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 - Sin
Losing sight of God amid the process and practice: Isaiah 58 and 59
Will you abdicate the throne of life to the True King: Isaiah 48 and 49
What can be learned of God? As we look upon the interaction between God and his creation throughout scripture we start to glimpse how perfect God is and the completely dysfunctionality of mankind. We easily align ourselves in complete allegiance to God but do we truly live as a child of God? “Hear this, O house of Jacob, who are called by the name of Israel, and who came from the waters of Judah, who swear by the name of the LORD and confess the God of Israel, but not in truth or right. For they call themselves after the holy city, and stay themselves on the God of Israel; the LORD of hosts is his name.” Isaiah 48:1,2 Have we progressed to a point where we only view our faith and religious endevours as chic, trendy, fashion? What percentage of people claim to be religious because they attend church once a year or because they feel in tune with themselves or nature? 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…
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…
Only God can release us from our bondage to sin: Proverbs 25 and 26
“It is not good to eat much honey, nor is it glorious to seek one’s own glory. A man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls.” Proverbs 25:27,28 Foolishness is our belief that we do not need God. We seek our own glory believing that God doesn’t matter to our hopes, our dreams, and our lives? When we reject God we are seeking our own way in this world. We let loose an unquenchable appetite for anything that seems to meet the needs of the moment. Our lack of self-control leaves us helpless and weak in a world full of trouble. We were not designed by God to live out our lives seeking our desires unchecked. The more we seek out a life of sinfulness the more we become dissatisfied. ”If you have found honey, eat only enough for you, lest you have your fill of it and vomit it.” Proverbs 25:16 It is only by God’s grace that we can overcome our inherent sinfulness. God enables us to live free from the bondage to our lust because of Jesus Christ’s death on the cross. Continue Reading…
Living in the midst of a lust driven world: Esther 1 and 2
It is a truly unique blessing to be reading through Esther. I have always held Esther one my favorite book in the Bible. This time through the book I am excited to read the text with more thought and reflection. Why do I like the book of Esther so much? Why do I find so much hope and encouragement in the book? The story of Esther has been given the Hollywood movie treatment with One Night With the King, a movie that I have become fond of. How will the glamorized movie presentation of Esther compare to the truth of Scripture?
In Esther 1 and 2 it was surprising how the nation of Persia behaved under the rule of king Ahasuerus. The picture portrayed in Esther 1 tells about how the people celebrated the greatness of their king for over half a year. This isn’t that a little too indulgent? Was this indulgence due to an unchecked pride? King Ahasuerus seems to be eager to present himself as a great and splendid king to everyone in his nation, so he all too willingly takes the advice of his wise men. What does such lust say about the motives and desires of the Persian nations? What are your motives and desires in life? Are your motives characterized by lust? When wrong is done in sinning will committing further sin make it amends? When lust is a motivating factor in a persons life it becomes a cascading life of sin as more sin is committed to fulfill lusts appetite. Continue Reading…
When sin abounds will the grace of God fall upon you: Ezra 9 and 10
“Oh my God, I am ashamed and embarrassed to lift up my face to You, my God, for our iniquities have risen above our heads and our guilt has grown even to the heavens. Since the days of our fathers to this day we have been in great guilt, and on account of our iniquities we, our kings and priests have been given into the hand of the kings of the lands, to the sword, to captivity and to plunder and to open shame, as it is this day.” Ezra 9:6,7 Have you felt as Ezra, where your have seen the deliverance of the Lord only to find yourself dwelling in sin shortly there after? God brought a remnant of Israel out of captivity back to Jerusalem and the temple was rebuilt. In the midst of God’s mighty deliverance the people intermarry with the people of the land without heeding God’s command not to dwell with them. Continue Reading…
Exile softens a hardened heart: 2 Chronicles 35 and 36
In 2 Chronicles 35 and 36 we reach the precipice leading to the fall and decline of Judah and its road to exile in Babylon. After the faithful stewardship and tenderhearted rule of Josiah over Judah the kings that rule Judah turn completely away from God. The wrath of God is falling on His chosen people as he promised to Josiah. How is the relationship between God and the sons of Israel to be viewed? How do we view our relationship with God today? God is a loving father that desires to see the best happen for His people through out all time.
God continually sought to bring the hearts of the people of Judah back to Him through His messengers and prophets. How does a persons heart become so hardened against God that they have no respect, thought, or desire for Him? “The Lord, the God of their fathers, sent word to them again and again by His messengers, because He has compasstion on His people and on His dwelling place; but they continually mocked the messengers of God, despised His words and scoffed at His prophets, until the wrath of the Lord arose against His people, until there was no remedy.” 2 Chronicles 36:15,16 Continue Reading…
Hope rises as the heart transforms and renews: 2 Chronicles 33 and 34
The reading today in 2 Chronicles 33 and 34 makes me ask wonder how the faith that we hold to with all of our heart, mind, soul, and strength can be instilled into the lives of our posterity. In chapter 35 Manasseh succeeds as king of Judah after Hezekiah’s death. How did Manasseh stray so far from God? Why did he choose to undo the good and true things of his father that glorified God? The Temple of the Lord was defiled by Manasseh of which God had said, “In this House and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen from all the tribes of Israel, I will put My name forever; and I will not again remove the foot of Israel from the land which I have appointed for your fathers, if only they will observe to do all that I have commanded them according to all the law, the statutes and the ordinances given through Moses.” 2 Chronicles 33:7,8 The people of Judah were led by Manasseh to set their hearts towards Great evil. What can help in moments when we are so far from our first love of God? Continue Reading…
Arise, cleanse, and restore the Temple: 2 Chronicles 29 and 30
What was important to Hezekiah? After the reign of Ahaz the kingdom of Judah is left in complete disarray. The temple is defiled and the people are worshiping idols and sacrificing their children. What would you do if you were Hezekiah? “In the first year of his reign, in the first month, he opened the doors of the house of the Lord and repaired them.” 2 Chronicles 29:3 The greatest concern of Hezekiah when he took over the reign of Judah was to restore the people’s dependance on God. What effect did Ahaz’s damage to the Temple have on the people when they were barred from entry? How should leader handle a situation where people have lost all regard for God?
It was vitally important for Hezekiah to tell the people of Judah how they strayed from God as seen in 2 Chronicles 29:6-11. The heart of Hezekiah is laid bare before the priests and Levites of Judah, “Now it is in my heart to make a covenant with the Lord God of Israel, that His burning anger may turn away from us. My sons, do not be negligent now, for the Lord has chosen you to stand before Him, to minister to Him, and to be His ministers and burn incense.” 2 Chronicles 29:10,11 Why is a tenderhearted leader so important? Hezekiah needed the priests and Levites to help point the people of Judah back to God. His openness before the people shows how sincerely he desired that all of Judah seek after God. If you are a leader do you openly share your heart with those you lead? What effect does that openness have? Continue Reading…
