Attitude of Gratitude

I know, O Lord, that the way of man is not in himself, that it is not in man who walks to direct his steps. Correct me, O Lord, but in justice; not in your anger, lest you bring me to nothing. Pour out your wrath on the nations that know you not, and on the peoples that call not on your name, for they have devoured Jacob; they have devoured him and consumed him, and have laid waste his habitation. (Jeremiah 10:23–25)

It takes time and many experiences to realize that I cannot direct my steps. It takes faith to realize that God corrects a sinful heart by grace and justice — grace to me and Jesus to bear my punishment. As I plow through Jeremiah, the seriousness of sin in the human heart is overwhelming — unless my focus goes to Jesus Christ and that He bore my guilt.

Why do you cry out over your hurt? Your pain is incurable. Because your guilt is great, because your sins are flagrant, I have done these things to you. Therefore all who devour you shall be devoured, and all your foes, every one of them, shall go into captivity; those who plunder you shall be plundered, and all who prey on you I will make a prey. For I will restore health to you, and your wounds I will heal, declares the Lord, because they have called you an outcast: ‘It is Zion, for whom no one cares!’ “Thus says the Lord: Behold, I will restore the fortunes of the tents of Jacob and have compassion on his dwellings; the city shall be rebuilt on its mound, and the palace shall stand where it used to be. Out of them shall come songs of thanksgiving, and the voices of those who celebrate. I will multiply them, and they shall not be few; I will make them honored, and they shall not be small. Their children shall be as they were of old, and their congregation shall be established before me, and I will punish all who oppress them. Their prince shall be one of themselves; their ruler shall come out from their midst; I will make him draw near, and he shall approach me, for who would dare of himself to approach me? declares the Lord. And you shall be my people, and I will be your God.” (Jeremiah 30:15–22)

Because the prophet keeps doing as God desires and keeps warning His people, I can lose my focus — except for passages like this one. I am beginning to skip some of the “therefore” warnings and looking for the promises rather than studying the threats and letting them depress me. Jeremiah is part of the history of redemption, yet the disobedience of God's people is not the end of the story.

Lord, I am thankful to be born this side of the cross. Even though knowing the faith needed to believe You will do what You say is a challenge now, I can imagine how it was a difficulty back then — before You came and lived here, died here, and rose from the dead. I am grateful for my place on Your timeline, and even more so that You kept Your promises to Israel and sent a Savior for not only them, but for me and for all humanity.

 

Releasing heavy loads…

“Am I a God at hand, declares the Lord, and not a God far away? Can a man hide himself in secret places so that I cannot see him? declares the Lord. Do I not fill heaven and earth? declares the Lord. I have heard what the prophets have said who prophesy lies in my name, saying, ‘I have dreamed, I have dreamed!’ How long shall there be lies in the heart of the prophets who prophesy lies, and who prophesy the deceit of their own heart, who think to make my people forget my name by their dreams that they tell one another, even as their fathers forgot my name for Baal? Let the prophet who has a dream tell the dream, but let him who has my word speak my word faithfully. What has straw in common with wheat? declares the Lord. Is not my word like fire, declares the Lord, and like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces? 
Therefore, behold, I am against the prophets, declares the Lord, who steal my words from one another. Behold, I am against the prophets, declares the Lord, who use their tongues and declare, ‘declares the Lord.’ Behold, I am against those who prophesy lying dreams, declares the Lord, and who tell them and lead my people astray by their lies and their recklessness, when I did not send them or charge them. So they do not profit this people at all, declares the Lord. “When one of this people, or a prophet or a priest asks you, ‘What is the burden of the Lord?’ you shall say to them, ‘You are the burden, and I will cast you off, declares the Lord.’ And as for the prophet, priest, or one of the people who says, ‘The burden of the Lord,’ I will punish that man and his household. Thus shall you say, every one to his neighbor and every one to his brother, ‘What has the Lord answered?’ or ‘What has the Lord spoken?’ But ‘the burden of the Lord’ you shall mention no more, for the burden is every man’s own word, and you pervert the words of the living God, the Lord of hosts, our God. Thus you shall say to the prophet, ‘What has the Lord answered you?’ or ‘What has the Lord spoken?’ But if you say, ‘The burden of the Lord,’ thus says the Lord, ‘Because you have said these words, “The burden of the Lord,” when I sent to you, saying, “You shall not say, ‘The burden of the Lord,’ ” therefore, behold, I will surely lift you up and cast you away from my presence, you and the city that I gave to you and your fathers. And I will bring upon you everlasting reproach and perpetual shame, which shall not be forgotten.’ ” (Jeremiah 23:23–40)

This passage offers a puzzle. Why interpret a word that is normally used for an oracle from God as a burden? With a bit of searching, I found that the Hebrew word for oracle is the same word used for a burden, in the sense that this is the weighty responsibility the the Lord gives. However, it can also refer to false teaching that puts a heavy weight on people, a burden that they cannot carry.

This sheds light on what Jesus said in the NT. Could it be that He was talking about the burden of trying to sort out truth and the burden of all the false ideas floating around?

Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28–30)

One reason to connect His statement with the OT prophet’s words is that the words Jesus says are a similar expression of comparing heavy with light, such as a heavy crate with the invoice on the top.

Jesus, I’ve tried and preferred the rest You give, even when life loads me down. How wonderful to see Your remedy ‘suggested’ by Jeremiah and later made clear and fulfilled by You.

His Glory takes priority over my comfort…

Concerning the prophets: My heart is broken within me; all my bones shake; I am like a drunken man, like a man overcome by wine, because of the Lord and because of his holy words. For the land is full of adulterers; because of the curse the land mourns, and the pastures of the wilderness are dried up. Their course is evil, and their might is not right. “Both prophet and priest are ungodly; even in my house I have found their evil, declares the Lord. Therefore their way shall be to them like slippery paths in the darkness, into which they shall be driven and fall, for I will bring disaster upon them in the year of their punishment, declares the Lord. 
In the prophets of Samaria I saw an unsavory thing: they prophesied by Baal and led my people Israel astray. But in the prophets of Jerusalem I have seen a horrible thing: they commit adultery and walk in lies; they strengthen the hands of evildoers, so that no one turns from his evil; all of them have become like Sodom to me, and its inhabitants like Gomorrah.” 
Therefore thus says the Lord of hosts concerning the prophets: “Behold, I will feed them with bitter food and give them poisoned water to drink, for from the prophets of Jerusalem ungodliness has gone out into all the land.” Thus says the Lord of hosts: “Do not listen to the words of the prophets who prophesy to you, filling you with vain hopes. They speak visions of their own minds, not from the mouth of the Lord. They say continually to those who despise the word of the Lord, ‘It shall be well with you’; and to everyone who stubbornly follows his own heart, they say, ‘No disaster shall come upon you.’ ” (Jeremiah 23:9–17)

It is one thing that cults and all sorts of isms preach and teach things contrary to the will and Word of God. He calls them slippery and unsavory, words that refer to folly and foolishness. But He says it is far worse when people whom He calls His people do it. He calls that horrible and adultery, words that mean fearful resulting in an ungodliness that fills the land.

