July 15 – Spoiler Alert

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2 Chronicles 27, Isaiah 9-12

Are you the person who reads the last chapter of a book first? I’m not. I like to unveil the story one page at a time.

Do you, when watching a movie with someone who’s seen it before, continue to ask what will happen next? Are they going to be ok? Do they find the treasure? Did the butler do it? Do they fall in love?

I am reminded that as I read God’s Word, especially words of prophecy, God’s already seen the movie. He can tell us what’s coming because he has already seen the end. He’s read the last chapter.

Even though we view them as things that will happen, God sees them in the past tense. That blows my mind.

What a comfort to know that, after all the craziness of life on earth, God is still standing. And He wants me standing with Him!

So here’s the spoiler alert: Jesus, sitting on the throne forever. Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace… from then on and forevermore!

That’s how the story unfolds. And, for those of us who know Jesus as our Savior, we’re going to be ok!

July 14 – Grieved

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Amos 6-9

As I read these chapters today I am reminded that there is danger in getting comfortable, in feeling secure, in reclining on beds of ivory, sprawling on couches, eating and drinking, without caring that people are dying and going to hell.

May we never have the attitude that “At least I’m ok. My salvation is eternally secure. Let the rest of the world get what they deserve.” God calls it “the arrogance of Jacob” (6:8) which is the same as saying, the arrogance of God’s people. That’s me. That’s you if you know Him.

God is grieved over sin, over people dying without the Savior, over disobedience and hate.

Grieved.

Am I too comfortable to care?

July 13 – Seek God And Live

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Amos 1-5

“For three transgressions…and for four  I will not revoke its punishment.” God spoke these words to Amos eight times, referring to eight groups of people who sinned against God. In chapters 3&4 God declares that all the tribes of Israel are guilty, none worship God as He deserves and demands. And because of it, God is going to punish them.

But in chapter 5 another phrase is repeated several times. “Seek me that you may live.” Seek the Lord, seek good and not evil that you may live.

I believe God would have us apply these same principles to our individual lives. God will not revoke punishment for sin. Period. Not ever. Every sin comes with a death sentence that must be paid. That will be paid. There is no getting around it. Not for the murder of five policemen in Dallas, and not for that snide remark made about a coworker. Not for adultery, or for that little white lie. Every sin will be punished. God will not revoke its punishment.

But God tells us to seek Him – and live. Now that doesn’t mean He overlooks sin in those who seek Him. That means when we seek God, ask for His forgiveness, our sin debt is marked, “Paid In Full.” The thing is, your sin debt (death) is already paid. Jesus died once and for all.

So it’s sad when people continue to try to pay the debt of their sin on their own, refusing what is already theirs. It’s like thinking you can take care of the national debt by giving them the change in your pocket. Are you kidding me?

Someone is going to die for your sins. You can accept the fact that Jesus has been there, done that on your behalf. Or you can face God without His Son and offer Him the change in your pocket. Dear one, your payment won’t come close to covering your debt. You will be handed the death sentence. And God will not revoke that punishment just because you were a nice person.

God is inviting you to get to know Him. Read His Word. Pray. Accept Jesus as your Savior, your only hope of life. Recognize the many ways in which God is trying to get your attention. Consider His creation and bow before a Holy God who loves you, who gave Himself for you, who died so you wouldn’t have to.

I mean, He’s already paid the bill. Just accept it.

 

July 12 – Warning Woes

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Isaiah 5-8

Things are out of control on this small island where I live. This beautiful island, with sprawling live oak trees hundreds of years old, lush ferns, and palms, is being overtaken by bulldozers, hammers, and nails. Evidently the building codes have been lax for years, so contractors are coming in droves to quickly clear the land for new houses and condo complexes which are taxing the island’s infrastructure. The result is the overpopulating of this once quiet community.

The builders show no regard for the island as they cram new buildings into every inch, hoping to line their pockets at the expense of residents. So when I read Isaiah 5:8-9, I thought about what is happening here. It seems even God is saying, “Enough!” He tells Isaiah that buildings lie empty for lack of occupants. That really is my fear for this lovely island.

