Read 2 Chronicles 32
Read Isaiah 62
Monday, February 28, 2011
Saturday, February 26, 2011
Friday, February 25, 2011
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Monday, February 21, 2011
Pride and Punishment
Read 2 Chronicles 26
Read Isaiah 56
Uzziah was a mighty king, a man who was respected and powerful. He even did what was right in the eyes of the Lord.
But somewhere along the line he forgot where the power and honor came from. Somewhere along the line he forgot that he shouldn't think too highly of himself, but should be humble before the Lord. Somewhere along the line he became proud.
Pride is a sin that plagues us all. So we should do well to learn from Uzziah today. That mighty king thought he could just waltz into God's temple and act like a priest. Surely, God would be pleased with great Uzziah, right? Surely, the great king could do the work of a lowly priest, right? Surely God wouldn't hold any guilt against a king bending the rules because the king was trying to honor God! Right?
Wrong. As a present day saying goes, "Pride goes before the fall." Such is the case for Uzziah. And that was the case for Adam and Eve in the garden, and for all people since then. Such is the case for you and me.
God certainly can (and will if he must) strike us with worse then leprosy. So let us always be repentant, and turn from our pride. In great humility, let us bow in contrition before our mighty God! -- our mighty and merciful God.
Pride may go before the fall, but humility goes before salvation. And it was the humility of Jesus that saved us. He was willing to be humble and obedient to the point of death, even death on the cross. That death saved us from the leprosy we deserve, and the hell we earned! What a gracious and loving Savior! How we will rejoice to see our Risen King, now exalted above Heaven and Earth, ruling over all things. That will be a day when God will raise us too out of our humility and task us with reigning with Christ. That will be a proud day! Proud in our Savior, Jesus, that is!
Thanks be to God.
Ask Yourself:
I have a tendency to be proud! Where do I see this pride in my life?
What can I do to be more humble before God? What needs to change? What do I need to work on?
Is it ever acceptable to boast? If so, what should be my boast?
Pray:
I give you thanks and praise, Lord Jesus Christ, for your love and humility, that you should be obedient to death on the cross. Help me to have the same attitude, to consider others better than myself, and to be obedient to your will. Graciously grant that I will be in heavenly glory when I see that day when every knee will bow and every tongue confess that you are Lord! Praise to you, O Christ! Amen.
Study with me tomorrow,
Pastor Jon
Soli Deo Gloria!
Read Isaiah 56
Uzziah was a mighty king, a man who was respected and powerful. He even did what was right in the eyes of the Lord.
But somewhere along the line he forgot where the power and honor came from. Somewhere along the line he forgot that he shouldn't think too highly of himself, but should be humble before the Lord. Somewhere along the line he became proud.
Pride is a sin that plagues us all. So we should do well to learn from Uzziah today. That mighty king thought he could just waltz into God's temple and act like a priest. Surely, God would be pleased with great Uzziah, right? Surely, the great king could do the work of a lowly priest, right? Surely God wouldn't hold any guilt against a king bending the rules because the king was trying to honor God! Right?
Wrong. As a present day saying goes, "Pride goes before the fall." Such is the case for Uzziah. And that was the case for Adam and Eve in the garden, and for all people since then. Such is the case for you and me.
God certainly can (and will if he must) strike us with worse then leprosy. So let us always be repentant, and turn from our pride. In great humility, let us bow in contrition before our mighty God! -- our mighty and merciful God.
Pride may go before the fall, but humility goes before salvation. And it was the humility of Jesus that saved us. He was willing to be humble and obedient to the point of death, even death on the cross. That death saved us from the leprosy we deserve, and the hell we earned! What a gracious and loving Savior! How we will rejoice to see our Risen King, now exalted above Heaven and Earth, ruling over all things. That will be a day when God will raise us too out of our humility and task us with reigning with Christ. That will be a proud day! Proud in our Savior, Jesus, that is!
Thanks be to God.
Ask Yourself:
I have a tendency to be proud! Where do I see this pride in my life?
What can I do to be more humble before God? What needs to change? What do I need to work on?
Is it ever acceptable to boast? If so, what should be my boast?
