DAILY READING
Such raw pain! Such fierce despair! There’s NO MENTION OF HOPE in Job’s words today (and is almost absent in psalm 88 as well). This blameless, upright man who feared God and shunned evil, wanted to die. Yet at this crossroad of faith, we see Job begin to pour out his heart before God. We see him ultimately choose to remain faithful to his Creator in the face of extreme tragedy.
Thank you Father for speaking through Job’s life today. Thank you for not abandoning us in our deepest darkest hours because of the eternal HOPE we cling to in Jesus Christ. Just like you heard and recorded Job’s laments, you hear us when we cry out in pain with broken hearts. Sometimes we are slow, like sheep, not always understanding - and even sometimes wishing death over moving forward, but ultimately we know your voice and choose to follow you.
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Sunday, July 27, 2008
SACKCLOTH TO RICHES
READING
This story stirs such emotion in me. Earlier we see faithful Mordecai wailing loudly and bitterly in the city and wearing sackcloth and ashes after hearing the king's edict to annhialate the Jews. After such a death sentence, one could have lost hope. However God's plan was greater and he chose to use this man who humbled himself to play a great part in his plan.
Now Mordecai is wearing a crown! 15 Mordecai left the king's presence wearing royal garments of blue and white, a large crown of gold and a purple robe of fine linen. And the city of Susa held a joyous celebration.
I admire this man's faithfulness and his humility before God. It's also exciting and comforting to see that God heard his prayers, used him in his grand plan of lovingly restoring his people, and exalted him to such a high place in Xerxe's kingdom.
Father, thank you for hearing our prayers today! Thank you for giving prosperity and hope in place of our dark clouds! Thank you for your divine love toward your people!
This story stirs such emotion in me. Earlier we see faithful Mordecai wailing loudly and bitterly in the city and wearing sackcloth and ashes after hearing the king's edict to annhialate the Jews. After such a death sentence, one could have lost hope. However God's plan was greater and he chose to use this man who humbled himself to play a great part in his plan.
Now Mordecai is wearing a crown! 15 Mordecai left the king's presence wearing royal garments of blue and white, a large crown of gold and a purple robe of fine linen. And the city of Susa held a joyous celebration.
I admire this man's faithfulness and his humility before God. It's also exciting and comforting to see that God heard his prayers, used him in his grand plan of lovingly restoring his people, and exalted him to such a high place in Xerxe's kingdom.
Father, thank you for hearing our prayers today! Thank you for giving prosperity and hope in place of our dark clouds! Thank you for your divine love toward your people!
Thursday, July 24, 2008
COLOSSAL POWER
READING
"For a full 180 days he displayed the vast wealth of his kingdom and the splendor and glory of his majesty." Esther 1:4
Evidently the power and splendor of King Xerxes' wealthy kingdom would take your breath away. What a extraordinary show he must have put on for all to see and admire. Imagine six months of gloating over one's power and colossal wealth.
In contrast, all of King Xerxes' "stuff" is like dirt compared to the eternal power and glory and splendor of our King in heaven!
"You alone are to be feared." Ps 76:7a
"What god is so great as our God?" Ps 77:13b
Awesome, holy, omnipotent God, you stand alone!
"I will meditate on all your works and consider all your mighty deeds." Ps 77:12
"For a full 180 days he displayed the vast wealth of his kingdom and the splendor and glory of his majesty." Esther 1:4
Evidently the power and splendor of King Xerxes' wealthy kingdom would take your breath away. What a extraordinary show he must have put on for all to see and admire. Imagine six months of gloating over one's power and colossal wealth.
In contrast, all of King Xerxes' "stuff" is like dirt compared to the eternal power and glory and splendor of our King in heaven!
"You alone are to be feared." Ps 76:7a
"What god is so great as our God?" Ps 77:13b
Awesome, holy, omnipotent God, you stand alone!
"I will meditate on all your works and consider all your mighty deeds." Ps 77:12
Sunday, July 20, 2008
WHATEVER THE COST
DAILY READING
"One day I went to the house of Shemaiah . . . He said, "Let us meet in the house of God, inside the temple, and let us close the temple doors, because men are coming to kill you—by night they are coming to kill you."