How confusing this must be to those who earnestly want to know the truths of God. If they are told it is found in the “prosperity gospel” or in the “name it and claim it” or any other group, eventually truth and experience show them this is “visions from the mind” of people who follow their own heart and are not speaking for God.

I’ve noticed a current trend of teaching that our God is good and wants good for us, which is true, but He also uses trials to mature us or show us our sinful tendencies. However, I rarely hear Christians speak of learning in trials. Most of the time they are asking God to remove them, or fix the problems rather than use them for good, to teach and make them more like Jesus. The goal is personal comfort instead of faith, patience, maturity, all of which will glorify Him.

Jesus, we are on top of the world with rarefied air, pure water, amazing food, much to comfort and give us pleasure, and yet I’m finding myself wanting to be with You. You do give a deep-down joy, but You also make sense of uncomfortable situations and even stress. Without You, much of what I see and hear is meaningless or ‘no fun at all’ without Your wise and helpful input. Thank You for truth that makes sense rather than lies that stroke my ego or that confuse my selfish I-wants with the perfections of Your will. 

God wants to bless us…

“Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture!” declares the Lord. Therefore thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, concerning the shepherds who care for my people: “You have scattered my flock and have driven them away, and you have not attended to them. Behold, I will attend to you for your evil deeds, declares the Lord. Then I will gather the remnant of my flock out of all the countries where I have driven them, and I will bring them back to their fold, and they shall be fruitful and multiply. I will set shepherds over them who will care for them, and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, neither shall any be missing, declares the Lord. 
“Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. In his days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell securely. And this is the name by which he will be called: ‘The Lord is our righteousness.’ 
“Therefore, behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when they shall no longer say, ‘As the Lord lives who brought up the people of Israel out of the land of Egypt,’ but ‘As the Lord lives who brought up and led the offspring of the house of Israel out of the north country and out of all the countries where he had driven them.’ Then they shall dwell in their own land.” (Jeremiah 23:1–8)

Before this trip I prayed for the usual: good weather, safety, health, etc. but I also prayed for a clear view of Mount Denali. It is the highest mountain in North America and creates its own weather clouds. Many come to Alaska and cannot see it at all. On the train ride we were told only 1% get to see the top of it out of the 30% who get to see it at all. So I asked God to give us a 1% view, and He did! All that came after that was lovely but that answer to prayer was spectacular.

Devotions came later as we got on the train very early for this eleven hour trip and God makes another move that blesses me. His people had been led astray, but He promised to bring them back, give them a perfect Shepherd, who became their righteousness and mine too, and give them a forever home.

Jesus, You are incredibly good and perfectly able to do what is best for Your people. However, it is those often daily surprises that put great joy and increased love for You in my heart. I’ve been filled all day with praise for You, Your creation, and Your kindness. Thank You so much.

Speaking for God?

. . . . I have become a laughingstock all the day; everyone mocks me. For whenever I speak, I cry out, I shout, “Violence and destruction!” For the word of the Lord has become for me a reproach and derision all day long. If I say, “I will not mention him, or speak any more in his name,” there is in my heart as it were a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I am weary with holding it in, and I cannot. For I hear many whispering. Terror is on every side! “Denounce him! Let us denounce him!” say all my close friends, watching for my fall. “Perhaps he will be deceived; then we can overcome him and take our revenge on him.” But the Lord is with me as a dread warrior; therefore my persecutors will stumble; they will not overcome me. They will be greatly shamed, for they will not succeed. Their eternal dishonor will never be forgotten. O Lord of hosts, who tests the righteous, who sees the heart and the mind, let me see your vengeance upon them, for to you have I committed my cause. Sing to the Lord; praise the Lord! For he has delivered the life of the needy from the hand of evildoers. (Jeremiah 20:7–13)

Those who heard this prophet speak tried to shut him down, even kill him, yet he could not hold in the word from the Lord even when he tried to stop. Those who persecuted him were not stronger than the God who delivered him. 

A few days ago we landed in an Alaska city and took an Uber to a glacier about twenty minutes away. We arranged with the driver to pick us up in an hour and take us back to the docks. On the way, we discovered he is a Christian pastor serving in the same denomination that we do. The conversation was delightful as he had no fear of an argument or resistance from us. His transparent sharing made me wonder if I would be like that if I was the driver. Not only did he share his heart, he would not let us pay for the return trip.

This man was like Jeremiah, bold — and also like Jesus, loving and generous. His way of treating us encourages me to be like that, and that is what Christian fellowship and spiritual communion should do.

Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. (Ephesians 4:29–5:2)

Christian squabbles dishonor God and what should be a fragrant offering and a sacrifice turns faith into a smelly selfishness that God will not bless. 

Jesus, this is a good reminder to me. Complaining about other Christians has a similar effect. It does not build up anyone, neither believers or those without faith who hear it. Jeremiah was given a task by You that put him in a difficult place where he must rebuke sin but not use words that would further corrupt his listeners. The only way he could do it was because You promised to protect him and You put out Your hand and touched his mouth.

God’s unexpected cure

“And when you tell this people all these words, and they say to you, ‘Why has the Lord pronounced all this great evil against us? What is our iniquity? What is the sin that we have committed against the Lord our God?’ then you shall say to them: ‘Because your fathers have forsaken me, declares the Lord, and have gone after other gods and have served and worshiped them, and have forsaken me and have not kept my law, and because you have done worse than your fathers, for behold, every one of you follows his stubborn, evil will, refusing to listen to me. Therefore I will hurl you out of this land into a land that neither you nor your fathers have known, and there you shall serve other gods day and night, for I will show you no favor.’ 
“Therefore, behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when it shall no longer be said, ‘As the Lord lives who brought up the people of Israel out of the land of Egypt,’ but ‘As the Lord lives who brought up the people of Israel out of the north country and out of all the countries where he had driven them.’ For I will bring them back to their own land that I gave to their fathers. (Jeremiah 16:10–15)

This study using “therefore” is about cause and effect, not according to my feeble and usually missed by a mile guesses but according to the way God works out His will. The above passage tells His OT people that because they have turned to other gods He is going to send them to a northern land where those other gods are served exclusively. It was an odd punishment, but history says that ended idol worship for the people of Israel. The prophet goes on to say:

For my eyes are on all their ways. They are not hidden from me, nor is their iniquity concealed from my eyes. But first I will doubly repay their iniquity and their sin, because they have polluted my land with the carcasses of their detestable idols, and have filled my inheritance with their abominations.” O Lord, my strength and my stronghold, my refuge in the day of trouble, to you shall the nations come from the ends of the earth and say: “Our fathers have inherited nothing but lies, worthless things in which there is no profit. Can man make for himself gods? Such are not gods!” “Therefore, behold, I will make them know, this once I will make them know my power and my might, and they shall know that my name is the Lord.” (Jeremiah 16:17–21)

Think of this odd cure this way. If my child was addicted to video games, would I even suppose the making him play them all day long for weeks on end would sicken him to the point that he never wanted to do it again? Likely not. God’s ways are not our ways!

