SISTER STUDY . . . Going Through the Bible in One Year
Colossians … An Introduction
COLOSSIANS 1:1-17
(October 4)
Today we begin a new letter from Paul. He is writing this letter to the new converts in the city of Colosse. Paul had not personally met them, as Epaphras and Timothy had been the one to evangelize there.
Colosse was about 100 miles east of Ephesus on the Lycus River. It was not as influential of a city as Laodicea, which was nearby. It was a trading center, which made it a crossroads for ideas and religions. This city had a large Jewish population. Many Jews had fled there when they were forced out of Jerusalem.
The church in Colosse had been founded by Epaphras, a convert of Paul's. Paul's purpose in writing to the Colossians was to refute heretical teachings about Christ that had been causing them some confusion. Mysterious Greek religions were distorting their faith. They were also being threatened by some of the Jewish laws and customs. Epaphras had gotten word to Paul about this, and Paul was responding through this letter.
Paul assures them that the Good News they have heard is being heard all over the world. It is changing the lives of others just as it has changed their lives. He lets them know that they are being prayed for ... for wisdom, knowledge of God's will, strength, endurance, patience, and joy.
Then he makes a strong statement about the divine nature of Christ:
"Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation, for through him God created everything in the heavenly realms and on earth. He made the things we can see and the things we can't see - such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world. Everything was created through him and for him. He existed before anything else, and he holds all creation together." (Verses 15-16)
What does this mean? Jesus is not only equal to God, he IS God. As the image of the invisible God, he is the exact representation of God. He not only reflects God but reveals God to us. He is the firstborn over all creation and has all the priority and authority of the firstborn prince in a king's household. He came from heaven, not from the dust of the earth. He is Lord of all and completely holy. He has authority to judge the world. Christ is supreme over all creation, including the spirit world. And like the Colossian believers, we must believe in his deity or out faith is hollow, misdirected, and without meaning. Basically, Paul was giving them the central truth about being a Christian.
Do we believe this? Or are we, much like the Colossians, letting other ideas and customs penetrate our minds and pull us off track? Just as Paul was cautioning the Colossians in this letter, we should also be cautioned to be on guard for the enemy, who will use any way possible to pull us away from this idea of who Christ is.
We need to stand firm in our faith, unwavering in our belief in Christ, and solid against anything that tries to penetrate that belief.
Paul has a lot more to say to the Colossians, so stay tuned ...
Loveable or Leavable?
October 4 Jeremiah 2:31-4:18
Object Lessons That Demand Obedience
LOVEABLE OR LEAVABLE
“Does a young woman forget her jewelry, or a bride her wedding dress?” (Jer. 2:32)
Today’s object lesson focuses on a wedding dress. What a vision of elegance!
What would you say if I told you that I actually won a free wedding dress?
It’s true! Absolutely true!
I went to a bridal show with my friend as we were each getting married. The bridal show was put on by Penneys. I went with my friend as she was doing some planning, but I was the person that won a free dress when they drew my name in a drawing.
Not only did I win a wedding dress, I actually lost my wedding dress… for a while!
I got married in a very large church with many floors (three stories) and many classrooms. They didn’t have a set “Bridal changing room”. They just marked off a section for the bridal group. A variety of people helped carry things in, and someone hung my dress in a classroom. The only problem was that no one was certain where they put it! There was a lot of last-minute hunting!
Some you WIN, and some you LOSE. Easy come. Easy go!
That was actually the attitude of the nation of Judah in God’s eyes…
In fact, He compared them with the nation of Israel in the area of faithfulness and Judah lost.
So, that should tell you a LOT! In fact, the term that God uses for the nation of Judah is not “Bride”; it is “Prostitute”. He said, “But you have prostituted yourself with many lovers, so why are you trying to come back to me?” (3:1)
His words were, “Even faithless Israel is less guilty than treacherous Judah!” (3:11) OUCH!
The visual He gives is of idol shrines on every hilltop and He asks this question, “Is there any place you have not been defiled?” (3:2)
Every good country song goes something like this, “Baby you ‘done’ me wrong…”
But, can you imagine being the God of the universe who constantly rescues your bride, and instead of loving you back or being thankful, she runs towards evil with every breath in her body?
The story of Gomar and Hosea found in the book of Hosea is a parallel passage to what is being discussed in these chapters of Jeremiah. Talk about an object lesson when it comes to “Brides”... Hosea is the object lesson and “Gomer is the Roamer”!
Why would God ask a devout covenant man to marry a prostitute?
The word used in most translations is actually “whore”. Whoa!
Hosea had a ministry before their exile to Babylon and God used Hosea’s own life as a symbol for Israel’s sin. The book covers two thematic sections, Hosea, Gomer, and their children, and God and Israel. Both are stories of covenant relationships that get violated and then restored.
Listen to Hosea’s instructions, “Go, take yourself a wife of whoredom and have children of whoredom, for the land commits great whoredom by forsaking the LORD.” (Hosea 1:2)
By setting this example, God wanted Israel to understand the extent of their sins.
Jeremiah writes, “Even faithless Israel is less guilty than treacherous Judah!” They took depravity to such an extent that God is sending judgment. It is imminent.
Sometimes, we think the judgment of God sounds harsh. Can’t he just love everybody?
How well would we do if our spouse not only cheated with everyone imaginable but also brought evil into our home and complete depravity? Not only that, but they cheated publicly on hillsides for all to see. Add to that, that they offered their children to be used for sexual perversion, orgies, and sacrifice…
That was exactly what was going on with idol worship of that day!
Listen to God’s heart, “I thought to myself, ‘I would love to treat you as my own children!’ … ‘I looked forward to your calling me ‘Father,’ and I wanted you never to turn from me. But you have been unfaithful to me, you people of Israel! You have been like a faithless wife who leaves her husband. I, the LORD, have spoken.” (3:19-20)
You may remember the movie “Runaway Bride” with Julia Roberts and Richard Gere. It was a classic. This beautiful bride left THREE men at the altar and was getting ready for her Fourth Dash when Richard Gere came as a newspaper reporter to catch her running a fourth time. Men just couldn’t help falling for this heartbreaker!
She was so LOVEABLE and LEAVEABLE!
They all just wanted her to return to them. The movie was so cute and humorous.
However, I wonder how many times we “RUN” from God and “CLING” to unhealthy substitutions!
What kind of bride are we…LOVEABLE or LEAVEABLE?
Think on the “Good Stuff”
PHILIPPIANS 4: 1-23
(October 3)
Have you ever had an argument with someone you served the Lord with? Someone in your church, or on your ministry team, or in your Sunday School class?
Trust me when I tell you ... it is not a fun place to be. It is frustrating, heartbreaking, and causes numerous problems within the church family.
Euodia and Syntyche are having a disagreement. They have been partners in spreading the gospel, but now they find themselves at odds. Paul is pleading with them to settle their dispute before it does irreparable harm to the church.
He reminds them and the rest of the church to always have joy in their hearts. He hopes they will rejoice in all things and be considerate of others in all things. Why? Because it is the right thing to do. But if that isn't enough of a reason... he reminds them that the Lord is coming soon!
Then he adds that they shouldn't spend their time worrying about things, but instead, should spend that time praying to God, offering up your needs and your thanks for all his goodness. When you do this, you will experience the peace that "exceeds anything we can understand" and that peace "will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus."
And then he gets to the REALLY GOOD PART, my FAVORITE scripture ... "And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise." (Philippians 4:8)
That is a long scripture, so I often like to paraphrase it as this: "Think on the GOOD STUFF!" I use this scripture often, when I find my mind and my thoughts starting to go down a negative path, I remind myself to turn my thoughts towards the good stuff.
