Divine Humanity

HEBREWS 5:1-14

(November 3)

Have you ever been in a position of leadership that you felt God himself appointed you to? Maybe it was a position in your workplace? Or perhaps it was in your community or church?

I have been in positions of leadership, some of which were voted upon by my peers, and some of which I am certain were appointments from God, which made me feel much more secure and capable because He put me there.

In the Old Testament, God appointed the high priest. He first choice was Aaron, and then only Aaron's descendants could serve in that role. During the time that Hebrews was written, the Romans were appointing the high priest in Jerusalem.

We see proof of Christ's divinity when we see that he, like Aaron, was chosen by God to serve as high priest. He earned that position by deep reverence and obedience to God, even in his horrific suffering. His Father chose him as the perfect High Priest. Because of this, he is the source of eternal salvation for all who invite him into their hearts.

It is simple, really. He was sinless on earth, totally devoted to his Father, and earned the honor of being our source of salvation. But it seems the Jewish Christians were not getting the point of the letter. They were immature, and while they had been in the faith long enough to be teaching it to others, many of them were still not applying the faith to their own lives.

Their old traditions, doctrines, and discussions kept them stuck. The letter referred to them as "babies" because they couldn't understand in their immaturity. In order to move forward, they needed to completely walk away from those old customs and step out of their comfort zones. They needed to stand out instead of blending in. Only then would they understand the divine role of Christ, who had once been human.

What do we need to step away from? What things from our past keep us stuck, not moving forward in our spiritual maturity? Are we trying to blend in with the culture of this world, or are we willing to stand out for Christ?

How mature is our faith? How much do we understand?

These are all questions to ponder as we move through this letter of Hebrews. Jesus was both divine and human, earning this role of High Priest. We are simply human, with no expectation of ever claiming that role. The expectation for us is that we understand and believe, and make an impact on our little piece of the world, standing out boldly for our faith in Christ.

Do You Weep?

One Year Bible: November 3

Ezekiel 7:1-9:11

Do You Weep?

My husband, daughter, and I have Covid right now. (I always write ahead so it is September right now as I am writing on this passage.)

It is hotter than hurrah where we live reaching a high of 114 degrees today with high humidity.

As I am writing, my heart is sad for some of my fellow sisters in Christ and a family who has lost a son and nephew at the young age of eighteen. It was so unexpected and tragic…

I dare not begin to watch the news on a “heavy” day like this…

Disease. Famine. Politics. Immorality. Tragedy. People who esteem sin and promote it…

It’s a HEAT WAVE!

My heart breaks and my tears run down my cheeks… (My nose is running too!) Life isn’t supposed to be this way. Is it? We were made for more… so much more!

But our nation is heading in the wrong direction. Drugs flowing in over the border are ignored and aborted babies in trash cans outside of clinics are part of our reproductive rights. The internet provides endless opportunities for immorality at the push of a tab. Who needs to go to an IDOL to worship when we have it at our fingertips?

People that were considered “God’s people” have changed. Really changed! They call each other names on Facebook and their opinions are more important than the Bible.

Perhaps you are thinking, “Yep, she has covid, and better go back to bed.” Good point! I’m not too cheery today, but then again neither was Ezekiel in today’s passage.

Barna Research (American Worldview Inventory 2022) shows the latest trends concerning pastors, churches, and people. Here are a few of their statistics. They found that “Over a third of evangelical pastors believe 'good people’ can earn their way to Heaven.”

Another 39% of evangelical pastors that were surveyed do not believe in absolute truth. In fact, three out of ten do not believe that their salvation is based on having confessed Jesus as their savior.

In today’s passage of devastation and judgment, God calls the “son of man”, Ezekiel, and He brought him to the door of the Temple Courtyard. Did you get that?

God’s own Temple is being defiled, and here is what God says, “Do you see the detestable sins the people of Israel are committing to DRIVE ME FROM MY TEMPLE? (8:6)

Over and over God shows Elijah Heaven's viewpoint of DESECRATION through the Hidden Doorway… glimpses of ungodliness!

There is NO deliverance for God’s people when they have removed HIM from HIS own Temple.

So, God calls for SIX MEN carrying deadly weapons in their hands and a man dressed in linen who carried a writer’s case at this side. Here is what He instructs them to do…

“Walk through the streets of Jerusalem and put a mark on the forehead of ALL WHO WEEP AND SIGH BECAUSE OF THE DETESTABLE SINS BEING COMMITTED IN THEIR CITY.””

Only those who had the MARK OF MOURNING on their heads were spared certain death!!

As for Ezekiel, he was all alone while this great travesty of justice was being applied. He said, “I fell face down on the ground and cried out, ‘O Sovereign LORD! Will your fury against Jerusalem wipe out everyone left in Israel’?” (9:8)

God replies to Ezekiel’s heartbroken question, “The sins of the people of Israel and Judah are very, very great. The entire land is full of murder; the city is filled with injustice. They are saying, “The LORD DOESN’T SEE IT!” The LORD has abandoned the land!”

Just the survey that I mentioned tells us that once again people of our day are also saying, “The LORD DOESN’T SEE IT!”

This is Old Testament judgment. Right? But, we live in New Testament times!

Indeed, we do! The SON OF MAN will return for HIS chosen (those

who REJOICE over SALVATION and WEEP over SIN).

We dare not forget “The Hidden Doorway” which looked down on GOD’S OWN TEMPLE which was being defiled by his own priests, prophets, and people!

They changed the message just as our day and age have chosen to do. But, God sees, God knows, and God judges!

What about you, my sisters in Christ?

DO YOU WEEP?… JESUS DID!

“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those sent to her, how often I have longed to gather your children together as a hen gathers her chick under her wings, but you were unwilling! Look, your house is left to you desolate. And I tell you that you will not see Me again until you say, ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.” (Mt. 23:34, Jesus’ Lament)

God’s Promised Rest

HEBREWS 4:1-16

(November 2)

How are you when it comes to resting? Are you intentional about setting time aside to slow down, relax, ponder, dream, and get still with God?

Sometimes life gets hectic, and the best we seem to be able to do is keep our head above the water. We swim, we paddle, but we can't take the time to just float.

God's intention for us was that we would rest. He set the example of this by resting himself. "On the seventh day God rested from his work." If God, the creator of all things, needed rest ... why would we possibly think we don't need it ourselves?

In Hebrews 4, the scriptures speak of rest. The point the writer is making is about the eternal rest believers receive. This is a promise from God, and how scary it would be to miss out on this.

This rest has been available since the beginning of creation, but time and time again, the people have missed out on it because of their lack of faith.

As this letter reached the Jewish Christians, it was a warning because some of them were on the brink of turning away from that rest in Christ and reverting back to their old ways. This is so reminiscent of the Israelites that Moses led, who turned back from the promised land.

Sometimes the struggles of the moment seemed too big, and they just couldn't see past them to God's promises, or even believe that God would fulfill his promises. Does this happen to us today?

"For all who have entered into God's rest have rested from their labors, just as God did after creating the world." (Verse 10). When we receive salvation, we rest from our labors; meaning we stop relying on our own works and rest securely in what Christ has done.

"For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow." (Verse 12). God's word penetrates and exposes sinful behavior and impure motives.

Nothing is hidden from God. We can approach him boldly and in confidence as he is our High Priest. What does this mean? To the Jews, the high priest was the highest religious authority. Only the high priest could enter the Holy of Holies to make atonement for the sins of the nation, and only once per year.