If I have a bad habit, does repeating it make me sick of it? Most are not as God-dishonoring as idolatry. Suppose I was a smoker (not true but for example) His cure might be making me smoke a carton of cigarettes in one day making me totally sick of it. 

Jesus, this “therefore” is making me think. I expect an interesting day! Besides that, we are in Glacier Bay in Alaska and told to expect all sorts of wonderful sights — and I’m thinking it unlikely that this over-exposure to them will make me want to return to my plain life!

 

No false teaching

Then I said: “Ah, Lord God, behold, the prophets say to them, ‘You shall not see the sword, nor shall you have famine, but I will give you assured peace in this place.’ ” And the Lord said to me: “The prophets are prophesying lies in my name. I did not send them, nor did I command them or speak to them. They are prophesying to you a lying vision, worthless divination, and the deceit of their own minds. Therefore thus says the Lord concerning the prophets who prophesy in my name although I did not send them, and who say, ‘Sword and famine shall not come upon this land’: By sword and famine those prophets shall be consumed. And the people to whom they prophesy shall be cast out in the streets of Jerusalem, victims of famine and sword, with none to bury them—them, their wives, their sons, and their daughters. For I will pour out their evil upon them. (Jeremiah 14:13–16)

I’ve already realized that the power of positive thinking is over-rated. However, it does not seem to motivate false prophets. I know a few of them and they are self-appointed rather than divinely called. One in particular seems driven by personal pride. Others have their own ideologies or visions, perhaps driven by the Liar whose goal is to prevent truth from changing lives. Most of them form their belief systems on fragments of Scripture rather than the whole context. 

They might be ‘nice’ people, not coming across as raving lunatics. They may also be very sincere and believable, but when it comes to spiritual truth or speaking for God, the only way to know that they are not what they claim is to know the Word of God.

The NT says we are in a battle for truth, and since lies come from the devil, it is his schemes that are designed to deceive. To counter that, we need the whole armor of God as we wrestle against his rulers, authorities, and cosmic powers — the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. The whole armor of God means knowing what is true and standing firm in it, including declaring it boldly. (Ephesians 6:10–20)

Spotting false teachers is not difficult for those who know the Word of God well. Not only that, God will eventually deal with them. It might be harsh judgment, yet if those who are caught in lies and try to teach them to others realize their error and repent, He will forgive and restore them:

Therefore thus says the Lord: “If you return, I will restore you, and you shall stand before me. If you utter what is precious, and not what is worthless, you shall be as my mouth. They shall turn to you, but you shall not turn to them. And I will make you to this people a fortified wall of bronze; they will fight against you, but they shall not prevail over you, for I am with you to save you and deliver you, declares the Lord. I will deliver you out of the hand of the wicked, and redeem you from the grasp of the ruthless.” (Jeremiah 15:19–21)

Those who fit this category can be Christians already, just misled. Galatians 6 tells us to restore them. Conviction and correction are not the same as condemnation. We are in this battle together against falsehood, not against each other.

Jesus, grant me discernment and the ability to spot false teaching and loving ways to correct it. Also keep me from listening to lies and spot any false ideas I might have. I want You to be glorified, not spoken about in any sort of error.

No hangover

“Though our iniquities testify against us, act, O Lord, for your name’s sake; for our backslidings are many; we have sinned against you. O you hope of Israel, its savior in time of trouble, why should you be like a stranger in the land, like a traveler who turns aside to tarry for a night? Why should you be like a man confused, like a mighty warrior who cannot save? Yet you, O Lord, are in the midst of us, and we are called by your name; do not leave us.” Thus says the Lord concerning this people: “They have loved to wander thus; they have not restrained their feet; therefore the Lord does not accept them; now he will remember their iniquity and punish their sins.” (Jeremiah 14:7–10)

In these NT years where God's people know total forgiveness, taking it for granted happens. If I drift into a lazidactable attitude toward even small sin with no concern for my selfish behavior, I know that Jesus died for me and that I’ve already been forgiven. Had He not done so, I could expect the wrath of God and His action against me.

Has God changed because of the Cross? What am I supposed to think about my sinfulness now that Jesus died for all of it? Take forgiveness for granted? Or act according to gratitude? Being so thankful that I don’t want to add another painful sin to the load that He bore for the entire world?

An “I’m okay” attitude happens. Or my I-wants can become so important to me that I forget the cost to Him by insisting, forgetting, taking forgiveness as a right rather than a gracious gift. This is what was happening in the days of the prophets. The people who heard Jeremiah would not listen. God said not to pray for them; they would not listen so He would not listen either. They wondered why He would not rescue them or spare them from the consequences of their folly of this “Your help is my right” attitude.

Some might say I am being too serious about this, yet better that than being not serious enough. Jesus died for me. Should I not live for Him? Jesus lives in me. Should I not shut down all that keeps His life from being in charge of everything I do?

Jesus, I am looking out a stateroom window of a large ship at the beauty of Juno, Alaska. Some people on this ship will go ashore and hit the bars. Others will marvel at the beauty of what You have done here and find joy in that. I want my ‘hangover’ from this trip to last forever, just like I want the attitudes and actions of my life to survive the tests to come at the judgement seat of Christ. If what I do will only last for this life, nothing is gained for me, nor will there be glory for You. Fill me up today as we walk through it so that  forget about me and focus on You — that You may be glorified.

 

Boasting that He is all I need…

And the Lord says: “Because they have forsaken my law that I set before them, and have not obeyed my voice or walked in accord with it, but have stubbornly followed their own hearts and have gone after the Baals, as their fathers taught them. Therefore thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: Behold, I will feed this people with bitter food, and give them poisonous water to drink. I will scatter them among the nations whom neither they nor their fathers have known, and I will send the sword after them, until I have consumed them.” (Jeremiah 9:13–16)

This OT prophet has very little positive declarations. He was speaking to stubborn people who did their own thing and were being warned of the consequences of a life that ignores the Lord. Repetition of this theme can be helpful, but I want something more positive. However, there is one passage after this one that touched my heart as a new Christian. In plain language, it tells me what to do and how to think:

Thus says the Lord: “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the Lord.” (Jeremiah 9:23–24)

I’ve often boasted in being smart, as in knowing lots, but not in being wise. Wisdom is knowing how to live according to what I know. I’ve never felt wise, but rather confused and uncertain. Many times, I’ve not known what to do even though I know many facts. 

I’m certainly not mighty in any sense of the word. I’ve had congestive heart failure for years, affecting physical might. Anything like mighty in influence, or other abilities eludes me. The older I get, the weaker and more unable I feel. I can only boast in that I sleep well, yet know that is God's doing.

As for riches, I’ve been both poor and with money, surviving poverty and gaining wealth with none of it by my efforts. God takes care of me in that department, often with amazing surprises. 

So Jeremiah’s words about boasting struck me. Boasting that I know the Lord and understand His ways (even partly) is something I can do. He has shown me that He “practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth” becomes an easy boast, one that makes sense to me. I need His wisdom and power, and He takes care of my finances in ways that I cannot do or even imagine. 

