Jeremiah tells Israel to be ready to be delivered. The Lord will come and bring them home. He will defeat their captors and take them home where they will be his children and He will be their God. Then He says He will discipline them but only with justice. Our God loves us and wants to bring us home. Aren't you ready to come home? The Lord is there with open arms ready to receive you into His loving, tender care. He says come home. He will be there and peace and comfort are in His house. Come and reside with the Lord your father. Bring Him your cares and burdens and come into His rest.
In Mathew 28 Christ has risen and that is our hope. We have seen His glory and we are to go and be witnesses of Jesus to our world. Are your co-workers troubled? They need Jesus. Does your family have thoughts that concern you? Jesus has the answer. He overcame the world. Is a loved one suffering? Christ is our hope and will be there in time of need. We are to bring them to Jesus He is the door to the path leading home. Bring them to Him where there is freedom from the trouble this world brings. Rejoice for He has risen. He has risen indeed and has overcome the world!
Monday, June 22, 2009
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Jeremiah 12-14; Matthew 22:23-46
Jeremiah starts with a petition to the Lord. The people of God have wandered. Jeremiah says 2b "You are always on their lips but far from their hearts." We all have to be careful of this. They were fine in their own eyes, but God saw their real condition. God says: 7 "I will forsake my house, abandon my inheritance; I will give the one I love into the hands of her enemies." God waits as long as He can before He brings judgment on His people. He always is petitioning for us to return to Him and waiting for us to turn from our rebellion and come back home. Pride and stubbornness had kept God's people from walking in His ways. We are God's people and we are to respond to Him as our Lord. We belong to Him and He is the master of our life. When we get our hearts right, He then can truly reign and will start answering our prayers and talking to us personally. We will have that close intimate fellowship that He designed us to desire. 14:22b "Do the skies themselves send down showers? No, it is you, O LORD our God. Therefore our hope is in you, for you are the one who does all this."
In Matthew Jesus fields some questions from religious leaders. Questions about the resurrection from the group that does not believe in the resurrection. Questions about the Greatest commandment from those who worshiped the law rather that our Lord. Then Jesus dazzles them with two questions. "Whose son is the Christ?" "The son of David," they replied. 43He said to them, "How is it then that David, speaking by the Spirit, calls him 'Lord'? For he says, 44" 'The Lord said to my Lord: "Sit at my right hand until I put your enemies under your feet. 45If then David calls him 'Lord,' how can he be his son?"
Sometimes we will be faced with questions from those who doubt our Lord and our faith in Him. The more we know Him and His word the more they will understand as we bring them pure truth from God's word. Knowing Him is just as important as knowing His word so we can be a picture of Christ by being a living breathing witness of His power and love. That will change hearts as we fish for men.
In Matthew Jesus fields some questions from religious leaders. Questions about the resurrection from the group that does not believe in the resurrection. Questions about the Greatest commandment from those who worshiped the law rather that our Lord. Then Jesus dazzles them with two questions. "Whose son is the Christ?" "The son of David," they replied. 43He said to them, "How is it then that David, speaking by the Spirit, calls him 'Lord'? For he says, 44" 'The Lord said to my Lord: "Sit at my right hand until I put your enemies under your feet. 45If then David calls him 'Lord,' how can he be his son?"
Sometimes we will be faced with questions from those who doubt our Lord and our faith in Him. The more we know Him and His word the more they will understand as we bring them pure truth from God's word. Knowing Him is just as important as knowing His word so we can be a picture of Christ by being a living breathing witness of His power and love. That will change hearts as we fish for men.