Jesus is like the high priest in that he is the mediator between us and God for our atonement. He intercedes for us and offers us the assurance of God's grace. Unlike the high priest of the Jews, who could do this atonement process only once a year, Christ is always there, interceding for us. Every. Single. Day.

It is because of Jesus, his sacrifice and intercession, that we have the opportunity to experience God's promised rest.

Tongue Tied

One Year Bible: November 2

Ezekiel 3:16-6:14

Tongue Tied

The young prophet, Ezekiel, is spiritually and physically “Tongue-Tied”.

He has seen a vision beyond his comprehension and is now being given “AN IMPOSSIBLE MISSION” to accomplish on behalf of an “IMPOSSIBLE PEOPLE”.

Perhaps, now we know why he has also been given a VISION of a God that is ABOVE the IMPOSSIBLE.

Before his vision, God met with Ezekiel once more, “Then the LORD took hold of me and said, ‘Get up and go out into the valley, and I will speak to you there’. So I got up and went, and there I saw the GLORY OF the LORD, JUST AS I HAD SEEN IN MY FIRST VISION by the Kebar River. And I fell face down on the ground.” (3: 22)

This vision is so IMPORTANT that God gives Ezekiel a replay… Perhaps we need to take a closer look at the original vision.

What did these FOUR-FACED-FOUR WINGED living beings that were like bright coals of fire and brilliant torches darting like lightning reveal to Ezekiel? And… what about the WHEEL?

The rabbis give us some insight into the four images of these celestial beings as they were important in the travels of Israel through the wilderness.

The people of Israel, it seems, were divided into FOUR GROUPS with THREE TRIBES in each group. When they camped they camp to the north, south, east, and west of the TABERNACLE in groups of three.

The group that led the EAST was Judah and its emblem was a LION. To the SOUTH was Ephraim and its emblem was the face of a MAN. To the NORTH was Dan, and its symbol was an EAGLE. To the WEST was Ruben and its symbol was an OX.

I am convinced that we miss a lot of the hidden messages of the Bible because we do not know or understand Jewish history. The people of that time understood a lot more of the messages that God was delivering, especially Ezekiel, who was a priest, prophet, and student of the scroll of God’s Word.

The God who led HIS chosen people out of CAPTIVITY from Egypt is the very same God who sent this very message through his celestial being!

He Was. He Is. He will forever be FAITHFUL… even in this destruction and deportation.

Not only are the four images symbolic but they carry meaning as well…The LION speaks of AUTHORITY. The OX speaks of HUMILITY. The EAGLE speaks of POWER. As it soars higher than any living creature. The MAN speaks of HUMANITY.

Ezekiel saw the signs of judgment in the WHIRLWIND and GOD’S POWER in the WHEEL, and he caught a glimpse of the God WHO WAS... WHO IS… and WHO WILL FOREVER BE…

He not only caught a GLIMPSE OF JUDGEMENT but also of DELIVERANCE and GLORY beyond time and space… He would need to hold onto this vision and perhaps that is why God let him enjoy the reprise.

Now, begins Ezekiel’s descent into “hell on earth”...He will be a “walking billboard” for God. It is interesting that God calls him the “son of man”. Have you heard that title before?

First, Ezekiel is to go into his house and be shut in there and tied with ropes so that he cannot go out among the people. “His tongue will stick to the roof of his mouth” and won’t let him speak. God will only loosen his tongue when he is to speak for him. His message is to be, “Those who choose to listen will listen, but those who refuse will refuse, for they are rebels.” (3:27)

Next, he is to take a large clay brick and set it in front of him showing a map of the city showing the city under siege. He is to lie on his left side and place the sins of Israel on himself for 390 days. After that, he is to lie on his right side for 40 days, one day for each of Judah’s sins. (4:4-6)

God instructs him how to stay alive with a minimum of food and water and that involves defiling himself with food cooked over human dung. So, Ezekiel speaks up that he has never defiled himself and God allows him to cook over cow dung instead.

Next, he calls him “son of man” again and asks him to “shave his head and hair and scatter them” which is a sign of extreme mourning…Ezekiel was to be turned into a “Ruin, Mockery, Taunting, and Horror”, in the eyes of all who pass by.

Perhaps, now we know better why he saw the heavenly vision twice… He saw the same four cherubims with four faces that were at the garden of Eden in Gen. 3:24, and who appear at the throne of God in Rev. 4: 6-8… a lion, an ox, a man, and an eagle.

The suffering of this “son of man” will point us to the greater “Son Of Man”. The majesty of the vision and his calling left him “Tongue Tied”...

“He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he DID NOT OPEN HIS MOUTH; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter and as a sheep, before its SHEARERS is silent, so HE DID NOT OPEN HIS MOUTH.” (Isaiah 53:7)

A Background on Hebrews

HEBREWS 3:1-19

(November 1)

It was June 16, 1963. She was suited up and buckled in for a three-day mission. Her vessel for this mission would be the Vostok 6 spacecraft. Completing 41 orbits around Earth, she cemented her place in history. Her name was Valentina Tereshkova. She was a 26-year-old Soviet cosmonaut. She is forever remembered for her mission as the first woman to visit space.

Mom-Sense, Inc. was created with the following mission in mind:

Mom-Sense began some years back as a “mom site” where women could get some wisdom in how to “make sense of motherhood”. It was a social media ministry set up to encourage mamas as they walked through the journey of motherhood.

God often takes our “little” and makes it into so much more. That is what He has done with this ministry. Through the course of navigating this ministry we have discovered that it is not just mamas who need support and encouragement. All women need that source of help. Yes, we have parenting struggles, but we also struggle in our marriages, in our singleness, in our friendships and family relationships. We are discouraged by our fears and anxieties. Some of us suffer through our grief and loss silently, while others battle depression and mental illness behind closed doors. We all have different issues with one common factor...we are all women who face struggles and need the love of Jesus and the sisterhood of other women who can bring us hope and encouragement.

So that is what Mom-Sense has evolved into…a source of mentorship, opportunity, motivation, service, encouragement, nurturing, sisterhood, and empowering women to be all that Christ calls them to be.

How do we do this?

Mentorship: As sisters in Christ and servants of the Almighty, we offer scriptural guidance and wisdom. We are happy to walk alongside you as you grow in your relationship with Christ. We are privileged to guide you through studies, blogs, classes, and personal time with you in order for you to feel equipped to handle whatever struggle you are going through.

Connection: We want to connect with you! We want you to join us on our social media sites and at our events. We want to meet you, hug you, and hear your story. We want to be available to connect with you through prayer and participation in our online activities. We want to see you in the seats of our classes, at our monthly gatherings, and at our conferences. We want to receive your personal emails and messages, and we are excited to connect with you in any way possible.

Service: We have servant hearts and we want to serve you. Do you need prayer? Do you need guidance or encouragement? Do you need wisdom on how to navigate through parenting, marriage, relationships, mental health, life skills, addiction, or anger? Or perhaps your needs are more tangible. Reach out and let us offer you solid scriptural wisdom that will get you from Point A to Point B. We are here for you!

Whatever your struggle, whatever your stage of life, Mom-Sense is here to encourage and equip you. Please join us and be a part of this amazing ministry that has been blessed and chosen by the Lord for such a time as this.

These are both missions, vastly different, but both very important. Hebrews 3 reminds us to keep ourselves focused on our mission as followers of Christ. Part of this mission is to be continuously growing, day by day, in our relationship with Christ, who was appointed by God to lead us.