The best part is that when I boast in Him, He takes delight in that, not that He needs that sort of affirmation, but He is joyful that I know this is truth — truth that He has made known to me.

Jesus, You are the power and wisdom I need. Not only that, You supply the material resources I need also. I’ve been poor and rich, yet You have taken care of me in both extremes. I am so grateful that knowing You and understanding You means being rich and wise and even mighty in You, and keeps me from that stubborn stupidity that prevents me from the consequences that otherwise I would experience if left to my own useless and even deadly devices. Bless You, my wonderful Savior.

Marks of no faith or true faith…

Oh that I had in the desert a travelers’ lodging place, that I might leave my people and go away from them! For they are all adulterers, a company of treacherous men. They bend their tongue like a bow; falsehood and not truth has grown strong in the land; for they proceed from evil to evil, and they do not know me, declares the Lord. Let everyone beware of his neighbor, and put no trust in any brother, for every brother is a deceiver, and every neighbor goes about as a slanderer. Everyone deceives his neighbor, and no one speaks the truth; they have taught their tongue to speak lies; they weary themselves committing iniquity. Heaping oppression upon oppression, and deceit upon deceit, they refuse to know me, declares the Lord. Therefore thus says the Lord of hosts: “Behold, I will refine them and test them, for what else can I do, because of my people? Their tongue is a deadly arrow; it speaks deceitfully; with his mouth each speaks peace to his neighbor, but in his heart he plans an ambush for him. Shall I not punish them for these things? declares the Lord, and shall I not avenge myself on a nation such as this? (Jeremiah 9:2–9)

Some of our friends have been violently persecuted by family members when they left family tradition and became Christians. Imagine what anguish this would cause. Imagine the way they would feel had they not changed faith but were treated like that anyway.

This passage describes God's response to those who claim to know Him but do not. They show their lack of faith by the way they treat others who make the same claim. From this, the simple application is “examine the way I treat other Christians.”

The NT description of measuring true faith is the same:

By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother. For this is the message that you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. We should not be like Cain, who was of the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own deeds were evil and his brother’s righteous. . . . We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers. Whoever does not love abides in death. Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him. By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him? Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth. (1 John 3:10–18)

Love is an action word, not an emotion or mere talk. It is about meeting needs. It is also about loving enemies as well and not taking revenge when mistreated.

Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. (Romans 12:17–21)

Being this kind of person is a daily challenge. To me it includes the crazy driver who cuts me off in traffic, the clerk who short changes with a smirk, the belittling remark of another Christian about my ministry, and the unkind reception of a relative to gifts. Love all, even enemies.

Jesus, You love like no other and set the high example for me. Bless You for not only showing how but making this amazing love for others possible.

Connecting the Dots…

Therefore I will give their wives to others and their fields to conquerors, because from the least to the greatest everyone is greedy for unjust gain; from prophet to priest, everyone deals falsely. They have healed the wound of my people lightly, saying, ‘Peace, peace,’ when there is no peace. Were they ashamed when they committed abomination? No, they were not at all ashamed; they did not know how to blush. Therefore they shall fall among the fallen; when I punish them, they shall be overthrown, says the Lord. When I would gather them, declares the Lord, there are no grapes on the vine, nor figs on the fig tree; even the leaves are withered, and what I gave them has passed away from them.” (Jeremiah 8:10–13)

Consequences. If I do this, what will happen? When the news reports the latest decisions by political or business decision makers, it seems far too many of them guess what will happen next based on their hopes rather than historical evidence or popular thinking. While ‘time while tell’ no one can predict the future.

The OT people who read this warning from God must not have believed Him concerning this as well as concerning obedience. Think of a child whose parent threatens punishment for misbehaving but the child simple keeps on doing what they are doing, or refusing to do what they should be doing. This child is not only willful but does not see the rationale or love in the commandment. “Don’t touch the stove” is heard as “Touch the stove” because of that immature and selfish attitude of “I want what I want when I want it.” 

Not only that, some will connect the consequences to something other than their own actions. The stove was hot because mother left it on, or no one informed them about burns and pain. Multiply this simple example by the complexity of life and no wonder so many folks are surprised and upset with what is happening in our world and in their lives.

Personally, I cannot be responsible for much of it. Even my own live demands decisions with unknown results. What can I do to have assurance the results will be okay? This comes to mind:

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. (Proverbs 3:5–6)

A small example. Last night we were invited to the home of friends. We had not eaten and thought to grab a hamburger on the way. My hubby decided the Lord was telling him not to do that but stay for a short visit and perhaps eat on the way home. When we arrived, our hostess had prepared a fantastic meal for us — which we would have missed if we had followed our original plan. 

Jesus, if I don’t listen to You, the results may not show up right away. I’ve learned that the hard way. Keep me tuned in to You, trusting You for consequences that are a blessing, or at least a strong lesson in Your power to use my obedience for Your glory.

Bad news yet forgiveness…

Thus says the Lord: “Stand by the roads, and look, and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is; and walk in it, and find rest for your souls. But they said, ‘We will not walk in it.’ I set watchmen over you, saying, ‘Pay attention to the sound of the trumpet!’ But they said, ‘We will not pay attention.’ Therefore hear, O nations, and know, O congregation, what will happen to them. Hear, O earth; behold, I am bringing disaster upon this people, the fruit of their devices, because they have not paid attention to my words; and as for my law, they have rejected it. What use to me is frankincense that comes from Sheba, or sweet cane from a distant land? Your burnt offerings are not acceptable, nor your sacrifices pleasing to me. Therefore thus says the Lord: ‘Behold, I will lay before this people stumbling blocks against which they shall stumble; fathers and sons together, neighbor and friend shall perish.’ ” Thus says the Lord: “Behold, a people is coming from the north country, a great nation is stirring from the farthest parts of the earth. They lay hold on bow and javelin; they are cruel and have no mercy; the sound of them is like the roaring sea; they ride on horses, set in array as a man for battle, against you, O daughter of Zion!” (Jeremiah 6:16–23)

Is God still like this? Maybe a better question: are people still like this? Last night I was restless and decided to watch a cop show that I usually don’t watch. It was about a woman who worked for a risqué dating service and discovered (for a friend who also worked for that service) the real name of a client who abused her friend. Before she could tell her friend who it was, she was murdered. Eventually the police found out who he was and the other crimes he was guilty of and arrested him. He was a pastor. 

I couldn’t sleep. This was too much, yet this passage from an OT prophet made me wonder if those who consider themselves God's people can be as guilty of hypocrisy as those on fictional television. Do any ‘saints’ refuse to live that way when no one is looking? God knows, and He knows what to do about it.

