Herod's ability to see truth when it was right in front of him.
It makes me wonder what spiritual truths are being clouded by my own sinful nature. I encourage us all to spend some time with God asking him to reveal those roadblocks so that our eyes may be opened. We don’t want to miss any opportunity to worship the King of Kings who is in our own backyard!
Today's post submitted by Kelly Coxe
Who were the Magi? They were a hereditary priesthood tribe, among the Medes, who practiced their own religion and pagan rituals. Over the years, they had been introduced to and influenced by Judaism (In Daniel 4:9 and 5:11, during the exile, we learn that Daniel was made chief of the magicians, enchanters, Chaldeans, and astrologers. Magi priests would have been a part of that circle) and another religion that focused on the study of astrology (Interesting that God chose to lead them to the manger with a star in the heavens).
The influence of the Magi was so great that they even controlled who became king. In order for a Persian to become king, he had to master the disciplines of the Magi and be approved of and crowned by the Magi.
Centuries passed since the Magi had learned about the God that Daniel worshipped, but there must have been a few who had believed and were looking forward to the fulfillment of the prophesy of a Messiah. Those faithful Magi were led to the birthplace of Christ by a star. When these king-makers showed up and asked Herod “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews?”, Herod was indeed troubled. His jealousy and pride flared up and he plotted to eliminate Jesus.
What I love about this story of the Magi, is their purpose for traveling across the desert: “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” (Matthew 2:2).
These guys were king makers. They decided who became king. They trained, appointed and crowned kings. But they didn’t follow that star across the desert to the manger in Bethlehem to make a king. They did it to worship the one who was born a King. He was born King of the Jews. And Matthew 2:11-12 tells us that worship is just what they did: “And going into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh.”
These king makers from far away acknowledged and worshiped Jesus as King. Meanwhile, Herod missed the ultimate opportunity to meet the King of Kings, Lord of Lords. Jesus was right there in his own back yard, but jealousy and pride clouded Herod's ability to see truth when it was right in front of him.
It makes me wonder what spiritual truths are being clouded by my own sinful nature. I encourage us all to spend some time with God asking him to reveal those roadblocks so that our eyes may be opened. We don’t want to miss any opportunity to worship the King of Kings who is in our own backyard!
Today's post submitted by Kelly Coxe
Monday, October 4, 2010
Matthew 1; Luke 2
Today's passage: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%201;%20Luke%202&version=NIV
What a glorious day we read about in todays passage as prophesy is fulfilled and Christ is born!
First, let’s take a look at the events from Joseph’s perspective in Matthew. Matthew writes primarily for the Jewish audience and focuses on Jesus royal family line and fulfillment of Old Testament prophesy. According to the law, Joseph had every right to divorce Mary (betrothal was a serious commitment back then) and leave her at her father’s doorstep to be stoned to death for her unfaithfulness. He had compassion for Mary and decided to divorce her quietly, but God had another plan. When the angel told Joseph that the child was to be our Savior, Immanuel, God with Us; Joseph responded in perfect obedience and took his wife, Mary. He knew that he would be mocked, judged, & condemned by man, but he chose to honor God in obedience instead.
Luke writes to the broader Gentile audience and, being a historian and researcher, gives more details of the day of Jesus’ birth. This is the story that grandmothers read out of the Bible to their families as they celebrate the most wonderful Christmas gift ever given! Take some time to meditate on the message delivered by the angels to the shepherds.
Luke 2:10-11: “And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.”
Pay attention to those words: good news of great joy for ALL people. A Savior, Christ the Lord. Now, I have done some pretty extensive research on the word all and have found that it means…well…all means all. This good news of great joy about a Savior is for all people. God didn’t send his son to be born in a stable, persecuted, pierced, tortured, and crucified for just some of us. He didn’t send his son as a Savior for only the good people of the world. He didn’t send his son for those who would be able to earn his saving grace. He didn’t become flesh for those who deserved Him. He sent his son for all of us. For you. For me. For all sinners.
Take some time right now to praise his name for that beautiful, precious gift - the gift of the long awaited, much needed Savior. And if you don’t know Jesus Christ as your personal Savior, take some time right now to ask Him to reveal himself to you. Listen quietly for his voice. Accept his invitation. Surrender your life to Him. Allow Him into your heart. Celebrate the joy of Christmas all year long. Treasure these things in your heart as Mary did. We don't have to wait until December. Our Lord Jesus Christ is an amazing gift that keeps on giving eternally.
