The Daily Six

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NOTE: This is not broken up into Monday through Friday

Each day this week, read and reflect the texts below, asking God to lead you in these questions in prayer. Ask God to speak to you:

Where are I depending on my own behavior to be good enough for You?

What do You want to reveal to me about Your love and grace?

If I were to fully understand Your grace, what would be different in me?

Week of August 31 – Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians
Spend the week reading from Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians and Colossians

In a series of New Testament letters to four churches that the Apostle Paul had helped start or oversee, he wrote intensely of important Christian theology. In his letter to the Galatian church, he sharply contrasted living by the Old Testament law to living by the grace of Jesus. In Ephesians, he described how we have been chosen uniquely by God, allowing all of us to participate in the original covenant established with Abraham in Genesis. In Philippians and Colossians, he challenged the believers to understand what it means to have Christ within us, to follow him joyfully, and to live in unity with one another.

Three Readings to “Audit” Galatians - Colossians

Read slowly and carefully: Galatians 5:1 – 6:18: Those who would seek to be right with God by observing the Law will not experience the grace and freedom of Christ, and in fact, will not belong to Christ. If, however, we seek to live by faith in Jesus and directed by God’s Spirit, we will actually be able to bear the fruit of genuine righteousness in our lives.

Read slowly and carefully: Ephesians 1:3 – 2:22: It is not our own works that have saved us. It is by God’s grace, through Jesus, that we access by faith. Even the faith we have is a gift from God, who has specifically chosen each of us to be adopted as His sons and daughters.

Read carefully: Philippians 2:1 – 3:14 and Colossians 2:6 – 3:17: Paul described his own desire to be like Jesus, who humbled himself to the point of dying for us all. Placing no confidence in his own flesh or good deeds, Paul recognized that the ability to put off bad behavior and put on righteousness was not based on keeping laws or following ritual.

Skim and Skip – “What Did I Miss in Galatians - Colossians?”

Paul was concerned that the Christians in Galatia had succumbed to a false gospel based on observance of the Law, rather than simple faith in Christ. Defending how he had come to know the truth (Galatians 1-2), he instructed them that attempting spirituality by human effort would fail to attain the promise of life in God (Galatians 3-4). His letter to the Ephesians continued this theme, demonstrating the great mystery of how Jesus lives in us, his Church, which is also called the Body of Christ (Ephesians 3-5). Spiritual strength is attained when we wear the “armor” of God’s truth (Ephesians 6). We are then able to live in a manner worthy of Christ (Philippians 1), filled with joy and generous unity with others (Philippians 4). Jesus is the visible image of our invisible God (Colossians 1), and when we live in him, we can find true holiness in our lives (Colossians 2-3).

The Most Important Stories

In a world of religions where success or failure was determined by how good a person was, Paul clearly made his point in Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, and Colossians by declaring that only the grace found in Jesus Christ will cleanse a person and make them right with God.

Galatians deals with the question of how a sinful person stands in the presence of a Holy God. There is only one way, through God’s grace with comes from the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. We no longer need to focus on the “good works” salvation of the Mosaic Law (the Old Testament). We simply need to follow God’s plan for salvation through His Son Jesus Christ.

Ephesians shows us that Jesus is at the heart and center of God’s plan of reconciliation. To reconcile is to reestablish a close relationship. Christ reestablished the relationship between humans and God and cleared the path for them to experience His purpose for them from the beginning. The crowning verse of this book is Ephesians 2:8, where Paul said, “It is by grace you have been saved, and this is not of yourselves, it is the gift of God.”

Philippians is a book of great joy. When we rest in the wonder of God’s grace, we are empowered to live a life of joy. Even while penning this letter from prison, Paul used words of joy and rejoicing fourteen times. Joy flows from faith in Christ (see Philippians 1:25). Happiness in this world is fleeting; joy in Jesus is everlasting. There is a sense of joy that flows to believers when they share their faith with others, and joy is a product of church unity as believers experience the common bod of Christ. (see Philippians 2:2).

Colossians is about the complete supremacy of Christ. Paul exalted Christ as the very image of God, the Creator, the preexistent sustainer of all things, the head of the church, the fullness of Deity in bodily form, and the reconciler (Colossians 1:15-22). Thus, Christ is completely adequate to supply the grace of God to each of us and meet all of our spiritual needs.

After spending this week in these four epistles, there should be no doubt who Christ is, what He did for us, why He came, and most importantly, how we can go to the next level of “knowing him better” (Philippians 3:10).
By Tom Giles, adapted from “Revealing the Relevant Word”, CrossCurrent Ministries, 2010.

Un verano con los profetas parte 8

Ten Week Journey with the Prophets

God’s people had been given a land and a name: “Israel,” which means “Struggles with God.” Century after century, the Israelites struggled to keep their faith and commitment to God. They abandoned the Lord and turned to idols, worldly ideology, and false religion. So, God raised up prophets to call them back to Him. These men of God offered both warning and promise, challenge and blessing. If we will hear their words as the Word of the Lord for us today, we too can receive the promised blessings as we stay faithful to our God!

Knowing God: A Summer with the Prophets
Seek the Lord and His Word in Your Personal Life This Summer:
Join us each week to read together the Word of God in your own personal time along with the Lord. Use the reading guide below to explore the Old Testament prophets and the scriptures.

Each day this week, read and reflect the texts below, asking God to lead you in these questions in prayer. Ask God to speak to you:

Where have You strategically placed me in my career and people group?

What change in the world do You want to leverage my life to achieve?

Where do You want me to take bold risks to follow You in everything?

Week of August 24 – Daniel and Hosea
Spend the week reading carefully from Daniel 1 – 12 and Hosea 1 - 14

Daniel was the last of the “Major Prophets,” a title signifying the length of their works, not their significance. He led and taught the Jewish people during the Babylonian captivity. As the Babylonians carried the people of Judah into exile, God put favor on this young Jewish man to be elevated into political leadership within the Babylonian empire. While Daniel and his friends made their way through the ranks of those closest to King Nebuchadnezzar and his successors, Daniel’s prophecies ranged from words of warning for the Babylonian king to visions of the end times. Hosea is the first of the “Minor Prophets” and ministered nearly two centuries before Daniel. He warned of the Assyrian invasion of Israel that was to come. God used Hosea’s heart-wrenching marriage to a prostitute to illustrate His own broken heart over the people of Israel.

Three Readings to “Audit” Daniel and Hosea

Read slowly and carefully: Daniel 3:1-30: Daniel’s friends had been elevated with him to a place of authority in the Babylonian government and faced a tremendous test of their faithfulness to God. Refusing to worship the king’s idol, they were thrown into a blazing furnace. Committed to God even if He would not deliver them, they were miraculously saved by a fourth figure that walked with them in the fire--perhaps a foreshadowed vision of Jesus.

