Philippians 3 - What a perfect message for the day before the New Year begins... my bible titles it "The Goal of Life"!   What is that goal?   To.. "lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus... the goal.. the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus."  

Like Paul, it is a goal that lays ahead and so we let go of the past.

 It is goal that cannot be accomplished by our own efforts, genealogy, or righteousness.

 It is a goal that comes by faith alone, realizing that everything else is worthless garbage.

We can only wait for that day.. when He transforms us from "the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself." 

My goal is then to  "worship in the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus.."  
To be found in Him.
To know Him.
To know the "power of His resurrection". 
To know the "fellowship of His sufferings". 
To be "conformed to His death". 

To keep "pressing on". 
To forget" what lies behind". 
To reach "forward to what lies ahead". 
To watch and wait "eagerly" for His coming.

Father in heaven, thank You for the ending of another year and anticipation for a new beginning.
Watch over us.  Keep us in Your loving arms.  Fill us with Your Spirit and draw us closer to Your heart.  Complete in us all the good works that You have planned for us.  For we once again turn our lives over to You and say, "Your will be done".  Amen.

Philippians 1-2 Paul's letter to the Philippians is like to that of Ephesians.. calling out the church to walk the worthy walk, in Christ.   Paul, like a loving father, wants to see his spiritual children persevere and stand firm in their faith.  His prayer and his message for them includes:

Abounding love.
Abounding knowledge and discernment.
Sincerity and blamelessness.
One spirit and mind.
Encouragement in Christ.
Consolation of love.
Fellowship in the Spirit
Unity in thinking, love, and purpose.
Humility of mind, mutual respect and care for one another.
The attitude of Christ in humility and obedience.
Doing all things without "grumbling or disputing".
Being" blameless and innocent children of God."
"Holding fast the word of life."
Rejoicing and sharing joy.

This is a wonderful prayer list!

Father in heaven, strengthen us by Your Spirit in our inner beings, so that we can walk in a worthy manner, following the example of our Precious Lord Jesus.  Fill us with these fruits of Your Spirit, with love, understanding, patience, humility, innocence, and joy as we grow in true knowledge of the Lord, who gave Himself for us.  Thank You for speaking to my heart today.  O how precious You are!

Amen.

Philippians 1: 6  "For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Jesus."

I am reading a book of Spurgeon's  communion addresses.  This morning I have been reading a portion of the sermon titled "Redeemed souls freed from Fear" based on the verse in Isaiah 43:1 "Fear not: for I have redeemed thee."   Spurgeon writes about how the fact that we have been redeemed by the sacrifice of the Beloved Son, means that He has redeemed us out of trouble, out of poverty,  and out of our sense of insignificance.   It is in our sense of personal insignificance that we are troubled, Spurgeon writes.  We think we are too small for God to think about.  But we are mistaken!

"I believe that our greatest miseries spring from those little worries which we hesitate to bring to our heavenly Father. Our gracious God puts and end to all such thoughts as these by saying, 'Fear not: for I have redeemed thee.' 

You are not of such small account as you suppose. 

The Lord would never be wasteful of His sacred expenditure.  He bought you with a price, and therefore He sets great store by you.

Listen to what the Lord says, 'Since thou wast precious in My sight, thous hast been honorable , and I have loved thee: therefore I will give men for thee, and people for they life.' 

 It is amazing that the Lord should think so much of us as to give Jesus for us. .. Know ye not that His only-begotten Son entered the world, and became a man? The man Christ Jesus has a name at which every knee shall bow, and He is so dear to the Father, that for His sake, His chosen ones are accepted, and are made to enjoy free access to Him." 

It is because of His great love for us that God sent His son to die for us. Spurgeon writes that God not only foreknew us, but He predestinated us "to be conformed to the image of His Son."  He called us, He justified us, and He glorified us..  "There is no going back on the part of God, and consequently His redemption will redeem, and in redoing it will secure us all things."  And, wonderfully, " We have been bought with too great a price for our Redeemer to let us slip." 

What blessing and grace and joy we have in our Lord Jesus, our Redeemer, and in our Heavenly Father who began a good work in us and WILL perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus." 

Praise to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit who leads us into the Truth. 

Amen. 

Ephesians 6  Merry Christmas!  "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ! "  ( 1:3)

We are truly blessed in and by Jesus.  We are redeemed, adopted, forgiven, and given an inheritance!
We have been made a new creation.. His "workmanship created in Christ Jesus for good works... " 
We were far away, but we have been "brought near by the blood of Christ." 
We have been LOVED with the "great love" of God.
We have been given the Spirit of God to strengthen us in our "inner man".. so that we can walk a worthy walk.. worthy of His calling.
We have been renewed in our thinking.. so that we can speak truth , control anger, and be imitators of God!

And, because of all these blessings and millions more.. we must be careful how we walk.. we need to be wise, understanding His will for us.

He wills for us to be kept filled with His Spirit.
He wills for us to speak and sing from our hearts.. "to the Lord"
He wills for us to give thanks "for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to God, even the Father." 

He wills for wives to respect and submit to the leadership of their husbands.
He wills for husbands to love and sacrifice for their wives.
He wills for us to have marriages that reflect the love of Christ for His church.

He wills for children to love and respect their parents.
He wills parents to love and discipline and instruct their children in the Lord.
He wills for slaves to be obedient, sincere, rendering service with "good will.. as to the Lord "
He wills for masters to treat their slaves with brotherly love and good will.

And most of all He desires for us to "be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might" so that we can stand firm "against the schemes of the devil". 

So He gives us all the blessings.. armor.. that we need to accomplish this and "to stand firm":
He gives us truth to gird up our loins.
He gives us righteousness as a breastplate of protection.
He gives us peace to shod our feet and prepare us for the message of the Gospel.
He gives us a "shield of faith .. to extinguish all the flaming missiles of the evil one."
He gives us a "helmet of salvation" and a "sword of the Spirit" - the Word of God.

In all of these things.. He asks us to pray.. to pray always,  to pray with perseverance , to pray for boldness.. to pray for the Word of God to be spoken as it ought.  It is the attitude and practice of prayer that we receive from our Lord's Hand all that we need. It is in prayer that we commune and communicate with our Father in heaven and our Lord Jesus.

Father in heaven.. let Your will be done!  I yield to You.  I pray for my family, my church, and my community to seek You and to receive all of the blessings that are theirs in Christ, according to Your great love.  Thank You for the grace You have poured out to us today.  In the Name of the Beautiful One, Jesus Christ the Lord, I pray. Amen.

Ephesians 5  "Therefore"... Paul says, because we want to walk a worthy walk,  as new creations in Christ,  we should "be imitators of God.."   We are called to "walk in love".  We are called to "walk as children of light".   We are called to be "careful how we walk"... walking in wisdom, making the most of our time, and understanding "what the will of the Lord is. " 

We are to allow the Spirit of God to fill us and influence our every act, relationship, and decision.
When we speak, it should be edifying - " speaking to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord."

We are to be thankful - "always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father."

We are to be "subject to one another in the fear of the Lord " -  wives and husbands, children and parents, slaves and masters - every relationship influenced and led by the Spirit of God, according to His will, for His glory - reflecting His Love and sacrifice for us. 

We have been redeemed - from darkness, from immorality, from impurity, from greed, and from selfishness.  Our lives, reflect the light and love and goodness.. the righteousness and truth of our Redeemer!  We cannot do this without the continual filling of His Spirit in us.

I read a post yesterday on Facebook by Ann Voskamp that made me think.  She said something to the effect that " I am a place"  A place where God dwells.. I don't need to worry about what I do or don't do.. I can just be a place for Him to live. O Spirit of God,  come and fill us once again.

Father in heaven,  blessed Redeemer,  I praise You and give You thanks for Your grace to me.
Fill me, mold me, make me, and use me.. according to Your plan and purposes.  You have made me as I am, You have placed me where I am,  and You have chosen me to be Your own child.  I desire to walk a worthy walk, in wisdom, love, light, and truth.  Let Your will be done today. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Ephesians 4   Paul's message here focuses on the "worthy walk".. the walk of a new creation.. the follower of Jesus.  The worthy walk is begun when we "lay aside the old self" which is "darkened in their understanding" and "excluded from the life of God....in ignorance and hardness of heart".  The old self is callous, sensual, impure, and greedy.  ( v18-19)

The new creation - this Spirit created, supernatural being that we have  miraculously become by His grace..  will be "renewed in the spirit" of our minds,  in the "likeness of God.. .created in righteousness, and holiness of the truth".   We are therefore called to "all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing forbearance to one another in love..." ; preserving unity in "one body" with "one hope.. one Lord.. one faith, one baptism, one God and Father.. " 

The whole purpose of the church.. is to see that this body built up.. "to attain the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fulness of Christ".   We do this by "speaking truth in love"!

As individual believers in Jesus, transformed by His Spirit, renewed in our thinking, we will produce good fruit... we will speak the truth; we will control our anger; we will not steal from anyone; we will share with those in need; we will control our words - speaking the words that edify, not those that are "unwholesome".  We will not grieve the Holy Spirit of God.  We will "let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander.. and malice" be put away from our lives.  We will "be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also"  forgave us.  