Today's post submitted by Kelly Coxe
What a glorious day we read about in todays passage as prophesy is fulfilled and Christ is born!
First, let’s take a look at the events from Joseph’s perspective in Matthew. Matthew writes primarily for the Jewish audience and focuses on Jesus royal family line and fulfillment of Old Testament prophesy. According to the law, Joseph had every right to divorce Mary (betrothal was a serious commitment back then) and leave her at her father’s doorstep to be stoned to death for her unfaithfulness. He had compassion for Mary and decided to divorce her quietly, but God had another plan. When the angel told Joseph that the child was to be our Savior, Immanuel, God with Us; Joseph responded in perfect obedience and took his wife, Mary. He knew that he would be mocked, judged, & condemned by man, but he chose to honor God in obedience instead.
Luke writes to the broader Gentile audience and, being a historian and researcher, gives more details of the day of Jesus’ birth. This is the story that grandmothers read out of the Bible to their families as they celebrate the most wonderful Christmas gift ever given! Take some time to meditate on the message delivered by the angels to the shepherds.
Luke 2:10-11: “And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.”
Pay attention to those words: good news of great joy for ALL people. A Savior, Christ the Lord. Now, I have done some pretty extensive research on the word all and have found that it means…well…all means all. This good news of great joy about a Savior is for all people. God didn’t send his son to be born in a stable, persecuted, pierced, tortured, and crucified for just some of us. He didn’t send his son as a Savior for only the good people of the world. He didn’t send his son for those who would be able to earn his saving grace. He didn’t become flesh for those who deserved Him. He sent his son for all of us. For you. For me. For all sinners.
Take some time right now to praise his name for that beautiful, precious gift - the gift of the long awaited, much needed Savior. And if you don’t know Jesus Christ as your personal Savior, take some time right now to ask Him to reveal himself to you. Listen quietly for his voice. Accept his invitation. Surrender your life to Him. Allow Him into your heart. Celebrate the joy of Christmas all year long. Treasure these things in your heart as Mary did. We don't have to wait until December. Our Lord Jesus Christ is an amazing gift that keeps on giving eternally.
Today's post submitted by Kelly Coxe
Could You Be Mary?
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%201;%20John%201:1-14&version=NIV
Welcome, my friends, to the New Testament. I pray that as you read, God would touch your heart with a whole new picture of his love and promises fulfilled through Christ Jesus. I pray that he would increase your faith and your desire to know him. I pray that he would bring you closer still.
There are a few things that I would like to touch on today. First, because some of us just finished reading the Old Testament, we need to have an understanding of history during the time period between the Old and New Testament. This is also called the Intertestamental Period. Below is a link that will take you to a great and quick comprehensive review of what occurred during this time.
http://www.gotquestions.org/intertestamental-period.html
But, I also really want to share my heart with you, because I love Luke 1. It is a story of God's promises being fulfilled. It is a story of his purposeful and sovereign plan in the lives of Elizabeth and Zachariah and the years of waiting for a child. And it is a story of amazing humility, faith, obedience and blessing in a young girl named Mary. It's Mary's story that I'd like to focus on. I'm sharing with you something a wrote a while back and praying that Mary's faith and God's faithfulness would touch your heart. Here's what I wrote:
Welcome, my friends, to the New Testament. I pray that as you read, God would touch your heart with a whole new picture of his love and promises fulfilled through Christ Jesus. I pray that he would increase your faith and your desire to know him. I pray that he would bring you closer still.