Read slowly and carefully: Daniel 9:1-27: One of the most significant prophetic events in the Bible occurred when Jeremiah prophesied that the Babylonian exile would last exactly 70 years. Reading that prophecy 70 years later, Daniel realized that God would soon restore Jerusalem. As he prayed for this, God gave Daniel a vision, using images of weeks, to predict the precise time of the Messiah’s ministry—483 years later—which was precisely fulfilled by Jesus.

Read slowly and carefully: Hosea 1:1 – 3:5: The prophet Hosea’s tumultuous marriage to a prostitute was used to demonstrate God’s broken heart for His people, and His desperate desire to them back towards Him.

Skim and Skip – “What Did I Miss in Daniel and Hosea?”

Daniel and his friends were able to stay faithful to God’s Law while serving the Babylonian king and earned great respect (Daniel 1). Daniel was summoned to interpret the king’s troubling dreams, his impressive answer leading him to high position (Daniel 2). The king recounted Daniel’s wisdom to his entire empire in a letter (Daniel 4). His successor faced yet more troubling dreams that Daniel interpreted, predicting the new king’s demise (Daniel 5). A third king also distinguished Daniel, yet a decree forbidding prayer caused Daniel to be sentenced to death in a lion’s den (Daniel 6). God delivered Daniel and gave him visions of four empires that would rule the next 500 years (Daniel 7-8, 10-11) and of the end times (Daniel 12). Hosea prophesied decades before Daniel, speaking of the coming captivity (Hosea 4-10), while promising restoration, as God contrasted His love to Israel’s unfaithfulness (Hosea 11-14).

The Most Important Story

One of the greatest messianic prophecies in the Bible is known as the “Prophecy of the Seventy Sevens”. How a person views Daniel 9:24-27 will affect the way that one sees the history of humankind playing itself out. It can also have a significant effect on how we live our lives in the here and now. So many of us would like to know what the future holds: work, kids, relationships, Sunday’s football games, you name it. But the answers that we need for the truly important questions can be found in the Bible. And when talking about the future events of human history, Daniel 9 is a great place to start.

The Bible has so much to say about the future if we are just willing to read, study, and listen. God has the important matters already planned out. This passage helps to clear up what God’s plan is for the most critical aspect of our lives—our relationship with Jesus Christ. Not only did God reveal through Daniel that He would present the Messiah 483 years (173,880 days) after the issuing of the decree given by King Artaxerxes Longimanus, but He also allowed the angel Gabriel to reveal a lot of information about when He was going to come again. From a study of this chapter and other parts of related scripture, the “Seventy Sevens” prophecy can lead a person to a level of understanding about how the events of the end times will play themselves out.

Daniel 9:24-27 spoke to the exact day that the Messiah would be revealed. It also spoke to Christ dying for our sins. It spoke of a new temple. It presented the antichrist in the end times. It described the Great Tribulation with the antichrist desecrating the temple, an act that will lead to his ultimate demise.

During the time of Jesus, religious leaders of the day had the book of Daniel available to them. They should have known and expected his coming. But because they refused to see or understand it, we can see Jesus’ reaction recorded in Luke 19:41-45.

Sometimes we may wonder how people can deny Christ when there is so much evidence that proves He is who he said He is. They have the information. But their hearts are hardened. Their eyes are blinded. Praise the LORD that we have the opportunity to see and hear the Truth. When Jesus died on the cross for our sins, Daniel’s prophetic clock stopped. Can you hear it ticking again?
By Mike Stansbury, adapted from “Revealing the Relevant Word”, CrossCurrent Ministries, 2010.

Un verano con los profetas parte 7

Each day this week, read and reflect the texts below, asking God to lead you in these questions in prayer. Ask God to speak to you:

What plans do You have bring prosperity to me through my hardships?

How are You leveraging discipline in my life to achieve Your goals?

What do You want to reveal to me about Your love for me?

Week of August 17 – Jeremiah 29 – 52 and Lamentations
Spend the week reading carefully from Jeremiah 29 – 52 and Lamentations

All the prophets who spoke of judgment and destruction also expressed God’s ultimate plan for restoration. Jeremiah is no different. God’s wrath has very specific limits to bring forth only the level of discipline needed to fulfill God’s purposes. In the case of the impending destruction of Jerusalem, God intended only 70 years of captivity, giving Jeremiah the ability to speak of hope and of God’s good plans to prosper and not harm. Jeremiah also penned the book of Lamentations as Jerusalem was falling to the Babylonian armies. Even in the midst of this forewarned tragedy, there was hope for the future, however clouded by present circumstances.

Three Readings to “Audit” Jeremiah 29 – 52 and Lamentations

Read slowly and carefully: Jeremiah 29:1-23, 30:1-3 and 30:17-21: As the Babylonian captivity unfolded, Jeremiah wrote to the elders and leaders of Judah in exile. His message was unpopular and seen as capitulation—they should settle in for the duration of a 70-year captivity. But in that message was also profound promise—the restoration of Israel within 70 years.

Read slowly and carefully: Jeremiah 37:1 – 38:28: Jeremiah’s message confirming God’s hand in their exile to Babylon was seen as treason. He was imprisoned and interrogated for this message from God.

Read slowly and carefully: Lamentations 3:1-40 and 5:1-22: As Jeremiah watched Jerusalem fall to the Babylonians, he penned this series of laments. Suffering his own pain, Jeremiah also called to remembrance the hope that still existed—that God’s mercies are always present, always new. He prayed for the Lord to remember and restore Israel.

Skim and Skip – “What Did I Miss in Jeremiah 1 – 28?”

The Lord described His love and closeness that would come when He would restore Israel (Jeremiah 31). While Babylon besieged Jerusalem, Jeremiah bought land to symbolize the day when Israel would once again be settled by the Jews (Jeremiah 32) and promised restoration (Jeremiah 33). He warned Judah’s last king, Zedekiah, that the end had come (Jeremiah 34), and ate with a righteous family (Jeremiah 35). Placed out of order chronologically, Jeremiah retold the rejection of his message by a previous king (Jeremiah 36). As Jerusalem fell (Jeremiah 39), Jeremiah was freed and fled to Egypt (Jeremiah 40-43), still prophesying disaster (Jeremiah 44-45). He finished his prophecy by addressing the judgment to come on all the surrounding enemies of Israel and Judah—Egypt, Philistia, Moab, Ammon, Edom, Syria and Babylon (Jeremiah 46-51). The book ends with a description of the fall of Jerusalem (Jeremiah 52). Lamentations was a series of poetic descriptions of the bitterness of Jerusalem’s fall and the nature of her sins (Lamentations 1), God’s anger (Lamentations. 2), and the cry of His people in their pain (Lamentations 4).