Father, grant us according to the riches of Your glory and grace, the strength that comes from the power of Your Spirit at work in our inner beings.  Christ Jesus, come and dwell in us, rooting our lives in Your great Love, and filling us to the fulness of God. Only then, Lord, can we walk in a manner worthy of our calling, as You have purposed for us.. in righteousness and holiness.. in truth and in love.  Fill us once again, Holy Spirit, continually working the will of the Father in each of us.  We do not want to ever grieve You.  Thank You for the Word of Truth that leads us in the ways of our Lord.  It is in His precious name we pray . Amen.

Ephesians 3   Paul writes that he was given "the stewardship of God's grace".... the privilege of sharing these great truths of God's love- that gave Life to the dead.. to even the Gentiles.   Paul considered this stewardship, itself, a "gift of God's grace".

Paul was blessed with the privilege of sharing the "mystery of Christ"... that "Gentiles are fellow heirs and fellow members of the body, and fellow-partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel."...the "unfathomable riches of Christ"  - God's grace  made available to all who will believe.

This mystery, once hidden.. now made known.. "was in accordance with the eternal purpose which He carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord." God brings us all to bold and confident "access through faith" in Jesus.

Paul's prayer for the Ephesians in verses 14-21 is one to memorize and pray for ourselves and for each other.    He prays that God would "grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man ; so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fulness of God. " 

Father, God of grace and glory,
May Your Holy Spirit powerfully work in our inner beings, to strengthen us, that Jesus Christ, Himself will dwell.. abide, settle in, take over, own.. our hearts.  Fix us firmly in Your infinite and marvelous love.  Transform us by the renewing of our minds so that we can comprehend this infinite love and be made full, complete, and perfected in You.  You alone are able to do this great and mysterious work, for it is beyond what we can even think or ask.. but according to Your Word, we pray, asking this in the name of our Savior, Christ Jesus the Lord. Amen.

Ephesians 2

By Grace, God who loved us.. took us.. though we were "dead in our trespasses and sin" and "made us alive together with Christ". 

God raised us up with Jesus.
He seated us with Jesus. " in the heavenly places". 
By grace He saved us.. "through faith... "  which is "the gift of God". 

God determined to create a new product.. in Christ.
He took us.. Gentiles, that were far from Him and Jews, who were supposed to be near Him.. and He removed the barrier that had become a "dividing wall" - the Law.. and became Himself, the peace that unites both groups into one new "man".

The new creation.. "one body".. reconciled "to God through the cross",  brings us all into God's household, with access in "one Spirit to the Father".  We become "one building being fitted together into a holy temple in the Lord".. a "dwelling of God in the Spirit".

None of this was possible through the Law.  None of this is possible through works.  None of this is possible by any other means.. except through grace.. amazing grace.. a gift given to us from God who is "rich in mercy.. because of His great love with which He loved us." 

He has given this great gift.. but we each must receive it from His Hand.  We must participate in this gift exchange... taking hold of His Precious gift.. offered with infinite Love.. and receive it through faith.  And even then, He doesn't leave us lacking.. but provides the faith with which we receive His grace.

Oh, how wonderful, O how marvelous.. is the Savior's love for me.. for you.. for all who are far off and all who are near..

 Praise and thanksgiving to the Lord, God Almighty, Who was and is and is to come!  Blessed be the name of the Lord, Jesus Christ, in whom we live ! Come fill us once again with Your Spirit, that we might comprehend these great truths and walk in the good works that You have prepared  for us to do.
All glory and honor we give to You. Amen and amen.

Ephesians 1: 3   " Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ.. "  

He "chose us".
He "predestined us to adoption as sons".
He "freely bestowed"  grace on us.
He redeemed us.
He forgave our trespasses.
He "lavished" upon us the "riches of His grace."
He "made known to us the mystery of His will." 
He has given us an "inheritance". 
He "sealed" us in "Him with the Holy Spirit of promise."
  

Why?
Because He loves us.
Because He is kind.
Because He is rich in grace.
Because of His wisdom and insight.
Because He has kind intentions for us.
Because..  "according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will." 
Because "He put all things in subjection under His ( Jesus') feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church, which is His body, and the fulness of Him who fills all in all." 

"But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive with Christ.. " ( 2:4)

Spurgeon writes.. " Regard every spiritual mercy as an assurance of the Lord's communion with thee....Look then, on every motion of grace in thine heart as a pledge and sign of the moving of thy Savior's heart towards thee.  There is His whole heart in the bowels of every mercy which He sends thee. He has impressed the kiss of love upon each gift, and He would have thee believe that every jewel of mercy is a token of His boundless love.  Look on thy adoption, justification, and preservation, as sweet enticements to fellowship... like the ringing of the bells.. inviting thee to come to the banquet of His love."

Father in heaven, You are the Father of glory and we ask that You would give to us "the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him.. "  Enlighten the eyes of our hearts.. to know the "hope of His calling"; the "surpassing greatness of His power";  and riches of His glory. May we know more and more His boundless love and Your great glory and blessings.
For it is in the name that is above all names, the name of Jesus Christ the Lord, that we come. Amen.

Galatians 6  Paul gives some examples of what a Spirit led life looks like as we live it out in the church:

v1- We will have a "spirit of gentleness" when encountering a brother "caught in sin"; conscious of and honestly aware of our own difficulties with temptation...

v2 - We will  "bear one another's burdens",  fulfilling the "law of Christ" - with love.

v3 - We will be careful of what we think about ourselves- as Paul wrote in Romans 12:3 ".. I say to every man among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgement.. " 

v4 - We will examine our own work.. not comparing ourselves to others in order to boast.

v5 - We will bear our own loads.

v6 - We will share "good things" with those who share the Word with us.

v7 - We will live by the principle that " whatever a man sows, this he will also reap". 

v8 - We will sow to the Spirit and reap "eternal life" ; we will not "sow to the flesh.". 

v9 - We will keep doing good, knowing that "we shall reap if we do not grow weary."

v10 - We will do good while we have the opportunity.. to all men, but especially to our brothers and sisters in Christ.

Like Paul, we boast only in the fact that Jesus Christ died for our sins.. for  nothing else is really worth boasting about!

Father in heaven,  we lift grateful hearts to You, thanking You for every blessing that is ours in Christ Jesus.  Fill us with Your Spirit once again, to do a fresh work in our inner beings, teaching us of Your great love and grace, that we might live out these truths for Your glory.  Let Your peace and mercy be upon us as we yield ourselves fully to Your will in all parts of our lives.  We ask this in the name of our Lord, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Galatians 4  We are "children of promise".. known by God, redeemed by the Son of God.  At the right time He came, was born of a woman, under the Law, " in order that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons." 

As heirs.. sons of God,  we are free.  We are not slaves to the Law.  We are blessed.  We are received by Him.

Chapter 5 - Paul warns those who were turning back to the Law that they had "fallen from grace." 

In Christ, the only thing that matters, that means anything is " faith working through love."  It is by faith, Paul says, that we "are waiting for the hope of righteousness."   This is walking in the truth.
This is the freedom that we are called into.

When we live by the Spirit, walk in the Spirit, and are being  led by the Spirit..  we will fulfill the Law.. "For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'" Are lives will be characterized by love!

Gone are the lusts of the flesh which bear the fruits of immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing.. for the flesh and its passions have been crucified.

Instead, our lives will be characterized by the fruit of God's Spirit.. love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control...

This will only happen when we walk in constant communication.. constant communion.. with our Lord, to whom we belong.. It is in receiving His gift.. His Spirit that produces love, joy, peace.. etc. in our lives.. that we can do what He calls us to do. We receive from His Spirit the grace, the power, and the freedom to live as the children of God.

Father in heaven, give me eyes to see and ears to hear this message of truth. Help me to live in communion and fellowship with You.. every day and every hour.  Fill me, Holy Spirit, with all Your gifts of grace..may Christ be fully formed in me.  Amen.

Galatians 3   The life we live in the flesh.. we live by faith in the Son of God, who loves us and who delivered Himself up for us.. ( 2:20)  The church was being foolish, in that they had listened to the false teachers who were preaching the Law, forgetting the message that Paul had preached... It is faith, not works, by which we live... faith in Christ Jesus.. crucified.

It is "hearing with faith" that enables us to receive the Spirit of God. ( v2)
It is by the Spirit that we are "being perfected".  ( v3)
It is "by hearing with faith " that the Spirit comes and that God does miraculous works among us. (v5)
It is by faith that Abraham was "reckoned" righteous, and those who are "of faith" are his sons. (6-7)
God chooses to justify by faith... all nations;  "So then those who are of faith are blessed with Abraham, the believer." (8-9)

No one can be justified by the Law.. for no one can abide by all of it.  If one chooses to live by the Law, he is not living by faith.

Jesus came to redeem us from "the curse of the Law".  He became "a curse for us." (13)
It is in Christ Jesus that the blessing of Abraham comes to us.. that we might "receive the promise of the Spirit through faith." (14)

The Law was given.. to "lead us to Christ". 
It convicted us all of sin.
Faith came according to the promise.. that all who believe in Christ Jesus are justified and become the "sons of God". 
We believe and are "baptized into Christ" and "clothed with Christ".  We belong to Christ and we are "Abraham's offspring".. and "heirs according to promise." 