Monday, June 8, 2009
Jeremiah 9-11; Matthew 22:1-22
In Jeremiah the Lord is grieving over the spiritual condition of His people. They practice deception and are boasting about all the wrong things. He would like to see us boast about our relationship with Him and His children. It was not their living conditions as much as it was the condition of their heart that concerned God. They sought direction from wooden idols and feared a statue made of gold, not the God that created the universe. God then appeals to them to return to Him and His covenants and He will restore them. Gods first desire is always restoration. He will restore if we will return to Him. Israel waited too late and God had to demonstrate His power to get them to repent. There is always consequences when we reject the Lord's call to return. Let's be a people of God that does not repeat that cycle. God's plan will bring peace and healing into our lives. Open that door and He will come in and dwell in our hearts and lives.
In Matthew Jesus compares the Kingdom of Heaven to a wedding banquet. The king invited guests for His son's wedding and they refused to come. They even killed those who brought the news. Their town was destroyed and the king sent the servants out to the highways and hedges. They were to bring those who the king did not know. There was an open invitation to the wedding feast. Then we see one man get thrown out because he did not wear wedding clothes. The clothes he had on showed he did not honor the things he had been included in. All are invited into the kingdom, and we should honor that gift and reside in the kingdom as God would require. We sometimes come to Christ and want to make our own rules and do things in our own understanding. It is His Kingdom and the Lord reigns here not us.
Then we see them trying to trap Jesus about paying tax to Caesar. "19Show me the coin used for paying the tax." They brought him a denarius, 20and he asked them, "Whose portrait is this? And whose inscription?" 21"Caesar's," they replied. Then he said to them, "Give to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's."
When that they understood they were created in God's image and belonged to Him. They should give their life back to their creator. God created us to have fellowship with Him. We will find happiness there.
In Matthew Jesus compares the Kingdom of Heaven to a wedding banquet. The king invited guests for His son's wedding and they refused to come. They even killed those who brought the news. Their town was destroyed and the king sent the servants out to the highways and hedges. They were to bring those who the king did not know. There was an open invitation to the wedding feast. Then we see one man get thrown out because he did not wear wedding clothes. The clothes he had on showed he did not honor the things he had been included in. All are invited into the kingdom, and we should honor that gift and reside in the kingdom as God would require. We sometimes come to Christ and want to make our own rules and do things in our own understanding. It is His Kingdom and the Lord reigns here not us.
Then we see them trying to trap Jesus about paying tax to Caesar. "19Show me the coin used for paying the tax." They brought him a denarius, 20and he asked them, "Whose portrait is this? And whose inscription?" 21"Caesar's," they replied. Then he said to them, "Give to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's."
When that they understood they were created in God's image and belonged to Him. They should give their life back to their creator. God created us to have fellowship with Him. We will find happiness there.
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Hosea 12-14; Matthew 20:1-16
Hosea 12 starts with an appeal for Israel to return to the Lord. They have relied on the things of this world (idols, riches, and human understanding.) 6 "But you must return to your God; maintain love and justice, and wait for your God always." Even though God sent prophets to deliver them with signs and wonder they still fell back to their evil ways and angered God. 13:4 "But I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt. You shall acknowledge no God but me, no Savior except me. 5 I cared for you in the desert, in the land of burning heat. 6 When I fed them, they were satisfied; when they were satisfied, they became proud; then they forgot me."
Many times we become content with the wrong things and seek satisfaction in things that cannot bring happiness.
14:9 "Who is wise? He will realize these things. Who is discerning? He will understand them. The ways of the LORD are right; the righteous walk in them, but the rebellious stumble in them." God's plan is always best. Seek Him and He will bring and peace.
In Matthew 20 we see the Lord rewards those who serve Him. He gives His promised reward as He sees fit. It is His kingdom and He rules. The ones who serve longer may get the same reward as those who are called last. Our God reigns and He is always protecting and providing as we serve Him. When we truly develop a servants heart the joy will be in serving the Master, not the expected promise of something we view as important. The whole time they served they enjoyed fellowship with the owner of the vineyard. The relationship grows deeper and sweeter as we spend time with the father. The song comes to mind "The longer I serve Him, the sweeter He grows."
Many times we become content with the wrong things and seek satisfaction in things that cannot bring happiness.