And now, because you have done all these things, declares the Lord, and when I spoke to you persistently you did not listen, and when I called you, you did not answer, therefore. . . . I will cast you out of my sight, as I cast out all your kinsmen. . . . As for you, do not pray for this people, or lift up a cry or prayer for them, and do not intercede with me, for I will not hear you. (They) make cakes for the queen of heaven. And they pour out drink offerings to other gods, to provoke me to anger. Is it I whom they provoke? declares the Lord. Is it not themselves, to their own shame? Therefore thus says the Lord God: Behold, my anger and my wrath will be poured out on this place, upon man and beast, upon the trees of the field and the fruit of the ground; it will burn and not be quenched.” (Jeremiah 7:13–20)

What does the NT say about all this? It tells of a man similar to the one on the TV show. Paul wrote: “It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that is not tolerated even among pagans, for a man has his father’s wife. And you are arrogant! Ought you not rather to mourn? Let him who has done this be removed from among you.” (1 Corinthians 5:1–2) So the guilty one was to be put out rather than instantly pardoned, but after a time, Paul wrote this:

Now if anyone has caused pain, he has caused it not to me, but in some measure—not to put it too severely—to all of you. For such a one, this punishment by the majority is enough, so you should rather turn to forgive and comfort him, or he may be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. So I beg you to reaffirm your love for him. For this is why I wrote, that I might test you and know whether you are obedient in everything. Anyone whom you forgive, I also forgive. Indeed, what I have forgiven, if I have forgiven anything, has been for your sake in the presence of Christ, so that we would not be outwitted by Satan; for we are not ignorant of his designs. (2 Corinthians 2:5–11)

Lord, I assume the man repented. I also assume this should be the way I respond to others whose sin marked them as ungodly hypocrites — genuine repentance is vital (1 John 1:9) because that is the way back to You, Jesus. People might fool other people but they cannot fool You. And to be like You, I must be as quick to forgive as I am angry over sin.

Transformation can be costly

To whom shall I speak and give warning, that they may hear? Behold, their ears are uncircumcised, they cannot listen; behold, the word of the Lord is to them an object of scorn; they take no pleasure in it. Therefore I am full of the wrath of the Lord; I am weary of holding it in. 
“Pour it out upon the children in the street, and upon the gatherings of young men, also; both husband and wife shall be taken, the elderly and the very aged. Their houses shall be turned over to others, their fields and wives together, for I will stretch out my hand against the inhabitants of the land,” declares the Lord. For from the least to the greatest of them, everyone is greedy for unjust gain; and from prophet to priest, everyone deals falsely. They have healed the wound of my people lightly, saying, ‘Peace, peace,’ when there is no peace. Were they ashamed when they committed abomination? No, they were not at all ashamed; they did not know how to blush. Therefore they shall fall among those who fall; at the time that I punish them, they shall be overthrown,” says the Lord. (Jeremiah 6:10–15)

While Jeremiah is an OT favorite book, I understand why many Christians do not read it, and many pastors do not preach from it. Why not? Because much of it is strong warnings and rebukes for sin. We know that the Messiah came and died for all of it and offers us forgiveness and a new life, and that is our focus. However, we all know how that victory does not make our battle against sin go away.

Nor does it lessen our responsibility to tell those still caught it its lies the truth of what Jesus has done to defeat death and offer us no condemnation for our guilt. He bore it all. Why then do Christians still get tempted and sometimes fall back into that trap? Didn’t Christ free us from sin?

Yes, the guilt and punishment, even sin’s power has been defeated, but not everyone walks in the truth of that. Our old nature is dead, separated from God, yet it hangs on to us like the dead body of murdered people were one hung on the backs of those who did the deed. The stench is supposed to be a reminder to never yield to sin or pull me back into repeating my old ways, yet that pride of “I’m okay and good” becomes a snare to slide into running my own life.

Not only that, in my new life I am supposed to love others enough to help anyone who gets caught or recaptured by sin:

Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. (Galatians 6:1–3)
We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. For Christ did not please himself, but as it is written, “The reproaches of those who reproached you fell on me.” (Romans 15:1–3)

This is hard work. Those caught in sin have problems with being restored. Pride keeps me from admitting my problems. Selfishness keeps me from wanting to take time and effort to gently restore others. It is less trouble to ignore them, not care, walk the other way, look down my nose, or even pray now and then, than it is to really want or take action to encourage holiness — both in myself and in those around me.

This is reason enough to pray for and support other Christians, especially our pastors, not question or criticize them or their work. God goes to great lengths to transform us into the image of His Son. Should I not be willing to be transformed to that same image? What do I need to give up to be more like Him? Reputation? Friends? Time? Energy? The list can be long.

Jesus, I’m not thrilled to read all these OT rebukes and warnings, but they do apply to the transformation You intend in my salvation. Work Your will into my heart and increase my desire to do and be whatever You spell out for me.

Saved from…

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.’ Your iniquities have turned these away, and your sins have kept good from you. For wicked men are found among my people; they lurk like fowlers lying in wait. They set a trap; they catch men. Like a cage full of birds, their houses are full of deceit; therefore they have become great and rich; they have grown fat and sleek. They know no bounds in deeds of evil; they judge not with justice the cause of the fatherless, to make it prosper, and they do not defend the rights of the needy. Shall I not punish them for these things? declares the Lord, and shall I not avenge myself on a nation such as this?” An appalling and horrible thing has happened in the land: the prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests rule at their direction; my people love to have it so, but what will you do when the end comes? Flee for safety, O people of Benjamin, from the midst of Jerusalem! Blow the trumpet in Tekoa, and raise a signal on Beth-haccherem, for disaster looms out of the north, and great destruction. (Jeremiah 5:23–6:1)

A pastor says we can choose whatever we want, but we cannot choose the consequences. This remark was made to encourage listeners to choose faith in Jesus Christ because sitting on the fence is the same as saying NO to Him and the consequences for doing that are eternal condemnation.

The OT prophets wrote the same message to those with that same attitude and God said, “Shall I not punish them for these things?” He had every right to do so because His law says, “The soul that sins shall die” with death meaning separation from God forever. Very likely this is the consequence referred to by His statement, “But what will you do when the end comes?” Yet the above passage speaks of other consequences, such as withholding rain and other disasters in their lives.

Not all current affairs are the result of the sins of those who suffer in this life, but that final separation from God is certain for those who say NO to Jesus Christ. That is the bad news. The good news is:

Jesus said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. (John 14:6)

And for those who take that seriously, the Word of God says: 

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. (Romans 8:1)

And this is very good news!

Jesus, You don’t promise comfort and a perfect life here as a consequence, but You do promise an abundant life, and the peace that passes understanding, and the assurance of eternal life. You walk with me and hear my prayers. Death is no longer a dreaded separation but a changed life now and assurance of eternity with You. 

