Read Nehemiah 1
What an amazing example we have in the book of Nehemiah. This exiled prophet turns the distress of Israel over to God. Eleven times in this book it's recorded that Nehemiah prayed. What should we do when distress comes our way? Turn it over to God just like Nehemiah.
Nehemiah 1 begins the story. The Jewish remnant, those who had survived the exile, were back in Jerusalem but not all Israel was regathered at this time. Nehemiah was in the citadel of Susa, away from his home when some brothers came from Judah. So he questions them about the Jewish remnant that survived the exile and asked about Jerusalem. The report was not good. He learned the walls of Jerusalem were broken down and its gates were burned with fire. And the people were in great trouble and were disgraced.
Now when Nehemiah heard these things he was deeply moved. His heart ached for his brothers and his homeland as he sat down and wept. Then he turned it over to God. After days of mourning, fasting and praying he prays to God. Reminds God of His covenant with His people. How God had promised that if His people would love and obey Him how blessed they would be. But if they turned away from Him and followed another way how they would be scattered. Nehemiah is encouraged by this covenant because He knew God also said if you return to me and obey my commands, then I will gather my people back to Myself.
Listen, many of us have been disobedient like these Israelites and we've faced some of the consequences of our choices. Yet God promises to accept us once we return to Him. Now what does it mean to return to God? Simply that we agree with God. Agree with Him that we have gone our own way instead of His way and ask Him to receive us. Remember God is loving and forgiving - all He wants is people whose hearts are turned over to Him.
Sunday, January 15, 2012
Sunday, January 8, 2012
Consequences
Read 1 Kings 2:13-34
Their names were Adonijah, Joab and Abiathar and they are best known in scripture for their choices that led to terrible consequences. First Kings 1:5-7 tells us they conspired together to follow Adonijah in his quest to become king. Joab and Abiathar gave Adonijah their full support - bad move guys, bad move!
We find in 1 Kings 2:13-34 what happens when we go outside the will and plan of God: consequences. I'm fascinated with what happens in this passage because we see a side of God that many today are unwilling to admit is part of His character. God will not be mocked and when we decide to go our own way and choose to follow our own way terrible consequences are quite likely to occur.
Friends, God is a loving and kind and gracious and merciful God. But He is also a God of wrath, justice and holiness. When the people of God choose to go against the will of God, bad things happen. It's important for us to recognize the error of our way when we choose to follow what God has not ordained.
Yet let's not get all glib with this tough passage on consequences. God is a God who rewards faithful servants. And God is a God that equips us with the power and presence of the Holy Spirit to receive good and godly consequences. Live in a way that honors God and receive His just consequences.
Their names were Adonijah, Joab and Abiathar and they are best known in scripture for their choices that led to terrible consequences. First Kings 1:5-7 tells us they conspired together to follow Adonijah in his quest to become king. Joab and Abiathar gave Adonijah their full support - bad move guys, bad move!
We find in 1 Kings 2:13-34 what happens when we go outside the will and plan of God: consequences. I'm fascinated with what happens in this passage because we see a side of God that many today are unwilling to admit is part of His character. God will not be mocked and when we decide to go our own way and choose to follow our own way terrible consequences are quite likely to occur.
Friends, God is a loving and kind and gracious and merciful God. But He is also a God of wrath, justice and holiness. When the people of God choose to go against the will of God, bad things happen. It's important for us to recognize the error of our way when we choose to follow what God has not ordained.
Yet let's not get all glib with this tough passage on consequences. God is a God who rewards faithful servants. And God is a God that equips us with the power and presence of the Holy Spirit to receive good and godly consequences. Live in a way that honors God and receive His just consequences.
Sunday, January 1, 2012
A New Year
Read Revelation 21:1–8
It's a new year, so what's going to make 2012 any different for you than 2011? Maybe 2011 was a great year for you and you were in an amazing place, in your relationship with God, with other believers and with those in the community where you live. And that's fantastic! But it's a new year, so how are we going to make 2012 better than last year?
I believe it comes with vision, with passion and with submission to Jesus. When I think of another new year I think of new opportunities, of promises God's given us in His word that inspire me and hopefully inspire you. One of these promises is found in Revelation 21:1-8.
Take a few minutes, read the passage and then meditate on these thoughts. God has promised that He is in the business of making all things new. There's a day coming when He will once again make His dwelling among us. And friends this is going to be forever, eternity! Jesus' first coming was amazing; imagine what this second coming is going to be like!!