There are a few things that I would like to touch on today. First, because some of us just finished reading the Old Testament, we need to have an understanding of history during the time period between the Old and New Testament. This is also called the Intertestamental Period. Below is a link that will take you to a great and quick comprehensive review of what occurred during this time.
http://www.gotquestions.org/intertestamental-period.html
But, I also really want to share my heart with you, because I love Luke 1. It is a story of God's promises being fulfilled. It is a story of his purposeful and sovereign plan in the lives of Elizabeth and Zachariah and the years of waiting for a child. And it is a story of amazing humility, faith, obedience and blessing in a young girl named Mary. It's Mary's story that I'd like to focus on. I'm sharing with you something a wrote a while back and praying that Mary's faith and God's faithfulness would touch your heart. Here's what I wrote:
What I love about God’s word is that it is never old. I’ve probably heard or read the Christmas story more than any other part of the scripture – and yet, God makes frequently speaks a new word through it to me. Three years ago God used the phrase “for nothing is impossible with God” (Luke 1:37) over and over again – one day he found a way (through scripture, radio, and a book I was reading) to speak it to me three times before 7:00 AM. Last year the words “Blessed is she who has believe that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished!” (Luke 1:45) jumped out at me as if I’d never heard them before in a way I knew God wanted me to hear them.
This year as the Christmas season approached, I started, in ‘Mary’ terms, pondering these things in my heart, wondering what God would speak this year and feeling as though I never understood exactly what God was trying to speak to me through those words. I felt like there was more he wanted me to know and I never quite got it. However, I did find myself envying Mary a little – I wanted her favor with God, for him to do the “impossible” in my life, and certainly I wanted to believe that the Lord had given me certain promises and would accomplish them. But at the same time, I frequently am certain that I don’t measure up to Mary standards.
I wonder if there are others who have wanted to be Mary. Not in real terms, of course because for the men reading this, physically giving birth at all would certainly be the “impossible” being accomplished (although I’m certain God could do it). And for the women, giving birth to the Savior is not our reality because while Jewish people would disagree, Mary has already ‘been there done that’.
But I’m not sure the physical technicalities are the things that keep us from believing we could be Mary – or at least like her. If you are like me, it’s Mary’s goodness – the fact that she found favor with God (Luke 1:28-29) that has me convinced that I could never be Mary. Mary, after all, is the mother of our savior, which means that God must have been pretty impressed with the girl. Now to clear up what some may be lead to believe, Mary was not perfect. While Mary’s physical purity is clearly stated and part of the miracle of the virgin birth, there is no reference in scripture to Mary being sinless. If she were, she wouldn’t have needed the savior she gave birth to.
But while many believe it is scripturally inaccurate to say Mary was sinless, I believe we still tend to believe she was way better than we ourselves could ever be. Oh, I’m fairly sure she behaved well. I can just hear her parents, “Our Mary, such a good girl. She doesn’t go schlepping around with those uncircumcised boys like the other girls in Nazareth.” But at the same time, Mary was human, and Mary was a teenager. As someone who has had 150 teenagers in and out of her classroom every day, I assure you that no matter how amazing some of them are, there are moments of rebellion. Certainly there were days when she got up in the morning and thought (or even said) “Every day is the same thing, get up, build a fire, bake bread, water my father’s donkeys. I wish, just once, that those stinking donkeys could water themselves.”
This is not to diminish Mary’s position of favor in being the mother of our savior, but to say that I do not think it was because she faultless that lead to God choosing her. I say this only because I want us to have an accurate picture of Mary and to understand what it means to be blessed and highly favored. I do not believe it is connected to a state of perfection or goodness that goes beyond what we also can have or be through the power of God. Instead, Mary was in a position of favor because God knew her heart. He knew her faith, he knew her humility, and he knew she would be obedient – therefore she was chosen. Let’s take a closer look at the evidence.
First, Mary was Jewish – she would have knows about the promised Messiah although likely it was only what was spoken to her – most biblical scholars believe she couldn’t read because most women at that time where not taught – and she likely would not have access to scripture as only the religious leaders and scholars at the time did. But not only did she know, God knew her heart and knew she believed in the covenant promise of a savior. Secondly, God knew she believed he was a God who was all-powerful and could accomplish the impossible. When God told her she would give birth to a son, she definitely had questions – in fact she asks, “How will this be since I am a virgin?” (Luke 1:34. Most commentators agree that unlike Zachariah’s question about the birth of his son – “How can I be sure of this?” (Luke 1:18) which showed a lack of faith, Mary was simply asking how God would accomplish this – not if he could or whether he would – she just knew that logistically it wasn’t possible. But that does not mean she didn’t believe that supernaturally it was not, evidenced by Elizabeth’s statement to her, “Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished.” (Luke 1:45). God not only knew that she believed he could, but he allowed the questions and provided an answer – he knew her heart and her faith and knew that she would get that if he said it was by the power of the Holy Spirit, that it would be so.