Father in Heaven, holy, holy, holy, Almighty God, I give You praise and thanksgiving.  You chose to redeem us by sending Your Beloved Son, who gave Himself up for us.. for me.  I believe that I cannot be saved or justified by any works that I have done.. or not done.  I believe that it is only by putting faith in Jesus Christ, the One who died.. who became a curse.. who  set us...me free from sin and the Law.. that I am justified.  O, how marvelous.. O how wonderful.. is my Savior's love for me.  Thank You Lord Jesus.  Praise to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. amen.

Galatians 1-2

 Praise to our God and Father who gives grace and peace, and Who sent Jesus Christ our Lord according to His will.  Thanks be to Jesus who "gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us out of this present evil age... " and who was raised from the dead to give us life.

This is the gospel of grace.. the only gospel that we receive or preach..  It is the gospel, not according to men, but a revelation of Jesus Christ, Himself.  This gospel took Paul from being a persecutor of the church and called him by grace to be a messenger of the truth.  This gospel is what Paul preached and lived by.

The gospel was being distorted by those who "had sneaked in to spy out... the liberty we have in Christ Jesus" Paul wrote.  This distortion would bring the Gentile believers into bondage, the bondage of the Law, which cannot save.

Paul clarifies the truth of the gospel -  "a man is not justified by the works of the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus ..."   We must also be crucified... dying to the Law, that we might live to God.

" I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and delivered Himself up for me."  It is all of GRACE.

Have we ... have I.. in any way distorted the true gospel?  Have I added any "works of the Law" that cannot justify me, to the gospel of grace?  Do I live by faith in Christ, the one Who loves me and gave Himself up for me?

Father, search my heart today.  Lead me in truth and grace that I might have true peace in every part of my life.. to the glory of Your Name.  Amen.

Malachi 1-4  Written in the time of Nehemiah, after the return from exile, and after the rebuilding of the temple, this message addresses the priests and leaders and exhorts them to turn from their sinful ways and truly worship and honor God. 

The Lord addresses the failure of Israel to worship Him:

1.  Israel doubted that God loved them. (1:2-5)  They didn't see the truth that they were His chosen people.  They didn't recognize that the demise of Edom was the Lord's work on their behalf.

2. Israel failed to honor God appropriately. (1:6-14)  The laws and ordinances of the Lord were very clear.  Offerings and sacrifices were supposed to be from their best... unblemished and pure.  Instead, they offered "defiled food",  blind, sick  and lame sheep or stolen goods.  Their offerings were unfit for human kings or governors.. let alone for the Holy Father and Master of Israel.  " I am not pleased with you...  Should I receive that from your hand?"   The Lord tells them, ".. I am a great King .. and my name is feared among the nations." 

3. The priests failed to fulfill their responsibilities. ( 2:1-9)  Their hearts were not given over to the Lord or to the covenant that was made with Levi's house.  " My covenant with him was one of life and peace, and I gave them to him as an object of reverence; so he revered Me, and stood in awe of My name."  The priests were to give "true instruction" in the Word;  they were to walk in "peace and uprightness" and they were to turn "many back from iniquity.. For the lips of a priest should preserve knowledge and men should seek instruction from his mouth; for he is the messenger of the Lord of hosts. "   Instead, the priests were "turned aside from the way";  they caused the people to "stumble by the instruction";  and they "corrupted the covenant of Levi;" 

4. The men of Israel failed to obey God in their marriages. ( 2:10-17)   It was an "abomination " to the Lord that the men of Israel "married the daughter of a foreign god".  God would not accept their offerings because of this duplicity.  They also broke their marriage vows.. " the Lord has been a witness between you and the wife of your youth, against whom you have dealt treacherously, though she is your companion and your wife by covenant. "  Malachi writes that the Lord "hates divorce", and that it is proof that they do not have even a "remnant of the Spirit".   God had grown weary of their words.. weary of their calling evil, good.. weary of them asking Him for justice, while they did injustice to their wives.

5.  Israel was guilty of robbing God. (3:8-12)  Their tithes and offerings were not only blemished, but they withheld all that they should have given. Because of this their crops were sparse and the fruit fell off before it was ready.  God challenged His people to "bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, so that there is food in My house, and test Me now in this.. if I will not open for you the windows of heaven, and pour out for you a blessing until it overflows."

 Israel was arrogant against God.  They questioned the value of serving the Lord. They did not fear Him.  They did not believe Him.  They did not honor Him.  The Lord called the people to repent.. and  some did!  They wrote a "book of remembrance", a new covenant, if you will, to serve the Lord.

Nehemiah 9:5-38 records the words of a document that was written after Israel heard the Law read by Ezra.  They repented and confessed their sins and" worshiped the Lord" ( Neh. 9:3)  This document exalted the Lord, recalled His works from Abraham through Moses, remembered the many times that He rescued them from enemies, and acknowledged their humble position  before Him.  They signed this document and committed themselves to obey the Law, pay their tithes,  and not neglect the house of the Lord.

Malachi ends his message and the whole old testament with a word of hope.  God was going to send His messenger.. His Elijah.. to prepare the way for the One who was to come.  The One, His anointed would come to refine and to cleanse.. to restore righteousness.  But after that.. the "great and terrible day of the Lord" will come.

Father in heaven, give us ears to hear and hearts to obey.  Like Israel, we need to humble ourselves before You and be obedient to Your word.  Help us to know Your great love for us and never doubt.  Help us to honor Your Holy Name in all that we do..  especially in what we give to You.  May we be faithful to speak Truth and not cause any to stumble by our lifestyles.  May we be faithful in our marriages and in our ministries.  Father, strengthen us by Your Spirit to do all things.. to glorify You and bring You honor.  Spirit of God, make us bold, not timid,  living according to Your power, love, and holiness.  Thank You Jesus, for coming to refine and cleanse us by Your own blood, that we might be fully Yours.  Amen.

Zechariah 1-14   This book is full of prophecies about Jesus.  Here are a few:

2:10 "Sing for joy and be glad, O daughter in Zion; for behold I am coming and I will dwell in your midst.." 

3:8-9  ".. for behold, I am going to bring in My servant, the Branch... and I will remove the iniquity of that land in one day..."

6:12 " .. Behold, a man whose name is Branch, for He will branch out from where He is; and He will build a temple of the Lord. Yes, it is He who will build the temple of the Lord, and He who will bear the honor and sit and rule on His throne. Thus He will be a priest on His throne, and the counsel of peace will be between the two offices. " 

9:9 " Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Jerusalem.. behold your King is coming to you; He is just and endowed with salvation, humble and mounted on a donkey, even on a colt, the foal of a donkey.."

9:10 ".. And He will speak peace to the nations; and His dominion will be from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth." 

12:10 " And I will pour out on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the Spirit of grace and of supplication so that they will look on Me whom they have pierced; and they will mourn for Him, as one mourns for an only son, and they will weep bitterly over Him, like the bitter weeping over a first-born." 

14:4  "And in that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, which is in front of Jerusalem on the east; and the Mount of Olives will be split in its middle from east to west.. "

14:9 "And the Lord will be king over all the earth; in that day the Lord will be the only One, and His name the only one. " 

Zechariah reminds us of  the call that our Shepherd delivers that we might be ready for His coming.. .


" Thus had the Lord of hosts said, ' Dispense true justice, and practice kindness and compassion each to his brother: and do not oppress the widow or the orphan, the stranger or the poor; and do not devise evil in your hearts against one another.'" ( 7:9-10)

"These are the things which you should do: speak the truth to one another; judge with truth and judgement for peace in your gates. Also let none of you devise evil in your hearts against another, and do not love perjury; for all these things I hate, declares the Lord. " ( 8:16-17)

Father in heaven, fill us with Your Spirit that we might live out Your will among the nations. Draw the lost to the Savior that they might also find redemption and salvation in Him.  We long to see the day when the King of Glory comes to rule over all the earth!  Come quickly Lord Jesus.
Amen.

Haggai 1-2  This short book contains 4 prophecies, all within a 4 month period.  The first and third messages ( 1:1-15; 2:10-19) rebuked the Israelites for neglecting the rebuilding of the temple.  They were not prospering because they were not honoring God.  "Consider your ways!" the Lord instructs them.

Everything they did was in vain:
"You have sown much, but harvest little; you eat, but there is not enough to be satisfied; you drink, but there is not enough to become drunk; you put on clothing, but no one is warm enough; and he who earns, earns wages to put into a purse with holes." ( v6)

The leaders, Zerubbabel, the governor, and Joshua, the high priest,  heard Haggai and responded in obedience. " So the Lord stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel.... and the spirit of Joshua.. and the spirit of all the remnant of the people; and they came and worked on the house of the Lord." 

The 2nd and 4th prophecies were words of  encouragement and assurance.  The Lord proclaimed His presence with them and the glory that He was going to bring to His temple and to His people.  God was going to bless their vines, fig tress, pomegranates, and olive trees... with fruit.  He was going to "overthrow the thrones of kingdoms and destroy the power of the kingdoms of the nations.. " 

Zerubbabel was given a great word of blessing, " I will make you like a signet right, for I have chosen you,"  the Lord declared.   Matthew 1:12 lists Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel, in the lineage of Jesus.
What a privilege and blessing he had when he chose to put God first in humble obedience.