Moses was also appointed by God to lead. If you remember, he was very hesitant to accept his role as leader of the Israelites. In his obedience, he led them out of Egypt, only to have them rebel time and time again, reverting back to their sinful ways.

Jesus wasn't hesitant in his appointed mission. In fact, he is the Son that is the leader over His own house, which includes us if we hold fast to our efforts of living a life for Him. We don't have to make the same mistakes the Israelites made, falling back to sin time and time again, with their hearts hardening in unbelief.

We can work together, lifting each other daily, walking alongside each other in accountability, sharing our love for each other and for God. Together, we can ensure that Jesus' mission on earth is successful, and that we are a part of the great victory.

Sweet as Honey

One Year Bible: November 1

Ezekiel 1: 1-3:15

Sweet As Honey

Ezekiel began his ministry as a priest and prophet (1:3) at the young age of thirty (the age allowed by Levi's tribe). I guess you could say that he had a “WHIRLWIND” ministry, and it started in just that manner…

Young Ezekiel was taken captive by Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon in the second invasion of Judah, (597 BC) and he had been there about five years before he began prophesying. (1:2)

The Babylonians didn’t destroy their captives with brutality. Quite the contrary, they seduced their captives with carnality. Many of the Jews grew so comfortable in this climate that they would choose to stay even after the 70 years when they were allowed to go home. They had made their new home in hedonistic Babylon.

Inside the city were numerous temples to Marduk, the Babylonian god. This city was unparalleled in beauty with walls that were thirty-five stories tall and eighty-seven feet wide and a hundred towers. Their hanging garden was considered to be one of the wonders of ancient civilization with unparalleled flowering plants from all over the world.

Babylon was AMAZING, ASTOUNDING, and APPALLING…and God was beginning to move amongst HIS people once again.

Along the bank of the Kebar River in Babylon sat young thirty-old Ezekiel ready to begin his first ministry in “BRAZEN BABYLON”. Can you imagine this as a first ministry?

Isaiah was known as the prophet who declared the SALVATION of GOD.

Weeping Jeremiah was the prophet who proclaimed the JUDGMENT of GOD.

Ezekiel will be the priest and prophet who declares the MYSTERY and MAJESTY of God.

Ezekiel would be a “walking billboard” of all of the above with a new “SPLASH of SENSATIONAL”! He would be called by God to not just speak parables but to act them out. He is like a STUNT MAN ON STEROIDS in Babylonian times.

He also has a private viewing of the inner workings of Heaven on GOD’S BIG SCREEN that will ASTOUND you!

Ezekiel was to be faithful to what the LORD GOD says (2:4) and the compound name, “LORD GOD” or “ADONAI YAHWEH” was one of Ezekiel’s favorite titles for God. He used this title 200 times in this book, and this title only appears 100 times in the entire Old Testament. You will soon see why He refers to God in this manner as he has a front-row seat in observing the LORD GOD in ways that no person had EVER viewed and written about HIM before!

This book will deal with captivity (as did Jeremiah and Lamentations), but will provide a glimpse of the “INSIDE STORY” from the “CHARIOT of HEAVEN”. So, buckle up…

While sitting along the Kebar River in Babylon “the heavens opened” and Ezekiel saw VISIONS of God! (1:1) Now, mind you, the Heavens do not often “open” in scripture. We hear this phrase when Jesus is baptized (Mt. 3:16) when Stephen is stoned and sees God (Acts 6), with Peter on the rooftop praying ( Acts 10), and in Malachi 3 where God “Opens the heavens and pours out blessing upon us”.

In the book of Revelation, John reports in the opening verse that he saw a “DOOR OPEN IN HEAVEN” and heard a voice calling him to come up to heaven to see things from heaven’s vantage point.

This is so rare and so amazing, and today we get to share a GLIMPSE OF GLORY through Ezekiel and the wheel…

The creatures in Ezekiel’s “Vision of God” are four-faced beings, unlike anything we’ve seen on earth. I Corinthians 2:9 tells us that God has prepared things that eyes have never seen and this is just a little glimpse of that “other world”.

Think about it, as a baby you knew nothing of this world until you were born. We know very little about the world to come, but Ezekiel caught a glimpse of the glory that we will one day see…

Eight hundred years after Ezekiel described the celestial beings, the apostle John saw these creatures as had Isaiah the prophet. (Rev. 4:5) It is interesting to note that the Bible speaks of “SERAPHIM” as having SIX WINGS. The “CHERUBIM” in Ezekiel 1 and 10 have two pairs of wings and four faces. They each were part of God’s hierarchy and yet had unique functions.

Remember, God’s celestial beings that stood over the ark in the Holy of Holies?

According to scholars, there are NINE LEVELS of SPIRITUAL BEINGS!

People are always talking about UFOs, maybe they should read the Bible instead and realize there are levels of beings just beyond our view but within God’s beck and call…

Ezekiel saw the four living creatures, the whirlwind, a brilliant cloud of flashing fire, flashes of lightning, and God’s overwhelming Glory!

Then Ezekiel was given "A SCROLL” that was filled with BITTER JUDGMENT TO EAT, but when he “digested” the Word of God as instructed, to him it was a “SWEET AS HONEY”.

The world we live in today is often “A BITTER PILL”... Time to “DIGEST” the Word of God…

“When I ate it, it tasted as sweet as honey in my mouth.” (Ezekiel 3:3)

How to Avoid Temptation

HEBREWS 2:1-18

(October 31)

I have been on a weight loss journey for the last 348 days. I have been using an app to keep myself on track, and it is working. I have lost 51 pounds so far and hope to lose another 12-15 pounds.

The hardest part of this journey has been TEMPTATION. It is everywhere. Commercials show yummy treats that sound delicious. Restaurant signs try to lure me in. My own family eats sweets in front of me. And sometimes I get cravings for the delights of my past ... peanut butter M & M's.

I have talked to God ALOT during this almost one year of watching my calorie intake. I have relied on him for strength to walk past the candy aisle or not stop at Dairy Queen for a Snickers blizzard (they are AMAZING!)

As much has temptation has lived on my shoulder this past year, I have stood strong. I have learned to put it out of my mind and concentrate on something positive, like the size of my jeans or how far I have come. And while this temptation has been tough for me, I know without a doubt it is nothing that hasn't been around since the beginning of time.

Eve was the first to give in to temptation. She allowed the enemy to get into her thoughts and because of this, she made a bad decision. Satan has a strategy that he uses to tempt us. He questions God's word. Then he contradicts God by twisting that word and not telling the whole truth. Then he offers a seemingly "good" alternative, which is in fact disobedient to God's word. He is a crafty little bugger!

He used the same strategies on Jesus in the wilderness that we read about in Matthew 4: 1-11. He continues to use those same strategies on us today. He would love nothing more than for me to sit down and eat a whole box of Hostess cupcakes and say, "Forget about this diet!" Then I would be back to my usual self-conscious mindset, which would just delight his socks off.

It takes diligence to stay on the path God has for us. We can't let the devil throw us off course. We must always concentrate on protecting our salvation. We are to focus our mind and attention on this beautiful gift. When we don't, we are so much more susceptible to the temptations around us.

Because Jesus lived a life of humanity, sharing in our temptations and understanding our nature, he is perfectly qualified to be our Saviour. He is able to relate to our problems and have empathy for our situation. It's kind of a "been there, done that" scenario. So, He knows the temptations that we face, and the power they can have over us.

Through his strength, we can overcome temptation, just as he did. And when we fall short, he can help us restore our broken relationship with God. Committing ourselves fully to Christ and trusting completely in the sacrifice he has made for us allows us to be released for sin's domination over us and allows us mercy when temptation gets the better of us.