The Most Important Story

Jerusalem’s walls had crumbled. The city was nearly empty. Only scavengers and animals roamed the streets, along with a few lowly farmers who were left behind to tend the land.  The roads into the city were growing over. The temple was in ruins. Lamentations is the saddest book in the Bible, especially if you think back on the history of the Israelites.

Remember Abraham and the promise? Remember Jacob and his journeys? Remember Joseph and his rise to power in Egypt? Remember the Israelites toiling as slaves for 400 years, and their miraculous march out of Egypt? Remember they wandered in the wilderness for forty years, and then invaded the Promised Land? Remember Moses’s rousing speech, just before he died, reminding them of God’s covenant? Remember Joshua leading them through the Promised Land, claiming the entire region, apprehending what God had ordained as theirs? Remember how they divided the land and lived in peace?

Remember the judges that rescued the country and the prophets that led her? Remember King Saul, King David, King Solomon? The splendor of Jerusalem and the Temple during those days would have blown our minds. The sights and sounds of the people sacrificing to God, and celebrating the festivals, would have been beyond our comprehension.

However, they could not stay true to the Lord. The people could not trust and honor Him.  The Israelite history, beginning with such hope and promise, took a horrible turn: they served other gods; they forgot the God that had given them everything; their kings were corrupt; they killed the prophets sent to warn them. When God could no longer ignore the stench of their unfaithfulness, His presence left them. They were taken over by their enemies and forcefully marched as slaves to a foreign land.

This is the story of Lamentations: the choices of the Israelites led to a separation from God. This is still not the most important story though. That comes in the final lines of the book, when the author implores: “You, O LORD, reign forever; your throne endures from generation to generation. Why do you always forget us? Why do you forsake us so long? Restore us to yourself, O LORD, that we may return; renew our days as of old unless you have utterly rejected us and are angry with us beyond measure” (Lamentations 5:19-22).

Even though the writer had been exiled from his country, he persevered in seeking God. Do you feel exiled? Do you feel like you’ve been forcibly removed from the presence of the Almighty? Persevere.  Seek his face. This is the most important story.

By Shawn Smucker, adapted from “Revealing the Relevant Word”,  CrossCurrent Ministries, 2010.

Un verano con los profetas parte 6

Each day this week, read and reflect the texts below, asking God to lead you in these questions in prayer. Ask God to speak to you:

What do You want to reveal to me about Your plan for my life?

How do You want me to view Your fatherhood over me?

Where do I have false views of what You promise to do for me?

Week of August 10 – Jeremiah 1 – 28
Spend the week reading slowly and carefully from Jeremiah chapters 1 - 28

Jeremiah has often been called “the weeping prophet” because of the depth of insight we are given into his personal life, his struggles, his self-doubts, and his anguishing discouragement—an insight that is unparalleled in any other biblical author except David or Job. Prophesying in Jerusalem during the final decades before it’s fall to destruction by the Babylonians, Jeremiah warned the people to submit to the hand of God’s discipline, rather than fight against it. This unpopular message of surrender was seen as traitorous, and Jeremiah had to struggle against both political leaders and false prophets to proclaim God’s Word.

Three Readings to “Audit” Jeremiah 1 – 28

Read slowly and carefully: Jeremiah 1:1-19 and Jeremiah 3:6 – 4:2: Jeremiah was called by God to proclaim a coming invasion from Babylon that would bring judgment and eventual exile. It was still God’s hope to avert this disaster by Judah returning to the Lord. God called Himself Israel’s husband and asked for her unfaithfulness to end.

Read slowly and carefully: Jeremiah 11:18 – 12:6, 15:10-21 and 20:7-18: Jeremiah faced many threats for the work of his ministry. In the midst of prophesying the coming judgment on Judah, Jeremiah often turned to the Lord and complained of his own pain and suffering.

Read slowly and carefully: Jeremiah 23:1-40: There was a serious problem with false prophets and ministers proclaiming peace and victory for Judah when God had not spoken such hope. God condemned the false prophets who were misleading His people and promised that one day He would raise up a righteous shepherd—the Messiah.

Skim and Skip – “What Did I Miss in Jeremiah 1 – 28?”

In language of passion, God spoke of His people’s unfaithfulness (Jeremiah 2-3). Disaster was promised (Jeremiah 4) because the entire land was found to be unfaithful (Jeremiah 5). Jeremiah warned of a siege against Jerusalem (Jeremiah 6), exposed Judah’s empty words of worship (Jeremiah 7), described coming punishment (Jeremiah 8-9), and addressed their idolatry (Jeremiah 10). God reminded them of the original terms of the Mosaic covenant, that destruction would come to those who disobeyed the Law (Jeremiah 11). Jeremiah used various illustrations to speak warnings (Jeremiah 13). Famine was promised (Jeremiah 14) and a day of great disaster (Jeremiah 16-17). He used rejected pottery to illustrate God’s choice to abandon Israel (Jeremiah 18-19). The last king of Judah, Zedekiah, asked Jeremiah to perform a miracle by rescuing them from Babylon, which Jeremiah refused and proclaimed judgment on the king (Jeremiah 21-22). God promised goodness to faithful Jews who were in exile (Jeremiah 24) and set the length of captivity to 70 years (Jeremiah 25). Jeremiah was threatened with death (Jeremiah 26) for telling the Jews to serve the Babylonian king (Jeremiah 27). The prophet Hananiah falsely predicted Judah’s immediate victory over Babylon (Jeremiah 28).

The Most Important Story

Here is the scenario: God calls someone to fulfill their purpose. The person immediately begins to dwell on their weaknesses and expound on why these will hinder them from doing what God wants them to do. How many times in the Bible have we seen this unfold?

The great prophet Jeremiah was not immune to looking at life through the lens of his weakness. Even after God’s call and the assurance that God knew Jeremiah before he was born, he replied that he was just a child, that he couldn’t speak, and that no one would listen to him (Jeremiah 1:6). Have you ever felt this way?

Is there something that God has called you to do that seems beyond anything you ever thought you could do? Are you feeling inadequate? Take a minute and look at the path that God took to assuring Jeremiah of his calling:

The call – God appeared to Jeremiah and let him know what his purpose in life was. Do you know your purpose? Do you know your calling? If not, begin that dialogue with God. Start by searching Him for the meaning to your life.