Father in heaven, help us each to consider our ways today.. to be obedient to Your holy word.  To put You first and to seek You always. Stir up our spirits with the power of Your Spirit in us, that we might walk in Your ways and glorify Your Name in all we do.  I ask this in the Name of the Savior, Jesus Christ. amen.

Zephaniah 1-3  "... the day of the Lord is near.."  Zephaniah proclaimed.  Judgement was poured out on Israel and Judah, as well as on Moab and other surrounding nations.   Yet, the final judgement,  the Day of the Lord, is yet to come, when all of Zephaniah's prophecies are fulfilled.  The Lord will "completely remove all things from the face of the earth."  He will "remove man and beast; .. birds of the sky and the fish of the sea, and the ruins along withe wicked;" He declares, " I will cut off man form the face of the earth." (1:2-3)

The immediate judgement was on Judah because of the idolatry, their violence, and their deceit.  God's hand is stretched out against ".. those who have turned back from following the Lord, and those who have not sought the Lord or inquired of Him."  ( 1:4-6)

" A day of wrath is that day, a day of trouble and distress, a day of destruction and desolation, a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and thick darkness, a day of trumpet and battle cry.. and I will bring distress on men, so that they will walk like the blind, because they have sinned against the Lord. " ( 1:15-17)

When God judges.. a person or a nation... He judges with justice and righteousness.  
He judges the heart of each man - "And it will come about at that time that I will search Jerusalem with lamps, and I will punish men who are stagnant in spirit, who say in their hearts, 'The Lord will not do good or evil.'" ( 1:12)

He judges fully.. "Neither their silver nor their gold will be able to deliver them on the day of the Lord's wrath; and all the earth will be devoured in the fire of His jealousy, for He will make a complete end."  ( v18)

There is only one hope.. " Seek the Lord, all you humble of the earth who have carried out His ordinances; seek righteousness, seek humility.  Perhaps you will be hidden in the day of the Lord's anger." (2: 3)

There will be a remnant that is saved.  It will be the humble and lowly, who take refuge in the Lord. It will be the lame and the outcast, whose shame will be turned "into praise and renown". 

It will not be the princes - for they were like "roaring lions" - destructive and violent.
It will not be the judges - for they were like "wolves at evening". 
It will not be the prophets who were "reckless, treacherous men". 
It will not be the priests who "profaned the sanctuary.. and have done violence to the law."

It will be those who revere the Lord and who accept instruction. 
Those who "wait" for Him. 
Those who receive "purified lips" so that they "call on the name of the Lord "
Those who "tell no lies," and do not have a "deceitful tongue". 
The Lord will remove His judgements, clear away their enemies, and bring them into peace. 

"The Lord your God is in your midst,
A victorious warrior, 
He will exult over you with joy,
He will be quiet in His love, 
He will rejoice over you with shouts of joy."  ( 3:17)


Our God, the King of Israel, the Lord of all... will be forever in our midst.. Oh what a day that will be.  But only if we are among those who are hidden.. hidden in Jesus Christ our Savior, our Redeemer,  our Righteousness.

"Oh, safe to the Rock that is higher than I

My soul in its conflicts and sorrows would fly.

So sinful, so weary, 

Thine, Thine I would be!

Thou blest Rock of Ages, 

I'm hiding in Thee. 

Hiding in Thee, 

Hiding in Thee, 

Thou blest Rock of Ages, 

I'm hiding in Thee."

Father, God of all creation, You will one day bring judgement on this whole earth.  We humble ourselves before You now, fearfully and reverently seeking that precious hiding place in Jesus Christ our King.  May we stay is this place of refuge and peace.  May we exult in the salvation of our Lord!  With thankful hearts we praise You, our everlasting Father.  In Jesus we abide. Amen. 

Habakkuk 1-3 When Habakkuk complains to the Lord about the injustice and violence in Judah, God responds with an appalling answer.. He will bring judgement... at the hands of the Babylonians!  A nation known for its terrible destruction and wickedness would be the Hand of God's judgement on His own people.  Habakkuk is horrified, but he chooses to wait on the Lord and to walk by faith.

What stands out to me most in this book is the prayer/ psalm that Habakkuk offers in chapter 3.
" Lord, I have heard the report about Thee and I fear." A proper reactions...

 Habakkuk begins to describe the Lord:

"His splendor covers the heavens, and the earth is full of His praise.
His radiance is like the sunlight; He has  rays flashing from His hand, and there is the hiding of His power.
Before Him goes pestilence and plague comes after Him.
He stood and surveyed the earth;
He looked and startled the nations.
Yes, the perpetual mountains were shattered.
The ancient hills collapsed. 
His ways are everlasting. "  3: 3-6

The Lord rages against rivers and seas.  He cuts through the earth.  He melts the mountains.  He makes the sun and moon stop moving.  Habakkuk reminds us all that the God we serve is the God who created all things, and will ultimately wipe it all away.. indeed all heaven and earth will pass away.. but He will not! He is the God of salvation, who will "remember mercy".. even in His wrath.

Our God is worthy of our worship and trust. We walk by faith in Him, no matter how bad things are.. in our lives.. in our nation.. or in our world.  As Habakkuk proclaims:

"Though the fig tree should not blossom,
And there be no fruit on the vines,
Though the yield of olives should fail,
And the fields produce no food,
Though the flock should be cut off from the fold,
And there be no cattle in the stalls, 
Yet I will exult in the Lord,
I will rejoice in the God of my salvation." ( 3: 17-18)

Father in heaven,  You are The Almighty God and there is none like You! Your faithfulness surrounds You. You are merciful and gracious.  You are slow to anger and great in lovingkindness.  You are to be praised.  We can walk by faith as we put our trust in You, our mighty God who never fails, even when everything else does.. .  Let us learn to keep walking in faith, even as the world around us seems to get worse.. wickedness and violence, rebellion and injustice abound....yet, You are in control and You will judge with righteousness and truth.  Thank You for the salvation that You have provided in Christ Jesus the Lord.
Keep us in Your will and strengthen us to walk on heights with You.  We pray this in Jesus' name. Amen.

Nahum 1-3  This book focuses on the downfall of Nineveh, the capital of Assyria.  Even though Nineveh had repented at the time of Jonah, here over 150 years later, they are back to wicked ways.  They took Israel into captivity and were threatening Judah, but Nahum prophesies their destruction.

This book pronounces the reality of God's judgements on the wicked.  He is "slow to anger", but He "will by no means leave the guilty unpunished." ( v3)  The God who controls both the whirlwinds and the storms, who dries up the seas and makes the mountains quake.. will pour out His wrath on those who refuse Him.

On the other hand, for  those who take refuge in Him.. there is good news! God will restore, He will defend, and He will redeem. ( Nahum 1:15)    Paul takes this obscure verse,  written in the middle of this scathing rebuke on Nineveh,  and uses it to say, " And how shall they preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written, 'How beautiful are the feet of those who bring glad tidings of good things." (Romans 10:15)

Father in heaven, Your Word is true.  You will judge and punish those who deny, refuse, and rebel against You.  You are a God who is just and righteous.  Yet, we are amazed and humbled that You are a God who is merciful and gracious, and we give You praise and thanksgiving for the Good News of salvation through Jesus Christ, Your beloved Son.  Indeed, the Word brings great joy for all who will believe.  May many more hear these glad tidings this Christmas season. May they receive the Truth and repent from their sinfulness, and put their faith in Jesus Christ and His righteousness. We ask this in His Name, Emmanuel, God with us.. amen.

Micah 1-7  Much of Micah's message is about the judgement that is coming on Israel because of their great sinfulness.  Their iniquities are many.. as are ours.

Idolatry
Rebellions
Coveting
Stealing
Oppression
Violence
Uncleanness
Falsehoods

The leaders are accused of hating good and loving evil. ( 3:2)  " You.. who tear off their skin from them and their flesh from their bones, and who eat the flesh of my people, strip off their skin form them, break their bones, and chop them up as for the pot and as meat for the kettle."  Rulers took everything from their fellow countrymen.. eating them alive.

The prophets were condemned for leading the people astray.  They worked for bribes.  They proclaimed good to those who fed them and war on those who could not.

Blood shed , injustice, bribery, hypocrisy.. God judged Israel and brought about her punishment.
Yet He was not finished with them.  He still purposes to bring a remnant back, to redeem them, and to bring His kingdom that will reign over all the earth.  Micah had the privilege of proclaiming the great truth about the coming King, born in Bethlehem.. the "One will go forth for Me to be ruler in Israel. His goings forth are from long ago. From the days of eternity." ( 5:2)

Jesus:

".. He will arise and shepherd His flock in the strength of the Lord, In the majesty of the name of the Lord His God."  ( 5:4)
".. He will be great to the ends of the earth. And this One will be our peace." ( 5:4-5)

He will lead us in the ways of the Lord.. to "do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with [our] God." ( 6:8) 

The judgement of God will wipe out all of those things that His people valued.. but His mercy is so great.. Micah ends his message with these words:  " Who is a God like Thee, who pardons iniquity and passes over  the rebellious act of the remnant of His possession?  He does not retain His anger forever, because He delights in unchanging love.  He will again have compassion on us; He will tread our iniquities under foot.  Yes, Thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea." ( 7:18-19)

Father in heaven, You are the Lord, the only God.. and there is no other.  We desire to walk in Your ways and live according to Your will. Lead us in paths of righteousness for the sake of Your holy Name. Fill us with holy fear and reverence.  Anoint us with holy oil.  May we do justice and love kindness and walk humbly with You every day of our lives.. in the powerful name of Jesus, our Lord we pray. Amen.