What is the good stuff? It can be something different every time. It is whatever makes us happy, joyful, full of praise, and honoring of God. Perhaps it is appreciating the beauty of the flowers and trees, or the song of a bird. Maybe it is looking at the family gathered around you and feeling deep gratitude. Maybe it is smiling as you remember something funny a friend said.
Whatever your "GOOD STUFF" looks like, use it. It is the perfect weapon against the enemy, who would like nothing more than to have you cast your thoughts into his pit of darkness and evil, keep you fixated on your anger, or have you feeling doubt and fear.
That "GOOD STUFF" keeps us on the right track, headed to Jesus. Even when you have to make sacrifices like the ones Paul speaks of as he continues in his letter. He has learned how to do without and make it just fine. He has learned how to get by when his stomach is growling for a morsel of food, and when it is stuffed. He is content, whatever his situation, because he knows that he can get through it all simply by relying on Christ to give him strength.
Sometimes we get into situations where we have to do without something we want. Often it is the little things in life like a new blouse or a pair of shoes. Sometimes it is a little more than that. And there are also times when we are having to do without something major in our lives, like a spouse, or a baby, or a job that pays enough to get by on. That is when we need to turn our thoughts to the GOOD STUFF and put our focus on Jesus, because it is his strength that will see us through.
We are never without when we have Christ. He is sufficient. He is all we need.
The Almond Branch
October 3 Jeremiah 1:1-2:30
Object Lessons That Demand Obedience
The Almond Branch
“I see a branch from an almond tree. (Jeremiah). ‘And the LORD said, ‘That’s right, and it means that I am watching, and I will certainly carry out all my plans’.” (Isaiah 1:11-12)
Erupting with flowers before spring, the almond tree is a bounty of Jewish symbolism.
It is considered the subject of a Biblical miracle and a sign of industriousness.
The almond tree blossoms in time for Jewish Arbor Day, while most other plants are still locked in winter’s embrace.
We as humans are dependent on nature’s bounty for survival, and thus the reference to more than 100 plants for symbolic reasons is found throughout the Bible.
The book of Jeremiah is filled with “Object Lessons that Demand Obedience”.
The first two lessons found in today’s reading are “The Almond Rod” and “Boiling Caldron”.
I would also say that Jeremiah, himself, was also an OBJECT LESSON from God to the people.
When it came time to deliver HIS chosen people into captivity, God sent a final prophet to them. His name was Jeremiah, and he is known as “The Weeping Prophet”.
Note that when it was time to punish HIS beloved children he did NOT send “The Yelling Prophet”. He sent “The Weeping Prophet”. That should tell us a lot about our God!
Jeremiah, “The Weeping Prophet” was born a priest. (1:1) He was chosen to be a prophet before he was born. (1:5) He was called to his prophetic office. (1:6) He was forbidden to marry due to the terrible times. (16:1-4) He didn’t want this job!!! (20:9) He actually tried to resign but his resignation was not accepted! Jeremiah was REJECTED by his own people, hated and beaten, and imprisoned. (11:18-21; 20:1-3, 37:11-16)
Now you know why they call him “The Weeping Prophet”.
Not only was he, himself, An OBJECT LESSON of gigantic proportions, but God also used him to share OBJECT LESSONS THAT DEMAND OBEDIENCE with the people who were out of time for repentance; judgment was coming…
First, we will look at the “Almond Rod” and then the “Boiling Caldron”. Almond milk is very trendy right now. In fact, you can turn on the TV and watch commercials about it as a great alternative to regular milk. But, the almond tree is nothing new…
The almond tree is a member of the rose family and it is to Israel what the cherry blossom is to Japan. This tree produces tens of thousands of delicate white or pink flowers which are even more prominent because they bloom even before the emergence of leaves.
In the Bible, the almond tree is famous as a miracle involving an almond branch that determined the Tribe of Levite to be the chosen tribe as Israel’s priests. In Numbers 17, God instructs Moses to obtain a staff, or branch from each of the twelve tribes and put it in the tent of meeting in front of the Ark of the Covenant. All farmers of that time knew what happened in the development of buds, blossoms, and ripe almonds at the same time was a miracle.
“The man whom I shall choose, his rod shall bud; and I will make to cease from Me the murmuring of the children of Israel, which they murmur against you.” You can read the rest of the story in Numbers 17:20 Ff. Moses did what he was told and God selected his chosen Levites to be His ministers.
Did you know that when describing the Menorah (oil lamp) in the Holy of Holies, that there were to be three cups made like almond blossoms in one branch?
Another fact that is little known to us is that a wild almond is actually a bush whose fruit is BITTER and whose seeds release CYANIDE when bitten into. This is a defense against herbivores. It is also poisonous to humans with serious side effects, such as slowing of the nervous system, breathing problems, and death.
So, how do you get rid of the poison to make the plant edible? The bitter almond is rid of the poison by “crushing the plant and washing the mashed nuts”.
Why did God select almonds? The almond flowers first, but it takes a LONG TIME to produce ripe FRUIT…. Does that sound a little bit like the Jewish nation?
The significance is seen in the Hebrew word for almond, “sha-ked” which is also translated “to watch”. The Jewish people would catch the “pun” and message intended for them. However, our culture will not get the significance here as they would…
After the “almond rod” came the “boiling caldron”, “The word of the Lord came to me a second time saying, ‘What do you see? And I said, ‘I see a boiling pot, facing away from the north.” (1:13-14)
A “Boiling Pot” is an emblem of war, and the desolation it produces. The thick vapor of Judah’s capture is imminent. They will be captured and taken into captivity…However, remember the message of “The Almond Branch”…
The BITTER will be CRUSHED and WASHED before it can BLOOM and BEAUTY can
A Reminder to Focus Forward
PHILIPPIANS 3: 5-21
(October 2)
Of all the many plaques and awards I have received in my adult life, most of them have been discarded after years of sitting in a box on a shelf. There is only one that I have held on to. It is my award for being named Citizen of the Year in my hometown almost 20 years ago.
Why do I keep it? Is it because it was such an honor to receive it? It absolutely was an honor to receive it, but I keep it for a very different reason ... to remind me not to go back to that again.
You see, I got that award because of my "devotion to my community" and my "diligent work to make it a better place." Countless hours were put into various sporting groups, civic activities, and volunteer opportunities. I served my community as best as I possibly could. But in the process of serving my community, I failed in serving my family. I put their needs on the back burner so that I could meet the needs of others.
So, I keep the award to remind me of what is REALLY important in life ... my God and my family. I don't want to put them on the backburner so that I can accomplish and achieve elsewhere.
Do I want to be productive in my community? Absolutely! Do I want to help where I can? Of course! But not at the expense of those I hold near and dear.
Paul is telling the Philippians who he used to be. He is explaining what he once held valuable in his life. He now sees that those things are absolutely worthless when compared with knowing Jesus. He has discarded all that he used to be and know so that he could gain a relationship with Christ.
He is not boasting when he speaks of his prior achievements. In fact, he is showing that human achievements cannot earn a person salvation and eternal life with God. His impressive credentials: his upbringing, his nationality, his family background, his inheritance, orthodoxy, activity, and morality ... none of that was the base of his conversion to faith. Only God's grace was responsible for that heart change.