But I know God wasn’t talking about builders in 2016. His warnings go much deeper. There are more “woes” in this chapter. He is not only warning greedy people. He is warning drunkards, liars, those who call good evil and evil good, those who are wise in their own sight, those who justify wickedness, and take away the rights of those who stand for the truth.

And God is not talking to non-believers here in Isaiah. These woes are directed toward His people. (vs 25)

I am reminded that, although God has given us the responsibility to care for His creation, He is more concerned with our hearts’ condition than the number of driveways on an island. I am reminded that the world’s condition isn’t corrupt because evil people are in charge.

As long as there are drunkards, greedy people, liars, those who proclaim good as evil and evil as good, and call themselves Christians, our world will continue its downward spiral. It is the Church, God’s people, who have the responsibility to listen to and obey God. Woe to us who play church, yet deny God in our day to day lives.

July 11 – Many Problems. One Answer.

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Isaiah 1-4

As I read these chapters in Isaiah my thoughts naturally went to the state of the world in 2016. What is the answer for the corruption, the hate, the unrest? Is it in President Trump or Clinton? Is it in Wall Street or the Pentagon?

Isaiah, when speaking about a day of reckoning, reminds me to “Stop regarding man, whose breath of life is in his nostrils; for why should he be esteemed.” (2:22)

Our hope is not in anyone sporting a body of flesh and bones. Oh, God will use people to refine His children, and reveal Himself to the world. But it’s not people who are in charge of this world.

I don’t want to get so caught up in world news that I neglect to examine my heart’s condition before God, or before I listen to and obey His voice. I want the focus of my life to be on Jesus, not on anyone or anything else.

When I read Isaiah I see that the world is lost without God. Then I have to ask, what am I doing about that?

July 10 – Pride Isn’t Just About Feeling Proud

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2 Kings 15, 2 Chronicles 26

Uzziah was feeling pretty good about himself. As king of Judah, he did a lot of good. He won wars, built towers, and dug wells. He became famous and strong. He did right in the sight of the Lord and God blessed him, and the nation of Judah.

Then, just when things were going well, Uzziah let pride get the best of him. He marched right into the temple and began to do the work of a priest. Scripture says he acted corruptibly and was unfaithful to God. When the priests called him on his sin, he was furious with the priests. How dare they tell him what he can and cannot do. He’s the great King Uzziah after all.

During his fit of anger, Uzziah broke out with leprosy. He lived the rest of his life shut up in a room by himself while his son ruled Judah in his place.

Pride. That weapon of Satan’s that’s pretty hard to fight against. And I don’t mean just the boastful, attention seeking attitude of some. Uzziah’s pride led him to believe he could re-write God’s law. It made him believe he could go to God on his own terms and not face consequences.

Pride can tell us our sin is too unique, too big for God to forgive. Pride can make us believe God sent Jesus to die for everyone but me (aren’t I special?) Pride can tell us we can face God on our own, or can handle hell, or because we choose to believe there is no God, that it’s true.

Pride can make us believe we are God’s equals. Pride says, “God and I have an agreement,” like you are telling God what is acceptable.

King Uzziah’s story reminds me that God hates pride. God prunes pride out of His children. And pride, left unchecked, has devastating consequences.

July 9 – It’s Not Too Late

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Jonah

Nineveh was forty days from destruction because of their disobedience. Forty days. But when they heard Jonah’s warning, the people repented and turned to God. And God relented. He didn’t destroy them.

Folks, we might not have forty days. But I know from reading Scripture God punishes disobedience. He is not willing that any person should die in their sin, but He will not let the guilty go unpunished. I kinda want to carry a banner and do a Jonah:

REPENT! THE END IS NEAR!

REPENT! THE END IS NEAR!

REPENT! THE END IS NEAR!

God will relent if His people humble ourselves, and turn from our wicked ways. So I am pleading with you:

REPENT! THE END IS NEAR!