Pray:
I give you thanks and praise, Lord Jesus Christ, for your love and humility, that you should be obedient to death on the cross. Help me to have the same attitude, to consider others better than myself, and to be obedient to your will. Graciously grant that I will be in heavenly glory when I see that day when every knee will bow and every tongue confess that you are Lord! Praise to you, O Christ! Amen.
Study with me tomorrow,
Pastor Jon
Soli Deo Gloria!
Saturday, February 19, 2011
Friday, February 18, 2011
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
I have heard that the big number 53 in Isaiah referred to as "the most unfortunate chapter division in the Bible." Really, it splits a beautiful Servant Song in an unnatural place. Therefore, we will stop today at 52:12, and combine the end of chapter 52 with all of chapter 53 tomorrow. So, for today...
Read 2 Chronicles 22
Read Isaiah 52:1-12
Read 2 Chronicles 22
Read Isaiah 52:1-12
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Monday, February 14, 2011
Oops. I realize that I forgot to post on Saturday. If you did read these on Saturday, then make sure you take some time to read another portion of Scripture today. For the rest of us (myself included), here we go:
Read 2 Chronicles 20
Read Isaiah 50
Read 2 Chronicles 20
Read Isaiah 50
Friday, February 11, 2011
The Beauty of God Is Seen in His Servant
Comments today focus on Isaiah 49:1-7.
Read Isaiah 49
Isaiah speaks of one who is coming who will be the servant of God. And not just a servant, but The Servant long promised and long anticipated. This Servant would be King of all. This Servant would also come to suffer. What a beautiful Servant we see in Isaiah's four Servant Songs!
In Isaiah 49:3 we see that this Servant (a very human person) is said to display the glory, or splendor, or beauty of God. And this Servant is Christ. Jesus of Nazareth. The Son of God and Son of Man.
He is beauty. He is majesty. To him belongs all glory, power, might, honor, and blessing. He obeyed as we should have obeyed. He lived as we should have lived. He loved as we should have loved. And he, a man with no physical majesty or beauty to attract us to him; he, a man whose appearance would by torture and brutal death be marred beyond any semblance of human, a man from whom grown men hide their faces in horror; he, a man despised and rejected and suffering on the cross—he is Beauty. Even after his resurrection from the dead, the scars he still bears are his glory. Yes, there will come a time when we shall see him shining like the sun in its full glory surrounded by angelic armies and all the saints. But even then we will rejoice in the beauty of the Lamb who was slain. What he did for will forever be the source of our praise. And He, Jesus, is the only beauty that can repair the ugliness of this world.
And yes, there is ugliness in this world. In sin we are fallen far from him. And we feel the ugliness, the darkness, the pain and turmoil of this broken world. Look around you. Look in your own homes. Look in your own heart. There it is.
But in Christ, there is restoration. His death and resurrection claims your hideous heart and forgives it and makes it beautiful again. You are his work of art—someday, his perfect masterpiece in heaven, but for now a work in progress. He has made you beautiful again in Baptism because in Baptism you are united with Christ Jesus, our beautiful Servant-Savior. And in this moment of grace right now, and throughout the week as you study the flawless Word of God, that beauty is imparted to you. Yes, God works through his beautiful means of grace in the Church a great power to make you valued and valuable, a most precious possession to the Lord.
What is beautiful? Christ and all he does. We the redeemed are beautiful. Our broken lives rebuilt by him are beautiful. Our relationships restored through his glorious power are beautiful. Our service to the Lord, our mercy shown to the world, our proclamation of the cross of Christ is beautiful. Even our Godly suffering for Christ is beautiful. Glory and honor are ours because we belong to the glorious Servant. And some day, we shall see our beautiful Savior with our own two eyes, and shall dwell in the peace and paradise of heaven with Him. And we will forever rejoice that all the beauty and splendor of God was displayed in Christ and his cross. Amen.
Ask Yourself:
What ugliness do I see in the world? In my home? In my heart?
Where do I see Christ's beauty? How can I better live beautifully for him?
Pray:
Pray from your heart today asking for the strength of the Holy Spirit to live obediently and compassionately, beautifully for the Lord.