During that time, he had persecuted the church because he agreed with the leaders of the religious establishment that Christianity was heretical and blasphemous. Jesus didn't meet the expectations of what they thought the Messiah should be, so Paul assumed his claims were false. By being false, they were wicked, in his way of thinking.
He also saw Christianity as a political menace that threatened to disrupt the fragile harmony between the Jews and the Roman government. He thought it to be nothing but a giant problem.
In this letter he urges the Philippians to forget the past ... their achievements, their thoughts and ideas ... and focus forward to what lies ahead in a relationship with Christ. He likened it to a race in which the prize at the end would be eternity in heaven.
Paul wanted to be an example to them of how to live life ... sacrificial, as Christians eagerly waiting for the return of the Savior.
The advice holds good for us today. To take our minds off of "self" and what we do or accomplish, and to put it on "Savior", who calls us to him to serve in humility. WE are not the focus of the equation, HE is.
We serve him well by cultivating our relationship daily, by serving our family in humility, and by serving others who are in need ... not to receive a fancy plaque to hand on the wall, but to receive the greatest reward ... eternity in glory.
Experiencing the Potter
One Year Bible (Oct. 2)
Isaiah 66:1-24
Experiencing the Potter
The “Fifth Gospel of Isaiah” is both TIMELY & TIMELESS!
In the first half of the book, we saw that Isaiah speaks of God’s Government to address Israel’s sin. The second half of the book speaks of God’s Grace. We saw how this book was like a “Mini-Bible”.
There were sixty-six chapters while the Bible has sixty-six books. The book of Isaiah had two great divisions, the Government of God (Judgment) and the second half of the book is the Grace of God (salvation through the Messiah). There are 39 chapters in “The Law/Judgement” section of Isaiah just as there are 39 chapters in the Old Testament. There are 27 chapters about God’s Grace as there are 27 books in the New Testament.
Isaiah “lived in the Old Testament” age of judgment as he walked around naked proclaiming their imminent captivity, but his spirit experienced the New Testament declaring visions of the Messiah and the kingdom to come that no Jewish person could begin to fathom.
The book of Isaiah ends with the vision of the new heaven and a new earth where righteousness dwells in perfection. (Isaiah 62:1-2, 65:17, 66:22) The New Testament closes with this very same theme in Revelation 21. The similarities between Isaiah and the book of Revelation are amazing!
Within sixty-six chapters Isaiah covered the message of the entire Bible’s sixty-six books, and there are sixty-six quotes from the book of Isaiah in the Bible.
As a prophet, he spoke, “FOR GOD”. He “Forthtold the imminent message of judgment, and he also received “FORETOLD” information through visions of what was to come!
Prophets appeared in the DARKEST TIMES of History to point the REMNANT to REVIVAL and the UNRIGHTEOUS to REPENTANCE.
In the Darkest of Times Isaiah spoke repeatedly in Isaiah 60, “Let your light shine for all to see. For the glory of the LORD rises to shine on you.” (60:1)
He also tells the people, “For the Lord will be your everlasting light.” (60:20)
How do these opposite themes of judgment and grace fit together?
Do you know that one of the most difficult things for all humans to wrap their minds around is the issue of a “Good God allowing pain and suffering?” We don’t understand it “as clay”…
The book of Job and the book of Isaiah are perfectly lined up together. Not only that, but the book of Jeremiah, which is next, will also continue the important theme presented in Isaiah, “He is the Potter, and we are the clay.”
He is Sovereign and we are His servants. Satan didn’t humbly bow before God. He wanted equality. The Jews worshipped idols instead of worshipping the Sovereign God. But, there is only ONE GOD, and we’re not to strive to be equal!
“Woe to the one who quarrels with his Maker--an earthenware vessel among the vessels of earth! Will the clay say to the potter, ‘What are you doing Or the thing you are making say, ‘He has no hand’? (45:9)
God’s people didn’t get it and they constantly rebelled. In fact, they rebelled right into captivity.
Isaiah got it! He encountered God in His Heavens and was called to proclaim the news to God’s erring people. But, before he could do that he encountered God’s brilliant radiance. It was more beautiful, pure, and holy than he could comprehend.
Isaiah’s vision reminded me of Job’s encounter with Sovereign God when he said, “I had only heard about you before, but now I have seen you with my own eyes. I take back everything I said, and I sit in dust and ashes to show my repentance.” (Job 42: 5-6)
Remember Job’s experience in seeing God? Isaiah sees “the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple. Above the throne stood the Seraphims… Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!” (Is. 6)
Isaiah’s response, “Woe is me! For I am lost and a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!” (v. 5)
Like the book of Job, Isaiah helps to adjust our focus. We are the “Clay”. He is the “Potter”.
We try to bring the Potter down to our level, but He is the maker, designer, creator, and sustainer of the universe and He has created each of us to be part of accomplishing HIS purposes, a far grander plan. We will never understand our role as the “Clay” until we too catch a greater vision of “The Potter”.
Have you “Experienced the Potter” with your own eyes?
What verse or passage has spoken to you and why? I would love to read your comments.
Praise God for a book that is Timeless and Timely… He is the Potter; we are the Clay!
Homecoming
PHILIPPIANS 2:19 - 3:4
(October 1)
When I read today's passage, I had this vision of a serviceman coming home after a tour of duty. His family has missed him so much and are so excited to have him safely back home. They are proud of the service he has given to his country, but relieved that he is back with them.
There are lots of videos on social media about soldiers returning home. Their spouses and their children run to them with arms open wide, crying and laughing with joy at the same time. I can never watch one of those without bursting into tears. I get so emotional at their joy expressed so openly and honestly.
Paul is sending back a "soldier" to the Philippians. Epaphroditus is a man who has traveled far to deliver money to Paul on behalf of the Philippians. He is most likely an elder in Philippi. While with Paul, he became very ill, and almost died. After his recovery, Paul sends him home to his people, who must have been much like the families in the videos I see ... very happy and filled with joy upon his return.
Paul also tells them he has another "soldier" coming to them soon. He will be sending Timothy, who has been an amazing soldier of the Gospel. He is sending Timothy to visit them so he can return and give Paul a good report, which will cheer him up while he is imprisoned. He plans to send Timothy as soon as he finds out exactly what will happen in his imprisonment. At this point, he is unsure if he faces death or release.
Despite the outcome of his situation, he wants the Philippians to continue to rejoice in the Lord and to be on guard for the "dogs", the "evil workers" and the "mutilators." He is most likely referring to the Jewish Christians who wrongly believed that the Gentiles had to follow all the Old Testament Jewish laws in order to find salvation, including the rite of circumcision. These believers were motivated by spiritual pride. They had spent quite a lot of time and effort in keeping the laws for themselves, so they couldn't accept the fact that none of that would offer them salvation.
To Paul's way of thinking, they looked at Christianity backwards. They though that what they DID made them believers instead of the free gift of God's grace. When in fact, what believers DO is a result of their faith, not a requirement of it.
They were so confused! But so are many people today. They work and work to EARN their way into heaven, not understanding that the ticket is free because of grace, and that all they really need to do is believe and have faith, and that will bring them a beautiful Homecoming.
Brighter Days
One Year Bible (Oct. 1)
Isaiah 62:6-65:25
Brighter Days
“We are the clay, and YOU are the POTTER.” (Isaiah 64:8)
Over and over again I have heard from our church family and people who just visit one of our worship services about our daughter and the way she worships.
Perhaps you have heard the saying, “Dance like no one is watching. Love like you’ve never been hurt. Sing like nobody’s listening. Live like it’s heaven on earth.” (Inspirational Quotes)
Well, that is our girl! She is one lively “Chunk of Clay” and she loves to “Praise her Potter”!
