Month: September 2023

Posted on

A Crisis of Belief Has Consequences

Luke 1; John 1:1-14 Malachi has passed off the scene, and 400 years of silence have taken place. The people have waited for the Messenger about whom Malachi spoke. Perhaps they had read and reread the scroll that had been prepared listing the names of those who respected and honored the Lord. [Mal 3:16] But God has been busy even when we think He is not. And so, into this time frame, the angel Gabriel stuns the elderly priest Zechariah with news that God has heard, and God has answered. He sent Gabriel with news that God sees the possible, even to awakening a dormant womb.

Zechariah listens as Gabriel says that their prayers have been heard! Elizabeth will have a son, and they are to call him John, for he will be great in the sight of the Lord; be a Nazarite and anointed with the Holy Spirit—even before he is born! But Zechariah has a crisis of belief, and Gabriel silences him until John is born.

Sometimes, we pray and pray, and it seems like heaven’s door is closed permanently, but this story reminds us to never stop praying and never stop thinking God doesn’t hear or care. Beware of being an unbelieving Zechariah that ended up being silenced until John’s birth. 

Posted on

What or Whom do you love?

Malachi 1-4 Malachi, Malachi, what are you telling me? You are telling me the same thing Jeremiah has told me in chapter 3 of his book. People are sinful and unrepentant. They are told that simple statement and reject it. Both authors use the Socratic method of God asking a question and the people responding. God presents His case, and the petulant Israelites ask how or, why, or when. God asks why do you refute the evidence I am presenting to you? The people say You can’t really be angry with me because I go to the temple and get my ticket punched for being on time, bringing my sacrifice as prescribed by Moses, and I tithe. And audaciously, God says He loves me; how can that be? And so, for four simple chapters and many more chapters in Jeremiah, the message is clear: God loves His unrepentant children. He will move heaven and earth to help them see this truth, yet as the Apostle John said, men love darkness rather than light. They love their sin.

Century after century has passed, exile has come and gone. The temple has been rebuilt, but men’s hearts have not changed. The utter futility of sin is before them, and yet they refuse to change. It is into that scene that God does one more thing: He sends His messenger to clear the way for Christ to come.

Will we accept him? Will we listen to him? Will we resoundingly repent and be restored? Today is the day of salvation. Will you accept God? 

Posted on

Fickle or Faithful? Wishy Washy or Steadfast?

Nehemiah 11- 13, Ps 126: Are you Fickle or Faithful?

As we close this book, we are reminded that God is sovereign. He sees and knows all that is going on, and He alone raises up and puts down men/women for his purpose. We also see that hearts need to be changed before work and workers can be aligned with your truth. Nehemiah has been absent due to his service to the king. As he returns, he finds that they have lapsed in their agreements to stand strong, be faithful, and honor God. How like us! We start strong, but then challenges arise, and we fail to remain strong. This is not new! Paul saw it in the churches he planted, Nehemiah saw it in Jerusalem upon his return, and we see it in our own lives. What a fickle people we are!

There is a second lesson we see here, and it is this: as Nehemiah remained faithful, we will have men/women in our lives who are our role models to follow their leadership/example. It all comes down to what we will choose. This principle was given early on, and Joshua challenges us again. We must choose whom we will serve: the gods of our past or the Lord God Almighty.

Can we and will we echo Joshua: “but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” [Joshua 24:15]

Posted on

The Joy of the Lord is our Strength!

Nehemiah 8: “Do Not Grieve, This Day is holy”

When you hear or read God’s Word, do you grieve as these had done? The people had been weeping when they heard the words of the Law. [Neh 8:9] What is our response when the Word is read each day or each time we are with others in the church? It had been 70 years. at least that these had heard the words of the Law, and Ezra had studied and prepared his heart to read it to the people upon their request.

We fail to understand these words because we are so blessed to have the Word in our language at our fingertips. Yet, these had not only not heard it but had not understood it. It took Ezra, the Levites, and others to help the people understand, and when they did, they were pricked in their hearts. The people were admonished not to grieve but to rejoice and share this news with others.

This is our challenge: share the good news of Jesus and His resurrection, and let your joy be evident to others. 

Posted on

How to Handle Naysayers

Nehemiah 6 Nehemiah, the king’s cupbearer, had been given permission to return to Jerusalem. He knew from being in the king’s presence that day after day, challengers arose. Nehemiah watched stored insights and became astute in how to handle these challengers. What a great learning environment that God had planned for Nehemiah. Have you stopped and thought about how God has placed you where you can learn and hone those skills for the work God planned in eternity past just for you?

Challengers did greet Nehemiah, but he not only had the skills to defuse their arguments, but he knew what the proper answer should be. Nehemiah told them I am engaged in an important work. No arguments, just I am busy doing God’s work! The enemies tried again and again to wear Nehemiah down, even to the point of trying to instill fear. But Nehemiah has seen it all, and he just went to God and laid it out before him. Because Nehemiah was clear in his purpose and knew God was on his side, the wall was completed in just 52 days. Nehemiah then journaled; when they heard this news, they were greatly disheartened. [Nehemiah 6:16] How about you? Can you see how God has worked for you?

Do a character analysis on Nehemiah and glean truths for your life. 

Posted on

What rules you: fear or trust?