The Best Place to be…

O Lord, do not your eyes look for truth? You have struck them down, but they felt no anguish; you have consumed them, but they refused to take correction. They have made their faces harder than rock; they have refused to repent. Then I said, “These are only the poor; they have no sense; for they do not know the way of the Lord, the justice of their God. I will go to the great and will speak to them, for they know the way of the Lord, the justice of their God.” But they all alike had broken the yoke; they had burst the bonds. Therefore a lion from the forest shall strike them down; a wolf from the desert shall devastate them. A leopard is watching their cities; everyone who goes out of them shall be torn in pieces, because their transgressions are many, their apostasies are great. 
“How can I pardon you? Your children have forsaken me and have sworn by those who are no gods. When I fed them to the full, they committed adultery and trooped to the houses of whores. (Jeremiah 5:1-7)

Jeremiah uses colorful but crude words to describe the condition of God's people who were worshiping other gods. They were like men who lusted after women other than their wives. He tells them what will happen to them because they refused to listen to and obey Him:

Shall I not punish them for these things? declares the Lord; and shall I not avenge myself on a nation such as this? “Go up through her vine rows and destroy, but make not a full end; strip away her branches, for they are not the Lord’s. For the house of Israel and the house of Judah have been utterly treacherous to me, declares the Lord. They have spoken falsely of the Lord and have said, ‘He will do nothing; no disaster will come upon us, nor shall we see sword or famine. The prophets will become wind; the word is not in them. Thus shall it be done to them!’ ” 
Therefore thus says the Lord, the God of hosts: “Because you have spoken this word, behold, I am making my words in your mouth a fire, and this people wood, and the fire shall consume them. Behold, I am bringing against you a nation from afar, O house of Israel, declares the Lord. It is an enduring nation; it is an ancient nation, a nation whose language you do not know, nor can you understand what they say. Their quiver is like an open tomb; they are all mighty warriors. They shall eat up your harvest and your food; they shall eat up your sons and your daughters; they shall eat up your flocks and your herds; they shall eat up your vines and your fig trees; your fortified cities in which you trust they shall beat down with the sword.” 
“But even in those days, declares the Lord, I will not make a full end of you. And when your people say, ‘Why has the Lord our God done all these things to us?’ you shall say to them, ‘As you have forsaken me and served foreign gods in your land, so you shall serve foreigners in a land that is not yours.’ ” (Jeremiah 5:8–19)

Even though obedience to God does not earn salvation or His mercy, when God freely offers it and we refuse it, there are consequences for our rejection. Like this OT description, I can expect that ignoring God to do my own thing (sin) things will happen that could have been avoided, or at least I will remove my ability to remain joyful in trials — because God will not bless my disobedience.

I could be wrong, but in my observations, obedience does not make for a prosperous life (it could) but it can make for peace and joy in trials. If I am disobedient, trials are designed to pull me to the faith God wants for me. He may still answer prayer if I am being a brat, but I will not have that same sense of security that comes when I know I am doing what He tells me to do. In other words, my salvation does not depend on what I do, but He blesses those who listen and obey and He disciplines those who do not.

Jesus, I know it is easy to fall into thinking I can earn anything from You by obedience but that twists the purpose of Your blessings. You bless me so I can rejoice in and praise You, not so I can boast that I earned it. You want the best for me and sin cannot deliver that. Obedience can feel like being between a rock and a hard place, but You are my Rock and I know the best place to be.

What is God really like?

But you who forsake the Lord, who forget my holy mountain, who set a table for Fortune and fill cups of mixed wine for Destiny, I will destine you to the sword, and all of you shall bow down to the slaughter, because, when I called, you did not answer; when I spoke, you did not listen, but you did what was evil in my eyes and chose what I did not delight in.” Therefore thus says the Lord God: “Behold, my servants shall eat, but you shall be hungry; behold, my servants shall drink, but you shall be thirsty; behold, my servants shall rejoice, but you shall be put to shame; behold, my servants shall sing for gladness of heart, but you shall cry out for pain of heart and shall wail for breaking of spirit. You shall leave your name to my chosen for a curse, and the Lord God will put you to death, but his servants he will call by another name, so that he who blesses himself in the land shall bless himself by the God of truth, and he who takes an oath in the land shall swear by the God of truth; because the former troubles are forgotten and are hidden from my eyes. “For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth, and the former things shall not be remembered or come into mind. (Isaiah 65:11–17)

Hell and judgment are not popular topics. But what would I think of a God who claims to be holy yet puts up with persistent sin? Could I worship a God who mercifully offers forgiveness and freedom from sin and then looks the other way when sinners prefer their choices over such grace? Does not God have the right to withhold blessing or eternal life from the people who defy Him or just ignore Him?

We get upset with the police who ignore crime or even speedsters who break the law plainly written on road signs. We get upset with doctors who ignore symptoms and tell sick people to take two aspirins and go home. It bothers many to see children abandoned by their parents or teachers who ignore their class. Yet God is criticized for letting the consequences of sin take down those who will not listen to Him and insist on sin?

It should break my heart to see the rich abuse the poor, and political leaders use their power for personal gain. I should also be glad to hear the prophets make declarations such as these:

“Therefore I still contend with you, declares the Lord, and with your children’s children I will contend. For cross to the coasts of Cyprus and see, or send to Kedar and examine with care; see if there has been such a thing. Has a nation changed its gods, even though they are no gods? But my people have changed their glory for that which does not profit. Be appalled, O heavens, at this; be shocked, be utterly desolate, declares the Lord, for my people have committed two evils: they have forsaken me, the fountain of living waters, and hewed out cisterns for themselves, broken cisterns that can hold no water. (Jeremiah 2:9–13)

How sad to see the ‘wealthy and wise’ of this world value their gods that cannot see or talk and will not last, nor go to the grave with them, and to watch them live as if they are gods themselves, ruining lives until they themselves also become terminal.

And yet the love of God remains. No one is beyond repentance and redemption. How different He is from the gods of this world who entrap and bind people in sin and selfishness that ruins their destiny and harms so many along the way.

Jesus, no wonder You tell us to pray for those leaders. Not for our comfort but for their souls and for us to be at peace even if they keep on resisting You. Grant me the patience that trusts You with those who say no. You might lead them to repentance, but like the prophets say, You may also leave them to eternal punishment. 

Changed lives…

I will recount the steadfast love of the Lord, the praises of the Lord, according to all that the Lord has granted us, and the great goodness to the house of Israel that he has granted them according to his compassion, according to the abundance of his steadfast love. For he said, “Surely they are my people, children who will not deal falsely.” And he became their Savior. In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them; in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; he lifted them up and carried them all the days of old. But they rebelled and grieved his Holy Spirit; therefore he turned to be their enemy, and himself fought against them. Then he remembered the days of old, of Moses and his people. Where is he who brought them up out of the sea with the shepherds of his flock? Where is he who put in the midst of them his Holy Spirit, who caused his glorious arm to go at the right hand of Moses, who divided the waters before them to make for himself an everlasting name, who led them through the depths? Like a horse in the desert, they did not stumble. Like livestock that go down into the valley, the Spirit of the Lord gave them rest. So you led your people, to make for yourself a glorious name. (Isaiah 63:7–14)

As a new Christian many years ago, my mentor had me do a Bible study on sin. I don’t remember the details of that lengthy study, but realize the wisdom of this assignment. Instead of responding to conviction of sin with honest confession, it made me realize how often I made excuses for it. 

That happens, sometimes with deliberate deception in order to cover it, and sometimes with a sincere belief that whatever was done was okay. These days, I think of a non-Christian who takes great effort to do and say the right things. Another person is a Christian but takes the glory for all his skills to the point of bragging about them. As these things happen, I feel sadness. Both are stressed with their actions and attitude and yet cannot see (or admit) that they are doing the wrong thing by being insincere. 