I shared with you how she went through “A Rough Patch”. This lasted for about a year and there were moments that were “touch and go”. I had a kind friend who said, “It’s going to be Okay”. I said, “And what if she’s not?” That is the question behind our anxiety and terror, isn’t it?
Speaking of anxiety, do you know why they have those slits in the back of those hospital gowns?
They don’t call it ICU for nothing!
Finding a smile and hope when “all is hanging bare” is not an easy task. Isaiah knew all about that as he had to walk around naked sharing the upcoming judgment. This was a time of TERROR and TMI for him and the people.
Out of all the things written in the book of Isaiah I have often pondered why God would ask Isaiah, the prophet, to preach naked for three years. Naked! THREE LONG YEARS!
No Wardrobe Change! No Wardrobe AT ALL! I am at a loss…
Once I accidentally went to a lookout area in the San Diego area to watch some hang gliders on a beautiful cool day. When we looked down we realized that no one below had on clothes. It was a nude beach! Some say it’s “FREEING”, but we were “FLEEING”!
So, I researched Isaiah’s ‘bare necessities’ and here is what I found, “Go and take the sackcloth off your loins, (Not even sackcloth over his loins?), and take your shoe off your foot. And he did so, walking naked and barefoot.” (Isaiah 20:1-2)
Man, I was wishing this was just a symbolic passage! My next thought was, “Don’t they have winter there?”...The nudity of Isaiah was a sign that the Assyrians would overcome Egypt and Ethiopia. All prisoners of any age would march into captivity completely naked. (20:3-4) It is kind of like going to jail. Everyone is strip searched and then given prison clothes to wear. This is a sign of captivity!
Every day for three years, Isaiah’s bare derriere was a stark reminder of destruction! He had come to “the end of himself” and the end of their freedom was in plain sight.
Isaiah was NOT “Dressed to Impress” and he was leaving quite an impression!
In spite of all of this pain and humiliation, Isaiah knew the “real scoop”. He got it straight from the throne room of Heaven! Isaiah not only “Forthtold judgment”, he “Foretold grace”.
Impervious Isaiah knew the outcome of their suffering through the vision that God gave him.
Not only were God’s exiled people going HOME AS A REMNANT,
The Messiah was coming to declare them part of THE HOME OF THE REDEEMED!
Isaiah knew that BRIGHTER DAYS were coming!
He brought words that no prophet had ever uttered before, “Look your Savior is coming. See, he brings his reward with him as he comes. They will be called ‘The Holy People’ and ‘The People Redeemed by the LORD’.”( Isaiah 62:11-12)
In what area of your life have you been "laid bare” for all the world to watch day in and day out?
That “Messy Mess” is your “Message of More”...There is more to this life for the Redeemed!
That, my friends, is your TESTIMONY…
“I know there’s gonna be some brighter days. I swear that love will find you in your pain. I feel it in me like the beating of life in my veins. I know there’s gonna be some brighter days.”
(Brighter Days, Blessing Offor)
So C’mon’ girl, google the song, “Dance like no one is watching, and Sing like nobody’s listening”…
BRIGHTER DAYS are coming!
Attitude is Everything
PHILIPPIANS 1:27 - 2:18
(September 30)
Wouldn't it be nice if everyone would have the same attitude as Jesus? What a beautiful world this would be! Kindness would flow, love would permeate everything, and patience would never wear thin.
Sadly, this is not the case for so many. But Paul is urging the Philippians to live this way ..."like citizens of heaven", "worthy of the Good News."
He goes on to quote poetically (most likely from a song of that time),
"You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal's death on a cross. Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."
Yes! He really expected the Philippians to live in this manner! It seems they had been doing a good job thus far and he wanted them to continue to live in obedience, without complaining and arguing, holding firmly to the word, living clean and innocent, and shining brightly.
For them to do this would give him great joy, even if his own life was lost as an offering to God. They would be his legacy.
This same hope that Paul had for the Philippians applies to us today. That we could live in harmony with one another, without arguing and grumbling. Most of us can't even live in our FAMILY without arguing or grumbling, much less the world around us.
It is a high standard to be held to. It seems almost impossible to achieve. This is where we remember that ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE WITH GOD!
What if we all took this passage to heart and tried to live in this manner? What if even just a few of us did? Could we spread some joy? Could we set an example for others? Could we be a light in the darkness?
The answer is YES! We CAN make a difference. Attitude is EVERYTHING!
Let Your Light Shine
One Year Bible (Sep. 30)
Isaiah 60:1-62:5
LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE
“This world can be cold and bitter. Feels like we’re in the dead of winter. Waiting on something better. But am I really gonna hide forever? Over and over again. I hear your voice in my head. Let your light shine, let your light shine for all to see…” (Start a Fire)
In my house, twelve months a year, there are two large “all-season trees” standing tall and proud. Yes, you can call them Christmas trees, but mine are filled with decorations for every season. Most importantly they are filled with beautiful bright twinkly lights. There are sconces on my wall, candles on my tables, and an electric fireplace. (Even in July!)
When the month of January comes and everyone starts taking down their lights, decor, and trees I find it cold and depressing. I don’t think I am the only one…We starwatch, comment on the full moon, and watch sunrises and sunsets. We were made for LIGHT…
Is there one holiday or celebration that you can name that doesn’t involve light? Even birthday celebrations have candles. The older you get the more light you bring! Don’t you wish that was said of us as people? It should be like that…
Today’s entire passage is all about God’s people letting their light shine for HIM… we are to bear the radiance of HIS Glory!
“Arise, Jerusalem! Let your light shine for all to see. For the glory of the LORD rises to shine on you. Darkness as black as night covers all the nations of the earth, but the glory of the LORD rises and appears over you. All nations will come to your light; mighty kings will come to see your radiance.” ( Isaiah 60:1-3)
Indeed, darkness covers all the nations of the earth. (Nothing much has changed there!)
God’s people were to be the light that would draw all nations, mighty kings, and the lost to see God. It was the radiance of God shining through them that would light the dark path!
There are two amazing passages in our reading today that are restated in the New Testament also. Let’s look at both of them together.
“No longer will you need the sun to shine by day, nor the moon to give its light by night, for the LORD your God will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your glory. Your sun will never set; your moon will not go down. For the LORD will be your EVERLASTING LIGHT. Your days of mourning will come to an end.” (60: 19-20)
“The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp.” (Rev. 21:23)
Can you begin to imagine a land where no moon, sun, or stars are needed? It would have the brightness of Alaska in the summertime… no light is needed because God is LIGHT!
There is another amazing passage in Isaiah 61:1-2, that is quoted in Luke 4:18-19.
“The Spirit of the Lord is on me because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”
Do you know the context of Luke 4:18-19 where Jesus quotes this prophecy of Isaiah?
He had completed the temptations of Satan and defeated him through his responses and then he returned to minister to the people in Galilee. Jesus was filled with the Spirit, (He was shining!) and people were praising him because they could hear His mighty words and see His mighty acts. He could not conceal the power that was upon HIS life and so he gave them a sneak peek of God.
He unrolled the scroll of the prophet of Isaiah and found this passage and said these words that would seal His destiny, “The Spirit of the Lord is on ME because He has anointed ME to proclaim the GOOD NEWS…”
He had come to set the captives FREE!
Our passage today ends with more prophetic words, “Then God will rejoice over you as a bridegroom rejoices over his bride.”