"But I said, "Should a man like me run away? Or should one like me go into the temple to save his life? I will not go!" Neh 6:10-12
Oh to have such courage! Self-preservation would have been a natural response but Nehemiah overcame this temptation and identified that this man was not sent by God. Nehemiah was committed to his God-given task whatever the cost.
Father, please help me to also vanquish whatever temptations come my way today. Help me have the same courage and unwavering commitment to your purposes.
"One day I went to the house of Shemaiah . . . He said, "Let us meet in the house of God, inside the temple, and let us close the temple doors, because men are coming to kill you—by night they are coming to kill you."
"But I said, "Should a man like me run away? Or should one like me go into the temple to save his life? I will not go!" Neh 6:10-12
Oh to have such courage! Self-preservation would have been a natural response but Nehemiah overcame this temptation and identified that this man was not sent by God. Nehemiah was committed to his God-given task whatever the cost.
Father, please help me to also vanquish whatever temptations come my way today. Help me have the same courage and unwavering commitment to your purposes.
Saturday, July 19, 2008
LOOKING UP
Psalm 70
Though you have made me see troubles, many and bitter, you will restore my life again; from the depths of the earth you will again bring me up. Ps 70:20
Many of us have experienced bitter troubles, but like the psalmist, we can cast our eyes upward to the King of kings and Lord of lords, who will work it all out for good for us. Father I anticipate the good you will do in my life today! Even if you do not bless, I will praise you because I am redeemed.
Though you have made me see troubles, many and bitter, you will restore my life again; from the depths of the earth you will again bring me up. Ps 70:20
Many of us have experienced bitter troubles, but like the psalmist, we can cast our eyes upward to the King of kings and Lord of lords, who will work it all out for good for us. Father I anticipate the good you will do in my life today! Even if you do not bless, I will praise you because I am redeemed.
Friday, July 18, 2008
TO BE HEARD
PSALM 66
18 If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened;
19 but God has surely listened and heard my voice in prayer.
20 Praise be to God, who has not rejected my prayer or withheld his love from me!
These words bring tears of joy. Oh I am so grateful for God's love for me!
Psalm 66 brings to mind the time Jesus told Nathanael that he saw him under the fig tree. I envision that Nathanael was praying there and later how he must have felt to physically hear the words from the lips of Jesus the first time they were face to face, "I saw you". And here we are given the same assurance, as long as we have confessed our sin before God, he hears us! What joy!
18 If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened;
19 but God has surely listened and heard my voice in prayer.
20 Praise be to God, who has not rejected my prayer or withheld his love from me!
These words bring tears of joy. Oh I am so grateful for God's love for me!
Psalm 66 brings to mind the time Jesus told Nathanael that he saw him under the fig tree. I envision that Nathanael was praying there and later how he must have felt to physically hear the words from the lips of Jesus the first time they were face to face, "I saw you". And here we are given the same assurance, as long as we have confessed our sin before God, he hears us! What joy!
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
AS ZEALOUS AS EZRA
"For Ezra had devoted himself to the study and observance of the Law of the LORD, and to teaching its decrees and laws in Israel." Ezra 7:10
Father, thank you for revealing yourself in this snapshot of your chosen servant Ezra this morning. Thank you for godly leaders you have given us to emulate, here in the Word and at Compass. May our zeal be as holy as Ezra’s and may your gracious hand also be upon our lives.
Father, thank you for revealing yourself in this snapshot of your chosen servant Ezra this morning. Thank you for godly leaders you have given us to emulate, here in the Word and at Compass. May our zeal be as holy as Ezra’s and may your gracious hand also be upon our lives.
Saturday, July 12, 2008
A REMEDY FOR SCARY THOUGHTS
PSALM 56
A few nights ago my daughter came to me asking me how to get the "scary thoughts out of her head" as she was trying to sleep. It was a simple remedy . . . I turned on the word of God in her room (the Bible on cd), and she fell asleep listening to God's truths that she has grown to love.
"In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I will not be afraid." Ps 56:4
Praise God for the power of his word!