Motto of this story is ... keep yourself focused on Jesus, on your salvation, and on the sacrifice made for you. When you do this, your eyes won't be focused on the things that tempt you into sin.

Grateful Groanings

October 31 Lamentations 4:1-5:22

Grateful Groanings

As you read this message today, it is Halloween, a day where people celebrate the “dead bones, skeletons, and everything scary walking down the streets of a town to beg for treats.”

It’s just for fun, we say!

The tradition originated with the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain when people would light bonfires and wear costumes to ward off ghosts. The day was known as “All Hallows’ Eve”.

Anton LaVey, the founder of the church of Satan said, “I am glad that Christian parents let their children worship the devil at least one night out of the year. Welcome to Halloween.”

This is a tricky day for Christians. Chuck Smith, Calvary Chapel founder said this, “The truth often lies between two extremes.”

I have seen Christian people make Halloween a legalistic fighting ground, and that was the “hill they chose to die on”. They judged everyone that ever went to a school party or dressed up. On the other hand, there are people that say they are Christians who relish in everything “Scary, gory, and of evil origins”.

Today we are looking at the last two laments that deal with the People of God and the Prayers to God, and I think they speak to us right where we are on this very day!

First, this passage reminds us WHY God’s WRATH was poured out on His people. God’s people were to have been the CONSECRATED ones, but even their leaders and priests in the Temple DEFILED the things of God.

I think that we need to notice that this was not just a ONE-DAY THING like Halloween. They offered sacrifices to IDOLS all the time. At the same time, we need to wake up and actually understand the power behind this day of evil celebration.

Halloween is the day of the highest praise for the people of Satan in the ENTIRE year. There are more child abductions, killing of animals, and strange happenings going on than at any other time.

Jeremiah is looking in front of him and it looked like a scene out of a horror movie. He saw the reality of sin; we see the Hollywood “distorted” version of destruction. It doesn’t seem real to us, but it is very real to him. Serving the ENEMY OF GOD equals DESTRUCTION!

I know Christian people that want to watch every horror film available, but Jeremiah is warning us about how this destruction came to be. They not only were dulled in their senses against evil but they made alliances with the very nation that God had rescued them from in the first place. Egypt was the place that held them in captivity and they went back to shelter from Babylon.

How often do we head toward something that really we ought to RUN AWAY FROM?

Sometimes we think that something is part of “Our “Freedom” when really it is a hidden part of our “Captivity”.

How close can I walk next to the cliff without falling off?

The people of Jerusalem came to the Temple, but more often than not, in the very next breath, they spent their time, worship, and celebrating the things that led them into captivity.

What does that look like for us today?

We live in a society that has more addictions than ever before, and everyone begins with “partaking”. They “partook” and became callous to the things, words, and warnings of God.

Jeremiah was looking at “Halloween on Steroids” as he looked at the desolate streets of Jerusalem. The witch’s pot of gruel wasn’t a joke to him. Mothers had become so desperate from starvation that they ate their own children. That is the lowest of the low!

The people of God in this chapter are compared to Sodom where immortality ran out of control. They did whatever they wanted to do. It was like Jeffrey Epstein’s “Paedophile Island” without a plane ride to get there…

Perhaps, our problem today is that we don’t believe that it is permissible for a righteous God to be ANGRY or to act against rampant immorality. It is PERMISSIBLE for man to live in DEPRAVITY but not for a HOLY GOD to DEMAND accountability.

Basically, what Jeremiah said in his book of Laments is this, “The LORD is righteous. God did it, and God was right in what He did.” He goes on and says one more thing, “God loved them with an everlasting love, and He brought this upon them because He is righteous.”But LORD, you remain the same forever! Your throne continues from generation to generation. (5:19)

Can you hear the worship rising in Jeremiah’s soul even in the midst of desolation?

Wherever we go and whatever we do on this day and every day after it, may we remember Jeremiah’s Grateful Groanings,

“Restore us, O LORD, and bring us back to you again! Give us back the joys we once had!” (5:21)

A Background on Hebrews

HEBREWS 1:1-14

(October 30)

We aren't sure who the writer of Hebrews was, possibly Luke, Barnabas, Apollo, or Priscilla. Experts don't think it was Paul because the writing style is much different, and the writer does not identify himself, which Paul always did. It is believed that the writer was someone close to Paul, who knew his teaching quite well.

Hebrews was written with several themes in mind, the main being that Christ is supreme. This book shows how Christ fulfilled all the promises and prophesies of the Old Testament, and even further exceeded expectations.

He is better than the old Jewish system of thought. While the Jews accepted the Old Testament, most did not believe Jesus was the Messiah.

This letter seems to have been written to the Jewish Christians, converts in which the author feared might be swayed back into their old way of thinking by false teachers, doubt, or persecution.

It reminds me of that age old visual of the good angel on one shoulder and the bad angel on the other. The good angel is giving you all the information you need to make the right decision that will lead you in a righteous direction. But that bad angel is always there, offering his two cents, trying to sway you back to the dark side. He will make you doubt yourself, he will cause fear, he will work in your mind and heart, shattering your feelings of confidence and certainty. He is so crafty at what he does, that it can happen before you realize what is going on.

That is how I envision these false teachers. Craftily cunning their message into the minds and hearts of these new believers of the faith, drawing them back into a state of wrong thinking. The same type of false teacher from those long-ago days is alive and at work in our culture today. We need to seek our wisdom from the word of God and stand strong in our faith in order to defeat that negative presence in our lives.

False teachers in the early churches would teach that angels could approach God on your behalf. Followers of these false teachings began to worship the angels instead of worshipping God. The book of Hebrews sets the record straight on this belief, defining Jesus not as an angel, but as God, who ALONE deserves our worship. Angels are spiritual beings created by God and under his authority and were not created to be worshipped.

God never spoke to any angel the way he spoke to Jesus, claiming him to be his son whose throne will endure forever, who sits at the right hand of his father in a place of honor. being worshipped by the angels. God's own words about who Jesus is clearly falsified the claim that he was just a superior angel.

The book of Hebrews contains a lot of facts and wisdom. It will be an interesting journey through this book. Are you ready?

Bitter Fate

October 30 Lamentations 3:1-66

BITTER FATE

Dark Shadows are all around and Jeremiah is looking at the fulfillment of his prophecies right before his very own eyes. They sting from his salty tears.

This man who wore a dirty loin cloth as an object lesson of obedience for God’s people now writes, “‘Jerusalem has sinned greatly, so she has been tossed away like a FILTHY RAG.”

Today we will look at Lament #3 which deals with the prophet and God.

First of all, how does God feel about Jerusalem?

“On the holy mountain stands the city founded by the LORD. He LOVES the city of Jerusalem more than any other city in Israel. O city of God, what glorious things are said of you!”

He LOVES them. They are HIS favorite, and yet He is ANGRY with them and they are in a state of ruin and destruction all around Jeremiah.

Jeremiah described it like this, “The city gates are silent, her priests groan, her young women are crying--how bitter is her fate!

BITTER FATE is a hard pill to swallow!

A young person gets behind the wheel of a car and drives under the influence and takes out an entire family with children and a baby in the car. Yes, there was wrong and there was innocence and the scene is beyond sorrowful…

Unimaginable. Unforgettable. Unforgivable.

Why couldn’t “someone” do something to stop this? We all know who that “someone” is…

Don’t we?

