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…
Tag Archive - Desire
Losing sight of God amid the process and practice: Isaiah 58 and 59
Urgency and devotion of the hearts desire: Isaiah 56 and 57
“Thus says the LORD: ‘Keep justice, and do righteousness, for soon my salvation will come, and my deliverance be revealed.’” Isaiah 56:1 The message within Isaiah 56 and 57 talks of two groups of people, those who set their hearts toward God and those who set their hearts away from God. The message proclaimed is one of urgency, devotion, and dependence. The time is drawing near when God will collect all those who have trusted, hoped, and believed in His Son, Jesus Christ. Where have you set your heart? Are you resting steadfast upon the promises of God or have you decided that your life is your own kingdom to be conquered? There is hope for everyone. No matter where you find your hearts devotion you can turn and trust in God alone for your hope. Continue Reading…
Completely incomplete apart from God: Isaiah 54 and 55
I love how Scripture is poignantly intentional to hit at the heart of the human condition. God designed us to be complete but when we allowed sin to entice and separate us from Him we became completely incomplete. We are all craving acceptance and identity and more often we define ourselves by what we do not have. I am not married, successful, loved, rich, or happy. What does God tell those who are lacking and incomplete? “‘Sing, O barren one, who did not bear; break forth into singing and cry aloud, you who have not been in labor! For the children of the desolate one will be more than the children of her who is married,’ says the LORD.” Isaiah 54:1 God desires those who are incomplete to celebrate and sing for joy. Why is that? How can we sing for joy in the midst of our despair? Continue Reading…
What idols have you carved to worship this week: Isaiah 44 and 45
What type of television do you have? Is it a real joy to watch movies on it? I love to think about buying a new car. What car is the best one to own? “I am the LORD, and there is no other, besides me there is no God; I equip you, though you do not know me” Isaiah 45:5 Do you enjoy drinking alcohol, what type of drink to you prefer? I love the feel of a tailored shirt. It feels great to have something that fits just right. ”Turn to me and be saved, all the ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is no other.” Isaiah 45:22 I long for a wife. Do you long to be married,to have children or grandchildren? I have become more physically fit by working out a lot. Do you love to workout too? ”For thus says the LORD, who created the heavens (he is God!), who formed the earth and made it (he established it; he did not create it empty, he formed it to be inhabited!): ‘I am the LORD, and there is no other. I did not speak in secret, in a land of darkness; I did not say to the offspring of Jacob, ‘Seek me in vain.’ I the LORD speak the truth; I declare what is right. ’Assemble yourselves and come; draw near together, you survivors of the nations! They have no knowledge who carry about their wooden idols, and keep on praying to a god that cannot save.’” Isaiah 45:18-20 Continue Reading…
Do your actions proclaim your trust or disdain of God: Isaiah 29 and 30
We are given a looking glass into our own lives in Isaiah 29 and 30. What do you treasure? What do you value? What do you hold in high regard? Our lives will answer these questions without a need for us to speak. We can proclaim to act or believe in one thing or another but if our actions do not match what we say we are lying. Do you live out what you proclaim to be your faith in God? Do your actions proclaim your trust or disdain of God? “And the Lord said: ‘Because this people draw near with their mouth and honor me with their lips, while their hearts are far from me, and their fear of me is a commandment taught by men, therefore, behold, I will again do wonderful things with this people, with wonder upon wonder; and the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the discernment of their discerning men shall be hidden.’” Isaiah 29:13,14 Where is your heart? Our hearts are what truly motivate us to do everything we do. Continue Reading…
The proliferation of hope to a broken world: Isaiah 9 and 10
“For the yoke of his burden, and the staff for his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, you have broken as on the day of Midian. For every boot of the tramping warrior in battle tumult and every garment rolled in blood will be burned as fuel for the fire. For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this.” Isaiah 9:4-7 What did the promised Messiah mean to the people of Israel? Did the Israelites look upon the promise of God hope of carte blanche retaliation on all their oppressors and a restoration of the glory of Israel? What was offered when God promised a renewal of the kingdom of Israel. Continue Reading…
What captivates your eyes and heart: Song of Solomon 3 and 4
The message of Solomon in Song of Solomon is direct and poignant about the quality of true love. The search for love is described as a passionate pursuit in chapter 3. ”On my bed by night I sought him whom my soul loves; I sought him, but found him not. I will rise now and go about the city, in the streets and in the squares; I will seek him whom my soul loves. I sought him, but found him not. The watchmen found me as they went about in the city. Have you seen him whom my soul loves? Scarcely had I passed them when I found him whom my soul loves. I held him, and would not let him go until I had brought him into my mother’s house, and into the chamber of her who conceived me.” Song of Solomon 3:1-4 Continue Reading…
What is true love, do you know Him: Song of Solomon 1 and 2
What is love? Does true love exist? Can we be worthy of love? Within Song of Solomon we are given a portrait of love. This love represented is between a bride and bridegroom. “My beloved speaks and says to me: ‘Arise, my love, my beautiful one, and come away, for behold, the winter is past; the rain is over and gone. The flowers appear on the earth, the time of singing has come, and the voice of the turtledove is heard in our land. The fig tree ripens its figs, and the vines are in blossom; they give forth fragrance. Arise, my love, my beautiful one, and come away.’” Song of Solomon 2:10-13 How would you categorize the love expressed here? Is this love like the often casually expressed love seen throughout the world or is there a deeper passion evident? Continue Reading…
What is catalyzing you to move beyond yourself: Ecclesiastes Summary
What is the driving purpose and meaning behind everything we do? The book of Ecclesiastes can be summarized as the factual warning from Solomon proclaiming that a life without God is meaningless foolishness. It does not matter what we do or the grandiose visions and motives that are catalyzing us to exert our entire strength because without God our existence is only our own vaporous creation. ”Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher, vanity of vanities! All is vanity. What does man gain by all the toil at which he toils under the sun? A generation goes, and a generation comes, but the earth remains forever.” Ecclesiastes 1:2-4 Can humanity be virtuous as our perceptions declare? We want to believe that the noble tasks that we undertake are will cause the winds of change to transform our world. It doesn’t matter how good or debase our desires are because all mankind is equally damned from birth. Solomon’s desire within Ecclesiastes is to proclaim that no one can live a life of fulfillment without God. Continue Reading…
The all surpassing provision of God to save: Ecclesiastes 5 and 6
Do you have a bucket list of things that you aspire to do before you die? What is on that list? Do you want to travel the world, own a specific home, earn a prestigious title, or make an exact sum of money? Do you have any hope of crossing off items on the list? Anything that we strive to accomplish will be a fleeting fulfillment that leaves us bereft and wanting no matter how hard we toiled. “He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves wealth with his income; this also is vanity.” Ecclesiastes 5:10 There is nothing that we can acquire with our hands that will lift us out of our depravity into the life of fulfillment and wholeness we crave. Continue Reading…