Study with me tomorrow,
Pastor Jon
Soli Deo Gloria!
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Peace, or No Peace
Read 2 Chronicles 18
Read Isaiah 48
The last words of Isaiah 48 are "'There is no peace,' says the Lord, 'for the wicked.'" Let that be a warning. And let our 2 Chronicles reading be a vivid illustration.
Ahab was a wicked king; a scoundrel and an undesirable man. This is probably the reason why Herman Melville chose the name "Ahab" to be the obsessed and difficult captain in his novel Moby Dick. To this day, the name Ahab is not a complimentary one. And his wife was Jezebel...not a positive name in the course of history either. Yes, they were a lovely couple.
And God brought those wicked people down to a wicked end. It even appears in our reading that God lures Ahab into a battle that will kill him. Dare we accuse God of lying, scheming, and a devious plan? I won't use those words. But we do see here that God will be God, and he reserves the right to punish the wicked.
Jehoshaphat, king of Judah, shows some wisdom, however. It seemed good to him to enter into battle with Ahab. All of Ahab's prophets agreed. But Jehoshaphat wanted to hear from Yahweh, the One True God. So he summons the only true prophet available, one that Ahab hates because he never had any good things to say about him. How could he? The prophet spoke the Word of the Lord, and the Word condemned the wickedness of Ahab. And in the end, Ahab takes an arrow right between the pieces of armor (coincidence?) and he dies.
God punishes the sinner. Let that be a lesson for us. Do we take God's law seriously? Do we cheapen his grace and sin on purpose? Do we follow along with the crowd? Or do we take the Will of the Lord seriously, like Jehoshaphat did?
Take some time to ponder these questions today. Apply this to your life. Are you living the way God wants? Or, is it time to make changes?
Then, if you are like me, you are going to feel a healthy dose of guilt and a desire to do a better job of walking in God's ways. If you are like me, then you are going to look to your loving Savior who became sin for you to rescue you from your sins.
Yes, truly, we have all fallen short. We have big targets on our backs, deserving a direct arrow of God's wrath. Yet Jesus Christ, True God and True Perfect Man, stepped into that wrath for us, and suffered hell on the cross for us. That is the difference between peace and no peace.
Rejoice in your loving Savior today. Confess your sins to him, and he is faithful and just to forgive you all your sins and cleanse you from all unrighteousness.
Pray:
Pray from your heart today concerning what's on your heart and mind.
Study with me tomorrow,
Pastor Jon
Soli Deo Gloria!
Read Isaiah 48
The last words of Isaiah 48 are "'There is no peace,' says the Lord, 'for the wicked.'" Let that be a warning. And let our 2 Chronicles reading be a vivid illustration.
Ahab was a wicked king; a scoundrel and an undesirable man. This is probably the reason why Herman Melville chose the name "Ahab" to be the obsessed and difficult captain in his novel Moby Dick. To this day, the name Ahab is not a complimentary one. And his wife was Jezebel...not a positive name in the course of history either. Yes, they were a lovely couple.
And God brought those wicked people down to a wicked end. It even appears in our reading that God lures Ahab into a battle that will kill him. Dare we accuse God of lying, scheming, and a devious plan? I won't use those words. But we do see here that God will be God, and he reserves the right to punish the wicked.
Jehoshaphat, king of Judah, shows some wisdom, however. It seemed good to him to enter into battle with Ahab. All of Ahab's prophets agreed. But Jehoshaphat wanted to hear from Yahweh, the One True God. So he summons the only true prophet available, one that Ahab hates because he never had any good things to say about him. How could he? The prophet spoke the Word of the Lord, and the Word condemned the wickedness of Ahab. And in the end, Ahab takes an arrow right between the pieces of armor (coincidence?) and he dies.
God punishes the sinner. Let that be a lesson for us. Do we take God's law seriously? Do we cheapen his grace and sin on purpose? Do we follow along with the crowd? Or do we take the Will of the Lord seriously, like Jehoshaphat did?
Take some time to ponder these questions today. Apply this to your life. Are you living the way God wants? Or, is it time to make changes?