Next came the test – “What do you see, Jeremiah?” God asked him. Jeremiah’s response helped him to see that he and God were on the same page. If you’ve just discovered your calling, prepare to enter an even deeper dialogue with God.

Then came the revelation – once God had instilled into Jeremiah his purpose, and Jeremiah proved that he would stay true to what God was saying, God entrusted him with a revelation about the future of Israel.

Finally, the promise – “‘Get yourself ready! Stand up and say to them whatever I command you. Do not be terrified by them, or I will terrify you before them. Today I have made you a fortified city, an iron pillar and a bronze wall to stand against the whole land—against the kings of Judah, its officials, its priests and the people of the land. They will fight against you but will not overcome you, for I am with you and will rescue you,’" declares the LORD” (Jeremiah 1:17-19).

How many times do we get this backwards? How many times do we want the promise before we are willing to step out and fulfill our call or engage in the test? How often do we turn away from the road before us? The promise will come! But first seek after your calling, go through the test, and then accept the revelation.
By Shawn Smucker, adapted from “Revealing the Relevant Word”, CrossCurrent Ministries, 2010.

Un verano con los profetas parte 5

Each day this week, read and reflect the texts below, asking God to lead you in these questions in prayer. Ask God to speak to you:

What parallels to my life do You want me to see in Haggai’s prophecy?

Where am I in danger of focusing on myself rather than Your agenda?

Where do You want to challenge my commitment to You from Malachi?

Week of August 3 – Minor Prophets Nahum through Malachi
Spend the week reading carefully from Nahum through Malachi

The last six Minor Prophets take us through the conclusion of judgment upon Israel and Judah. Nahum promises God would bring down Israel’s enemy, the Assyrian empire, which He did through Babylon. Habakkuk expresses an emotional dialogue between faithful believers and God, trying to make sense of how God could use an evil empire to bring discipline on His own people. Zephaniah expands on the theme that not only is judgment coming to Judah, but also to the other nations. Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi prophesied after the Babylonian exile as the Jews returned to Jerusalem. Their message was a challenge to be faithful now that God had given them a fresh beginning, and to warn against the spiritual apathy that had already begun to set in.

Three Readings to “Audit” Nahum through Malachi

Read slowly and carefully: Habakkuk 1:1 – 2:20: The prophet Habakkuk offered two complaints to God—that Judah’s sins were going unpunished, and that God would use the even more sinful Babylonians to bring judgment to Judah. God answered him with the promise of both judgment to come to Judah at the hands of the Babylonians, and also judgment to come to the Babylonians from destructive conflicts with other nations.

Read slowly and carefully: Haggai 1:1 – 2:9: As the Jews returned to Israel from 70 years of captivity in Babylon, they faced opposition and discouragement that delayed the building of a temple for the Lord. God rebuked them for building their own homes while neglecting the Lord’s house. He promised that His glory would dwell with this new temple, even though it would be much smaller than the temple they had seen destroyed decades earlier.

Read slowly and carefully: Malachi 2:10 – 3:18: Written as the exiles settled back into their homeland in Israel, Malachi challenged spiritual apathy that had already begun to set in again. Unfaithfulness in the priesthood, in marriage, in holiness, and in giving all brought God’s stern rebuke.

Skim and Skip – “What Did I Miss in These Minor Prophets?”

The promise of Nineveh’s demise was an important message of hope for Israel to learn that her wicked enemy—whom God would use to judge her—would also fall as a result of their sins (Nahum 1-3). Wrestling to trust the Lord, Habakkuk composed a psalm of prayer and recollection of God’s activity (Habakkuk 3). Zephaniah named the many other nations who were facing destruction at the hands of the Babylonians whom God was also using to bring Judah under judgment (Zephaniah 1-3). Zechariah had a series of visions that painted an image of Israel’s restoration: towns overflowing with prosperity (Zechariah 1), Jerusalem rebuilt and blessed (Zechariah 2, 7-10), sins cleansed (Zechariah 5, 5-13), the Spirit empowering (Zechariah 4), the Messiah’s reign (Zechariah 6-11), and judgment of Israel’s enemies (Zechariah 9). Malachi addressed many issues of unfaithfulness, including offering blemished sacrifices to God (Malachi 1), and priests whose hearts were not set upon the Lord (Malachi 2). He also spoke of the coming “Day of the Lord” (Malachi 4).

The Most Important Story

Israel consistently cycled through periods of obedience and rebellion throughout the Old Testament. In response, God sent many judges and prophets to deliver messages to His people. But it is the reaction of Israel to the message God gave the prophet Haggai that makes this small book this section's most important story.

In 538 B.C. the first group of Israelites returned to the Promised Land after almost fifty years of Babylonian exile (see Ezra 1:1-4). Cyrus, the new king of Persia, charged Israel to rebuild God's temple in Jerusalem, and the people of Israel, led by the governor Zerubbabel and the priest Joshua, started this endeavor. However, local opposition sapped away Israel's courage to complete the temple, and Israel began focusing on the betterment their own lives, focusing on harvests, clothes, wages, and richly constructed houses.

Eighteen years later, the temple remained incomplete. God sent Haggai a message for His people: “give careful thought to your ways. You wonder why your harvests yield little, why your hunger and thirst are never satiated, why your purses seem to have holes. It is because you are spending so much time remodeling your own homes when God's home remains in ruin” (Haggai 1: 5-10, paraphrased).

Here is something unprecedented in any of the other prophetic books: Israel received the message and immediately responded. Israel obeyed and feared God. Under Zerubbabel and Joshua's leadership, they began to rebuild God's temple, to restore the most important part of God's covenant with His people. And God told them, “I am with you.”

Still, doubt crept back in while the people were working on the temple. Many wondered if it would ever match the glory of Solomon's temple, which was destroyed when Israel was exiled (see 2 Kings 25:8-21). God gave Haggai a second message to encourage Israel, similar to one from Israel’s history (see Joshua 1:2-9): “Be strong, all you people of the land, and work. For I am with you... I will shake all nations, and the desired of the nations will come, and I will fill this house with glory... The glory of this present house will be greater than the glory of the former house.” (Haggai 2:4-9, paraphrased). And from the lineage of Zerubbabel, their governor, came Jesus (Matthew 1:12-16), the Messiah and ultimate fulfillment of God’s covenant with Israel.

Because Israel returned to putting God first, God promised He was with them and would bless them. Do you find yourself, like Israel, self-focused, unfulfilled, or doubting? Will you put God first and see how He provides for you?
By Jason Terril, adapted from “Revealing the Relevant Word”, CrossCurrent Ministries, 2010.