The second thing God knew about Mary’s heart was that it was a humble heart, submissive to him. It was a heart that would cause her to walk in obedience. The evidence is in Luke 1:38 – in humble submissiveness, Mary says, “I am the Lord’s servant. May it be to me as you have said.” Mary willingly accepted God’s purpose for her – she was a willing vessel.
Now, don’t be confused – her willingness wasn’t as majestic as it sounds. It came with consequences. Seriously – picture the scene – unwed Jewish teen tries to convince her parents that an angel visited her and that she’s pregnant by the power of the Holy Spirit. She risks losing her betrothed – he would have, by law, the right to break the engagement. And, Joseph would have divorced her, she likely would have been an outcast and unmarried. She stepped out in obedience, however, because she knew that God would protect her. She knew that all of those questions and concerns she had, God already had answers for and a plan in place.
The other part of Mary’s humble heart had to do with her response to being chosen by God. To be visited by an angel is not small potatoes – there aren’t a whole lot of recorded instances in the bible. But instead of being caught up in the fact that she must be the model of obedient Jewish girls, she instead praises God as a vessel of his purpose – bowing to his greatness and the height of his purpose. Mary’s song isn’t one of “Wow, Lord, look what you’ve done for me”, but one of “Wow, Lord, look at who you are, how you work, your mercy, your deed, your provision, and your faithful fulfillment of a promise made to Abraham and his descendants.” (Luke 1:46-56). One commentary puts it this way, “The marvelous intervention of God humbled her instead of lifting her up. She saw God in what had taken place, and not herself; on the contrary the greatness of these marvels brought God so near as to hide her from herself. She yields herself to His holy will: but god has too large a place in her thoughts in this matter to leave any room for self importance.”
Yes, Mary was a pretty amazing gal. She had a heart for God that God honored. She walked in faith, she walked in humility, she walked in submissive obedience. Those are big shoes to fill. But friends, we have a big God. Through the power of God’s discipline, his word, his sanctification, his Spirit, we too can have a heart like Mary’s. God promises us all of these things in his word. Can you be a Mary? I believe that we each can by the power of God. And here’s the beauty in that – when we allow God to work in our lives like Mary did, when we walk in faith, obedience, and humility, seeking God with all our hearts, he will use us for the very purpose for which he created us. We will walk in the center of his will and see the fulfillment of his promises. Blessed are you who have believed that what the Lord has said to you will be accomplished.
How to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him by the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Ephesians 3:20
I pray, sweet friends, that we might each be a Mary for this generation – Amen!
Today's post was submitted by Carol Bartels
Sunday, October 3, 2010
An Invitation to Trust God
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Malachi+1&version=NIV
Here we are, my friends, at the end of the Old Testament - I am so excited to move on to the New Testament and see what God has to say to us through the words of the gospel. I pray that he would increase your faith as you continue this journey.
Because that is my prayer, I'd like to point you to a passage where I believe that God is inviting us to trust him - he is giving us an opportunity to put our weight fully down on his promises and trust him to fulfill them. He does this through an area where I would say many of us struggle the most - trusting God with our finances.
I am unsure what the heart issue was for the Israelites when it came to their money (which likely came in many different forms - grains, supplies, gold, etc). Perhaps it was that they did not trust God to provide enough for them, so they held tightly to what they had. Perhaps they had a greed issue. God knew the heart issue, and clearly part of it was that they did not understand that all they had came from him anyway, and so by holding on to it, they where robbing him of what was his to begin with. Not that God needed their tithes and offerings - but rather he wanted them because they were a sign that Israel was committed to their side of the covenant, that they were committed to Him. And it was a sign that they trusted him.
I believe these words are an invitation from God to trust him with our money. They come with a promise that he will provide more than we need if we do. Why would he do that? Because it is part of his covenant promise to his children. So here is God's invitation to you:
"Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. 'Test me in this', says the Lord Almighty, 'and see if I will no throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it." - Malachi 3:10
Friends, I do not believe that this invitation to trust is limited just to our finances. I believe that God says in every area of our lives - our relationships, our families, our careers, our everyday needs and beyond - that we can test him, put our weight fully down on him and his loving faithfulness, and see what he will do. I believe that God will shower both abudant spiritual and physical blessings in any area of our life in which we are fully submitted to him and his purpose. Give it a shot - he is SO loving, faithful, and trustworthy.