Then, if you are like me, you are going to feel a healthy dose of guilt and a desire to do a better job of walking in God's ways. If you are like me, then you are going to look to your loving Savior who became sin for you to rescue you from your sins.
Yes, truly, we have all fallen short. We have big targets on our backs, deserving a direct arrow of God's wrath. Yet Jesus Christ, True God and True Perfect Man, stepped into that wrath for us, and suffered hell on the cross for us. That is the difference between peace and no peace.
Rejoice in your loving Savior today. Confess your sins to him, and he is faithful and just to forgive you all your sins and cleanse you from all unrighteousness.
Pray:
Pray from your heart today concerning what's on your heart and mind.
Study with me tomorrow,
Pastor Jon
Soli Deo Gloria!
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Monday, February 7, 2011
Saturday, February 5, 2011
Friday, February 4, 2011
Besides Me There Is No Savior
Read 2 Chronicles 13
Read Isaiah 43
Though there is a little sting in Isaiah 43 (including a very harsh ending) this chapter is mostly a wonderful and beautiful proclamation of the Good News of a loving God who redeems his people. God proclaims himself to be the One True God, and not only that, but a God who has chosen a people to be his precious possession. God reminds them of how he parted the sea before him, snuffed out the Egyptian army as if it were a smoldering flame, and how he pardoned Israel's transgressions, remembering the sins no more.
And in verse 11 we see a most beautiful reminder that the Savior of the world must be God himself. He says, "I, I am the LORD, and besides me there is no savior." There is no other savior because there is only one Savior who can appease the wrath of God. Only God can appease God's wrath. It might sound funny to the world that we Christians talk this way, but we talk this way because the Bible talks this way, and we know the Bible is perfect truth, and the Good News of our salvation.
Yes, God alone can rescue from God. God even challenges the straying nation, asking who can deliver them from the hand of God? (v. 13). The implied answer is "no one can." Well, no one, except for God.
And this is why this chapter is a beautiful prophecy of Christ. Yes, in Jesus Christ, God does a "new thing" (v. 19) by becoming incarnate. Yes, the fullness of the deity in human flesh. The Son of God, begotten from his Father from eternity, is born in time, born a human baby. And this weak, little child, is the only one who can rescue us from God.
And so we see Jesus life a holy life before the Father, and then give that holy life to be our rescue. Though our transgressions are many, because of Jesus' blood shed on the cross, our sins are remembered no more.
And so, in remembrance of our baptism, let us remember that all our sins are washed away and drowned in the grace of God. And when we have the opportunity (perhaps Sunday?) let us partake of the Body and Blood of Christ which is "for the forgiveness of sins." Let us receive this forgiveness with thanksgiving, and rejoice that God has rescued us from God. Yes, Jesus has redeemed us by suffering the Father's wrath on the cross. Indeed, life then springs forth from the parched and arid desert of our souls (v. 19).
All thanks and praise to God!
Ask Yourself:
Do I look anywhere else for forgiveness? For rescue? - (we always have a tendency to rely on ourselves!)
What transgressions do I confess before God today?
Christ has given our arid souls new life and growth! How can I use my new life in a God-pleasing way?
Pray:
O Lord, Jesus Christ, there is no savior except for you. You have redeemed us with your holy, precious blood and your innocent suffering and death. I pray that you might ever keep me as your own. Renew a right spirit within me and restore unto me the joy of my salvation. Then strengthen me to glorify you in all I think, say, and do. Amen.
Study with me tomorrow,
Pastor Jon
Soli Deo Gloria!
Read Isaiah 43
Though there is a little sting in Isaiah 43 (including a very harsh ending) this chapter is mostly a wonderful and beautiful proclamation of the Good News of a loving God who redeems his people. God proclaims himself to be the One True God, and not only that, but a God who has chosen a people to be his precious possession. God reminds them of how he parted the sea before him, snuffed out the Egyptian army as if it were a smoldering flame, and how he pardoned Israel's transgressions, remembering the sins no more.