(Isaiah 62:5)
Jesus is the bridegroom, and He came to bring the GOOD NEWS of salvation, He will be back one day for HIS RADIANT BRIDE! The question is, “Will we be SHINING and SPOTLESS?”
“Start a fire in my soul. Fan the flame and make it grow. So, there’s no doubt or denying. Let it burn so brightly, that everyone around can see That it’s you, that it’s you that we need. Start a fire in me.” (Start a Fire, Unspoken)
A Beloved People
PHILIPPIANS 1:1-26
(September 29)
Have you ever received a love letter? Or a letter from someone who obviously adored you and wanted you to know it? It is always so encouraging to read kind words from someone else, and to know how important you are to them.
I have to think that the beginning of this letter from Paul offered much encouragement to the believers of Philippi. He is full of praise for them and thankful that they are a part of his life.
When you read these words that so eloquently describe this group of devoted believers, you might get the sense that Paul is writing this sitting under a shady tree or with his toes dipped in the lake. But this is not the case.
Paul is actually writing to them from a Roman prison. He had been visiting Jerusalem and some Jews had him arrested for preaching the gospel. When he requested that he stand before Caesar as his judge, the soldiers took him to Rome, and he was placed under house arrest until his trial. Preaching the Good News wasn't considered a serious offense at the time, and his arrest offered him the freedom to have visitors, preach, and write letters.
Paul used this opportunity to preach to the elite guards that lived at the king's palace. They understood his love and devotion to Christ. As he waited for his trial, he had no idea what would happen ... release or execution. He mentions that he actually prefers death so that he can go be with Jesus, but he knows he has important work still left to do in spreading the gospel even further. His goal is to speak boldly and unashamedly for Christ as long as he is on the earth.
It is also his hope that he can continue to have a relationship with the Philippians and experience the joy in the faith of these beloved brothers and sisters face-to-face again.
Their joy was evident. Their faith was visible. There was no question of how they felt about the Good News, despite a few shady teachers who might try to persuade them to follow their teachings. They stood firm in their beliefs.
I wonder if God looks down and sees any Philippian-type believers today. Are we standing firm against the lies and falsities of the world? Or are we being sucked right in by the things that look enticing and fulfilling?
Let us put our focus on Jesus, not this world that is filled with darkness and evil. Let us look to those who stand firm in their faith and choose them to walk beside. Let us continue to share the Good News that Paul devoted his life to and spread that joy to others who see us walking in our faith.
Home Free
One Year Bible (Sep. 29)
Isaiah 59:15-59:21
Home Free
“I freed thousands of slaves. I could have freed thousands more if they had known they were slaves.” (Harriet Tubman, the great emancipator)
The book of Isaiah has moved from judgment to slavery to freedom.
God is telling his people that he will not forget them forever and that He only withdrew from them for a season because they stubbornly went their own way. It was at that point that He removed his hedge of protection and let them be taken into captivity by their enemies. Now, God will deal with their enemies, and He calls the people who are “called by His name” to be REBUILDERS of walls and RESTORERS of homes.
What are the things that God is looking for from His people?
There are FIVE THINGSFIVE THINGS stand out to me in this passage. God is looking for the Contrite, Crushed, Courageous, Comforted, and Centered.
Let’s take a closer look at each area.
“I live in the high and holy place with those whose spirits are CONTRITE and humble.” (57:15)
A humble person is teachable and willing to bow down rather than be arrogant, proud, and unteachable. A CONTRITE heart comes when one is willing to express remorse and repentance. This is the essence of salvation. Acts 2:38 says, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” We also have learned in scripture that “God gives grace to the humble but resists the proud.” (I Peter 5:5-6)
The fall of man came from pride, and God is looking for the opposite of that…
God doesn’t need us to be happy and put together to come to him. The people in exile were broken and in desperate need. Look at what God says about them, “I restore the CRUSHED spirit of the humble”…(57:15)
In Matthew 11:28, Jesus says, “Come to Me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”
That is why Jesus came. He was CRUSHED for our iniquities and took on our sins and burdens.
God is also looking for COURAGE. In fact, He is the source of COURAGE. Do you ever feel lacking in this area? Look at how God gives this and to whom He gives it, “I revive the COURAGE of those with repentant hearts.”.
Revival comes after Repentance.
The next thing that God is looking for is to COMFORT His people. He wants us to find COMFORT in HIM, not in things, people, or idols that fill our emptiness. “I will COMFORT those who MOURN, bringing words of praise to their lips. May they have abundant peace, both near and far, says the LORD, who heals them.” (57:18-19)
We see this teaching in the New Testament also, “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.” (Mt. 5:4)
How are those that mourn comforted by the LORD? Ps. 34: 18 says that "the LORD is NEAR to the brokenhearted.”
Lastly, God is looking for His people to be CENTERED. God wants His people to Remember the Sabbath Rest. He tells them, “Then the LORD will be your delight.” (58:14)
What does it mean to keep the Sabbath Day holy, and what does this teaching mean for us today?
In Old Testament times, they worshipped on the Sabbath and had very strict rules. Some religious leaders in the New Testament tried to put these narrow rules on Jesus without keeping the purpose or the heart of the Sabbath.
Look at what Jesus said about this, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.” (Mark 2:27)
God created the Sabbath as a day for people to not pursue their own interests but to instead pursue their relationship with their heavenly Father. They were to enjoy the Sabbath and speak with delight on this day. They were to Honor the Sabbath, and then God promised to Honor them. (Isaiah 58:13)
Jesus was healing the sick on the Sabbath, and the religious leaders tried to nail him for that. Was He doing what honored His Father? Absolutely! However, they had long lists of rules and a short memory of what God was looking for regarding HONOR.
What does this mean to us as New Testament Christians who worship God on the Lord’s Day (Sunday) rather than the Sabbath?
When I was growing up, malls, restaurants, and many other stores were closed on Sundays, and that entire day was spent focused on God and meaningful time fellowshipping with other Christians. We had morning worship services, evening worship services, youth group, and Sunday School. There were no sports events on Sundays. It was quite common for us to eat with groups of other friends who were believers on Sunday. It was a good day for rest.
The focus was God, family, and fellowship. It seemed so simple. Families were very connected at that time. All I can say is that I have seen a huge decline in the family structure and in the effectiveness of the church since society has gone to the “One hour Sunday mentality.”
Recently, I finished a study challenging us to consider the “Sabbath Rest.” What does it mean to push “pause” and breathe? Stop work. Stop chores. Stop going, going, going. Use that time to rest and fellowship with God and other Christians.
As a teacher, I often did lesson plans or graded on Sunday afternoons because my week seemed so short, but in doing so, I was “shortchanging” God, my family, and burning myself out!
To be HOME FREE, we must live like FREE people, CENTERED in God, who REST in HIM!!
We All Have the Same Master
EPHESIANS 6: 1-24
(September 28)
Obedience. Honor. Discipline. Instruction.
You will see these words in many books and studies on Christian parenting. In fact, I use these words quite frequently in my weekly parenting classes. It sounds so simple, but ...
According to Paul's instruction, children are to obey their parents and show them honor. The promise is that if they do this, "things will go well for you, and you will have a long life on the earth." Teaching obedience and honor to our children can take patience and time, but the investment is well worth it to have children who not only honor their parents but honor their Father in heaven as well.
Part of how we do this is by the second instruction Paul gives ... for parents to not provoke their children to anger, but to bring them up with discipline and Godly instruction. Letting your "yes be yes" and your "no be no" is crucial. Standing firm in your discipline, but doing it in love, not anger. Keeping in mind that discipline is always done in love, and when it isn't, it is not discipline ... it is punishment and "getting even."