Jeremiah writes, “I am the one who has seen the afflictions that come from the rod of the LORD’S anger. He has led me into darkness, shutting out ALL LIGHT. He has turned his hand against me again and again, all day long.” (3: 1-3)

Here is what he tributes to the LORD’S hand, “He has made my skin grow old, buried me in a dark place, walled me in, made me chew on gravel”… and on and on.

In other words, Jeremiah has been right in the “suffering seat” WITH GOD!

Jeremiah was BRUISED FOR THE people’s iniquities and the Chastisement of THEIR SINS were placed on him…

Do you see a glimpse of Jesus in the book of Jeremiah?

It is inescapably powerful, isn’t it?

God loves Jerusalem but He can not take AWAY their BENT to sin!

The LAW and the TEMPLE in all of its glory were NEVER ENOUGH.

In the beginning, Satan was an angel of light residing in Heaven with God, but that was not enough either. Out of PRIDE, he wanted to be God’s equal in power and might. That could never stand and it is not to be tolerated by God’s wicked people either. They are filled with PRIDE and arrogance.

Righteousness demands justice, not just mercy and grace.

There must be payment for this kind of continual rebellion. God finally takes his hands off of their protection and warns of their upcoming destruction.

This passage points us to the future of Jerusalem in so many ways. Like Jeremiah, we see Jesus weeping over Jerusalem.

“Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing. Look, your house is left to you desolate. I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord’.”(Luke 13:34-35)

After all of Jeremiah’s person lamenting he lifts his eyes and writes,

“The faithful love of the LORD never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning. I say to myself, ‘The LORD is my inheritance; therefore, I will hope in him!’ The LORD is good to those who depend on him, to those who search for him. So it is good to wait quietly for salvation from the LORD.” (Lamentations 3: 22-26)

Where is God during this travesty upon Jerusalem? He is in the very same spot He was in when he sent His only son. He wept, mourned, and waited…

Why doesn’t He “Do Something”? Well, He is about to do EVERYTHING, even the gift of his only begotten son!

Their BITTER FATE would bring about God’s BIGGEST SACRIFICE!

Paul’s Plea

PHILEMON 1: 1-25

(October 29)

Paul was in Rome under house arrest (about A.D.60) when he wrote this letter to Philemon. Philemon was a Greek landowner that lived in Colosse. He had become a believer through Paul's teaching, and his home was often used for church services.

Being a wealthy man, Philemon had slaves. One of his slaves, Onesimus, ran away to Rome. He met Paul there, and after hearing Paul teach him the gospel, he accepted Christ. He became very dear to Paul, and Paul thought of him as a son.

Paul wanted Philemon to understand the change in Onesimus, and to welcome him back, as he was a good helper for the good news. Paul convinced Onesimus that you don't solve problems by running from them, and that he should return to his master.

It is his hope that Philemon will see Onesimus as more than a slave; that he will now view him as a brother in the faith and treat him accordingly.

Paul is literally asking Philemon to lean into his Christian faith to see someone in a different light than before. He is asking him to see Onesimus, not through his own eyes, but through the eyes of Jesus.

This is Paul's plea to Philemon.

Who have you been looking at through your own eyes, that you need to view through the eyes of Jesus? Who can you change your way of thinking about and see as a brother or sister in Christ instead of someone who might have caused you difficulty or pain?

Paul's plea of long ago is Jesus' plea for us today. To see others the way he sees them, not through our eyes of discontent.

Destruction’s Dirge

October 29 Lamentations 1:1-2:22

DESTRUCTION’S DIRGE

“Laugh, and the world laughs with you; Weep, and you weep alone.” (Ella Wheeler Wilcox)

A DIRGE is a somber song or lament expressing mourning or grief, such as would be appropriate for a funeral. It often takes the form of a brief hymn filled with heartache.

The book of Lamentations has no named author but it is obvious to all scholars that it is a continuation of the book of Jeremiah written by “The Weeping Prophet”.

In this very short book, we see FIVE LAMENTS written by the man who was there before, during, and after the devastation. Lamentations is “the wailing wall” of the Bible.

What is not obvious to us is the way Lamentations was written in keeping with the style of poems that have symbolism attached to it. Chapters 1,2,4 of “Dirges” or “Laments” each has “an alphabetic acrostic”. This means that it is broken into twenty-two verses or stanzas that begin with the twenty-two letters of the Hebrew alphabet, in alphabetical order. Chapter 3 has sixty-six verses because, and chapter 5 also has twenty-two verses, but his emotion changed the poetry in that chapter.

This has meaning to those that know the Hebrew language.

Jeremiah was truly “weeping all alone” for many reasons…

It was said that Dwight L. Moody was the only man who really seemed to have the right to preach about hell because when he preached it there were tears in his voice.” (Dr. Birmingham)

Jeremiah could have had a haughty attitude and said, “Finally, they are getting what they deserve!” or “I told you so!” But, that was far from the situation that he found himself in…

Jeremiah was a young man called by God to complete an unthinkable, undoable, unsuccessful task.

In other words, he was "in over his head” before he ever “jumped in the water to swim against the current”.

For Forty long years, he preached of upcoming judgment and the need for repentance, and everyone including kings and religious leaders stood against him. They called him a traitor and a heretic. But, he wasn’t! He was a man preaching the full truth of the gospel. There is no peace without repentance.

False prophets preached this message back then just as they do on TV, radio, internet, and in pulpits today. Grace, Grace, just GRACE… This chapter blows that false teaching right out of the water…

Paul writes, “Be not mocked. Whatever a man sows, he reaps.” (Galatians 6:7)

Luke 6:46 says, “Why do you call Me ‘Lord Lord’ but not do what I say?”

This lack of true covenant obedience is a big problem now as it was back in Jeremiah’s day.

Jeremiah was a young man at the same time that King Josiah was a young king and it appears that they were friends. King Josiah did everything in his power to bring back all of the celebrations, temple teachings, and practices and to restore godliness to the people.

How sad it must have been for young Jeremiah to watch the downward descent of a nation that went further and further away from God while it came closer and closer to abominable practices in connection with idols.

They had been warned through every object lesson imaginable and Jeremiah had been the brunt of many of those object lessons. But now in Lament #1 in Lamentations 1:1 Jeremiah begins with the words, “Jerusalem, once so full of people, is now deserted.”

It is late 586 or early 585 and Jeremiah has literally witnessed the terror of the siege of Jerusalem. The Temple was plundered and people were starving to death. The streets ran red with blood and babies and children died in the arms of their parents. Around him was the stench of death, decay, and destruction.

They WOULD NOT LISTEN, and they’re not listening now… The streets are empty except for some of the poor that were left behind and the dead.

Lament or Dirge #1 tells of the PROVOCATION AGAINST GOD. The people had provoked a HOLY RIGHTEOUS God over and over again… They had Forty years under Jeremiah’s preaching to repent and be restored. But, they would not LISTEN.

Lament or Dirge #2 tells of the PUNISHMENT FROM GOD. Jeremiah doesn’t like any part of this at all. He knows that the people should have repented and how wrong they have been and still he questions God, “O LORD, think about this! Should you treat your own people this way?” (2:20)

Jeremiah’s own people were carried away into captivity, but Jeremiah remains in their ruin to weep until he can weep no more…Why would a Righteous God take his “hand of protection” away from HIS own people and allow this carnage?

“The LORD is righteous; for I have rebelled against his commandment: hear, I pray you, all people, and behold my sorrow; my virgins and my young men are gone into captivity.” (1:18)

Even in the midst of Destruction’s Dirge, Jeremiah proclaims, “The LORD is RIGHTEOUS.”