And in verse 11 we see a most beautiful reminder that the Savior of the world must be God himself. He says, "I, I am the LORD, and besides me there is no savior." There is no other savior because there is only one Savior who can appease the wrath of God. Only God can appease God's wrath. It might sound funny to the world that we Christians talk this way, but we talk this way because the Bible talks this way, and we know the Bible is perfect truth, and the Good News of our salvation.
Yes, God alone can rescue from God. God even challenges the straying nation, asking who can deliver them from the hand of God? (v. 13). The implied answer is "no one can." Well, no one, except for God.
And this is why this chapter is a beautiful prophecy of Christ. Yes, in Jesus Christ, God does a "new thing" (v. 19) by becoming incarnate. Yes, the fullness of the deity in human flesh. The Son of God, begotten from his Father from eternity, is born in time, born a human baby. And this weak, little child, is the only one who can rescue us from God.
And so we see Jesus life a holy life before the Father, and then give that holy life to be our rescue. Though our transgressions are many, because of Jesus' blood shed on the cross, our sins are remembered no more.
And so, in remembrance of our baptism, let us remember that all our sins are washed away and drowned in the grace of God. And when we have the opportunity (perhaps Sunday?) let us partake of the Body and Blood of Christ which is "for the forgiveness of sins." Let us receive this forgiveness with thanksgiving, and rejoice that God has rescued us from God. Yes, Jesus has redeemed us by suffering the Father's wrath on the cross. Indeed, life then springs forth from the parched and arid desert of our souls (v. 19).
All thanks and praise to God!
Ask Yourself:
Do I look anywhere else for forgiveness? For rescue? - (we always have a tendency to rely on ourselves!)
What transgressions do I confess before God today?
Christ has given our arid souls new life and growth! How can I use my new life in a God-pleasing way?
Pray:
O Lord, Jesus Christ, there is no savior except for you. You have redeemed us with your holy, precious blood and your innocent suffering and death. I pray that you might ever keep me as your own. Renew a right spirit within me and restore unto me the joy of my salvation. Then strengthen me to glorify you in all I think, say, and do. Amen.
Study with me tomorrow,
Pastor Jon
Soli Deo Gloria!
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Plundered
Read 2 Chronicles 12
Read Isaiah 42
Isaiah 42 is a marvelous prophecy of Jesus Christ. What food for deep and meaningful meditation! I'm actually going to comment on the 2 Chronicles reading, however, which relates the plundering of Jerusalem. Our readings are connected by Isaiah 42:24, which states that the Lord gave his people up to looters because they had turned their backs on them.
Indeed, we see that described vividly in 2 Chronicles 12. Egypt comes up and plunders them. God is gracious and keeps Jerusalem from being destroyed, but their wealth was stripped from them. Ironic, isn't it? We recall a story of how Israel plundered Egypt. After the 10th plague, the Pharaoh finally let Israel go, and the Israelites took Egypt's silver, gold, jewels, and wealth of all kinds.
Why did Israel plunder Egypt? And why did Egypt now plunder Israel? Is it all politics, history, nations at war, and all that? Or is there something more?
The Bible tells us it has everything to do with Israel's standing before God. Purely by grace, Israel was chosen by God to be blessed, and to be a blessing to other nations. When Israel cried out in faith to God, trusting in him for mercy and deliverance, God was faithful and just to rescue. When Israel turned their back on God, who had done so much for them, however, they suffer consequences. Israel's rejection and rebellion is a terrible offense to God. No wonder why God allowed Egypt to plunder.
And so we too are faced with daily choices: to walk in the ways of God who has redeemed us through the cross, and to trust in his mercy and grace, or to turn our backs on him. What is it going to be? There is a lot riding on it, friends. There are consequences.
Thanks be to God that he has forgiven us our many sins, so that the (spiritual) enemy is defeated and plundered. Certainly we have many riches of God's grace! May you live in that grace today, trusting God and obeying his commands.
Ask Yourself:
What choices will face me today? Whom will I serve? Whom will I trust?
Do I rejoice in the victory God won for me? The enemy has been routed!
Pray:
Pray from your heart today concerning the answers to the questions above.
Study with me tomorrow,
Pastor Jon
Soli Deo Gloria!