When I think of another new year and all the new possibilities and the promises of God that are yet to come, it inspires me to one moment and one day at a time be encouraged that better is on its way; better because Jesus is on His way. And when that day comes, all things will be made new. Until that day comes, let's be people of God, living out the purposes and plans of God.
It's a new year, so what's going to make 2012 any different for you than 2011? Maybe 2011 was a great year for you and you were in an amazing place, in your relationship with God, with other believers and with those in the community where you live. And that's fantastic! But it's a new year, so how are we going to make 2012 better than last year?
I believe it comes with vision, with passion and with submission to Jesus. When I think of another new year I think of new opportunities, of promises God's given us in His word that inspire me and hopefully inspire you. One of these promises is found in Revelation 21:1-8.
Take a few minutes, read the passage and then meditate on these thoughts. God has promised that He is in the business of making all things new. There's a day coming when He will once again make His dwelling among us. And friends this is going to be forever, eternity! Jesus' first coming was amazing; imagine what this second coming is going to be like!!
When I think of another new year and all the new possibilities and the promises of God that are yet to come, it inspires me to one moment and one day at a time be encouraged that better is on its way; better because Jesus is on His way. And when that day comes, all things will be made new. Until that day comes, let's be people of God, living out the purposes and plans of God.
Sunday, December 25, 2011
Reflections
Read 1 Peter 5:7
Although we may know this verse in 1 Peter by memory, when we reflect on the life situations we've faced over the past year it doesn't make it any easier to handle does it? While God wants you and I to cast all our anxiety on Him because He cares for us, we often have a difficult time with this because what we've faced has been so difficult.
Anyone had a tough year? 2011 may have been a tough time but God is bigger than everything we've faced and He will ultimately redeem it for His own glory. The hard part, at least for me, is figuring out how. How is He going to redeem it? And when? You know what I mean?
Listen, writing this doesn't mean I get it right every time. Truth is what I write is more often than not something I'm continuing to learn and apply in my own life. But maybe together we can be encouraged and be reminded of the faithfulness of our God. He is not only faithul but He's able to do much more than all we think, ask or imagine. (Ephesians 3:20)
Although we may know this verse in 1 Peter by memory, when we reflect on the life situations we've faced over the past year it doesn't make it any easier to handle does it? While God wants you and I to cast all our anxiety on Him because He cares for us, we often have a difficult time with this because what we've faced has been so difficult.
Anyone had a tough year? 2011 may have been a tough time but God is bigger than everything we've faced and He will ultimately redeem it for His own glory. The hard part, at least for me, is figuring out how. How is He going to redeem it? And when? You know what I mean?
Listen, writing this doesn't mean I get it right every time. Truth is what I write is more often than not something I'm continuing to learn and apply in my own life. But maybe together we can be encouraged and be reminded of the faithfulness of our God. He is not only faithul but He's able to do much more than all we think, ask or imagine. (Ephesians 3:20)
Sunday, December 18, 2011
Wisdom
Read 1 Kings 3:1-15
Solomon was made King after his father David's death. God appeared to Solomon and said, "Ask! What shall I give you?"
What would you ask from God if He were to tell you what He told Solomon? I'm not sure about you and I but Solomon made a decision packed with wisdom. He asked God for an understanding and discerning heart to judge God's people so that he would know what is good and evil. Friends we see something in Solomon that we often don't see in people today; and that's the willingness to admit his shortcomings. Earlier in the text he said "since I am only a child" I'm asking you God for your wisdom to help me rule over your people. He didn't allow his position to blind him from the fact that he needed God's wisdom to do what is right.
The same is true for us. We need God's wisdom in every area of our lives. The case can be made that we are either following God's wisdom or the world's wisdom in every decision we make. Choosing to make wise decisions begins with acknowledging God is wiser and much more capable of helping us with everything we face in this life. But then it continues with all of us recognizing our need for God one moment at a time in every situation we find ourselves.
Be in prayer that our wisdom comes from heaven above not just some of the time, but all of the time.
Solomon was made King after his father David's death. God appeared to Solomon and said, "Ask! What shall I give you?"
What would you ask from God if He were to tell you what He told Solomon? I'm not sure about you and I but Solomon made a decision packed with wisdom. He asked God for an understanding and discerning heart to judge God's people so that he would know what is good and evil. Friends we see something in Solomon that we often don't see in people today; and that's the willingness to admit his shortcomings. Earlier in the text he said "since I am only a child" I'm asking you God for your wisdom to help me rule over your people. He didn't allow his position to blind him from the fact that he needed God's wisdom to do what is right.