Nehemiah 1-5 God’s Answer

Nehemiah is a profile in courage and determination, but before he spoke, he had spent hours in prayer. This shows us his priorities in life. Here was a man who lived in exile, but God had placed him in a prestigious position in the court. He had the eye and ear of the king. He knew what he was up against, and he pounded on the gates of heaven’s court for God to listen and then give him an answer. And God answered, but then we see a wee little verse of how Nehemiah responded to the king’s question: This made me very fearful.

We can pound the gates of heaven, but when they are opened, we might just find that enemy fear lurking at the gates. What do we do? It is much like what Jesus asked Andrew: What do you want? [Jn 1:38] The King asked Nehemiah: “what are you seeking?” [Neh 2:4] We must be ready to give an answer, and Nehemiah was not only prepared mentally but also spiritually. God opened his mind and his mouth to respond. God heard, God answered, and Nehemiah found himself on his way to Jerusalem.

What do want, Chrisitan? Are you preparing for God to answer? Do you let fear rule or trust God? 

Posted on

Prepare but also Pray

Ezra 7-10 What would you ask for if you sat under a king and had lived in exile for several years? One king asked that question of his queen, Esther, with the promise of half of his kingdom. Ezra, on the other hand, only wanted to go to Jerusalem and teach the Law of Moses as a priest and a scribe. Some of us “twiddle our thumbs,” but Ezra had set aside time to study the Law of Moses in preparation.

Not only was he skilled as a priest and scribe, but he also boldly asked for provisions for a five months journey, and he brashly told the king he didn’t need soldiers to protect him and his entourage because he was embarrassed and had said: “the good hand of our God is on everyone who is seeking him.” [Ezra 8:22] Yes, Ezra was not just bold but brash! And God answered each prayer.

Sometimes we want things, but we are cautious and even sometimes ashamed to ask God for His protection and deliverance, but not Ezra! Perhaps Ezra claimed Ps 17:8 “Protect me/us as you would protect the pupil of your eye.” That would have been a powerful prayer and one we can pray as well. Where do you need God’s protection today, and will you be as bold as Ezra? 

Posted on

God Protects & Delivers

Esther 6-10 As we have been studying, one theme continues to repeat itself. The people of God are to remember that God is our protector and our deliverer. [Ps 78:35] Here in the story of Esther, the Jews set up a day each year called Purim to remember that principle. The backdrop of this story goes all the way back to King Saul when he was told to exterminate the Amalekites for their hatred of the children of Israel as they left Egypt. Saul did not do as Samuel had told him, and now centuries later, we see the fruit of that disobedience for Haman is of that line. God graciously has provided centuries for the people of Haman to right their wrongs and seek God, but they have chosen instead to continue to hate. Haman hated Mordecai not so much because he would not bow to him but purely because he was a Jew.

Over and over, we see the principle of Ps 78 coming true. Although we may not remember it when we are facing troubles, as in this story, but God has not forgotten. God sees, and He will turn the tide to overrule what the wicked have designed. The psalmist wrote: “certainly the Lord guards the godly, but the way of the wicked ends in destruction.” [Ps 1:6] There is a lesson here for us: When we choose God’s way, we can trust Him to protect and deliver us. 

Posted on

Impulsiveness vs. God’s Ways

Esther 1-5 One thing we learn from this story is how God can and will use even the impulsiveness of a king to bring about His plan to preserve His people. King Ahasuerus, as we have seen in chapter one, is an impulsive king. He makes snap judgments without thinking of the long-term consequences. He got mad at his queen and removed her. This will not be the first time, for later, he removed his signet ring and gave it to Haman so he could destroy a group of people. In both cases, this king did not investigate the reasons behind his decisions. But…then God! As Isaiah wrote: God’s thoughts are not like men. His ways are higher and superior. [Is 55:8] He looks down on the earth to find those who are righteous and those who are not. He even keeps a scroll of those who fear the Lord and esteem His name. [Mal 3:16] He orchestrates events to protect His people because he who touches them touches the apple of His eye. [Zech 2:8]

What can we learn from this story? Satan may roam about seeking whom he can devour, but God has His people placed in high and low places. He had Mordecai and Esther right where He could bring about salvation for His people. A third lesson is God says, “I love you!” [Jn 3:16/Malachi 1:2] and because He does, He will move heaven and earth to protect them/us. Where has God placed you for such a time as this, and are you looking for His deliverance? 

Posted on

God is Jealous!

Zechariah 8 Jealousy and Zealousness

When we think of jealousy, what comes to mind? Often, we think of only the negative side, but this word can mean both good and bad to represent right and wrong passion. When it is attributed to God, it is used in a good sense. That helps us when we read this passage. He is jealous, or He is zealous because He has seen how the love of His heart and life has been usurped by the enemy. Thus, He says He will return to Zion and claim His people and the nation. He says, I will bring them, and they shall be my people, and I will be their God, in truth and righteousness. That helps us understand the first idea Malachi presented as well: I love you, and I have loved you. Earlier in  Deut 4:24 and Isaiah 48:11, “He is a jealous God; and will not share his glory with another.”

So, how do we apply this to our own lives? Are we jealous for the name and character of God? When we see the truth of 2 Cor 4:4 being lived out in our society and, yes, even the church, “the god of this age has blinded the minds of those who do not believe so they would not see the light of the glorious gospel of Christ,” do we become jealous for God? Where are we today in our thinking and actions? 

Optimized by Optimole