Read Isaiah 42
Isaiah 42 is a marvelous prophecy of Jesus Christ. What food for deep and meaningful meditation! I'm actually going to comment on the 2 Chronicles reading, however, which relates the plundering of Jerusalem. Our readings are connected by Isaiah 42:24, which states that the Lord gave his people up to looters because they had turned their backs on them.
Indeed, we see that described vividly in 2 Chronicles 12. Egypt comes up and plunders them. God is gracious and keeps Jerusalem from being destroyed, but their wealth was stripped from them. Ironic, isn't it? We recall a story of how Israel plundered Egypt. After the 10th plague, the Pharaoh finally let Israel go, and the Israelites took Egypt's silver, gold, jewels, and wealth of all kinds.
Why did Israel plunder Egypt? And why did Egypt now plunder Israel? Is it all politics, history, nations at war, and all that? Or is there something more?
The Bible tells us it has everything to do with Israel's standing before God. Purely by grace, Israel was chosen by God to be blessed, and to be a blessing to other nations. When Israel cried out in faith to God, trusting in him for mercy and deliverance, God was faithful and just to rescue. When Israel turned their back on God, who had done so much for them, however, they suffer consequences. Israel's rejection and rebellion is a terrible offense to God. No wonder why God allowed Egypt to plunder.
And so we too are faced with daily choices: to walk in the ways of God who has redeemed us through the cross, and to trust in his mercy and grace, or to turn our backs on him. What is it going to be? There is a lot riding on it, friends. There are consequences.
Thanks be to God that he has forgiven us our many sins, so that the (spiritual) enemy is defeated and plundered. Certainly we have many riches of God's grace! May you live in that grace today, trusting God and obeying his commands.
Ask Yourself:
What choices will face me today? Whom will I serve? Whom will I trust?
Do I rejoice in the victory God won for me? The enemy has been routed!
Pray:
Pray from your heart today concerning the answers to the questions above.
Study with me tomorrow,
Pastor Jon
Soli Deo Gloria!
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
I Am the One Who Helps You
Read 2 Chronicles 11
Read Isaiah 41
Verses 9 and 10 of Isaiah 41 provide great comfort: "'You are my servant, I have chosen you and not cast you off'; fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."
In addition to these words, God tells us in this chapter a few times that he is the One who helps us. It is not beneath him to be a helper. It is not too lowly for him to serve us, keeping our best interests in mind.
And this we see especially in Christ Jesus, who came to seek and save the lost. He came to conquer death and the devil by paying for our sin and granting us free forgiveness. Now we are more than conquerors through him. And we are promised his daily presence and strength. He is our helper! And he did so by becoming helpless on the cross! What amazing love!
Today, meditate on the verses where God promises to be our help, then...
Ask Yourself:
How have I been discouraged lately? What struggle is in my life? What opposition lies before me?
How have I failed to trust him? How have I failed to live for his glory?
How wonderful is God's forgiveness and strength! What strength of God's will help me through my current adversities?
Pray:
Pray from your heart today concerning the answers to the questions above.
Study with me tomorrow,
Pastor Jon
Soli Deo Gloria!
Read Isaiah 41
Verses 9 and 10 of Isaiah 41 provide great comfort: "'You are my servant, I have chosen you and not cast you off'; fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."
In addition to these words, God tells us in this chapter a few times that he is the One who helps us. It is not beneath him to be a helper. It is not too lowly for him to serve us, keeping our best interests in mind.
And this we see especially in Christ Jesus, who came to seek and save the lost. He came to conquer death and the devil by paying for our sin and granting us free forgiveness. Now we are more than conquerors through him. And we are promised his daily presence and strength. He is our helper! And he did so by becoming helpless on the cross! What amazing love!
Today, meditate on the verses where God promises to be our help, then...
Ask Yourself:
How have I been discouraged lately? What struggle is in my life? What opposition lies before me?
How have I failed to trust him? How have I failed to live for his glory?
How wonderful is God's forgiveness and strength! What strength of God's will help me through my current adversities?
Pray:
Pray from your heart today concerning the answers to the questions above.
Study with me tomorrow,
Pastor Jon
Soli Deo Gloria!
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
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