The same is true for us. We need God's wisdom in every area of our lives. The case can be made that we are either following God's wisdom or the world's wisdom in every decision we make. Choosing to make wise decisions begins with acknowledging God is wiser and much more capable of helping us with everything we face in this life. But then it continues with all of us recognizing our need for God one moment at a time in every situation we find ourselves.
Be in prayer that our wisdom comes from heaven above not just some of the time, but all of the time.
Sunday, December 11, 2011
Why are You here?
Read 1 Corinthians 1:11-17
Have you ever asked that question? Why am I here? The apostle Paul thought he knew why he was here. We can look at his life in the book of Acts and see that he was heading down a path of power and devotion against Christians and then God got a hold of him and turned his life around.
Take a look at 1 Corinthians 11-17. Here we find Paul telling the Corinthians that Christ didn't send him to baptize believers but to preach the gospel. Paul went from being an enemy to an ambassador for Christ. Paul was crystal clear why he was here - to preach the gospel, the good news of Jesus Christ.
I'll ask it again - why are You here? God has equipped every one of us with different gifts and personalities, and He's given us different experiences and opportunities. What each of us needs to do is realize like Paul why we are here. The short answer is - we are here to give glory, honor and praise to Jesus with our lives. The long answer, now that's specific to each and every person along with what and how God plans to use us.
Last few questions, do you know your answer to this question? If you do are you living it out? If you don't know why you are here, are you willing to take a chance and trust one day at a time that maybe for you your first acknowledgment needs to be this Christmas season is that maybe you are here to come into a relationship with Jesus Christ? If you're still not sure why you are here - please ask God, talk with Him and ask Him to show you His son. Visit a local church like Hope Community Church that teaches the word of God and who Jesus is.
May this season be a season in your life that you come to truly engage why you are here.
Have you ever asked that question? Why am I here? The apostle Paul thought he knew why he was here. We can look at his life in the book of Acts and see that he was heading down a path of power and devotion against Christians and then God got a hold of him and turned his life around.
Take a look at 1 Corinthians 11-17. Here we find Paul telling the Corinthians that Christ didn't send him to baptize believers but to preach the gospel. Paul went from being an enemy to an ambassador for Christ. Paul was crystal clear why he was here - to preach the gospel, the good news of Jesus Christ.
I'll ask it again - why are You here? God has equipped every one of us with different gifts and personalities, and He's given us different experiences and opportunities. What each of us needs to do is realize like Paul why we are here. The short answer is - we are here to give glory, honor and praise to Jesus with our lives. The long answer, now that's specific to each and every person along with what and how God plans to use us.
Last few questions, do you know your answer to this question? If you do are you living it out? If you don't know why you are here, are you willing to take a chance and trust one day at a time that maybe for you your first acknowledgment needs to be this Christmas season is that maybe you are here to come into a relationship with Jesus Christ? If you're still not sure why you are here - please ask God, talk with Him and ask Him to show you His son. Visit a local church like Hope Community Church that teaches the word of God and who Jesus is.
May this season be a season in your life that you come to truly engage why you are here.
Sunday, December 4, 2011
Seized with fear
Read Acts 19:11-20
A little known story happens in Acts 19:11-20 that should cause every follower of Jesus to take notice. We should be seized with fear just like the men in this story anytime we invoke the name of Jesus, without it actually being God's power.
This can be a difficult thing to discern but what we learn from this text is this: be sure if you are making claims and requests such as these Seven Sons of Sceva where they said - "In the name of Jesus whom Paul preaches, I command you to come out." You see these men weren't men of God, they were claiming power they didn't have; they were claiming ability which only God can give to drive out demons and heal illnesses.
While we don't see people too often making these claims these days, it's important for us to be aware, to be aware that we follow God; He doesn't follow us. When we pray and act in His name be sure it is by His power and name that we are operating under. He is our Lord and our Savior. Let's remember to Him belongs all the glory, honor and praise.
A little known story happens in Acts 19:11-20 that should cause every follower of Jesus to take notice. We should be seized with fear just like the men in this story anytime we invoke the name of Jesus, without it actually being God's power.
This can be a difficult thing to discern but what we learn from this text is this: be sure if you are making claims and requests such as these Seven Sons of Sceva where they said - "In the name of Jesus whom Paul preaches, I command you to come out." You see these men weren't men of God, they were claiming power they didn't have; they were claiming ability which only God can give to drive out demons and heal illnesses.
While we don't see people too often making these claims these days, it's important for us to be aware, to be aware that we follow God; He doesn't follow us. When we pray and act in His name be sure it is by His power and name that we are operating under. He is our Lord and our Savior. Let's remember to Him belongs all the glory, honor and praise.
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