“Pour out your hearts like water to the Lord.” (Lamentations 2:19)

Do What is Good

TITUS 3:1-15

(October 28)

Be obedient, always ready to do what is good. (Verse 1)

Paul puts a pretty hard task at the feet of Timothy. It is a difficult challenge for the believers of Crete, and it is difficult for us today.

The word ALWAYS requires much. It suggests perfection, with no room for "mess ups" or "oopsies". But which one of us is able to lead a life of perfection?

Not one of us can lead a perfect life, but we can lead a perfected life. A life where our sins are washed clean by the overflowing grace of God; made possible by the overwhelming sacrifice of Jesus; and made doable by the gift of the Holy Spirit and the promise of eternal life in heaven.

Because of this grace, and the Holy Spirit living within us, we can DO WHAT IS GOOD! And if we make a mistake, we have that grace to shower down upon us, making us clean again.

Paul mentions being submissive to governmental leaders. YIKES! How many times have we been disapproving of their choices? How many times have we complained about leadership? DO WHAT IS GOOD!

And what about listening to gossip and slander, letting is cause dissension among the church or group of friends. Oh, how the enemy loves to weasel himself into productive relationships and create problems. Are we to engage in those activities? Or are we to hold those people accountable? DO WHAT IS GOOD!

Paul advises to not argue with others. Hmmm... have I done THAT today? He says we should be helpful to those in need, demonstrating the love of Jesus and living out the testimony of our faith.

Some days, that is hard. Some days it seems impossible. That is where we remember that with God's strength, nothing is impossible, and we CAN DO WHAT IS GOOD!

The Rest of the Story … Part 2

October 28 Jeremiah 51:54-52:34

Object Lessons That Demand Obedience

The Rest of the Story…(Part 2)

Like Paul Harvey, God uses object lessons, the art of dramatic “PAUSE”, and “A Staccato Cadence” to gain our attention.

Throughout the book of Jeremiah God used VISUALS that were part of the people’s lives to get their attention. His messages used familiar objects used in their everyday lives.

Images of almond rods, drought, a potter’s vessel, baskets of figs, vineyards, fields, and stones were all a part of their ordinary life. But, God attached extraordinary messages to these objects to help them see the bigger picture of HIS role and their obedience.

Yesterday we talked about Jeremiah and Isaiah’s plot as HIS messengers. We often seem to misread the famous passage of Jeremiah 29:11-14 and somehow we insert that God’s plan will mean that all of “MY PLANS and DREAMS” will come true.

Why? Because God would never INTEND to hurt me. Right?

This misunderstanding is at the source of disillusionment in the hearts of many people against God. If God doesn’t heal someone and they suffer for a long time, they often quote this verse. God promised that He would NOT intend to hurt me and look at what happened to me and my loved one. They then contend that God did not keep HIS promises.

On the other hand, we have "healers" who tell the suffering person, “If you REALLY BELIEVE you WOULD be healed.”

Who is at fault… the sick person, faith healer, or God?

The problem is… What are GOD’S PLANS?

He says, “I know the PLANS I HAVE FOR YOU.”

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future”. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will see me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you,” declares the LORD, “and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile.” (Jeremiah 29:11-14)

Do you remember Jeremiah’s calling and first vision?

“I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb. Before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as my prophet to the nations.” (Jer. 1: 5) “O Sovereign LORD,” I said, “I can’t speak for you! I am too young!” (1:6)

The Lord replied to Jeremiah and told him, “Don't say, ‘I’m too young, for you must go wherever I send you and say whatever I tell you. And don’t be afraid of the people, for I will be with you and will protect you.” (1:7-8)

Then God touched his mouth and said, “Look, I have put my words in your mouth!” (1:9)

What was God’s plan to “prosper and not to harm, giving him hope and a future” for Jeremiah?

It was a loincloth, being thrown into a muddy cistern, being imprisoned, and living on the edge proclaiming a message of judgment to an unrepentant rebellious people. His plan for Jeremiah was for him to be a true prophet in the midst of false prophets.

Was it pleasant? Not in the least!!

The Potter and the Clay is another powerful illustration in the book of Jeremiah. “Like clay in the hand of the potter, so are you in my hand, O house of Israel…” (Jer. 18)

As Jeremiah watched he observed “a flaw” in the vessel that the potter was making “as it seemed best to him”.

Who is the clay to say to the Potter, "I don’t like how you have created me or the purpose that you have designed me for?"…

Why would God create us with “flaws” as part of HIS plan?

I don’t know about you but I have learned more through “broken pots of clay” than I have learned from any exquisite china!

One such “broken pot” is the amazing Joni Eareckson Tada. Her ministry has changed my life and ministered to my family. Not only have we attended her family camps for many years but we have had the privilege to chat with her and her husband, Ken. He bought Chelsea and me a cool soda on a warm afternoon and we sat and chatted for a while.

People often ask, “Why did God allow her to break her neck as a young woman in a diving accident”? “Why didn’t God heal her?”

The question we ought to ask is “What joy will there be in Heaven on the day that we are all united and there are people from every nation who worship in God’s presence because of that one woman who has completely given her brokenness over to God?”

She is one AWESOME BROKEN POT sitting in her wheelchair!

Marred by the Potter’s hand she paints, sings, writes, talks, and shares the HOPE of God for His great glory.

Did God INTEND to hurt her or was her injury a tool so that she could paint on a much larger worldwide canvas?? On the contrary, she is one of the finest works that ever came out of his loving hand!

We ask questions like that because we cannot begin to comprehend time and eternity. All we know is "temporal time".

“But now, O Lord you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hand.” (Isaiah 64:8)

The message of the Potter and the Clay resounds throughout the Bible about 85 times! Jeremiah was “one cracked pot” and God used HIM mightily!

What about you? Are you bitter and complaining or letting the living water ooze out of all your assorted cracks?

Broken Pots are part of God's greatest glory...And Know You Know the Rest of the Story!

Being a Good Example

TITUS 2: 1-15

(October 27)

I have been so fortunate to have good examples in my life. Those people who have taught me, not only through their words, but through their actions. I have learned how to treat others, how to honor Christ, how to have friendships without stepping over boundaries, and so much more.

Where would we be without those examples that teach us so much? How would we know how to act? I know I would be a hot mess without the examples God has provided for me.

How about you? Can you think of the people in your life who have taught you by example? Or perhaps, you have been that example for someone else.

Chapter 2 of Titus shows us explicitly that we ARE to be examples for others, but first, we must learn from the example of those who have put in our path by God.

Paul instructs Timothy about the importance of all this. The older men should be living a life that the younger men can follow, worthy of respect, with self-control, with sound faith, love and patience. Those young men that learn from that example with one day be older men who will lead by that example.

The same goes for the women. The older are to be an example to the younger in how the teach what is good, stay sober, training them to love their husbands and children, living pure and working in their homes. They are to do good and be respectful of their husbands. This is bringing to mind our beloved Proverbs 31 woman. While she was not a REAL woman, just an idea of the perfect woman, we could do well to be whatever parts of her we can on any given day.

Even slaves are mentioned in this part of the letter. While Paul did not condemn or condone slavery in any of his letters, he did state that slaves and masters should be loving and responsible in their conduct. This is the same that holds true for us today in our employer/employee relationships. Just because someone is in authority over you, doesn't mean you are to be disrespected or treated unkind. And vice versa.

