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.