Today's post was submitted by Carol Bartels
Here we are, my friends, at the end of the Old Testament - I am so excited to move on to the New Testament and see what God has to say to us through the words of the gospel. I pray that he would increase your faith as you continue this journey.
Because that is my prayer, I'd like to point you to a passage where I believe that God is inviting us to trust him - he is giving us an opportunity to put our weight fully down on his promises and trust him to fulfill them. He does this through an area where I would say many of us struggle the most - trusting God with our finances.
I am unsure what the heart issue was for the Israelites when it came to their money (which likely came in many different forms - grains, supplies, gold, etc). Perhaps it was that they did not trust God to provide enough for them, so they held tightly to what they had. Perhaps they had a greed issue. God knew the heart issue, and clearly part of it was that they did not understand that all they had came from him anyway, and so by holding on to it, they where robbing him of what was his to begin with. Not that God needed their tithes and offerings - but rather he wanted them because they were a sign that Israel was committed to their side of the covenant, that they were committed to Him. And it was a sign that they trusted him.
I believe these words are an invitation from God to trust him with our money. They come with a promise that he will provide more than we need if we do. Why would he do that? Because it is part of his covenant promise to his children. So here is God's invitation to you:
"Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. 'Test me in this', says the Lord Almighty, 'and see if I will no throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it." - Malachi 3:10
Friends, I do not believe that this invitation to trust is limited just to our finances. I believe that God says in every area of our lives - our relationships, our families, our careers, our everyday needs and beyond - that we can test him, put our weight fully down on him and his loving faithfulness, and see what he will do. I believe that God will shower both abudant spiritual and physical blessings in any area of our life in which we are fully submitted to him and his purpose. Give it a shot - he is SO loving, faithful, and trustworthy.
Today's post was submitted by Carol Bartels
Friday, October 1, 2010
Restoration
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Nehemiah%2011-13;Psalms%20126&version=NIV
I'd like to focus today on the Psalm that accompanies our reading. Some of you might recognize it because there is a praise song we sing at Second that is based on this Psalm. It is a Psalm of joy for restoration. One of my favorite truths about God is that he is a God who restores. In fact, I've been speaking about that to a friend of mine lately who is in the painful process of watching God 'tear down' his son so that he can rebuild and restore.
Indeed, here lies one of the truths we read in this Psalm about restoration - that often destruction proceeds it. That's what is meant by "those who sow in tears will read with songs of joy. He who goes out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with him". God is a God who tears down so that he can rebuild. He brings destruction so that he can bring restoration. He allows ashes so that he can create beauty from them.
And here we see another truth about restoration. Through restoration out of total devastation, God's amazing glory, his redeeming mercy, his great work he does for his people is visible for all to see. Notice the Psalmist says, "Then is was said among the nations, "The Lord has done great things for them." Restoration for the Israelites brought honor to God among the nations. And so restoration of one of his children brings honor to God among those who live in the world.
That, my friends, is no remodeling job - that type of restoration is the tearing down of an outhouse and replacing it with a mansion. Friends, our God does not just stop at basic restoration. Instead he makes all things new! I pray that you would know that God can redeem any circumstance in your life today. He won't do it in a way that looks natural, but in a way that is supernatural - in a way that brings him glory. He will do it in a way that will be so much more than you imagined that you will think that you were dreaming. And so the third truth is this - a proper response to restoration is nothing less than joy, laughter, and praise and worship like there has never been praise and worship before.
Friends, I pray that God's restoration would be evident in your life and/or circumstance. But more than that, I pray the joy of restoration would move you to a level of worship that allows you to experience God in a way you never have before.
I'd like to focus today on the Psalm that accompanies our reading. Some of you might recognize it because there is a praise song we sing at Second that is based on this Psalm. It is a Psalm of joy for restoration. One of my favorite truths about God is that he is a God who restores. In fact, I've been speaking about that to a friend of mine lately who is in the painful process of watching God 'tear down' his son so that he can rebuild and restore.
Indeed, here lies one of the truths we read in this Psalm about restoration - that often destruction proceeds it. That's what is meant by "those who sow in tears will read with songs of joy. He who goes out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with him". God is a God who tears down so that he can rebuild. He brings destruction so that he can bring restoration. He allows ashes so that he can create beauty from them.