Jonah 1-4   Even though Jonah clearly knew God and clearly knew what he was called to do... somehow he thought he could flee from His presence.

Jonah feared God and knew Him to be "the Lord God of heaven who made the sea and the dry land." v9
Jonah knew that the storm was because of his disobedience.  v10
Jonah knew that if they threw him overboard that the storm would stop. v12
Jonah knew that God would hear his prayer. 2:2
Jonah knew that Nineveh was an evil city... and that a message from God would effect them.
Jonah knew that God is " a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness and one who relents concerning calamity." 4:2

Jonah was an unwilling messenger of grace.  Even after he received God's grace in the belly of the fish.. he still was angry that the people of Nineveh repented.  Do we lack that same compassion on the lost?

The gospel of salvation was grudgingly preached to the people of Nineveh and they heard it and repented.
3:5  They "believed in God". 
        They humbled themselves with "a fast and put on sackcloth from the greatest to the least of them."
3:8  They called "on God earnestly that each may turn from his wicked ways and from the violence which is in his hands." 

3:10 " When God saw their deeds, that they turned from their wicked way, then God relented concerning the calamity which He had declared. "
4:11 God had compassion on Nineveh.. especially the 120,000 children "who do not know the difference between their right and left hand." 

Jesus reminded the scribes and Pharisees of Jonah's life and message in Matthew 12: 38-41.  They wanted a sign.  They wanted a specific miracle, and Jesus refused to please them.. knowing that nothing would satisfy them, for they refused to believe.  Jesus did point them to the 3 days and nights that Jonah was in the fish's belly and told them that He would be in the "heart of the earth" for the same amount of time... A sign that they still refused to believe.  Because of their unbelief, Jesus told them, "The men of Nineveh shall stand up with this generation at the judgement and shall condemn it because they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and behold something greater than Jonah is here." 

What an amazing thing - an evil, violent, enemy country repented due to a message from a reluctant, depressed, angry prophet...  while, the religious leaders of God's own people refused to repent of their unbelief in the presence of God Himself!

Father in heaven, God of compassion and grace, we revere and honor Your holy Name.  How thankful we are for the Word of salvation that leads us to repent and to believe in Christ Jesus who died to save us from all our sins. May our hearts be cleansed from all unrighteousness and unbelief.  May we have compassion on the lost and love for our enemies.  Open our eyes to see You and to know You fully.  In the name of Jesus we pray. amen.

II Corinthians 10 -13 Paul returns to his concerns for the church and his relationship with them in these final chapters.  He defends his position as apostle and as the one that brought them the true Gospel.  He is concerned that they have listened to false teachers and given them the place that Paul should have, as Christ's ambassador to them.

There are a couple of key lessons that we need to think upon.

10:3-5 Here Paul teaches that "though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh". 

There is a spiritual battle going on for the church.. and the only weapons that are effective are spiritual weapons.. " divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses.... speculations... lofty things raised up against the knowledge of God."   Paul says, ".. we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ."   The battle for believers.. is in our thoughts - intellect, perceptions, reasoning.
When we choose to bring our thoughts into submission.. in obedience to Christ.. we can be made complete.  We cannot judge ourselves or others by the outward appearance -  we must "test [ourselves] to see if [we ] are in the faith; examine [ourselves]!  (  13:5)

Paul teaches that, as Christ's apostle, he was appointed to:

" punish all disobedience" (10:6)
Build them up.. (10:8; 12:19; 13:9.10)
Work within the "sphere which God apportioned" to him. (10:14)
Not seek man's commendation.. but the Lord's ( 10:18)
"... spend and be expended for.. " their souls. ( 12:15)

Paul didn't want to be bold, strong, overbearing, super -wise, or burdensome to the church.  He wanted them to know that he loved them and was jealous for them. He wanted to see them be complete and mature in Christ.  He wanted them to rejoice, to live in peace, and to be filled with God's love.  He wanted them to walk in Truth and to be faithful.  He hoped that they would love and respect him and his associates as Christ's servants.

Seems a great purpose statement for every pastor or leader.

Father in heaven, let Your name be praised and hallowed in Your church everywhere.  Keep us from the false speculations and enable us to bring all our thoughts under submission, to obey Christ Jesus our Lord.  Strengthen Your servants, the pastors, teachers, elders, and leaders, in the knowledge and love of Christ, that they may build up the church in the sphere that You apportion to them.  Give strength when needed in their weaknesses.  Give wisdom from above.  Bless them with patience, love, and confidence in Christ, to the glory of His Name, in which we pray.  All glory we give to You, Father God, for You are so Worthy of our praise and worship.  Fill us with Your Spirit today we pray, Amen.

II Corinthians 8- 9  Paul continues to teach and exhort the church in this matter of generous giving.  He reminded them of their promise to give to this "gracious work" - a "bountiful gift" that would be sent to those in desperate need - saints in Jerusalem.  Since Paul is sending men from other churches to Corinth to receive their portion of the gift and carry it on to Jerusalem .  Paul wants to make sure that the church is ready when these men come so that his boasting of them is not going to bring shame on them or on him.

There are some lessons on giving in chapters 8-9 that are important for us to think about and to put into action.

8:3-5  Paul testifies that the church in Macedonia gave "according to their ability and beyond their ability.. of their own accord".  They begged to be part of giving to support the saints.  They had given themselves fully to the Lord and to His will first, so that God blessed them with "abundance of joy". 

8:10-12  The Corinthian church had begun preparing their gift.. there was a readiness and a desire.. but there need to be "the completion of it by [their] ability."  Paul reminded them that the "readiness" was "acceptable according to what a man has not according to what he does not have." 

8:13-15  Their giving was necessary - to supply a great need, not to allow another to live in ease while they went into poverty.  Their abundance would be helping to supply the needs of others, who may in turn help them when necessary.

8:18-23  Paul carefully chose the men who would be carrying these gifts to Jerusalem.  They took every caution to be sure that the gift got where it was supposed to go.  He wanted the churches to be confident in this.

8:24 "Therefore openly before the churches show them the proof of your love and of our reason for boasting in you."  

9:1-5  Paul sent messengers before the group that was coming to collect the offering - a heads up, if you will.  He had boasted of the Corinthians which had spurred on others to give as well.. now he didn't want them to be put to shame by not doing what he said they had.

9:6-14   The bottom line is this:  ".. he who sows sparingly shall also reap sparingly; and he who sows bountifully shall also reap bountifully."

We are to give as we "purpose" in our own hearts.
We are not give "grudgingly or under compulsion"
We are to give cheerfully, for this is what God loves.
As we give, God gives for He is "able to make all grace abound to you.. "
God supplies everything to us in the first place.
God will supply and multiply "your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness." 
God will receive  thanksgiving  and glory from those who give and those who receive.

To summarize:
Giving as God directs us begins when we give ourselves to Him. 
God provides for us so that we can give. 
Giving "proves" our love - for God and for others. 
We need to be ready to give... and to follow through on giving. 
We decide for ourselves what we can give according to our own ability.. 
We can trust God to help us give.. even beyond our ability.. 
God will multiply His gifts to us when we take what He gives and help others. 
God receives glory and thanksgiving when we give from our hearts. 

I can personally testify to this.. you can never out-give the Lord!

Father in heaven, we give You thanks for all that You have bountifully blessed us with.. day after day, year after year.  We thank You for opportunities to give to others in need. Lord, we desire to give generously according to Your will and for Your glory. May our hearts be fully Yours.. and may all that You have provided be used as You lead us.  We are stewards.. may we be faithful stewards, obeying our Master in every work.  We ask this in Jesus' name. Amen.

II Corinthians 7-8  Paul rejoiced when he was told by Titus that the church in Corinth had obeyed Paul's exhortations in the previous letter, demonstrating "godly sorrow" with great "earnestness". 

Now, Paul exhorts them to also abound in gracious giving.  "But just as you abound in everything, in faith and utterance and knowledge and in all earnestness and in the love we inspired in you, see that you abound in the gracious work also." ( 8:7)

Earnestness - serious, intense, sincere, determined ( dictionary);   - the Greek word is spoude - from speed - to despatch, eagerness, carefulness, diligence, forwardness, haste.

Paul uses this word 5 more times in these 2 chapters - an important characteristic; but a word we do not use very much..

7:11 " For behold what earnestness this very thing, this godly sorrow has produced in you; what vindication of yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what longing, what zeal, what avenging of wrong! In everything you demonstrated yourselves to be innocent in the matter." 

7:12 "So though I wrote to you it was not for the sake of the offender... but that your earnestness on our behalf might be made known to you in the sight of God." 

8:7 ( quoted above)

8:8 ".... but as proving through the earnestness of others the sincerity of your love also." 

8:16-17 " But thanks be to God who puts the same earnestness on your behalf in the heart of Titus. For he not only accepted our appeal, but being himself very earnest... "

So, we can draw some thoughts about earnestness from these verses:

Godly sorrow- sorrow brought by "the will of God" and produces "repentance without regret, leading to salvation" - produces earnestness.
It is in these kinds of situations that our earnestness is manifest - made known - to ourselves!
Abounding in all earnestness is as important as abounding in "gracious work".
Earnestness proves the "sincerity" of love.
Earnestness unites believers together as God places this zeal in our hearts for each other.