Un Verano con los profetas parte 4

Seek the Lord and His Word in Your Personal Life This Summer:
Join us each week to read together the Word of God in your own personal time along with the Lord. Use the reading guide below to explore these New Testament letters as we prepare for Pastor Chris Campbell’s special teaching this Sunday!

Each day this week, read and reflect the texts below, asking God to lead you in these questions in prayer. Ask God to speak to you:

How do You want me live differently in light of Jesus’ imminent return?

How well is my life modeling Jesus for others? Who do I need to be?

How diligent am I in following the guidance of Your Word in my life?

Week of July 27 – New Testament: Thessalonians - Philemon
Spend the week reading carefully from 1 Thessalonians through Philemon

The Apostle Paul concluded his contribution to the New Testament with five letters that warned about the end times, called for personal holiness, and gave instructions to church leaders. His letters to Timothy, Titus, and Philemon were written to individual people rather than to an entire church. Timothy and Titus were pastors that Paul was mentoring. He gave them strong direction about how to protect doctrine, teach the scriptures, and lead the church—instructions invaluable for us to discover what a disciplined and faithful life in Christ looks like for us today. Philemon was written to a friend of Paul’s, encouraging him to receive home an escaped slave whom Paul had led to Christ, and to do so without punishing him, but rather to see him as a brother in Christ.

Three Readings to “Audit” 1 Thessalonians through Philemon

Read slowly and carefully: 1 Thessalonians 4:1 – 5:28: Both letters to the Thessalonians have some of the strongest biblical language related to the end times, exhorting holiness in light of Jesus’ promised second coming. Paul warned the Thessalonians to be alert and self-controlled, while also encouraging them that they would soon be taken to be with Jesus.

Read slowly and carefully: 2 Timothy 2:1 – 4:8: Paul instructed Timothy to be focused and strong in his walk with the Lord, to endure hardship, and to diligently do the work God had given him. He explained how people in the last days would turn away from truth and sound doctrine, and that Timothy should focus himself on the scriptures and teach them without fear.

Read slowly and carefully: Titus 1:5 – 3:11: Titus was commissioned to establish church leadership on the island of Crete, known for its deplorable moral condition. The qualifications for leadership were explained with a call for all to live godly in Christ. He emphasized how it is only the grace of God and His mercy that can compel us to live righteously.

Skim and Skip – “What Did I Miss in These Books?”

Paul gave thanks for the Thessalonians’ faithfulness in spite of severe suffering (1 Thessalonians 1) and reviewed the ministry he had shared with them (1 Thessalonians 2-3). His second letter to Thessalonica emphasized the second coming of Christ, encouraging them to stand firm in the face of trouble, knowing that God would repay those who mistreated them (2 Thessalonians 1-2). He warned them to stay committed and active (2 Thessalonians 3). He gave Timothy instructions on handling false teachers, propriety in worship, and qualifications for church leaders (1 Timothy 1-3), while challenging him to be diligent in ministry (1 Timothy 4). He wrote about support of widows and handling of finances (1 Timothy 5-6), and celebrated Timothy’s heritage (2 Timothy 1). Paul’s letter to Philemon shows how deep our Christianity should go: when Paul led an escaped slave to Christ, he asked Philemon to love this Christian brother and allow him to return without harm.

The Most Important Story

The books of 1 and 2 Timothy were the apostle’s letters to a young pastor named Timothy. They were letters of instruction to this young, inexperienced pastor who had been put in charge of a rapidly growing “mega-church” located in the metropolis city of Ephesus.

Paul didn’t place Timothy in Ephesus simply out of the need to fill a position. Timothy had travelled with Paul on previous missionary journeys; Paul had seen Timothy transform into a mature, respected disciple of Jesus Christ despite his young age.

Paul gave Timothy guidance on how to select someone to serve in church leadership—specifically those who would serve as deacons and elders. These instructions are important for us because modern churches still use these instructions as blueprints for selecting and empowering church leaders.

As applied in most modern settings today, deacons and elders are important leaders within the church structure. Without them, a pastor is all alone in dealing with church issues and caring for people. The deacons and elders pray with and encourage the pastor, and assist in caregiving functions such as feeding the poor, taking care of the needy, ministering and discipling the body, and teaching. Often in modern churches, deacons and elders usually are not vocational pastors and staff; they are typically volunteers who serve Christ with their spiritual gifts.

This kind of leadership is God’s work, so Paul set high expectations for these positions. Serving in these roles isn’t a popularity contest or a means to gain power and influence. Paul set clear requirements for selecting and elder or deacon, characteristics that enable the church to navigate modern issues with clarity and maturity. One should not think these leaders are super-human or perfect people. But Paul did call them to possess attributes such as gentleness, respectability, hospitality, self-control, healthy home lives, and the ability to teach others.

One interesting characteristic that Paul addressed was that an elder or deacon must have a good reputation with outsiders and those who do not attend church. The gospel of Christ is often best communicated and demonstrated by the simple actions of faithful Christ-followers at work, school, or in their own neighborhoods. How Christians conduct their lives in the world is just as important as their conduct in the church—if not more so!
By Chris Osterman, adapted from “Revealing the Relevant Word”, CrossCurrent Ministries, 2010.

un verano con los profetos parte 3

Each day this week, read and reflect the texts below, asking God to lead you in these questions in prayer. Ask God to speak to you:

What do You want to reveal about the heart of Jesus in His suffering?
What do You want to change in me about my practices in worship?
What do You want to reveal to me in Your Word? What should I trust?

Week of July 20 – Isaiah 46 – 66
Spend the week reading slowly and carefully Isaiah chapters 46 – 66

Some call the last section of Isaiah (chapters 40-66) “The Book of Comfort” because it declared the promises of God for the ultimate redemption, restoration, and healing of His people. Through the prophet, God promised that His “servant” would come to restore Israel—understood by the Jews to be the Messiah. But this servant would also face suffering on the road to his glory, providing the clearest Old Testament prophecy to the sufferings of Jesus. Even though much of Isaiah’s prophecies in this section of scripture are yet to be fulfilled in the end times, these passages reveal that the establishment of God’s perfect kingdom is the fullest purpose towards which everything is building. This section was written much later in Isaiah’s life, after the northern nation of Israel had been carried into exile in Assyria, but before the southern Judah was taken captive by Babylon.

Three Readings to “Audit” Isaiah

Read slowly and carefully: Isaiah 52:13 – 53:12: In what is perhaps the clearest Old Testament prophecy concerning Jesus Christ, healing and forgiveness would come from the suffering of the Messiah. This prophecy was essential to distinguish the true purpose of Messiah from the mere political deliverance the Jews of Isaiah’s time would have simply hoped for.

