Have you ever spent an entire night before and examination studying in the hopes that you can earn a passing grade? I never found cramming to be an effective way of learning. The rapid review of facts may give and illusion of comprehension but there will be no knowledge. “Hear this, O foolish and senseless people, who have eyes, but see not, who have ears, but hear not. Do you not fear me? declares the LORD. Do you not tremble before me? I placed the sand as the boundary for the sea, a perpetual barrier that it cannot pass; though the waves toss, they cannot prevail; though they roar, they cannot pass over it. But this people has a stubborn and rebellious heart; they have turned aside and gone away. They do not say in their hearts, ‘Let us fear the LORD our God, who gives the rain in its season, the autumn rain and the spring rain, and keeps for us the weeks appointed for the harvest.’”Jeremiah 5:21-24 Continue Reading…
Turn, walk, and love the fear of God: Jeremiah 5 and 6
Choice is a matter of volition, faith a matter of heart: Jeremiah 3 and 4
What choice have you made? The choice is one of devotion and dependance. Will you choose to depend on the idols that clutter your life or will you depend wholeheartedly on God alone as the source of sufficiency? The story of Israel in Jeremiah speaks to the wayward human heart that battles against God. The word of God to Israel, ”Go, and proclaim these words toward the north, and say, ‘Return, faithless Israel, declares the LORD. I will not look on you in anger, for I am merciful, declares the LORD; I will not be angry forever. Only acknowledge your guilt, that you rebelled against the LORD your God and scattered your favors among foreigners under every green tree, and that you have not obeyed my voice, declares the LORD. Return, O faithless children, declares the LORD; for I am your master; I will take you, one from a city and two from a family, and I will bring you to Zion.’” Jeremiah 3:12-14 Would you turn away from your idols and back to God if you were Israel? Are you worshiping idols today, will you forsake them and cling to God? Continue Reading…
Eloquence and strength manifested: Jeremiah 1 and 2
How would you react if God told you that were set apart to declare His truth to an obstinate and headstrong nation? Would you fear the people you were going to reprove? Would you question whether God had the correct person for the job? “But you, dress yourself for work; arise, and say to them everything that I command you. Do not be dismayed by them, lest I dismay you before them. And I, behold, I make you this day a fortified city, an iron pillar, and bronze walls, against the whole land, against the kings of Judah, its officials, its priests, and the people of the land. They will fight against you, but they shall not prevail against you, for I am with you, declares the LORD, to deliver you.” Jeremiah 1:17-18 Continue Reading…
True joy glimpsed in a Promise: Isaiah Summary
How can we summarize Isaiah? Is the book a collection of 66 chapters about a man names Isaiah? Does the book only apply to the people of Israel in a time long past? Is the book of Isaiah a prophetic view of God working through humanity despite the inherent unfaithfulness exhibited? How does the way we look at the book of Isaiah impact our faith today over two thousand years after the death of Jesus Christ. Looking back upon the book of Isaiah the unfaithfulness and disobedience of people is consistently evidenced. Time after time Isaiah tells the people of Israel that they are straying from God. Is the book just a repetitive collection of warnings against idolatry? If you leave your view of Isaiah upon this door step of negativity, disappointment, and discipline you will miss the true joy contained in the text. Continue Reading…
And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.
Amid the minutia God was, is, and will be: Isaiah 66
What is Isaiah 66 describing? Are we told about the future of Israel, the future of the church, or the collective future of humanity? The language speaks of the birth, death, rebellion, and even restoration. Often we become bogged down in the minutia of the text. How should we interpret these verses? When we vehemently defend our views of end times and what will happen when Jesus Christ returns what gain is there for the collective body of Christ? Continue Reading…
God will where you cannot: Isaiah 64 and 65
“Will you restrain yourself at these things, O LORD? Will you keep silent, and afflict us so terribly?” Isaiah 64:12 Why is life difficult? Why does such evil dwell in the hearts of men? Did I do something to deserve this treatment, this life? ”There is no one who calls upon your name, who rouses himself to take hold of you; for you have hidden your face from us, and have made us melt in the hand of our iniquities. 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. Be not so terribly angry, O LORD, and remember not iniquity forever. Behold, please look, we are all your people.” Isaiah 64:7-9 Continue Reading…
We only are because God is: Isaiah 62 and 63
God is Hope. God is Promise. God is Restoration. God is Holy. God is Father. God is. “You shall no more be termed Forsaken, and your land shall no more be termed Desolate, but you shall be called My Delight Is in Her, and your land Married; for the LORD delights in you, and your land shall be married. For as a young man marries a young woman, so shall your sons marry you, and as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, so shall your God rejoice over you.” Isaiah 62:4,5 We only are because God is. Simply put without God there would be nothing. It can only be by God’s gracious favor that we aspire to endure. Continue Reading…
Hope is truly hope when God’s fingerprints are evidenced: Isaiah 60 and 61
How has life become like this? Can I honestly talk to anyone, can anyone relate or understand? I am on a hopeless journey of life with no prospect for my future. What was once filled with joy, peace, and hope has become a deafening silence of the soul that speaks to my longing. Can you relate to these thoughts or feelings? We all go through moments where we doubt and even despair in our journey. Continue Reading…
Losing sight of God amid the process and practice: Isaiah 58 and 59
Why do we go to church? It’s what my parents always did. I want my children to go. Why do you read your Bible?Reading the Bible makes me a better person. Has your faith in God become a status or merit badge which you cling to? Oh yes, I am a christian; I’d never do what those other people do. Has your christian life become one of process and practice? Do you trust God? There is nothing more important than God. It is easy to become so consumed with following God that we lose sight of God. We go about our routine of serving God but we do not see Him. Why do we lose sight of God? Continue Reading…