Do we.. do I have an eager determination, a zeal, a sincere desire to live for Christ? Is there a godly earnestness in my relationships?  In my gracious works?  Am I sincere in my love for Christ and for others? Am I diligent to do everything for the glory of the Lord?

Or  must God bring sorrow to me according to His will - leading me to repentance?

Father in heaven,  may Your Name be hallowed and honored among the nations and in all the earth!  May Your kingdom come and Your will be done.  Refine and purify us, Lord God, that we might abound in faith and in earnestness and in love, to the glory of Your Holy Name.  We ask this in Christ Jesus, amen.

II Corinthians 7:1  "Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God."  

Having "these promises".. the promise that God will "dwell" in us.. that He will "walk among us" and be our God;  that as we "come out" from the world and "be separate".. that He will welcome us, and "be a father to [us]"  and we are His "sons and daughters.. " 

To be separate - to be set off by boundaries.. severed from the world's ways - we must "cleanse ourselves" - purify; purge.. " all defilement" - all immorality; all filthiness; all stains, both of the body and the spirit - inside and out.   We are entreated to perfect holiness -  To perfect - fulfill further or completely - to accomplish and finish.. holiness - sacredness; blamelessness.

".. in the fear of God."  -  We will one day stand before the "judgement seat of Christ" to be "recompensed for [our] deeds in the body, according to what [we] have done, whether good or bad."  (5:10)  

James wrote of this also.. "So speak and act, as those who are to be judged by the law of liberty.  For judgement will be merciless to one who has shown no mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment."    (James 2:12,13)  

Jesus also spoke of the time of judgement.. " And I say to you, that many shall come from the east and west, and recline at the table with Abraham, and Isaac and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven; but the sons of the kingdom shall be cast out into the outer darkness; in that place there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth."  Those who put their faith in Jesus are those who will be welcomed into His Kingdom.  Those who are unbelievers.. even though they considered themselves good enough.. would be left outside in the dark.. far from the true Light.

Paul is imploring his readers.. those who are believers.. to not stop running the race set before us, but to run so that we win!  We need to do that because there is a day when we will stand before our God and Savior and be judged by Him.

Have we kept ourselves clean from all defilement in body and spirit?
Have we desired and pursued holiness in all of our actions?
Have we shown mercy to others?

Father in heaven, You see me as I am... nothing hidden.I pray for Your mercy and Your grace, for  I am once again so aware of how far I fall short of Your mark.  Oh, Lord God Almighty - perfect and complete Your work of sanctification in me.. perfecting holiness, so that I may stand before You unashamed.  In all my weaknesses and failures I come in the name of my Lord Jesus, asking for Your will to be done completely in me.  Amen.

II Corinthians 6  As "ambassadors for Christ" doing the "ministry of reconciliation" - we must have the mindset that Paul had:
Keeping our eyes on the unseen, eternal life He is preparing for us.
Walking by faith and not by sight.
Focusing all our ambitions on pleasing Him.
Desiring to persuade others to be reconciled to God.
Being controlled only by the love of Christ.

And "working together with Him.."  ( 6:1)  God has given us grace.  The free gift of salvation.. and we have received it.. but it is worthless if we do not LIVE in it.  Paul's life serves as an example of grace - full living, and we must aim to live in the same manner.  In partnership with Christ.. controlled by His Spirit.. and being in the Presence of our God and Father, our lives will reflect Him in every circumstance..

v3  We will act in ways that do not offend or discredit the ministry of the Gospel

v4-5 We will exhibit ourselves as God's servants with endurance - despite afflictions, hardships, distresses, beatings, imprisonments, tumults, labors, sleeplessness, or hunger.

v6-7  We will exhibit the divine character of our Master  "in purity,  in knowledge, in patience, in kindness, in the Holy Spirit, in genuine love, in the word of truth, in the power of God; by the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and the left..." 

v8-9   Whether we receive glory or dishonor; whether we have a good report or an evil report; whether we are considered to be deceivers, yet are speaking truth; whether we are well known or not; whether we are dying or living; whether we are under punishment.. or put to death;  In every circumstance.. let Christ be seen.

v10 - There is sorrow in our circumstances, Paul says,  but we can rejoice.  We may be poor, but we can share the riches of Christ.  We may have nothing by earthly standards.. but we have "all things" in Christ.

Paul proclaims his great love for the people in the church at Corinth, but he senses a lack of affection from them and entreats them to open their hearts to him.  He has their best interests in mind as he reminds them to not be "bound together with unbelievers".  They have been called to be separate from the world.. from the unclean.. to be holy:

The righteous should not have partnerships with the lawless.
The light should not fellowship with darkness.
One who is in harmony with Christ cannot have harmony with the evil one.
A believer has nothing in common with an unbeliever.
The temple of the living God - us - cannot agree with idols.

God dwells with us and in us. He is our Father and we His children.  Our lives need to be united with Him.. always, in every way... for this is who He has made us to be.

Father in heaven,  give us ears to hear this word and to live according to Your grace.. not in vain.. but wholly devoted and in complete submission to Your will.  May You be made known in our lives.. in our sufferings and in our successes.  May You strengthen us in our inner beings that Christ be manifested to all those we meet. Fill us Holy Spirit.. and sanctify us through and through so that it is Christ who is seen in us.  May we be known as servants of God and children of the Almighty Lord.
In Jesus' name
amen

II Corinthians 5  Paul finishes chapter 4, reminding us to look at the unseen, eternal things, and not the seen, temporal things.  It is eternity that is more important.. more vital..and we need to keep focused there as we live here.

We now live in a temporary "tent".. a human body.. a "house".   In this house.. we "groan".  We are burdened, Paul says, "because we do not want to be unclothed".  These bodies are perishable and mortal.. they are dying.. decaying.. and are "absent from the Lord."  The Greek word translated
"absent" here is apekdechomai - which means to expect fully.. look(wait) for.   We.. are in temporary housing.. groaning in our decaying residence.. looking forward to- with expectation.. to real life in our heaven made "dwelling" - immortal, imperishable, eternal, made by God..  To be finally "at home with the Lord"!

Paul uses the word "therefore" 6 times in response to these truths:

v6-8  "Therefore, being of good courage.. we walk by faith, not by sight.. "

v9-10 "Therefore.. we have as our ambition.. to be pleasing to Him.." 

v11-15  "Therefore knowing the fear of the Lord,  we persuade men, but we are made manifest to God;"  In every way, Paul says, he is controlled by the love of Christ.. to "no longer live for " himself, "but for Him who died and rose again on [his] behalf." 

v16 "Therefore from now on we recognize no man according to the flesh.. "  Recognize - know, consider, look, perceive... Looking at the outside of a person, Paul says, is useless. We need to look at the unseen.. the more important part of a person.

v17-19 "Therefore if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things have passed away; behold new things have come."  God "reconciled us to Himself through Christ".  Reconcile - katallasso - to change.. to compound a difference.. an adjustment, a restoration...an exchange.
 "God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself". God reconciled us to Himself by "not counting [our] trespasses against [us]"  
The dictionary defines the word reconcile like this:
1. to make friendly again or win over to a friendly attitude
2. to settle ( a quarrel, etc.) or compose ( a difference, etc.)
3. to make (arguments , ideas, tests, etc.) consistent, compatible, etc; bring into harmony
4. to make content, submissive, or acquiescent to..

v20  "Therefore.. we are ambassadors for Christ.. "  God has given us "the ministry of reconciliation";  He has "committed to us the word of reconciliation".. He entreats others, through us, "on behalf of Christ",  to "be reconciled to God". 

"He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf that we might become the righteousness of God in Him." 

As reconciled, changed.. new creatures in Christ, we walk by faith, we walk to please God, we look at the eternal need of others.. and we beg them, try to persuade them, minister to them.. that they might also come to be reconciled with God, through Jesus Christ, who came for that exact purpose!

Father in heaven, You are so gracious and kind.  You made Jesus, the Beloved and sinless Son of God, to become sin on our behalf.. the sacrifice that reconciles the world to Yourself.  Oh how amazing and wonderful You are!  Gracious God, help us now to walk in faith, to be ambassadors for Christ, to please You, by bringing others to You.  May Your Kingdom come and Your will be done. Thank You Father , for You have given us such marvelous hope in Jesus. Be glorified today we pray, in Jesus' name. Amen.

II Corinthians 4 -  Paul asserts that his ministry is legitimate.. given to him by God's mercy and because of that "we do not lose heart".   Unlike others, who are preaching a false gospel, Paul has:
"renounced the things hidden because of shame"
"not walked in craftiness.." 
not  adulterated "the word of God"..
but has manifested "truth"

In other words, Paul is sticking to his plan to know nothing but Christ and Him crucified. 
Others may complain that this gospel is "veiled"... covered up.. unclear or unseen.  But, Paul says, it is only veiled to those "who are perishing", those who still live in darkness.. blinded by Satan.. unbelieving.

There is a light.. "the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. " It is Jesus Christ, the Lord.. Who had come from the Father .. " the One who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ."  God.. the same God who was in the beginning and said "Let there be light"... speaks light into our hearts.. through Christ Jesus. 