Read slowly and carefully: Isaiah 56:1-8 and Isaiah 58:1-14: As God promised restoration to Israel, He also called for that restoration to be marked by social justice. Acceptance of foreigners, keeping the Sabbath as a day of worship to God, and serving the needs of the oppressed and poor were expected of the remnant being restored.

Read slowly and carefully: Isaiah 55:1-13 and Isaiah 61:11: God called to the thirsty, poor, and brokenhearted, inviting them to draw life and healing from Him. Spoken prophetically to the future captives, these passages described the supernatural work the Word of God would do, and the liberty He would bring. Jesus taught from Isaiah 61:1-3 to open his public ministry.

Skim and Skip – “What did I miss in Isaiah 46 – 66?”

As Judah neared her own judgment and exile at the hands of the Babylonians, Isaiah turned his prophecy against Babylon itself. God would use them to judge Judah, but they faced their own destruction as well (Isaiah 46-47). Pleading for Judah to listen to Him (Isaiah 48), God promised restoration (Isaiah 49-52, 54). Justice was a key theme throughout Isaiah—Israel’s injustice offered as rationale for God’s judgment, and a return to justice as the mark of restoration (Isaiah 57-59). Isaiah concluded his prophecy with words from God describing the glory of a renewed Zion (Isaiah 60-62), His vengeance against the enemies of Israel (Isaiah 63), Isaiah praising God and calling for Him to come with deliverance (Isaiah 63-64), and final descriptions of both judgment and hope (Isaiah 65-66).

The Most Important Story

The book of Isaiah contains several prophecies that point to a coming Messiah. The word Messiah means “anointed.” At the time of Isaiah, Jews believed the word Messiah meant a person who would free Israel and Judah from foreign bondage and restore peace, and justice. The Messiah would set up a kingdom more glorious and powerful anything the world had ever seen. The Messiah would be a King who gained power by means of compassionate justice and not by means of corrupt violence. The Messiah was a coming hero, a promised Savior.

For centuries, the Jewish people had seen Isaiah 52:13 – 53:12 as a description of the promised Messiah. This description, however, described a man who experienced much suffering and humiliation before he would at last be exalted. In this short passage, the man was bruised and pierced. The man was beaten in a way that left “stripes” on his body. Repeatedly the passage explained that his suffering and the abuses he endured were because of our wickedness. The Messiah took on the role of the “sacrificial lamb,” bearing the guilt for the sin of the people, thus opening the door for forgiveness. In the end, the Messiah would be given a place of exaltation after the point of death (Isaiah 53:12), an allusion to the resurrection of Jesus.

Isaiah 53 is so striking in its parallels to Jesus that Christians have always seen this as one of the clearest prophecies concerning Christ. A few of the parallels between the prophecies of Isaiah and the fulfillment in the New Testament are:

Isaiah 52:14: the Messiah was beaten to the point of disfigurement.

see Matthew 26:67-68

Isaiah 52:15: the blood of the Messiah “sprinkled” many nations.

see I Peter 1:1-2

Isaiah 53:3: the Messiah was despised and rejected.

see Matthew 27:30-31

Isaiah 53:7: the Messiah was silent before his accusers.

see Matthew 26:62-63

Isaiah 53:9: he was put to death and laid in the tomb of a rich man.

see Matthew 27:57-60

Jesus’ death was God’s salvation plan for humankind. It is God’s salvation plan for you. God’s love for you is so deep, He sent his Son to suffer and die, so that you could be free from the judgment of sin. Belief in this salvation is the beginning of a new life as a Christian (see John 3:16). Are you ready to believe?
By Greg Genter, adapted from “Revealing the Relevant Word”, CrossCurrent Ministries, 2010.

un verano con los profetas parte 2

Each day this week, read and reflect the texts below, asking God to lead you in these questions in prayer. Ask God to speak to you:

How do You want to build my faith the way You built up Hezekiah?
In light of Isaiah 42, what do You want me to know about Jesus’ identity?
How do You want to encourage me with the promises of Isaiah 43?

Week of July 13 – Isaiah 23 – 45
Spend the week reading slowly and carefully Isaiah chapters 23 – 45

As God warned of impending judgment on His people, He also demonstrated that judgment is coming to the rest of the earth. “Woes” were pronounced over the people who would have to endure the wrath of God coming to their societies. He warned against relying on human strength, symbolized by trusting in other nations, such as Egypt. In the midst of this horrible tale of destruction, the prophet worshiped with praise, declared God’s coming comfort, and revealed the promise of deliverance that always accompanies God’s acts of discipline. This section also detailed the storyline of Isaiah’s interaction with Hezekiah, one of the righteous kings of Judah, as he faced one of the many incursions against Israel and Judah by Assyria.

Three Readings to “Audit” Isaiah 23 – 45

Read slowly and carefully: Isaiah 30:15 – 31:9: Isaiah prophesied the Lord’s rebuke on those who would trust in Egypt for help against the coming judgment. Even in the midst of this rebuke, however, Isaiah was quick to describe how God longs to be gracious to them, and to be their source of hope and trust. But since God knew they would refuse, only terror was before them.

Read slowly and carefully: Isaiah 37:1 – 38:22: When confronted by an invasion from Assyria, Judah’s King Hezekiah turned to the Lord. Isaiah encouraged him to trust in God’s deliverance, which he did, and the Lord smote the Assyrians. Later, when Hezekiah faced natural death in his agedness, he turned again to the Lord. Isaiah ministered to him a promise of a few more years of life because Hezekiah had sought the Lord.

Read slowly and carefully: Isaiah 40:1-31, Isaiah 42:1-4 and Isaiah 43:1-13: Written many years after the first half of the book of Isaiah, chapter 40 began a whole new tone—one of redemption, provision, and comfort. Isaiah spoke as if the Babylonian captivity that was yet to come was nearing its end, to encourage God’s people that healing and restoration was indeed in their future. Many of these passages described the coming Messianic age, when the fullest restoration of God’s people would occur.

Skim and Skip – “What did I miss in Isaiah 23 – 45?”

Concluding a series of warnings to various nations and regions (Isaiah 23), the Lord promised devastation to the entire earth in the end times (Isaiah 24). Isaiah praised the Lord for the ultimate establishment of Jerusalem in that Day, a day seen as deliverance for Israel (Isaiah 25-27). In the meantime, though, woes were still pronounced over both Israel (called “Ephraim”) and Jerusalem (Isaiah 28-29), and for those who would trust in Egypt instead of God (Isaiah 30). Promises of joy and security in God’s Kingdom were mixed among descriptions of distress and wrath coming to the nations (Isaiah 32-35). An account of Isaiah’s interaction with Judah’s King Hezekiah was retold from 2 Kings and 2 Chronicles (Isaiah 36-39). With new tones of hope, God laid out His promise for the Messiah and complete restoration of Jerusalem (Isaiah 40-45).