My role? Pray. One is oblivious to her hypocrisy. The other is hearing rebuke but his pride holds tight to his own power to do good.

Jesus, it has taken me years to see how I’ve done both. My pride in myself has blocked my relationship with You. Once I could see and honestly deal wit it, what a difference. As I’ve told these two, being weak and unable is actually better than thinking I can do it all without You. In feeling and admitting, I rely on You and then discover more love and power than I’d never know otherwise. Your ways and Your will are always a joyful surprise. I’d love to see You in action in the lives of these two people. Right now, both seem oblivious, yet You are God who can reveal truth and change hearts. May they hear You and be transformed.

Promises for family…

The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn; to grant to those who mourn in Zion— to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit; that they may be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he may be glorified. They shall build up the ancient ruins; they shall raise up the former devastations; they shall repair the ruined cities, the devastations of many generations. Strangers shall stand and tend your flocks; foreigners shall be your plowmen and vinedressers; but you shall be called the priests of the Lord; they shall speak of you as the ministers of our God; you shall eat the wealth of the nations, and in their glory you shall boast. Instead of your shame there shall be a double portion; instead of dishonor they shall rejoice in their lot; therefore in their land they shall possess a double portion; they shall have everlasting joy. (Isaiah 61:1–7)

Even Christians alert to the mess in the world worry about what will be the fate of our children and grandchildren. Some speak of the return of Christ, yet with concern that the generation that experiences that wonderful event will suffer greatly. Such worry is either ignorant of God's promises, or unaware of what He can do. 

Is the above passage a lie? A false promise? Up until now, everything God promised has happened. Is He going to cease bringing good news to the poor, or stop binding up the brokenhearted? Will there be no more liberty for those who are not free, or comfort for those who grieve? Will God granting righteousness to sinners and cease bringing glory to Himself?

If I trust Him now, for today’s faith and and spiritual needs, and to bring me through tests and trials, why not trust Him to do the same in the future, or even for those who are not yet born? 

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. (Hebrews 13:8)

God does not change. My offspring might, but that depends on Him. He can draw them to Himself and give them redemption and the new life of Christ. For this, whether I get to see it or not, I have the assurances of God's unchanging love and promises. He says:

All your children shall be taught by the Lord, and great shall be the peace of your children. (Isaiah 54:13)

My part? Obey the Lord. Do what He says. Teach as He leads. Live like His Son. Pray for them always.

Jesus, Your Spirit convicts of sin an grants understanding and redemption. May I not interfere with what You do and speak, but support and glorify You by what I do and say. 

 

OT Gospel

Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save, or his ear dull, that it cannot hear; but your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear. (Isaiah 59:1–2)
Therefore justice is far from us, and righteousness does not overtake us; we hope for light, and behold, darkness, and for brightness, but we walk in gloom. We grope for the wall like the blind; we grope like those who have no eyes; we stumble at noon as in the twilight, among those in full vigor we are like dead men. (Isaiah 59:9–10)

Good news begins with bad news. All are sinners, separated from God as He hides His face from us. Sin requires punishment. But love and mercy demand justice…

Truth is lacking, and he who departs from evil makes himself a prey. The Lord saw it, and it displeased him that there was no justice. He saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no one to intercede; then his own arm brought him salvation, and his righteousness upheld him. He put on righteousness as a breastplate, and a helmet of salvation on his head; he put on garments of vengeance for clothing, and wrapped himself in zeal as a cloak. (Isaiah 59:15–17)

Therefore God puts on a human body, is born to human parents, grows up as a sinless man, and takes our place to receive what we deserve for our sin…

“And a Redeemer will come to Zion, to those in Jacob who turn from transgression,” declares the Lord. “And as for me, this is my covenant with them,” says the Lord: “My Spirit that is upon you, and my words that I have put in your mouth, shall not depart out of your mouth, or out of the mouth of your offspring, or out of the mouth of your children’s offspring,” says the Lord, “from this time forth and forevermore.” 

And because of His amazing grace, we enter His kingdom, with His ways, blessings, a new way to live, and all goodness and glory comes to us because the Lord died that we might live…

Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the Lord will arise upon you, and his glory will be seen upon you. And nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising. Lift up your eyes all around, and see; they all gather together, they come to you; your sons shall come from afar, and your daughters shall be carried on the hip. Then you shall see and be radiant; your heart shall thrill and exult, because the abundance of the sea shall be turned to you, the wealth of the nations shall come to you. (Isaiah 59:20–60:5)

God silenced the bad news by becoming a substitute to redeem sinners, to bring good news and change our destiny. What a wonder! Jesus died for me and He now lives in me — and in all who believe.

But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?” So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ. (Romans 10:16–17)

Jesus, the desire of my heart is that all hear it, all believe it, all join me in this journey from sinner to saint, from hell-bound to heaven-bound, from fear to freedom, from shame to glory, from death to eternal life.

He is both merciful and just…

The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn; to grant to those who mourn in Zion— to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit; that they may be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he may be glorified. They shall build up the ancient ruins; they shall raise up the former devastations; they shall repair the ruined cities, the devastations of many generations. 
Strangers shall stand and tend your flocks; foreigners shall be your plowmen and vinedressers; but you shall be called the priests of the Lord; they shall speak of you as the ministers of our God; you shall eat the wealth of the nations, and in their glory you shall boast. Instead of your shame there shall be a double portion; instead of dishonor they shall rejoice in their lot; therefore in their land they shall possess a double portion; they shall have everlasting joy. 
For I the Lord love justice; I hate robbery and wrong; I will faithfully give them their recompense, and I will make an everlasting covenant with them. Their offspring shall be known among the nations, and their descendants in the midst of the peoples; all who see them shall acknowledge them, that they are an offspring the Lord has blessed. 
(Isaiah 61:1–9)

Sometimes I feel like a teeter-totter. On one end sits a pessimist who tends to see the worst and can even dip into a depressive thought that nothing good is happening and nothing good will ever happen. Yet that thinking flies away when God gives me passages like this one. He is not done with sinners and the optimist end of the see-saw rises and laughs at my foolishness. How can I forget the promises and plans of God?

Nothing is too hard for Him, yet I have to be on the high side to see it. Getting there requires deeper thinking, focused thought, determination to know what I know, and confession of all unbelief that allows that pessimist be the heavy weight in this battle.

The very next verse in this passage tells me how to think, how to defeat that negative thinking:

I will greatly rejoice in the Lord; my soul shall exult in my God, for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation; he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself like a priest with a beautiful headdress, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. (Isaiah 61:10)

 And the NT has much to say about this spiritual war with the flaming arrows of those evil ‘principalities and powers’ that are determined to overthrow my faith:

Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. Do all things without grumbling or disputing, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast to the word of life. . . .  (Philippians 2:12–16)

Having God work in me includes giving me the will to do the work He asks. I know my helplessness and have realized that it is in that helplessness that He not only works but is glorified. The pessimist gives Him opportunity to declare His hatred of sin and the optimist states the wonder of His grace and mercy.