He puts this wondrous gift of light into these "earthen vessels".. a great "treasure".. this "surpassing greatness of power" manifested in our temporal, mortal, humble souls... that He may be seen.  

Paul, when he stood before King Agrippa, spoke of the moment when this light shone into his own heart.. when Jesus stopped him on the road to Damascus with a "light from heaven, brighter than the sun.."  ( Acts 26:13)  Jesus appointed  Paul to minister to the Gentiles.. to "open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the dominion of Satan to God, in order that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified by faith in Me." ( v18)

Because of the Light.. Paul did not lose heart.. even when "afflicted.. perplexed... persecuted...struck down."  He carried  "in the body the dying of Jesus".. but it was so that "the life of Jesus.. may be manifested " in him too!   Paul faced death over and over again.. but he knew life.. the life of Jesus, "manifested in our mortal flesh."  Paul was absolutely confident in the resurrection power of Jesus Christ.  He was realistic about his present condition.. his "outer man" was decaying.. but he put much more weight on the truth that "our inner man is being renewed day by day".  He could therefore consider all the "momentary, light affliction" of this life.. as a tool that produced "a glory far beyond all comparison". 

We must look beyond the temporary things that we see with our earthly eyes, Paul reminds us,  and look towards the eternal, unseen things that lay ahead.

Father in heaven, holy and gracious, full of mercy and lovingkindness,  we praise Your name.  You have sent light into our hearts through the gospel of Jesus Christ, who brings forgiveness of sins and an eternal inheritance.. more glorious than we can even imagine.  Jesus, light of the world, shine on us and in us.. that the world that still lies in darkness can turn to You and be delivered from the blindness of unbelief.  I am but an earthen vessel.. You are the great treasure, the Light of the World.  Shine brightly in me, I pray, in Your Wonderful name, Jesus Christ, my Lord. Amen.

II Corinthians 3-  Paul asserts here that he does not need a letter of recommendation from another human being, because, he has a divine letter of recommendation  - a "letter of Christ" - the believers themselves.  Their changed lives - redeemed, restored, and transformed by the Holy Spirit as He wrote the New Covenant on their hearts - is a letter that is "known and read by all men".  

The Old Covenant, written on stone, was received by Moses with great glory.. so glorious was God's presence that Moses had to wear a veil on his face lest he frighten the people.

But the New Covenant, written on hearts, is so much more glorious!  
It never fades.
It gives life.
It brings true righteousness.
It surpasses any glory the Old covenant could bring.
It brings freedom... freedom from the penalty of the Law.. no longer slaves, but children of God.
It removes the veil.. so  that we can behold the glory of the Lord and be transformed into His likeness.  It removes the veil of unbelief.
It is eternal!  Everlasting and unfading!


We who have put our trust in Jesus Christ have been filled with His Spirit.. His Breath.  He has written His letter on our hearts, transforming us with ever-increasing glory.  Glory that is a reflection of His glory.. as He makes us more and more like Jesus.

Charles Sprugeon's sermon describes Jesus as the Beloved who is "all-together lovely".
Likewise, this is the Spirit's purpose for each of us in Jesus... that we "be all-together lovely.". as He is.

Father, You are great and glorious and gracious - loving us with everlasting love and giving us Your Spirit through the work of Christ Jesus, the Beloved Son.  I offer all praise and thanksgiving to You!
Oh, draw us closer.. that we might know the glory of Your beloved Son.. in deeper, truer, and more intimate/ personal ways. Have Your way in me, O Lord, that the glory of Jesus be ever-increasing in  me, in us.  In Jesus' name I pray. amen.

II Corinthians 1-2   Paul expresses confidence in his relationship with the church in Corinth, proclaiming that God "establishes us with you in Christ.. "  Paul came to them, led by God.  He acted in  "holiness and godly sincerity" while among them. His delay in returning to see them again was for their sake, not his own.  His sincere desire was to see them in joy.. standing firm in faith.

Paul instructs the church to restore the repentant believer back into the fold and to "reaffirm" their love for him.  Forgiveness, Paul instructs, is important.. for without it, Satan will take advantage.

Finally, Paul describes the open door for ministry that he found in Macedonia.  "But thanks be to God, who always leads us in His triumph in Christ, and manifests through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place."   As believers we "are a fragrance of Christ to God".  To those who believe it is the aroma of life.  To those who will not believe, it is the fragrance of death.

The Holy Spirit is made manifest.. made known to the senses.. by believers who make Jesus known.
When we speak of Jesus.. when we tell of the good news.. and bring the Word to those who have not yet heard.. we make Him known with a "sweet aroma".  

Charles Spurgeon wrote of Christ, using the words of Solomon's song, " Yea, He is altogether lovely."
He speaks of the loveliness of Christ's character and of His sacrifice.. of how lovely He is in His office and in every condition.  This statement comes from this sermon.. " You never find His kindness lessening His holiness, nor His holiness eclipsing His wisdom, nor His wisdom abating His courage, or His courage injuring His meekness. Everything is in our Lord that should be there, and everything in due measure.  Like rare spices, mixed after the manner of the apothecary, our Lord' s whole person, and character, and sacrifice, are as incense sweet unto the Lord."   It is because of His loveliness and perfection.. that we are made lovely... a sweet aroma.. the fragrance of life.

Father in heaven, Thank you for making us Your own, through our Lord, Jesus Christ.  You establish us in Your Kingdom, by Your will, through the grace poured out upon the cross of Jesus.  How can we thank You enough?  Fill us with Your Spirit and manifest the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Christ in every place.  We ask this in the name of Jesus our Lord. amen.

Obadiah wrote of one vision - the destruction of Edom.  Edom, the descendants of Esau, fought continually with Israel and Judah.  When Judah was taken into captivity, Edom quickly moved in to possess their land.  They gloated over the failure of Israel, their "brother".   Because of this, the Lord would bring them down.

"For the day of the Lord draws near on all the nations.  As you have done, it will be done to you.  Your dealings will return on your own head."   This is the Lord's standard for nations as well as for individuals.  We will reap what we sow.  This is why Jesus instructed us, " Therefore, however you want people to treat you, so treat them, for this is the Law and the Prophets."  ( Matthew 7:12)


II Corinthians 1:1-11 - Paul writes " Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all Comfort."

Comfort - Parakaleo - to call near, invite, implore - to call by name.  He comforts us when we are afflicted.  He enables us to comfort others.  This comfort is "abundant through Christ" - it superabounds!   Paul had seen his share of affliction.  He had suffered and was suffering.. but his testimony, from personal experience.. was that he was comforted.  

His afflictions resulted in salvation and comfort for his brothers and sisters in Christ.
His comfort - which enabled him to endure - would also result in helping them patiently endure any suffering.

The church will share in the sufferings of Christ. But, we will also share in His comfort.  He will come near and call us by name.

Paul writes that he was indeed afflicted.. "we were burdened excessively, beyond our strength, so that we despaired even of life; indeed, we had the sentence of death within ourselves in order that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God who raises the dead; who delivered us from so great a peril of death, and will deliver us, He on whom we have set our hope." 

Excessive burdens..
Beyond our  own strength..
Despairing of life..
Under a death sentence..
Unable to trust in ourselves..

 We each may...  and probably will... face some kind of affliction and suffering in our own lives - whether due to illness, conflicts, physical disasters,  or criminal activity .. so we can relate to Paul's testimony.
But, we need to follow the rest of his example to:

Put our trust in God, who can raise the dead!
Know the God who delivers us from peril!
Set our hope on the One who calls us by name and draws us near to Himself!

We need to also join "- in helping.. through [our] prayers, that thanks may be given by many persons.. "  

Father in heaven, we know many who have suffered from illness or difficulties of one kind or another. We have also heard of those around the world who are severely persecuted and even killed because of Your Name.  God of Comfort.. draw near to those who are suffering right now. You see the one who has an excessive burden that they can't carry on their own.. draw near, Jesus, and yoke them to Your side.  You hear the prayer of one who is under a death sentence.. the woman in Pakistan who needs to get out of the country safely.. intercede for her even now, please Lord.  Deliver the one who is despairing of life.. perhaps someone who just can't face tomorrow, and give them hope.
We trust in You, Lord. We know You are our Deliverer, our Refuge, and our Comfort.  Thank you !
All praise and glory and blessings to God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, Amen.

Amos 7-9  The Lord gives Amos three visions.. each of the destruction of Israel.  The first two - destruction by locusts and destruction by fire - terrify Amos and he asks God to pardon Israel and not allow this destruction. And, God relents.  But the third vision - the Lord using a plumb line - is not retracted.  Israel has failed to repent.. has missed the mark.. and will be torn down.

The sins of Israel are again spelled out in chapter 8.. they trampled the needy by their greed and fraudulent business practices.  They couldn't wait for the sabbath or the sacred times to be over, so they could get back to the work of earning more money.  They cheated with "dishonest scales".
They oppressed the poor and took advantage of the needy.  Judgement for these sins would be completed.  There would be great mourning.  There would be a famine.. "not a famine for bread or a thirst for water, but rather for hearing the words of the Lord."  Israel would "fall and not rise again". 

The nation of Israel consisted of the 10 northern tribes, begun by the rebel Jeroboam.  It went into exile and never returned.  Judah, the remaining two tribes, also went into exile, but returned from Babylon.  There was a remnant that remained.. which became, eventually, what we now call Israel.