Paul then goes on to talk a lot about slavery. He states that slaves are to be obedient to their masters, having respect and fear. They are to serve them sincerely, and work to please them. Work for them as if you were working for the Lord, knowing that the Lord will reward each of us for the good we do, despite our situation of freedom or slavery.
What about the masters? They are to treat the slaves in the same way. There should be no threatening and harsh treatment, but masters should be considerate of their slaves in the same way the Lord is.
Whether slave or master, child or adult, Paul advises to be strong in the Lord, putting on ALL his armor in your efforts to stand firm against the devil. And remembering that it is not man that comes against us, but the evil of the unseen world that fights us daily.
We need to stay alert, be in prayer. Paul advised this to the Ephesians and in turn, asked them to continue to pray for him, so that he could continue to speak boldly about the Good News.
As he wrote this, he was bound in chains, writing from his imprisonment. He was a slave to the master that bound him, but he was continuing his service to God in any way made available to him.
Paul didn't concentrate on his predicament. He put his focus on his purpose. He knew that despite his situation, he was really no different than everyone else. After all, we are all slaves to one Master, and it is only in that situation of slavery that we find true freedom.
God’s Good Plan
One Year Bible (Sep. 28)
Isaiah 54:1-57:14
GOD’S GOOD PLAN
It was Halloween, October 31, 2020.
To tell you the truth, I still don’t have 20/20 vision about that day and all that came after it.
Perhaps, I never will… in this lifetime.
I feel called to write a book about that chapter of my life… after I somewhat “recover from it all”.
I am reading through the entire Bible and writing about it as part of that recovery. You all are just along for the ride. (Thank you so much for coming with me on this journey.)
You see, I am forever impacted. You can call it PTSD, Mid-life crisis, (Too late for that label), or just plain ol’ fear of the next shoe falling… because it will! Whatever you call it, I have a “bad case of it!” I have learned the “fragileness of life” and to “Count the number of our days so that we may apply wisdom.” (Ps. 90:12-17)
I have also learned to mourn with those who mourn. But, mostly I have learned of the great need to receive COMFORT and to give COMFORT also.
There is a verse yesterday that stood out to me, “I, yes I, am the one who COMFORTS you. So why are you afraid of mere humans, who wither like the grass and disappear?... (51:12)
Did you catch that? Who is the “one who COMFORTS us”? He says, “My name is the LORD OF HEAVEN’S ARMIES.” (51:15)
God’s people were in captivity, but He is asking them to “lift their eyes”.
Have you ever been stuck in captivity? How easy is it when you are in a helpless, defenseless, perilous state to lift your eyes? Yet, these words prophesied by Isaiah refer to 700 years later in the future…
How are you at waiting when you are in pain?
On that Halloween day in 2022, my daughter and I were driving in the desert between Palm Springs and El Centro Ca. It was hot as always, but on this day I could feel the sweat running down my face. In the middle of nowhere, she went to swallow and could not!
I tried calling for help and had to keep moving. We drove faster than the wind to the closest hospital. It was there that they put pads around her bed to protect her from seizures and our one-year hellish journey began. By the next day, she would be transferred by ambulance to San Diego.
There would be seizures, operations, a feeding tube in the nose, surgery after surgery, a feeding tube put in her tummy, gall bladder stone removal and stint, gallbladder removed, Mono, Migraines…
Friends would pray for healing, but for one year we spent more days in ERs or admitted to a hospital than at home. I always had a bag packed, and life just fell apart…
This is where the message of Isaiah needs to sink into our hearts not just skim as information to our minds…The exiled people were God’s chosen people with children and homes and all they knew in the way of their homeland was taken away. They had sinned.
But, then there was Job and he was a RIGHTEOUS man who had not sinned, and he also lost it all. He sat in the captivity of pain and suffering while his friends falsely accused and corrected him. Living in a fallen world is PAINFUL! That is a lesson we can all agree on!
As sinful as the chosen people of God were, there was no sacrifice or payment for their sins, and as righteous as Job was, he was still a fallen, fleshly human man living under the curse of Adam and Eve’s sin. There was no way out for him, either, and Satan knew that!
Our daughter's problems began on October 31st, and to me, that is no coincidence. Some think of this as a fun day when goblins, witches, and evil happily roam the streets. Sadly, I don't see any innocence in what it has become as we have helped people trapped in Satanism find rescue. The stories they have shared with us and the evidence that we have seen with our own eyes tell a different story. We have been verbally and physically threatened by evil and it is not a holiday. The enemy is always at work trying to stop the work of the Christian. (Remember our study of Job?)
Our daughter is as righteous a little soul as I have ever met. To watch an innocent, sweet soul suffer is beyond misery...
If we live in this world and miss the intense spiritual battle that is going on, then we have missed the entire message of the Bible!
Why is God called “THE LORD OF HEAVEN’S ARMIES? He is leading the war and it will be a battle until the VICTORY IS WON!
Isaiah 53 foretold that the Righteous Servant would come to end our captivity. The victory over Satan is found in one word, GRACE!
One day soon, he will be thrown into the “lake of fire” for a second death. (Rev. 20:14) Right now he roams on a long chain tormenting the people of God. The name of Jesus holds him in check until the day of his complete defeat.
Why? Because, the Righteous Servant, Jesus submitted himself to DEATH as part of God’s “GOOD PLAN” to take our SIN and give us SALVATION.
Here's the deal, dear friends. This doesn’t look like a “GOOD PLAN” to human eyes that only see “earth through headlights”. But, It is a GRAND PLAN to a God who sees “earth through a rearview mirror” and sees all of HEAVEN through the eyes of sovereignty…
Listen to God’s powerful words to us today in Isaiah 55:8-9, “‘My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,’ says the Lord. ‘and my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways, and my thoughts higher than you thoughts’.”
Make no mistake, GOD’S GOOD PLAN is higher than this earth… It is HEAVENLY!
A Holy Union
EPHESIANS 5:1-33
(September 27)
I have done a lot of couple's counseling, and chapter 5 of Ephesians is a portion of Scripture I have used time and time again. In it, Paul is telling the Ephesians to live a life worthy of Christ.
They are to turn away from evil things, keep boundaries that shield them from people who are immoral and impure, and who talk with foolishness.
They are to live a life of thankfulness and careful consideration as to what pleases the Lord, and be very, very careful how they choose to live.
Included in this is the need to submit to one another out of reverence to Christ. I have found that a lot of people don't like the word SUBMIT and would really like to skip over that part.
Paul tells wives to submit to their husbands. A Christian woman who had found new freedom in her life in Christ might not have liked the thought of submission. It's quite possible that Christian men who were used to the Roman custom of having unlimited power over their household didn't treat their wives with the respect they should have.
Keep in mind, in that time and culture, women, children, and slaves were all expected to submit to the head of the family. Slaves submitted until they were freed. Boys submitted until they became adults. But women and girls were expected to submit for their entire lives. YIKES!!
Paul's purpose in this scripture is not to overthrow the way the Romans do things, but to teach them that they are all equal in Christ and should choose to submit to one another out of love.
Imagine a home filled with mutual submission done out of love. There is order and harmony within the household. The love and respect among the family members is great. That is what Paul wants for the Ephesians.
Submission doesn't make you a "doormat". Even Jesus submitted to the Father. By following his example, we honor him. When our lives are submitted to God, we are more willing and able to submit to others.
