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…
What idols have you carved to worship this week: Isaiah 44 and 45
Do not be consumed by the things of the world: Isaiah 5 and 6
Isaiah in chapter 5 presents a picture of Israel to the people of Jerusalem as a vineyard. Isaiah tells the people of Jerusalem of their straying from the path that God desired for them. “And now, O inhabitants of Jerusalem and men of Judah, judge between me and my vineyard. What more was there to do for my vineyard, that I have not done in it? When I looked for it to yield grapes, why did it yield wild grapes? And now I will tell you what I will do to my vineyard. I will remove its hedge, and it shall be devoured; I will break down its wall, and it shall be trampled down. I will make it a waste; it shall not be pruned or hoed, and briers and thorns shall grow up; I will also command the clouds that they rain no rain upon it. For the vineyard of the LORD of hosts is the house of Israel, and the men of Judah are his pleasant planting; and he looked for justice, but behold, bloodshed; for righteousness, but behold, an outcry!” Isaiah 5:3-7 Continue Reading…
Find your hope in the saving grace of God: Isaiah 1 and 2
What emotions and thought come to mind when you think about culture, society, and prosperity? Do we live today at the pinnacle of human society? Across the generations people have thought that their current progress and ingenuity was paramount to the existence of man. In Isaiah chapters 1 and 2 the prophet Isaiah brings the word of God to the people of Israel. ”Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth; for the LORD has spoken: ‘Children have I reared and brought up, but they have rebelled against me. The ox knows its owner, and the donkey its master’s crib, but Israel does not know, my people do not understand.’ Ah, sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, offspring of evildoers, children who deal corruptly! They have forsaken the LORD, they have despised the Holy One of Israel, they are utterly estranged.” Isaiah 1:3,4 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…
Fear God and keep His commandments: Ecclesiastes 11 and 12
“If the clouds are full of rain, they empty themselves on the earth, and if a tree falls to the south or to the north, in the place where the tree falls, there it will lie. He who observes the wind will not sow, and he who regards the clouds will not reap.” Ecclesiastes 11:3,4 Are you guided by wisdom throughout your day? Has your life been marked by wisdom? Throughout life there are circumstances that cause uncertainty and doubt. Will you find guidance in wisdom? ”Light is sweet, and it is pleasant for the eyes to see the sun. So if a person lives many years, let him rejoice in them all; but let him remember that the days of darkness will be many. All that comes is vanity.” Ecclesiastes 11:7,8 Rejoice and know that wisdom governs all the days of your life. You will find joy in the lighthearted days and guidance in the days of darkness. Continue Reading…
A virtuous call to love God and those around us: Proverbs 31
What does Proverbs 31 mean to us today? Does the text only apply to women? What if your not married? It is easy and quite common to say that verses 10 through 31 are an exhortation for women depicting how they should live their lives. However, I believe that the scripture is profitable for everyone in every circumstance they find themselves in. Even through proverbs 31 speak of a woman’s conduct I believe that there is a call for everyone to live a virtuous life seeking God within the text. If we all seek to diligently follow God we will exemplify these virtues described in Proverbs 31. Continue Reading…
Will you join creation in praising God: Psalm 148
Have you become consumed and overwhelmed by all of the prohibitions of life? We are told consistently to not do this thing, never think about these other things, and to never place a toe out of line. All the rules, regulations, and laws that we are told to follow are for our best and the collective best of society but there is a drain to our lives when we live in consistent negativity. How often are we told to wholeheartedly without limit do something? The psalmist in Psalm 148 is exhorting creation as a collective whole to praise God, “Let them praise the name of the Lord, for His name alone is exalted; His glory is above the earth and heaven. And He has lifted up a horn for His people, praise for all His godly ones; even for the sons of Israel, a people near to Him. Praise the Lord!” Psalm 148:13,14 Will you join in the praise of creation as you seek to praise the God of heaven and earth? Continue Reading…
Weathering a stormy moment of crisis: Psalm 11
A moment of crisis and indecision is before you. The decision you make effects your family and friends. In your mind one way will bring hope for tomorrow and the other brings ruin and despair but you cannot know with any certainty what to do. Sleepless nights, futile advice from friends and self-help books offer no respite. What do you do in this moment?
In Psalm 11 David is faced with tribulation in a moment of crisis. What did he do? His refuge that offered lasting help and hope was the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. How do we find refuge in the seemingly untangle God? How did David hope in God? Continue Reading…
Peace, hope and purpose found in a proper perspective: Job Summary
The story in the book of Job is portrayed on two distinct levels. At the macro-level we see the impetus for the calamity that befalls Job when God discusses His servant with Satan resulting in God allowing Satan to bring calamity upon Job. On the micro-level we see the loss of family, wealth and health for Job along with the futile comfort offered by his friends Zophar, Bildad and Eliphaz. How do we cope when calamities come upon us when outwardly we only see our life from the midst of trouble and tribulation? Can hope be had in the midst of calamity? How do we deal with the anger and despair that vies for our attention when we are in the midst of trouble?
Job was faced with his way of life being disturbed and radically changed when his children, livestock and health were struck by Satan. Job had no foreknowledge that these events that transformed his life were ordained and allowed by God. His main concern was questioning why these events happened to him, an upright man who sought God above all. The knowledge and faith that Job had in God was great but his perspective on his situation was fixed inwardly and not upon God. Continue Reading…
A covenant with my heart, mind, soul, and strength: Job 31 and 32
“I have made a covenant with my eyes; How then could I gaze at a virgin?” Job 31:1 What is Job saying? What is the impact of this statement? Is the chapter talking only about sexual lust? Can we withstand temptation if we have not set our hearts first to follow only the things of God? When Job says that he has made a covenant with his eyes to not look with lust upon a virgin, he has set himself toward looking away from what his eyes inherently want to lust after. In the same way today we need to set our heart, mind, soul and strength on the things of God long before we wade through our daily routine. Hope in the moment of temptation will be found when you find yourself desiring God above the lustful things of this world. Continue Reading…