God is not through with His people.  He saw their sins.  He punished them for those sins.  But He has not forsaken His people.  Chapter 9 is a word of hope, a coming restoration of Israel that has not happened yet.  A time when it will be "rebuilt.. as in the days of old."  A time when great prosperity will overflow.. "And they will not again be rooted out from their land which I have given them, says the Lord your God. "

Father in heaven, Your Word is certain and the day is coming when Israel, Your people, will once again live for You in the land You have given them.  All of us, who are Yours,  will rejoice to see that day.  We pray for the peace of Jerusalem, as You have asked us to do.  We pray that they will seek You and find You.  We pray for repentance and for restoration.  And we pray that they will know their Messiah, Jesus Christ.  Be exalted in all the nations.. You who created heaven and earth and Who reigns eternal.  Amen.

Amos 6  - In spite of all the warnings.. by Amos and other prophets.. Israel sat "at ease" and felt "secure in the mountain of Samaria".   They thought they were untouchable.. They reclined on beds of ivory, sprawled on their couches( in drunken stupor) , ate the choices meat, played their songs.. trying to imitate the psalmists, and drank wine by the bowlful.. They were the epitome of hedonism.. living in luxury with no concern for their nation. Arrogant and self-centered.. they were loathed by God, and He was going to deliver them up to exile.

Again, Amos warns them.. disaster is coming!  It will be complete.  From the northern border to the southern tip - all of Israel would be "Lo-debar"  - nothing!

Our nation is beginning to look a lot like Israel. There are many rich and arrogant people who live the same way as those who were described by Amos - drunken, oblivious, self-centered... and facing the judgement of God.  They have "turned justice into poison"  and "the fruit of righteousness into wormwood".  It has been spilling over the whole country during this election season especially!
Worse than ever before - the bitter accusations and angry, hateful speeches.. are flying through the airwaves.

Lord, help us to heed the warnings of Your Word!  You are the Lord of hosts, Jehovah, Adonai, and we hallow Your name. You call us to seek You with all our hearts and we seek You.  You call us to follow Your Son, and we will follow.  By Your Spirit's power in us.. we live.. in faith and in obedience.  We want Your will to be done and for Your Kingdom to come.  May it be so. Amen.

Amos 5  I read a devotional this morning that talked about laying up a treasure in heaven.. (Matthew 6:19-20).  The author indicated that this treasure is those who we lead to the Lord. But, when I looked up the scripture references on it, I think it is more than that..

 Luke 12:33  makes it clear.. " Sell your possessions and give to charity; make yourselves purses that do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near, not moth destroys. For where your treasure is there will your heart be also."  Jesus told the rich young ruler in Matthew 19:21 to "sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you shall have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me."   As I thought about this, I prayed for more understanding and clarity as to what this means.. for me.  And then I began to read Amos 5...

The people of Israel laid up their treasures on the earth..  they imposed "heavy rent on the poor". 
They exacted "a tribute of grain from them".
They built themselves great houses of stone.. planted "pleasant vineyards" and multiplied their wealth along with their transgressions..
They oppressed and distressed the poor and needy.  They hated the righteous and those with integrity.
They were hypocrites who offered sacrifices to look good, but never gave up their idols.  Their hearts and their treasures were on earth... and just as Jesus said.. they were about to learn that "moth and rust destroy, and .. thieves break in and steal..." earthly treasures.

Amos 5:12 "For I know your transgressions are many and your sins are great... " Therefore.. their houses would be destroyed, their vineyards worthless.. their lives taken and their country gone.  "She has fallen, she will not rise again... there is none to raise her up." ( v2)  The Lord would leave only a small remnant from Israel's people. Their time had come.. and justice was done. All their treasures were gone.. forever.

Amos reminds his listeners that it is the Lord God - Adonai, Sovereign Master,   He, who "made the Pleiades and Orion and changes deep darkness into morning, who also darkens day into night, who calls the waters of the sea and pours them out on the surface of the earth, the Lord is His name." - This is the One who is bringing destruction upon them...  He has rejected their false "worship".  He refused their offerings .  He would not even listen to their songs.  He was sending into exile..

Yet, there is a word of hope.. the Lord still calls them.. " Seek Me that you may live." 
 How?  "Seek good and not evil, that you may live; and thus the Lord of hosts be with you.... Hate evil and love good, and establish justice in the gate! Perhaps the Lord God of hosts may be gracious to the remnant of Joseph." The thing God treasures more than anything .. ".. let justice roll down like waters and righteousness like and overflowing stream." 

 In Luke 12 Jesus tells the parable of the rich man who had so much that he wanted to tear down his barns to build even bigger ones.  This was his treasure.. and God called him a fool. "This very night your soul is required of you;".. it was all worthless in the end..  Jesus said, " So is the man who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God."  He teaches us that we should not worry or be anxious about earthly treasures.. "But seek for His kingdom and these things shall be added to you. " His Kingdom - the unfailing treasure.

Father in heaven, Adonai, Lord of hosts, hallowed be Your name.  Bring Your Kingdom here Lord God.  Let Your will be  done here..  We do seek You.  We seek to lay up treasures in heaven, to do good and not evil, to do justice and to love mercy, and to walk with Jesus always.  Keep us from foolish, selfish, sinful living, Lord.  Lead us in paths of righteousness for Your name's sake.
In the name of Jesus we pray. Amen.

Amos 4  The women of Israel.. the rich, spoiled, greedy women... demanded more and more from their husbands, who then oppressed the poor and needy in order to satisfy their wives.  The Lord calls them "cows of Bashan".   Well- fed.. pampered.. and ruthless.  Because of their actions and those of their husbands.. God swears "by His holiness".. to judge and punish them.  They would be taken away to captivity.  They would be thrown out of their luxury homes.. led through broken walls.. and if they gave their captors any trouble they would be strung together like  meat or fish on a hook and dragged away.  This would happen according to God's own oath.

In verses 4-5  Amos uses sarcasm to condemn Israel for the way they have transgressed against the Lord in their religious practices.  "Enter Bethel and transgress; In Gilgal multiply transgressions."
They brought sacrifices... they paid tithes.. they offered thanks offerings and freewill offerings.. they "loved to do" so.. but, it was all worthless and offended the One True God.  It was a sham.  They did it to impress others, to brag about their offerings.  They actually offered sacrifices that they took from those they oppressed and stole from.  God condemned them for their hypocrisy and for breaking their covenant promise with Him.

In verses 6 -11 Amos records these words 5 times, " Yet you have not returned to Me..declares the Lord."  He chastised them for their transgressions just as He said He would..

He sent a famine.
He withheld the rain.
He sent mildew, caterpillars, and scorching wind to destroy their crops.
He sent a plague.
He sent fire.
And each time.. they ignored Him and refused to repent and return to Him.

In Leviticus 26, and again in Deuteronomy 28 and I Kings 8.. the Lord warned Israel of the penalties of disobedience to His commandments.
Leviticus 26:16 - "I , in turn will do this to you: I will appoint over you a sudden terror, consumption and fever that shall waste away the eyes and cause the soul to pine away; also you shall sow seed uselessly, for your enemies will eat it up."   Famine, plague, pestilence, desolation.. and exile.. are all promised in Leviticus 26.. punishment for rejecting and disobeying God's Word.

Deuteronomy 28:47 says this, " Because you did not serve the Lord your God with joy and a glad heart, for the abundance of all things; therefore you shall serve your enemies whom the Lord shall send against you, in hunger, in thirst, in nakedness, and in the lack of all things; and He will put an iron yoke on your neck until He has destroyed you. "

They knew the consequences of their sinfulness.. but they still rebelled against the Lord.  Amos makes this powerful statement.. " Prepare to meet your God, O Israel". 

The "Lord God of hosts.. "  Jehovah, Elohiym... The self-existent, supreme, exceedingly great judge and mighty God .. who formed the mountains and "creates the wind".. Who "declares to man what are His thoughts... who makes the dawn into darkness and treads on the high places of the earth.. "  This is Who they will stand before.  Judgement is coming. And He did what He said He would do!

The Lord continues to deal with people in the same way as He did Israel.  We experience the trials of life.. and we choose to turn to Him or rebel against Him.  If we continue to ignore Him and refuse to repent and seek Him.. we will face the same consequences that Israel did.  God does not ignore sin!
Greediness, oppression, prideful hypocrisy.. just some of the sins of Israel.. present and active in our world today..

But, if we turn back to Him and seek Him with all of our hearts..  He promises that we will find Him!  He will forgive and restore us .. He will redeem us and bless us.   As Amos writes in the next chapter.. "Seek the Lord that you may live.. "   There is Hope in Jesus!  What amazing grace!


Father in heaven, hallowed is Your Name.. Jehovah Elohiym,  The Lord God of hosts.. Wonderful!  Blessed! Mighty! Savior!   We lift our praises up to You, for You alone are worthy of our worship.
Forgive us all of our trespasses and restore us to righteousness in Christ Jesus.  Sanctify us through and through that we might stand blameless before the throne.. clothed in His righteousness alone!
Thank You for the Word of God on which we stand.. and the Spirit who helps us to walk in the Truth.
Thank You for hearing our heart's cries and showing us mercy and grace.  In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.