A few nights ago my daughter came to me asking me how to get the "scary thoughts out of her head" as she was trying to sleep. It was a simple remedy . . . I turned on the word of God in her room (the Bible on cd), and she fell asleep listening to God's truths that she has grown to love.
"In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I will not be afraid." Ps 56:4
Praise God for the power of his word!
Friday, July 11, 2008
NOTORIOUS REPENTANCE
2 Chronicles 34
I love this account in 2 Chronicles 34. Hilkiah the priest had just made the discovery of a lifetime when he wiped the dust of the much forgotten book of the law in the temple of the LORD! Here in restoring the temple, and prior to that king Josiah's actions to remove pagan influences from the land, one might think there should have been great rejoicing in this find. Yet Josiah's response is sobering and evidently the only acceptable one before God.
"Great is the LORD's anger that is poured out on us because our fathers have not kept the word of the LORD; they have not acted in accordance with all that is written in this book."
The king did not miss a beat in humbling himself before God, even taking corporate ownership for the sins of their fathers, and our God of heaven heard him.
27 "Because your heart was responsive and you humbled yourself before God when you heard what he spoke against this place and its people, and because you humbled yourself before me and tore your robes and wept in my presence, I have heard you, declares the LORD."
Father, each time your laser beam of truth uncovers sin in my life, may I respond like Josiah. Help me to never be complacent about sin but to express repentance that is as notorious as my sin!
I love this account in 2 Chronicles 34. Hilkiah the priest had just made the discovery of a lifetime when he wiped the dust of the much forgotten book of the law in the temple of the LORD! Here in restoring the temple, and prior to that king Josiah's actions to remove pagan influences from the land, one might think there should have been great rejoicing in this find. Yet Josiah's response is sobering and evidently the only acceptable one before God.
"Great is the LORD's anger that is poured out on us because our fathers have not kept the word of the LORD; they have not acted in accordance with all that is written in this book."
The king did not miss a beat in humbling himself before God, even taking corporate ownership for the sins of their fathers, and our God of heaven heard him.
27 "Because your heart was responsive and you humbled yourself before God when you heard what he spoke against this place and its people, and because you humbled yourself before me and tore your robes and wept in my presence, I have heard you, declares the LORD."
Father, each time your laser beam of truth uncovers sin in my life, may I respond like Josiah. Help me to never be complacent about sin but to express repentance that is as notorious as my sin!
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
WHO WE SIN AGAINST
PSALM 51
When we sin, we hurt ourselves (in that our sin is always before us), we hurt others, and most of all we hurt God. “Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you are proved right when you speak and justified when you judge.” David’s sin surely caused tremendous pain to others (and even death), yet here he is attributing his sin and his evil as against God alone.
Reading this in the reverse also ministers to me. When I am feeling hurt by someone else’s sinful actions that have unecessarily caused me pain, I’m finding it helps to take the focus off myself when I remember that the other person’s sin is really against God alone. May I grieve more over the offense against my King than the circumstantial pain it may cause me.
When we sin, we hurt ourselves (in that our sin is always before us), we hurt others, and most of all we hurt God. “Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you are proved right when you speak and justified when you judge.” David’s sin surely caused tremendous pain to others (and even death), yet here he is attributing his sin and his evil as against God alone.
Reading this in the reverse also ministers to me. When I am feeling hurt by someone else’s sinful actions that have unecessarily caused me pain, I’m finding it helps to take the focus off myself when I remember that the other person’s sin is really against God alone. May I grieve more over the offense against my King than the circumstantial pain it may cause me.
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
WHICH RICHES?
PSALM 49
7 No man can redeem the life of another or give to God a ransom for him-
8 the ransom for a life is costly, no payment is ever enough-
To live for the accumulation of corruptible things and earthly wisdom is foolishness. This is how I would be living my life if the hand of God had not intervened in my life a little under 13 years ago. Reading this psalm leaves me with a renewed resolve to be content today with God’s earthly provisions, and to eagerly anticipate the jewel of eternal life with the King. More importantly, may I never take for granted the precious gift we have in Jesus Christ who paid an unimaginable high price for our lives! He gave us life!