Paul's vision for how the people of the world should treat each other is beautiful. I wonder how he would feel if he were here today and saw the disrespect, dishonesty, hostility, and ugliness that many pour into the people around them ... the ones they know and the ones that are strangers.

This gives me an urgent sense of making sure I am living in the example of the good, Godly people who have gone before me, and that I am living that example out to the ones who are watching and learning from me now.

How about you? Are you living a life worthy of teaching and training the ones coming after you? Does your life reflect Paul's vision for the believers in Crete, and for believers everywhere?

Something to think about...

The Rest of the Story

October 27 Jeremiah 51-53

Object Lessons That Demand Obedience

The Rest of the Story…

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11)

His name was Paul Aurandt, and he was born in Oklahoma the son of a policeman. His teacher was impressed with his voice and helped him get a job at a local radio station and before long he was reading commercials, and then, the news.

Have you ever heard of him? Probably, not. However, the world knew him by his radio name, Paul Harvey. “And now you know the rest of the story”. Those were the famous words that made him a legend.

Paul Harvey eventually signed a ten-year contract at the age of 82 for one hundred million dollars. His fan base turned in regularly because of his unique delivery style and communication techniques. He had a way of using a staccato cadence that would hold the listeners’ attention and he used an extended pause for effect. His stories were like magical mysteries and at the end, the reader would “JUST GET IT”.

We are nearing the end of the book of Jeremiah and it is for us to stop and look back and reflect on “the bigger picture” so that we too can “JUST GET IT”.

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future”. (Jeremiah 29:11)

This is one of the most famous verses in the book of Jeremiah. Many people will tell you that it is “their life verse”. It is like a gem of a promise that they have pulled out of the Bible and hold near their heart. I have always loved this verse as well.

Has the meaning of this verse changed in any way now that you have read the entire book of Jeremiah?

This verse is like a clip of Hallmark on a Friday night. You feel tired and weary and put your pj’s on, get a cup of hot chocolate and a cozy blanket and breathe a sigh of deep relief because “God has plans for you” and “they are not to harm you”.

What are HIS plans versus my plans and what kind of hope and future is he talking about?

Let’s look at the rest of the verse, “Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will see me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you,” declares the LORD, “and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile.” (Jeremiah 29:11-14)

A couple of days ago we looked at God’s plan for His Remnant who would be called by HIS name. There were three steps He took to heal his people and return them to HIM.

PURGE, PURIFY, & PLEDGE.

PURGE: Rotten Meat only breads bacteria which spreads like a wildfire. The stench is unbearable and the meat is unusable. God intentionally led his people into captivity and sent judgment so that He could “bring them back to the place from which I carried you into exile.”

PURIFY: The wicked were judged and killed. The cancer was PURGED, and now He would give them time to be under the OPPRESSION of the IDOLS who they thought had the power to deliver them so that they could find out how errant they had been.

PLEDGE: His underlying goal was for HIS people to keep their PLEDGE to HIM! They were to seek HIM first and offer their sacrifices of praise to HIM, not idols.

He was to be “THEIR GOD” and they were to be “HIS PEOPLE”.

Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will see me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you,” declares the LORD.

So, HIS plans for His people to give them a FUTURE and a HOPE was HIM!

He was the TREASURE that He wanted them to seek and if they sought HIM then they would find HIM. When they found HIM they would truly find PURPOSE.

How does this apply to us in the context of the full meaning intended here in the book of Jeremiah?

Isaiah was asked by God to walk naked through the streets and proclaim a message of repentance to the people. Jeremiah was asked to wear a “smelly loin cloth” and preach a message of upcoming judgment. He was then thrown into a muddy cistern and left to die.

Neither of them had an easy life or accomplished their own personal “vision of life”.

Both wanted to quit their jobs as prophets!

No one wants to be the bearer of bad news and the object of hatred from rebellious people. Yet, they were the messengers sent BY God accomplishing the work OF God, THROUGH them.

Let that thought simmer on the burner a bit and then ponder, “What is God’s plan for me to give me hope and a future”.

Does that verse look a little different to you now?

The book of Jeremiah gives the people a glimpse of the hope and future to come. It was through the perfect sacrifice, of Jesus Christ who would come through the preserved lineage of David.

“AND NOW YOU KNOW THE REST OF THE STORY”!

A Letter to a Friend

TITUS 1:1-16

(October 26)

Just recently, I received a letter in the mail from a friend. It is a rare occurrence these days for friends to send "snail mail" when we are all just an email, text, post, or message away.

First, I saw that it was addressed to me ...exciting! I love getting mail. Then I opened it and saw the sweet words inside, along with some photos, and I was so delighted. There is just nothing like mail from a friend, just to let you know they were thinking about you.

In the book of Titus, Paul is writing to one of his most trusted and dependable friends, Titus. Paul sent him to Corinth on more than one occasion when the church needed help. The two of them had traveled together to Jerusalem and Crete, where Paul left him to oversee all the new churches that were popping up everywhere. Paul recognized the leadership ability in his friend, and gave him authority, knowing he would use his abilities to further the gospel.

Paul wrote this letter between his first and second imprisonments. He wanted to give Titus some guidance on how to handle the new believers in Crete. Having a strong pagan influence on the island, Paul knew Titus would encounter some issues and would have to lead strongly and boldly in Christ.

Paul spells out to Titus some of the attributes of a good church leader: living a blameless life, faithful to his wife and children, not arrogant or quick-tempered, not a heavy drinker, or violent, or an abuser of money. He was to find joy in hospitality, live wisely, in a devoutly Christian manner. He must strongly believe in the message he speaks and able to encourage others. And he must be able to speak to those who oppose his teachings, showing them where they are wrong.

A lot of Cretans had a bad reputation. They were called liars and lazy gluttons. Paul wanted Titus to know how much his leadership was needed on this island. They might claim to know God, but for many, their actions spoke otherwise.

Do you know people like the Cretans? They claim to be a follower of Jesus, yet they spend their time doing things that don't represent Christ at all. They have one foot in the kettle and the other in the clouds.

People cannot see what is in our hearts. They see what we do on the outside. If we want to say our hearts follow Jesus, then our actions need to line up with our words.

How are you lining up?

The Road to Damascus

October 26 Jeremiah 49:23-50:46

Object Lessons That Demand Obedience

The Road to Damascus

Damascus. Destruction. Deliverance.

These are the three word pictures found in today’s text.

“Damascus has become feeble, and all her people turn to flee. Fear, anguish, and pain have gripped her.” (49: 24)

Why are God’s people being devoured and destroyed?

“My people have been lost sheep. Their shepherds have led them astray and turned them loose in the mountains. They have lost their way and can’t remember how to get back to the sheepfold. All who found them DEVOURED them. Their enemies said, ‘We did nothing wrong in attacking them, for they sinned against the Lord…” (50:6-7)

How many times throughout the book of Jeremiah have we heard of the battle of false prophets facing off against the called prophets of God? That has certainly been a repeating theme.

Does this principle alarm us, wake us, and call us to attention?

During the writing of this very study, I started receiving instant messages through Facebook. Now, I don’t normally accept those, and I never pass on instant messages because that is a great way to get hacked!

The instant messages came from a very well-known Christian organization but the words gave me great pause. First of all, the leader of this organization doesn’t speak in broken sentences like these messages and doesn’t write people privately. If I copied their entire message it would take up the entire space of today’s writing. So, I will give you the very short, abridged version.

“You have sin in the lineage of your family and a generational curse is on you. You will continue to have bad things happen to you until you do exactly what I tell you to do. These curses will not stop until…. (You guessed the rest?) Send money!