Marriage relationships require both husband and wife to submit. A wife should follow (willingly) her husband's leadership in Christ. The husband submits by putting aside his own interests for the betterment of his wife.
If you notice in this passage, Paul talks TWICE as much about husbands loving their wives as he does about wives submitting to their husbands. According to Paul, a husband should be willing to sacrifice everything for his wife, make her well-being of primary importance, and should care for her just as he does for himself.
When a husband treats a wife this way, there is no fear or anxiety for her in submitting to him. And this leads to marriage the way God intended it to be ... a Holy Union.
For Rebels
One Year Bible (Sep. 27)
Isaiah 51:1-53:12
For Rebels
“He was pierced for our REBELLION, crushed for our sins”.
(Isaiah 53:5)
“OH #*@!” “Oh, my #!*@!”
When people blaspheme, whose name do they use?
Do you hear people casually use the Lord’s name in their daily conversations?
They are missing reverence, and the Bible says that we are NOT to take the Lord’s name in vain… Period. Even if you are from the south and everyone uses that phrase.
When someone faces “a death and life situation” what name do they call out?
That would be the very same name! They cry out for God or Jesus…
Have you ever heard someone yelling for Buddha to help? Friends, he’s at the restaurant and all he’s got for us is little fortune cookies and that’s not going to help much at all…
I have a friend, who is a high school teacher, and she was put in lock-down with all of her students due to a shooter threat. Can you imagine being locked in a room for hours with only that little bucket to use for “physical emergencies”? Teachers and students alike would be lowered to the same level for bathroom needs… a bucket! But, that isn’t the biggest problem at hand, “Where is this person who threatened the safety of all, and when are they coming for us?”
We all know that prayer is no longer allowed in public school, but it was ON THAT DAY!
ON THAT DAY, my friend prayed with a girl who was of Satanic influence.
ON THAT DAY she wasn’t crying out to Buddha, or Satan, or any other false Idol.
Today’s passage asks the people to remember who created them, rescued them, and brings them justice. “Listen to me, all who hope for deliverance-- all who seek the LORD! Consider the rock from which you were cut, the quarry from which you were mined.” (51:1)
DESPERATE people seek DELIVERANCE!
Listen to what the Sovereign LORD says to his people, “My name is BLASPHEMED all day long.But I will reveal my name to my people, and they will come to know its power. Then at last they will recognize that I am the one who speaks to them.” (52:6)
This entire passage is about “THE WAY OUT” and “THE WAY HOME”.
God will not leave his people in captivity due to their own sin. He will bring them home as a REMNANT of HIS grace, and there will be rejoicing, thanksgiving, and singing. But there will be much more than that… there will be REDEMPTION.
This passage is the very best section in the entire book of Isaiah. You have probably heard parts of it quoted as a prophecy that happened 700 years after this time. God is going to fulfill HIS promise to HIS people.
The RIGHTEOUS SERVANT will step in and take THEIR PLACE. He will BEAR their punishment for sin, and BEAR their SORROW, so they can be SAVED.
“How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of the messenger who brings GOOD NEWS, the GOOD NEWS of PEACE and SALVATION.” (52:7)
Listen to the description of God’s “RIGHTEOUS SERVANT”,
“His face was so disfigured that he seemed hardly human, Kings would be speechless in his presence, despised and rejected, a man of sorrows, acquainted with the deepest grief, we turned our backs on him, pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins, beaten so we could be whole, whipped so we could be healed, oppressed, treated harshly, speechless, lamb to the slaughter, unjustly condemned.” (Isaiah 53)
Did you know that there are six passages of Scripture that contain seven quotations from Isaiah 53? This passage is the defining moment of the book of Isaiah. It is literally REMARKABLE!
Remember, the theme of the Potter and the Clay?
Why was this Righteous, perfect, holy, sinless man destined to die for the world’s sins?
“But it was the LORD’S GOOD PLAN to CRUSH HIM and cause him grief.” (53:10)
Does this sound like a “GOOD PLAN” to you?
Jesus was the CLAY and Father God was the POTTER. Jesus took on FLESH so that we could be born of the SPIRIT.
Why would Jesus, “The Clay” submit himself to this “GOOD PLAN”?
ON THAT DAY, Jesus called on God’s name also, “Father forgive them for they know not what they do.” (Luke 23:34)
He bore our sins and interceded FOR REBELS… like you and me. (52:12)
A New Way of Life
EPHESIANS 4:17-32
September 26
Building up our church and being what we are called to be in Christ will offer us a new way of life. Paul is reminding the Ephesians that they will no longer be walking around with a futile lifestyle, feeling empty and without purpose. They will no longer be living in the darkness of unbelief and ignorance.
Because of the new truth of Christ, they have learned, they will have a new way of life that offers renewed thoughts and a lifestyle of holy and righteous living. They receive this when they receive Christ and let the Holy Spirit reside within them, leading and empowering them to be righteous.
Paul reminds them that anger offers the devil a golden opportunity to steal what they have received in this new way of life. He suggests that they deal with any anger immediately, and not let themselves take it into a new day.
How often do we get mad and stay mad? We sit and wallow in our anger, letting the enemy have a field day with our minds and hearts. Little by little, before we realize it, we are back in the pit of darkness. A little anger can do a lot of damage.
Paul reminds the Ephesians (and it is a great reminder for us as well), about keeping away from unwholesome speech and instead, using our words to build each other up.
Both he and Jesus were wonderful examples of this. Even when his ship was sinking, Paul encouraged those on the ship with him (Acts 27:22), Jesus did the same thing in Matthew 14:27. And when Paul was being persecuted, the Lord came beside him and gave him encouragement (Acts 23:11).
They did this, and so can we. There are so many among us who walk around carrying a heavy load of burdens. They are weary from the struggles of life and feeling hopeless. So many times, we look the other way, not wanting to get involved or not knowing what to do.
Jesus wants us to walk TOWARDS those people, not AWAY from them. He wants us to use our words to offer encouragement and hope to those who are feeling the weariness of a troubled life.
We need to ask God to give us eyes that recognize those around us who are in need, and hearts that have a desire to speak life into their despair. Our words can do so much to build up others, and we have the potential to make a huge impact for Christ on the life of those around us.
Be watchful. Be mindful. Be ready.
Let God use this new way of life he has given you to build up others, so that they can experience hope and love the way you have. Together, we can be a mighty tool for Jesus and a mighty weapon against the enemy.
Are you ready?
The Potter
One Year Bible (Sep. 26)
Isaiah 48:12-50:11
The Potter
“Have Thine own way Lord. Have Thine own way. Thou art the potter. I am the clay. Mold me and make me after Thy will. While I am waiting, yielded and still.”
(Hymn, Have Thine Own Way, Lord, Reeves)
“Why was I born? Why did you make me this way?” (Isaiah 45:10)
Who is this potter that chooses our birth and place in life?
He exalts men to lead while calling a gentile king to do HIS being.
“This is what the LORD says-- your Redeemer and Creator: I am the LORD who made all things. I alone stretched out the heavens. Who was with me when I made the earth? I expose the false prophets as liars and make fools of fortune-tellers. I cause the wise to give bad advice., thus proving them to be fools. But I carry out the predictions of my prophets!” (44:24-26)
What titles have you heard in this study to describe the Potter?
Sovereign. The Lord of Heaven’s Armies. The Holy One of Israel. Creator. Redeemer.
What other names come to mind?
“Have Thine own way Lord. Have Thine own way. Search me and try me MASTER today. Whiter than snow Lord, wash me just now. As in Thy presence humbly I bow.” (Hymn)
Master. What about Master?