7 No man can redeem the life of another or give to God a ransom for him-
8 the ransom for a life is costly, no payment is ever enough-
To live for the accumulation of corruptible things and earthly wisdom is foolishness. This is how I would be living my life if the hand of God had not intervened in my life a little under 13 years ago. Reading this psalm leaves me with a renewed resolve to be content today with God’s earthly provisions, and to eagerly anticipate the jewel of eternal life with the King. More importantly, may I never take for granted the precious gift we have in Jesus Christ who paid an unimaginable high price for our lives! He gave us life!
Monday, July 7, 2008
WHICH KING WOULD YOU FOLLOW?
DAILY READING
Ahaziah had an opportunity to lead his people in righteousness in keeping with the model his grandfather Jehoshaphat had set for him, yet he chose to listen to wrong counsel. “He too walked in the ways of the house of Ahab, for his mother encouraged him in doing wrong.” v3 Did he realize that his choices were evil? Perhaps he was in denial? Did he forget about the LORD most high, the great King who is seated on his holy throne?
When I think about my own circumstances and my own need of wise counsel, I take great comfort and joy that I am to follow the One who owns the kings of all the earth. Whenever anxiety tries to lure its way in, I will rather be still before him, knowing he is God. Praise him, the LORD Almighty is with us!
Ahaziah had an opportunity to lead his people in righteousness in keeping with the model his grandfather Jehoshaphat had set for him, yet he chose to listen to wrong counsel. “He too walked in the ways of the house of Ahab, for his mother encouraged him in doing wrong.” v3 Did he realize that his choices were evil? Perhaps he was in denial? Did he forget about the LORD most high, the great King who is seated on his holy throne?
When I think about my own circumstances and my own need of wise counsel, I take great comfort and joy that I am to follow the One who owns the kings of all the earth. Whenever anxiety tries to lure its way in, I will rather be still before him, knowing he is God. Praise him, the LORD Almighty is with us!
Sunday, July 6, 2008
A CHRONICLES VICTORY
Daily Reading
2 Chronicles 20 could have ended in tragedy as a result of the Moabites, Ammonites, and Meunites approaching to cause destruction to Judah. Thanks to the king’s response, it ended in a miraculous victory that they could rejoice in for the rest of their lives.
I love the way king Jehoshaphat immediately turned to the LORD, drew all his people together to corporately fast and inquire of the LORD. People came from every town to seek God. How exciting not only to read about the mighty deliverance God rewarded the people with, but their obedience as soon as they were faced with alarming news. May my life reflect such devotion and this same heart of seeking him daily!
2 Chronicles 20 could have ended in tragedy as a result of the Moabites, Ammonites, and Meunites approaching to cause destruction to Judah. Thanks to the king’s response, it ended in a miraculous victory that they could rejoice in for the rest of their lives.
I love the way king Jehoshaphat immediately turned to the LORD, drew all his people together to corporately fast and inquire of the LORD. People came from every town to seek God. How exciting not only to read about the mighty deliverance God rewarded the people with, but their obedience as soon as they were faced with alarming news. May my life reflect such devotion and this same heart of seeking him daily!
Saturday, July 5, 2008
A CONVERSATION WITH MY SOUL
Psalm 42
The psalmist's appetite for God in this psalm is the benefit of his trials. He is clearly suffering and mourning over troubling circumstances, "all your waves and breakers have swept over me", yet before falling into despair he catches hold of himself by speaking truth to his soul and praise about the one his soul loves. "By day the LORD directs his love, at night his song is with me— a prayer to the God of my life"
How much more do we need to take the reigns of our thoughts and command our souls the way the psalmist does. "Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God."
The psalmist's appetite for God in this psalm is the benefit of his trials. He is clearly suffering and mourning over troubling circumstances, "all your waves and breakers have swept over me", yet before falling into despair he catches hold of himself by speaking truth to his soul and praise about the one his soul loves. "By day the LORD directs his love, at night his song is with me— a prayer to the God of my life"
How much more do we need to take the reigns of our thoughts and command our souls the way the psalmist does. "Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God."
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