And here we see another truth about restoration. Through restoration out of total devastation, God's amazing glory, his redeeming mercy, his great work he does for his people is visible for all to see. Notice the Psalmist says, "Then is was said among the nations, "The Lord has done great things for them." Restoration for the Israelites brought honor to God among the nations. And so restoration of one of his children brings honor to God among those who live in the world.
That, my friends, is no remodeling job - that type of restoration is the tearing down of an outhouse and replacing it with a mansion. Friends, our God does not just stop at basic restoration. Instead he makes all things new! I pray that you would know that God can redeem any circumstance in your life today. He won't do it in a way that looks natural, but in a way that is supernatural - in a way that brings him glory. He will do it in a way that will be so much more than you imagined that you will think that you were dreaming. And so the third truth is this - a proper response to restoration is nothing less than joy, laughter, and praise and worship like there has never been praise and worship before.
Friends, I pray that God's restoration would be evident in your life and/or circumstance. But more than that, I pray the joy of restoration would move you to a level of worship that allows you to experience God in a way you never have before.
Nehemiah 8-10
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Nehemiah%208-10&version=ESV
Ezra 8:1-3 " 1And all the people gathered as one man into the square before the Water Gate. And they told Ezra the scribe to bring the Book of the Law of Moses that the LORD had commanded Israel. 2So Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly, both men and women and all who could understand what they heard, on the first day of the seventh month. 3 And he read from it facing the square before the Water Gate from early morning until midday, in the presence of the men and the women and those who could understand. And the ears of all the people were attentive to the Book of the Law."
Have you ever read the Bible or listened to the Bible for basically half a day, or have you listened to the Word of God and been attentive to it for that long of a duration?
Probably, most of us haven't. The people of Israel were honoring the completion of the building of the wall. Ezra read the Scriptures. Chapter 9 says that the Israelites later read the Word for a quarter of a day, which led to confession of sin and worship of the Lord their God for another quarter of a day.
The Israelites are a model for us in what to do and not to do. We have seen from our readings in the Old Testament of so many things we should not do, based on what the Israelites did.
In this case, I think it would be wise to model ourselves after the Israelites in this instance.
Now I am not saying we need to read the Bible everyday for half a day or quarter of a day. What I am saying is, that we should read our Bibles intentionally. It is great that we are reading through the Bible in a year. And I commend all who are on this journey with us.
But if a person really wants to get saturated with Scripture, some prolonged times of reading the Scriptures are necessary, and it will be enjoyable.
As Peter said, we are to long for the Word of God.
1 Peter 2:2 "Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation"
Soli Deo Gloria.
Today's post was submitted by Russ Shellhamer.
Ezra 8:1-3 " 1And all the people gathered as one man into the square before the Water Gate. And they told Ezra the scribe to bring the Book of the Law of Moses that the LORD had commanded Israel. 2So Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly, both men and women and all who could understand what they heard, on the first day of the seventh month. 3 And he read from it facing the square before the Water Gate from early morning until midday, in the presence of the men and the women and those who could understand. And the ears of all the people were attentive to the Book of the Law."
Have you ever read the Bible or listened to the Bible for basically half a day, or have you listened to the Word of God and been attentive to it for that long of a duration?
Probably, most of us haven't. The people of Israel were honoring the completion of the building of the wall. Ezra read the Scriptures. Chapter 9 says that the Israelites later read the Word for a quarter of a day, which led to confession of sin and worship of the Lord their God for another quarter of a day.
The Israelites are a model for us in what to do and not to do. We have seen from our readings in the Old Testament of so many things we should not do, based on what the Israelites did.
In this case, I think it would be wise to model ourselves after the Israelites in this instance.
Now I am not saying we need to read the Bible everyday for half a day or quarter of a day. What I am saying is, that we should read our Bibles intentionally. It is great that we are reading through the Bible in a year. And I commend all who are on this journey with us.
But if a person really wants to get saturated with Scripture, some prolonged times of reading the Scriptures are necessary, and it will be enjoyable.
As Peter said, we are to long for the Word of God.
1 Peter 2:2 "Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation"
Soli Deo Gloria.
Today's post was submitted by Russ Shellhamer.
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