The Most Important Story

By 700 BC the Assyrian Empire was on a quest for world domination. The empire was growing as the Assyrian army made it a regular practice to bring city after city under siege. These cities would usually be forced to pay tribute to the king and to provide soldiers for the Assyrian army. The army grew as more territories were brought under its power. Assyria used fear and intimidation as a means of expanding their empire, overtaking cities with excessive and often gruesome brutality.

In the book of Isaiah, chapters 36-37 recorded the events of Assyria’s attempt to capture Jerusalem. When Assyria advanced to the borders of Jerusalem (701 BC) the Jews were given a fair chance to cooperatively fall under the control of Assyria. After many surrounding cities of Judah were seized, the Assyrian king Sennacherib sent a representative named Rabshakeh to advise Jerusalem to surrender. The King of Jerusalem, Hezekiah, assured his people that God would deliver them and they would not be overtaken by Assyria. Obviously, the people in the city were left with a choice to trust a message of fear from the king of Assyria, or a message of hope from their godly king.

Hezekiah’s motives for refusing to submit to Assyria were stemmed from his faith in God, rather than faith in himself. First, the Jewish people were living in the land that was given to them by the promise of God (Genesis 12:1-2). Hezekiah made a choice to hold on to God’s promise by faith rather than to be persuaded by fear. Second, cities that were brought under Assyrian control were expected to infuse Assyrian worship practices into their religious lives. This would be absolute violation to the first commandment given to Moses, “I am the Lord your God… You shall have no other gods before me” (Deuteronomy 5:6-7).

Hezekiah sought the counsel of Isaiah (Isaiah 37:1-2) and fervently prayed to God (Isaiah 37:16-20). The prophet assured Hezekiah that Jerusalem would not fall to Assyrian control. God protected Jerusalem by sending an angel to the camp of Assyria. The angel of the Lord struck the camp, and 185,000 Assyrian soldiers died (Isaiah 37:36).

Fear is often a powerful and persuasive factor in the daily decisions we face in our lives. Thankfully, God’s perfect love casts out fear (I John 4:18). With our hope in God’s promises, and with faithful obedience to His will, we can face any fear with courage and integrity.
By Greg Genter, adapted from “Revealing the Relevant Word”, CrossCurrent Ministries, 2010.

Un verano con los profetos parte 1

Each day this week, read and reflect the texts below, asking God to lead you in these questions in prayer. Ask God to speak to you:

What do you need to do in my life to prepare me to be used by You?

If I were to meet with You face to face, what would You say to me?

What do You want to reveal to me about the identity of Jesus in my life?

Week of July 6 – Isaiah 1 – 22
Spend the week reading slowly and carefully Isaiah chapters 1-22

Isaiah marks the beginning of a section of scripture that we call the “Major Prophets.” Prophets spoke direct words from God. Four Major Prophets (Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel and Daniel), and twelve “Minor Prophets” (named for the size of their books, not the importance) brought stern warnings of judgment and promises of future redemption, marking a tumultuous era in the history of God’s people. Prophesying during the last centuries of the kings of Israel and Judah, these prophets set the stage for God’s discipline of His people, which would come in the form of invasions and captivity at the hand of the Assyrians and Babylonians. The first section of Isaiah details his calling, key stories that defined the purpose of God’s judgment, and a clear message that even though God would use godless nations such as Assyria and Babylon to bring judgment on the Jewish people, His punishment would soon fall on those unholy peoples as well. Isaiah shows us that when God disciplines His people, He always does so with the promise of redemption, restoration, and healing close at hand.

Three Readings to “Audit” Isaiah 1 – 22

Read slowly and carefully: Isaiah 1:1-31 and Isaiah 6:1-13: God’s passionate heartbreak over His people was demonstrated as Isaiah poured out warnings of judgment and promise of restoration. Receiving his calling in a vision before the throne of God, the Lord commissioned Isaiah to close the ears of unrepentant Israel with words that would harden their hearts and experience the absence of God, lest they mistakenly believe they are right with the Lord.

Read slowly and carefully: Isaiah 7:1 – 8:10: Isaiah was sent to the king of Judah to instruct him to trust the Lord during one of the many outbreaks of civil war between Judah and Israel (called “Ephraim” in this passage). A sign given to King Ahaz—the birth of a child in his court—was also a prophetic foreshadowing of the Christ-child. Israel’s defeat at the hands of the Assyrians was promised.

Read slowly and carefully: Isaiah 9:1-7 and Isaiah 10:20 – 11:16: As the northern nation of Israel neared the judgment coming to them from Assyria, Isaiah reassured Judah that Assyria itself would fall, and a Messiah would eventually come from the remnant of God’s people.

Skim and Skip – “What did I miss in Isaiah 1 – 22?”

In the face of impending judgment, it was essential for God to display the future plans He had for Israel. He that promised Jerusalem’s temple would be restored (Isaiah 2), through the impending “Day of the Lord” would take away Jerusalem for a time (Isaiah 2-3) and leave only a remnant (Isaiah 4). Isaiah pronounced woes on those who would face judgment (Isaiah 5) and praised God for the remnant that would be preserved (Isaiah 12). The various nations that threatened Israel and Judah were warned that they also would face judgment (Isaiah 13-22), an essential message for the Jews to hear as they faced their own immediate destruction. God made clear that Israel and Judah’s judgment would be temporary, and at the hands of nations no less in danger of God’s hand of discipline.

The Most Important Story

There are questions that lie deep in the heart of every human soul. What is the purpose of life? Do things happen for a reason or by chance? Do I have a destiny? For many, answering the deep questions of the human heart proves impossible. The questions seem both undeniable and unknowable. Many people eventually tune out. We settle into the busyness of everyday life, hide behind our schedules, and stop asking if all this activity truly matters.

Consider that the prophet Isaiah was a real person. Try not to picture an old man with a long beard—he was a prophet for 60 years; therefore, it is likely that he began ministry in his 20’s or 30’s. He had a family. He had kids (see Isaiah 7:3; Isaiah 8:3). He struggled with personal doubts and insecurities.

None of the prophets in the Bible asked to be a prophet. There was no application for the job. There was no prophetic school. God simply talked. If God talked to you, you were a prophet. This was the case for Isaiah.