Although He was Sovereign overall, the people did not choose God as their Sovereign Master. They chose “alternatives”.
Listen to the Lord’s words to them, “I have swept away your sins like a cloud. I have scattered your offenses like the morning mist. Oh, return to me, for I have paid the price to set you free. Sing, O heavens, for the LORD has done this wondrous thing. Shout for joy, O depths of the earth! Break into song.” (44:22-23)
Did they “break into song”?
Many people sing praises to God when they get their way. They praise HIM on Sunday, and they serve their IDOLS 24/7 from the minute that “Elvis left the building”.
It’s not about the performance or show, but about being “the clay” and letting “the potter” be the MASTER.
I remember when my husband took a church as a senior pastor after we had been on staff at a very large church. We were used to “top-notch” everything.
We walked into our new “church plant” on our very first Sunday for him to “try out” as their Senior pastor on an Easter Sunday morning. The leaders met us at the door and turned to me and asked, “Can you lead worship today?” My thought was No. No! And NOOOOO!”
They then told me that their “worship leader” played in a bar on Saturday nights and didn’t make it that day! Hello? ( Did I say NOOOOOOO Thank you!)
I asked what they had there to use. They had one old severely out-of-tune piano, and handwritten transparencies. (Think 90’s… the dark ages!) The more I played and led the lower I sank under the piano. I felt a little like naked Isaiah walking down the street. (Oh how I wished I had listened.)
You see, I had this really weird “feeling” before I went. Well, to be honest, it was more of a repeated “prompting” that just made no sense to me at the time. I heard this, “Take music with you when you go!” This weird thought came to me on multiple occasions, but what did I need music for in a hotel?
I told the Lord, that I would listen better next time, and one year from that very Sunday we had a large musical that involved about 40 people in a production called, “The Witness”. Many came to know the Lord through this musical and I came to be a better listener...because He is the Potter!
“Have Thine own way Lord. Have Thine own way. Hold over my being absolute sway. Filled with Thy spirit till all can see. Christ only always living in me.” (Hymn)
Build Your Church
EPHESIANS 4: 1-16
September 25
I am now a part of my church choir. We practice every week and perform several times throughout the year. Our first performance was last Sunday. One of the songs we sang was Build Your Church. The first part of the song goes like this:
On Christ alone, our Chief Cornerstone
No other foundation can we build upon
Not philosophy nor the wisdom of man
All other ground is sinking sand
Upon this rock, You build Your Church
And the gates of hell will not prevail
When we bind and loose, we proclaim Your truth
And in Jesus' name, we will not fail
Never fail, oh-oh-oh-oh
Oh, He's building a church now, now, now
(Elevation Worship & Maverick City Musick)
I am reminded of this song when I read today's passage. Paul is speaking to the Ephesians about building their church. He is not talking about constructing a building from the ground up. The BUILDING is not the CHURCH.
The PEOPLE are the CHURCH. He is speaking about how they treat each other:
Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowances for each other's faults because of your love.
He is letting them know how important unity is within their body of believers:
Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace. For there is one body and one Spirit, just as you have been called to one glorious hope for the future.
Paul is reminding them that they will all have responsibilities within their church:
Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. Their responsibility is to equip God's people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ.
As believers united together, the Ephesians (and Christians of today) were to believe that God is above all and through all and in all. What does that mean? Above all is his overruling care (transcendence). Through all and in all shows his active presence in the lives of those who believe, and the world in its entirety. As a CHURCH, this is how they should be seeing God.
Paul mentions that God "led captivity captive." This is a reference to Psalm 68:18, where we see God portrayed as a conqueror who is marching to the gates to take his tribute from the fallen city. Paul uses this as the example of Christ's victory through his crucifixion and resurrection, which gave him dominion over Satan. At his ascension into heaven, he gave gifts to the church which are to be used to build it up.
What happens when a church body unites in love, patience, knowledge, and giftings?
We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever, they sound like the truth. Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church.
He goes on to say:
He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.
And that, my friends, is how you BUILD YOUR CHURCH!
Confounded
One Year Bible (Sep. 25)
Isaiah 45:11-48:11
CONFOUNDED
“They shall be ashamed, and also CONFOUNDED, all of them: they shall go to confusion together that are makers of idols. But Israel shall be saved in the LORD with an everlasting salvation; ye shall not be ashamed nor CONFOUNDED world without end.”
(45:16-17 KJV)
Have you ever been confounded… totally confused, perplexed, and just scratching your head in disbelief?
The Biblical definition of this word means, “to embarrass, cast down, or make ashamed.” To terrify, dismay, astonish or stupefy with amazement is the purpose of God’s CONFOUNDING.
The KJV uses the word, “CONFOUNDED” rather than just disgraced and put to shame. I think this word paints a bigger picture for us as we look back over God’s dealings with the enemies of God’s people throughout the Old Testament and God’s dealings with them.
They weren’t just disgraced or put to shame; they were in utter disbelief most of the time. I guess you could say that “they never saw it coming”!
Renee Bondi never saw “it” coming either! At the age of 29, she was engaged to be married. She had a wonderful career as a music teacher and a stellar voice. All of life was like a fairytale right before her eyes, and then it became a CONFOUNDING nightmare.
She loves the Lord and is an amazing speaker with an angelic voice, but she got a testimony that no person would EVER want!
She went to bed one night and somehow fell out of bed breaking her neck. She could barely whisper for help, but God provided help. Her world as she knew it was decimated but God took this beautiful woman as a quadriplegic confined in a wheelchair and gave her the man of her dreams. They married and had a son together.
Renee travels all over the country, in her motorhome with her husband, bringing a testimony that only she can share. Renee is that piece of broken clay in the Potter’s hand and she SHINES!
Girlfriends, it is time to get real! I know that perhaps you have been reading book after book of the Old Testament and been thinking, “IDOL'S"!! Here we go again! What is the big deal with idols? I am never going to worship some Asheroth pole. So, let’s just move on already!
What’s the “PULL” with “POLES”?
Well, let’s just forget the word “POLES” and stick with the word “PULL”?
What “PULLS” you, and what if you don’t get to have YOUR dreams, YOUR way, or YOUR wants? What if your health is suddenly taken away?
What if you “PULL” your weight with God, and it still “Goes To Pot”?
How many speakers and singers do you know that have the most incredible message, but you wouldn’t want their life for anything?
Let’s get this hard truth straight… God raised gentile King Cyrus to “fulfill my righteous purpose”. (45:13)
He also uses broken vessels like Joni and Renee to be STRONG in voice though weak in body. He confounds the world!
Why is He doing this? “But the LORD will save the people of Israel with ETERNAL SALVATION throughout EVERLASTING AGES.” (45:17)
If there is anything that we have learned in our time together in the Old Testament, it is that God is about “Covenant” while we are about “Comfort”.
God is about “Eternity” while we are about “Entertainment”.
God is about “Salvation” while we seek “Status Quo”.
This continues to CONFOUND us! Why doesn't He want what we want and do what we say?
Not only does God “CONFOUND” the enemies of his people to accomplish HIS ETERNAL ways, but He also COUNFOUNDS His own people...
“But God chose the FOOLISH things of the world to CONFOUND the WISE; God chose the WEAK things of the world to CONFOUND the STRONG.” (I Corinthians 1:27)
Sovereign God is NEVER out of control; we are...
O LORD, when I am “CONFOUNDED” may I be “CONFIDENTLY-GROUNDED” in YOU!