Jesus, when people ask how I am, I often make this hand gesture /\/\/\/ for it is true that life is that way because You teach me who You are in both the sunshine and the storms, the ups and downs of life. Many only want the ups with its optimism yet I know You better because of the downs, and either way, that You are with me and working out my salvation for me so that I shine and don’t grumble.

Gospel — Jesus is calling…

And they made his grave with the wicked and with a rich man in his death, although he had done no violence, and there was no deceit in his mouth. Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him; he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for guilt, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days; the will of the Lord shall prosper in his hand. Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied; by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous, and he shall bear their iniquities. Therefore I will divide him a portion with the many, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong, because he poured out his soul to death and was numbered with the transgressors; yet he bore the sin of many, and makes intercession for the transgressors. (Isaiah 53:9–12)

The Gospel is simple yet so profound and so different than human thinking that it makes no sense without the Holy Spirit’s gift of faith to understand it and believe it. Think of it; God became a man. How sci-fi that sounds. And that man was sinless, meaning He didn’t do anything according to His own will but always spoke and acted as instructed by His Father in heaven. And His Father in heaven told Him to take our place and die for our sins, which He did, again saying “Not my will but Thine be done.”

We occasionally have a parent who offers to take the punishment or pay the fine for their offspring who has committed a crime, but that is infinitely small compared to what Jesus did that day on a cross just outside Jerusalem. 

This is how Isaiah describes sin:

All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. (Isaiah 53:6)

Consider the population even at this moment and how each person, including Christians, makes decisions  without consulting God. Then multiply that by all the people that ever lived. That is an awful lot of sin. And pain, guilt. And all children are born with this sinful way of life. The entire human race is at odds with our Creator — unless we accept Jesus and His sacrifice as our salvation. 

Further, no one can do the will of the Father without Him. That sin-nature is unable to yield without the power of the Holy Spirit who comes to live in believers. It is as Jesus said:

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” (John 15:1–5)

Yet even as we need Him, He blesses us just as the OT prophet says:

No weapon that is fashioned against you shall succeed, and you shall refute every tongue that rises against you in judgment. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord and their vindication from me, declares the Lord.” (Isaiah 54:17)

For this incredible truth, the Lord calls to everyone with this invitation:

“Seek the Lord while he may be found; call upon him while he is near; let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, that he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. (Isaiah 55:6–9)

Yes, it is simple, but the Gospel is profound and beyond understanding to human thoughts. For this reason…

Lord Jesus, I continue to pray that You will have mercy on all who have not yet heard Your call and given their lives to You. Speak to the hearts of unsaved family and friends, to all men and women who are lost without faith in You. Do a mighty work of redemption before You come again and before it is too late.

Grow Deeper in Trials

For thus says the Lord: “You were sold for nothing, and you shall be redeemed without money.” For thus says the Lord God: “My people went down at the first into Egypt to sojourn there, and the Assyrian oppressed them for nothing. Now therefore what have I here,” declares the Lord, “seeing that my people are taken away for nothing? Their rulers wail,” declares the Lord, “and continually all the day my name is despised. Therefore my people shall know my name. Therefore in that day they shall know that it is I who speak; here I am.” (Isaiah 52:3–6)

Israel had experienced three captivities. They “went down” voluntarily into Egypt by  invitation to live there but eventually were cruelly and unjustly reduced to slavery. After God delivered them to freedom, many of them were violently carried into captivity by the Assyrian kings who also oppressed them. Then later, as Isaiah wrote, they were suffering under a third captivity in Babylonia. 

God received nothing when he allowed his people to become slaves. He took no price for them, and therefore is free to claim them back without payment but He has to say the word, so what will He do under these circumstances?

God speaks of three principal issues to answer His own question. 1) The Babylonians have obtained possession of the Israelites without purchase—for nought; (2)They use their authority harshly and brutally; and (3) they continually blaspheme the His Name. All three are grounds for bringing the captivity to an end, and coming forward with the cry of a deliverer, “Here I am.” 

While the oppressors insult over these captives with shouts and yells of triumph in blaspheming the name of the Lord, they begin to understand by practical experience who God is and that He is powerful. They began to understand that a day of deliverance would come.
I do not need to imagine the conflict of being held in a place where God is insulted and I am hearing the insults. This a description of what I experience in spiritual warfare. The Liar is loud and takes advantage of unpleasant or unexpected external circumstances such as illness, loss, and other trials to turn my head the wrong way.

Again, Jesus You say, “Here I am” and Your presence and Your voice are enough — for it is in these battles that I more deeply know You. As you say, You use all things for my good, even the taunts of my enemies to teach me about You.

Relief from the Accuser

Therefore hear this, you who are afflicted, who are drunk, but not with wine: Thus says your Lord, the Lord, your God who pleads the cause of his people: “Behold, I have taken from your hand the cup of staggering; the bowl of my wrath you shall drink no more; and I will put it into the hand of your tormentors, who have said to you, ‘Bow down, that we may pass over’; and you have made your back like the ground and like the street for them to pass over.” (Isaiah 51:21–23)

By the thinking of many Christians, these days are the last days according to the many descriptions in both OT and NT. I’m cautious about date-setting yet the daily news seems to be building up to something.

One thing I’ve noticed is the activity of the Liar in my own life. Every time God blesses me with answered prayer or an opportunity to share Jesus with someone else, I get an extreme attack of accusations from Satan about who God is (or isn’t) and my failures as a member of His family. His lies have enough truth in them that I often feel lost and crippled and need to remember passages like this one:

And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God. And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death. Therefore, rejoice, O heavens and you who dwell in them! But woe to you, O earth and sea, for the devil has come down to you in great wrath, because he knows that his time is short!” (Revelation 12:10–12)

Eve’s downfall came because she listened to what the devil in the garden told her. He appealed to her sense of self and suggested God didn’t really love her. He does the same to me, and when circumstances seem to back him up and my thoughts go there instead of to the promises and character of God, I fall into a pit of discouragement — but not for long as God reminds me again who I am and that I belong. Today He reminds me that the wrath I deserve has been put on my tormentor who wants to walk all over me. The Liar is defeated — by the blood of Christ, by my declaration of faith, and by no fear of death. And get this, he is coming at me, and at the people of God in great fury “because he knows that his time is short.” 

In the mind of God, ‘short’ could mean soon or a thousand years. No matter. The Liar knows that Jesus wins and just those two words erase his accusations and replace them with a hallelujah!

Jesus, just forgetting truth for a moment is awful and the perfectionist in me thinks it is a terrible sin. As I confess my frailties, You are right here to encourage with just the right words for a rebuttal to his lies and nastiness. He can appeal to my human selfishness, hit me where I am weak, twist my emotions with many unexpected events, and side-track me with nonsense, but he cannot defeat You or the blood that You shed for me, or the faith that You planted in my heart. He is also powerless against all fear. For You did not give me a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. (2 Timothy 1:7). May Your Spirit continually remind me that “Jesus wins.”