Isaiah received a vision of God in His full majesty (Isaiah 6:1-13). Isaiah described the scene with God sitting on a throne. God was wearing a robe that filled the temple. There were a burning altar and fiery angels hovering over God’s throne.

In verse five, Isaiah recorded his own words. He believed that he was about to die. Standing in the presence of Almighty God, he cried out, “I am ruined... I am a man of unclean lips.” One of the fiery angles took a burning coal and touched it to Isaiah’s lips. The angel said that he was now clean. His sin was forgiven. Finally, God spoke in verse eight, “Who will I send, and who will be willing to go?” Isaiah then answered, “Here am I, send me.”

The Bible assures us that we all have a purpose and God has a plan (see Jeremiah 29:11, Romans 8:28, and Ephesians 2:10). God offers us his forgiveness and cleansing. We find the answers to the ultimate questions of life when we encounter God on a personal level. God plants the answers in the same place they are being asked—deep within our hearts.

If you seek after God with all of your heart, you can trust that the life-purpose you discover is ultimately from God. It is then your response that makes all the difference. Consider the obedient, faith-filled response of Isaiah: “Here am I, send me.”
By Greg Genter, adapted from “Revealing the Relevant Word”, CrossCurrent Ministries, 2010.

Un Verano con los Profetas

Each day this week, read and reflect on the texts below, asking God to lead you in these questions in prayer. Ask God to speak to you:

What changes and repentance do You want to empower in my life?
What promise of healing and restoration do You want me to believe for?
Is there a particular calling for my life that I need to respond to?

Week of June 29 – Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah and Micah
Spend the week reading from Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, and Micah

We begin our journey through the prophets with a group of books known as the “Minor Prophets.” They are not considered “minor” because they lack importance, but rather because they are far shorter than Isaiah, Jeremah, Ezekiel, and Daniel, which are known as the “Major Prophets.” These smaller books are focused on the final decades before Assyria and Babylon invaded Israel and Judah, taking the people of Israel captive in two waves of God’s judgment. Joel introduced the concept of “The Day of the Lord,” a common theme among the prophets to speak of God’s acts of judgment and His promise of restoration and healing. Amos and Micah both warned of the coming captivities. Obadiah rebuked Israel’s hostile neighbor Edom. Jonah was called to preach repentance to the Assyrian capital, a call he resisted due to his hatred of Israel’s great enemy.

Three Readings to “Audit” the Minor Prophets

Read slowly and carefully: Joel 2:1-32: A great plague of locusts was called an “army” by Joel, who saw this difficulty as an act of judgment coming from God. The Lord called His people to return to Him with all their hearts. God promised to restore the land and heal them from the locust plague, and then to pour out His Holy Spirit into their lives—a prophecy ultimately fulfilled in Acts 2:1-39 as the Holy Spirit filled the early followers of Jesus Christ.

Read slowly and carefully: Jonah 1:1-17 and Jonah 3:1 – 4:10: Jonah was called by God to preach to the Assyrian capital of Ninevah. He resented this call because the Assyrians were an enemy to Israel and a significant military threat. Preferring Ninevah to be destroyed, Jonah feared God’s mercy would spare the city and allow Israel’s enemy to thrive. The people of Ninevah did, in fact, repent and find God’s mercy for a time, for which Jonah was resentful and depressed.

Read carefully: Micah 4:1 – 5:5 and Micah 6:6-8: Micah spoke of the “Last Days” when the Messiah would be revealed. The mighty restoration of Jerusalem described is considered a prophetic vision of both a present restoration of Israel after the Babylonian exile and also future end times, when God will prepare a New Heaven and New Earth for believers to enjoy for eternity. Micah prophesied that the birth of Messiah would occur in Bethlehem, which was fulfilled in Jesus.

Skim and Skip – “What Did I Miss in The Minor Prophets?”

A plague of locusts was afflicting Israel when Joel called for repentance and warned of a coming Day of the Lord, where both judgment and blessing would come (Joel 1-3). The neighbors of Israel were not immune to facing God’s judgment (Amos 1), but so also Israel would face the consequences of her sins, which were specifically named (Amos 2-6). Amos shared visions that revealed God’s plans to no longer withhold judgment (Amos 7-9), and yet also promised restoration (Amos 9). For centuries, Israel’s neighbor Edom had assaulted her and gloated over her judgments. Obadiah promised that Edom, too, would face God’s hand. Jonah’s prayer from within the belly of a great fish expressed his faith (Jonah 2). Micah predicted destruction (Micah 1), identified corruption (Micah 2), condemned leadership (Micah 3), and promised the Messiah (Micah 5). He named Israel’s sins (Micah 6) and yet spoke of restoration and healing (Micah 7).

The Most Important Story

Despite our desire to live a blameless life, we will fall short of the glory of God. When we sin, it distances us from God. In order to bring restoration to our relationship with Him, we must repent of our wrong doings. Confessing our sin is something that God asks us to do. Repeatedly, His word shows us that through His righteousness and judgment, our relationship with Him will be restored and we will be delivered (see 1 John 1:7-9). More than simply repenting of our wrongs, we must also trust in God’s mercy and grace. Resting in that forgiveness, we can find our relationship with God flourish, even as we continue to struggle against our imperfections.

The story of Jonah is a perfect example of God's unwavering commitment to the people He loves. In Jonah 1:2, the Lord asked Jonah to go to Nineveh to tell them to turn from their wickedness. Instead of heeding the Lord’s command, Jonah deliberately disobeyed. But the Lord was relentless in His desire for Jonah to warn the Ninevites. Jonah was not eager to see the city spared from destruction but despite this he eventually obeyed the Lord's command. Nineveh believed Jonah’s message, and they repented of their sins. Nineveh was spared.

Just when we think the story of repentance and forgiveness is complete, God often engages the transformation process yet again. After forgiving both Jonah and the inhabitants of Nineveh, God extended His mercy once more. Jonah told the Lord he would rather die than see Nineveh delivered. As he sat in the desert and sulked, the Lord allowed a plant to grow in order to mercifully protect Jonah from the intense weather. The next morning the Lord had the plant wither. Jonah was beside himself with anger because the weather was severely affecting him. God used the plant as an analogy to show Jonah about His love for the Ninevites. If Jonah had been as concerned for the city of Nineveh as he was for the plant, he would have rejoiced at their repentance.

God saw Jonah through his selfishness, much like He sees us through our own selfishness. Let us strive every day to become more like Christ. Let us look at everyone through the eyes of God’s mercy and grace. And when it is necessary, let’s rest in His forgiveness and unwavering affection for us.
Adapted from “Revealing the Relevant Word”, CrossCurrent Ministries, 2010.

​The Daily Six

The Daily Six