In the name of prophecy, money, and the ways of God, this person is scamming people.

This won’t be the first nor the last time for that!

Does the name Damascus ring a bell?

“On the road TO DAMASCUS, Saul was STRUCK BY A BRILLIANT LIGHT, fell to the ground, heard a voice from heaven identified as the voice of Jesus asking, “Why are you using violence against me?” (Luke 9)

Note that Damascus was the place where the man who had been falsely persecuting Christians in the name of faith was blinded! It was not where he was converted.

God then spoke to a disciple in Damascus named Ananias and sent him a vision where he was to lay hands on Saul for him to regain his sight. But, Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your saints in Jerusalem; and here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who invoke your name.”

God then tells Ananias, “Go, for he is an instrument whom I have chosen to bring my name before Gentiles and kings and before the people of Israel. I myself will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.” (Luke 22:10-19)

When Saul heard the astonishing words, “Brother Saul” from this Jewish man, Ananias, “Something like scales fell from his eyes, and his sight was restored.”

Damascus. Destruction. Deliverance.

Listen to these beautiful words of hope for deliverance, “How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of the messenger who brings good news, the good news of peace and salvation, the news that the God of Israel reigns! The watchmen shout and sing with joy for before their very eyes they see the Lord returning to Jerusalem. Let the ruins of Jerusalem break into joyful song, for the Lord has comforted his people. He has redeemed Jerusalem. The Lord has demonstrated his holy power before the eyes of all the nations. All the ends of the earth will see the victory of our God.” (Jer. 52:7-10)

God’s words always come true and He always finds a way to rescue HIS children.

The Road to Damascus is now filled with hope because of the message of redemption and restoration for all mankind, both Jew and Gentile.

“Let the ruins break into joyful song!”

Paul’s Final Words

2 TIMOTHY 4: 1-22

(October 25)

I try to imagine that I know my days are numbered and I have a letter to write to someone dear to me, with some very crucial and necessary information and instruction. I have got to get my point across to them and make them understand my instructions because the future depends on it.

How desperate might I feel? Would my hand tremor as I wrote? Would sweat bead my brow? Would my heart flutter with anxiousness?

This is how I imagine Paul, already in terrible shape from his torture, and already assured of his death to come, is writing these final words to his beloved Timothy, urging him to continue the preaching of the gospel.

He warns him to be prepared for what is to come ... a time when people will no pay attention to good news. They will have more concern for their own pleasures and for hearing what they WANT to hear instead of what they NEED to hear.

Timothy will have to keep a clear mind and continue his work, despite all of this. He may even have to suffer, as Paul has. Paul has poured out his life for the sake of the gospel. "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful. And now the prize awaits me - the crown of righteousness which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on the day of his return."

What is this "crown of righteousness?" He is using the symbol of triumph and honor that was used in Roman athletic events. The winner was given a laurel wreath as a symbol of victory.

Paul urges Timothy to come as soon as he can. I imagine his heart longed to see Timothy one more time. He speaks of Demas deserting him. He was a co-worker of Paul's, but his love for the world won out in the end. He didn't love the world the way God does ... in the hopes of all it can be with evil erased, he loved the world for what it was at the time ... sinful and evil. Because of that, he left Paul, near death and alone.

Paul mentions something that you might find strange in verse 13: "When you come, be sure to bring the coat I left with Carpus at Troas." Hmmm.... if he was about to die, why did he need a coat?

Paul was arrested without much warning and didn't have time to collect personal items. You can imagine the chill and dampness of a dark dungeon. Perhaps he was hoping Timothy would get there before he was killed, and the coat would bring him some relief from the chill.

He also wanted his papers brought to him, his copies of the letters, perhaps the books of the Old Testament. Maybe even some blank sheets in the hopes he could live long enough to write more letters.

Paul's last words to Timothy: "May the Lord be with your spirit. And may his grace be with all of you."

The Court of Heaven

October 25 Jeremiah 48:1-49:22

Object Lessons That Demand Obedience

The Court of Heaven

“Beauty fades. Dumb is forever.”

“I’m the boss, Applesauce.”

Those are just a couple of Judge Judy’s famous quotes.

No one pulls “the wool” over her eyes! When she steps behind the judges’ bench people start to wrench because the truth is about to be revealed… like it or not!

The court is in session and here are the cases coming up for sentencing in today’s passage:

Moab is present and charged for their trust in their god Chemosh. In his unfaithfulness, even King Solomon had worshiped this false deity.

This was a big mistake! The wisest man who ever lived was proving Judge Judy right… “Beauty fades. Dumb is forever.”

What king who was given all wisdom, splendor, peace, and unlimited wealth bites the hand that feeds him? Well, that was Solomon and the god was Chemosh. Moab’s sin was complacency. They cozied up to this false god and the problem with this is that the real king on the throne is the God of the universe. They had broken his first commandment. “Thou shalt have no other gods before me.”

Moab was also known for pride, insolence, arrogance, pride and a haughty heart. (48: 29)

“I eat morons like you for breakfast. You’re gonna be crying before this is over.” --Judge Judy

In light of their behavior, Moab isn’t going to make it until lunch!

Next on the docket is Edom, who were descendants of Esau, Jacob’s brother. Not to mention, Egypt, Ammon, and Babylon.

They all had something in common… Pride, arrogance, idolatry, rebellion, and blasphemy.

It is judgment day and God is IN THE HOUSE…and it is HOUSE CLEANING TIME.

Those that took pleasure in harming the people of God are receiving punishment. Those that spoke as if they worshipped God but really worshipped idols are “going down”.

God is really accomplishing three goals all across the land…

Purge, Purify, & Pledge.

Jeremiah demonstrates God’s object lessons to His people over and over again, “And I will cleanse them from all their iniquity, whereby they have sinned against me, and I will pardon all their iniquities”…(Jer. 33:8)

The Almond Rod (1: 11-12), The Boiling Caldron (1:13-14), The marred girdle (13:1-11), The full bottle (13:12-14, The drought (14: 1-12, The Potter’s vessel, (18: 1-6), The baskets of figs (24: 1-10).

They say “A picture paints a thousand words”... Their God has given them a million pictures! This is what love looks like… This is what discipline feels like.

They weren’t listening then and they aren’t listening now…

Over and over in the book of Jeremiah, we have seen glimpses of Grace as well.

Christ is pictured in the book of Jeremiah as the Fountain of Living waters (2:13), The Great Physician (8:22), The Good Shepherd (31: 10; 23: 4), and The Righteous Branch (23:5).

There are glimpses of him as the Redeemer and our Righteousness.

God is PURGING this “Rotten Meat” as it can not be salvaged so that He can send his only Beloved son, Jesus to PURIFY His people from their sins.

What is God seeking?

Do you remember God’s words, “All you Judeans now living in Egypt: ‘I have sworn by my great name,’ says the LORD, ‘that my name will no longer be spoken by ANY of the Judeans in the land of Egypt. None of you may invoke my name or use this oath: “As surely as the Sovereign LORD lives.” (44:26)

They spoke his name but did NOT honor HIS name!

God is a covenant God who seeks a two-way relationship.

Words without action don’t count. If you think Judge Judy is tough you “haven’t seen nothin’ yet!”…God is not fooled!

We dare not miss that not all of the prophecies in this passage are completed yet. The passages of Babylon were true for that day but also conveyed a future meaning as well…

The Court of Heaven will convene again soon… I praise God that we have a great advocate and defense attorney who has paid our debt. There is but one name by which we are saved!

PS. He's the boss, applesauce!