 

July 8 – Life Matters

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2 Kings 14, 2 Chronicles 25

My heart is heavy today. I can hardly watch the news reports from Dallas without going from great sadness, to anger, to confusion. I am tempted, like many, to point a finger and assign blame. But here is my heart:

My nephew is a cop. He will strap on his weapon today, and pray he doesn’t have to use it. He will kiss his wife and children goodbye, force a smile, and say “See you tonight,” and hope it’s true. He’ll drive away from his home toward a job where he knows he will be insulted, spit on, and lied to.

He doesn’t even know if he will live through the day. But he has sworn to protect the very people who want him dead simply because of the uniform he wears. He will confront drug dealers and child molesters, thieves and abusers because he wants you to be able to sleep in your home tonight without fear. He’ll ticket speeders because he wants you to be safe as you drive to the grocery.

I read these chapters in Kings and Chronicles today and am struck by the blatant disregard for life even thousands of years ago. Have we learned nothing? I guess not. Sin is still in this world.

Please don’t perpetuate the hate. Let’s cover the families of these dead heroes in Dallas with our love and prayers.

Let’s quit finding excuses to hate. The media would have it be a racial issue. People, it’s a heart issue, a sin issue, and it’s time that we realize that.

Let’s quit allowing social media to fuel the fire that is already raging out of control. Don’t watch those videos and be a part of making them go viral. You’ve got to realize those videos are not the whole story.

Let’s stop making criminals the heroes. And for goodness sake, let’s stop making villains of those people who put their lives on the line every day for you.

My nephew wears his uniform along with other men and women, white and black, gay and straight, Christians and atheists. They are people who will show up to work today, because YOU matter to them.

Yes my heart is heavy. I’m just so tired of the hate.

 

July 7 – Commitment Is Personal

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2 Kings 12-13, 2 Chronicles 24

Joash’s story always makes me sad. As long as the priest Jehoiada was there, the young king honored God and encouraged the Jews to obey Him. “Joash did what was right in the sight of the Lord all the days of Jehoiada the priest.” (2 Chronicles 24:2)

The sad part begins when the priest dies and Joash is left on his own. For the first time in his life he didn’t have that old man looking over his shoulders. Joash didn’t choose well. Read it for yourself in today’s chapters.

I am reminded that faith in God is personal. I am not a Christian because my parents were. I can’t assume my children will follow the Lord just because I am devoted to God.  It’s a decision everyone must make for themselves.

Have you chosen to follow God because you realize YOU are a sinner before a Holy God? Have you repented of your own sin, and accepted Jesus death on the cross as something He did for YOU?

No one can decide that for you but you.

 

July 6 – Scared Courage

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2 Kings 9-11

Has God ever asked you to do anything really scary? Maybe change careers, confront a loved one about sin in their life, talk to your  neighbor about Jesus? It’s ok to be afraid – as long as you obey.

Someone has said courage is fear in action. It is not absence of fear.

Elisha asked a young man to go to Jehu, anoint him king over Israel, then flee. That sounds like a dangerous mission to me. King Joram and King Ahaziah were both firmly established as kings of Judah and Israel at the time. What Elisha asked his servant to do was treason. It could cost him his life.

The young man demonstrated courage by obeying. But I have to confess I had a laugh-outloud moment when I read about it in chapter 9.

The servant approached Jehu who was sitting with his buddies. “Can I talk to you privately?” the servant asked. Jehu might have rolled his eyes, and gave his pals a quick smirk. But he went with the servant into the house. The servant poured oil on Jehu’s head, then told him what God had said to Elisha about Jehu becoming King of Israel. Then, and this is what made me laugh, the servant turned tail and ran out of the house, leaving an oily and surprised Jehu in his wake.

I pictured someone opening a door a crack to throw a bone to a snarling, barking doberman, then slamming the door shut as fast as they can, and running away.

Actually, the servant had reason to get out of there as fast as he could. What he had just done was really, really scary.

That’s what God asks of us. We don’t have to conquer our fear before we do what God has laid on our hearts. We just need to give that fear to God – and obey. God will give us the courage exactly when we need it, if we but trust Him. He will go with us, give us words to say, and get the job done, even if our knees are weak and our hands are shaking.

You might want to put on your running shoes. God has something for you to do today.