14:9 "Who is wise? He will realize these things. Who is discerning? He will understand them. The ways of the LORD are right; the righteous walk in them, but the rebellious stumble in them." God's plan is always best. Seek Him and He will bring and peace.
In Matthew 20 we see the Lord rewards those who serve Him. He gives His promised reward as He sees fit. It is His kingdom and He rules. The ones who serve longer may get the same reward as those who are called last. Our God reigns and He is always protecting and providing as we serve Him. When we truly develop a servants heart the joy will be in serving the Master, not the expected promise of something we view as important. The whole time they served they enjoyed fellowship with the owner of the vineyard. The relationship grows deeper and sweeter as we spend time with the father. The song comes to mind "The longer I serve Him, the sweeter He grows."
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Hosea 5-8; Matthew 18:21-25
Today we take a look at some verses from Hosea and we can see the condition of God's people. They were not aware of how sin had done a number on them so great that they did not understand how deep they were in their sin.
5:4 "Their deeds do not permit them to return to their God. A spirit of prostitution is in their heart; they do not acknowledge the LORD. 5 Israel's arrogance testifies against them; the Israelites, even Ephraim, stumble in their sin; Judah also stumbles with them. 6:6 For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings. 7:13b I long to redeem them but they speak lies against me. 14 They do not cry out to me from their hearts but wail upon their beds. They gather together for grain and new wine but turn away from me. 8:5 Throw out your calf-idol, O Samaria! My anger burns against them. How long will they be incapable of purity?"
God's desire is always to deliver us and restore us because He knows the consequences of our rebellious mind. God really does desire mercy and truth in our lives. When we get sin out of the way He can change our hearts and minds to desire purity and holiness. We then stop chasing the wrong things and start pursuing Him. We are not capable of those things on our own. When we cry out from a pure heart He hears and restores everything the locusts have eaten during the years away from Him.
In Matthew we experience God's forgiveness. 21 "Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, "Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?" 22Jesus answered, "I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times." The king decided it was time to settle accounts. He had the ability to sell them or throw them into prison, but was merciful to the servant's cries and forgave the debt. The servant then turned around and had the man that owed him thrown into prison. 34In anger his master turned him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed. 35"This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart."
Sometimes we forgive in words but not from our heart. True forgiveness does not worry about the cost of the debt or the pain of the hurt we experienced. True love overcomes all pain. True forgiveness reunites us with those who truly love us. That is the Father's plan for loving relationships. God loves it when we do this at His prompting before the Master decides it's time to settle accounts.
5:4 "Their deeds do not permit them to return to their God. A spirit of prostitution is in their heart; they do not acknowledge the LORD. 5 Israel's arrogance testifies against them; the Israelites, even Ephraim, stumble in their sin; Judah also stumbles with them. 6:6 For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings. 7:13b I long to redeem them but they speak lies against me. 14 They do not cry out to me from their hearts but wail upon their beds. They gather together for grain and new wine but turn away from me. 8:5 Throw out your calf-idol, O Samaria! My anger burns against them. How long will they be incapable of purity?"
God's desire is always to deliver us and restore us because He knows the consequences of our rebellious mind. God really does desire mercy and truth in our lives. When we get sin out of the way He can change our hearts and minds to desire purity and holiness. We then stop chasing the wrong things and start pursuing Him. We are not capable of those things on our own. When we cry out from a pure heart He hears and restores everything the locusts have eaten during the years away from Him.
In Matthew we experience God's forgiveness. 21 "Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, "Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?" 22Jesus answered, "I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times." The king decided it was time to settle accounts. He had the ability to sell them or throw them into prison, but was merciful to the servant's cries and forgave the debt. The servant then turned around and had the man that owed him thrown into prison. 34In anger his master turned him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed. 35"This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart."
Sometimes we forgive in words but not from our heart. True forgiveness does not worry about the cost of the debt or the pain of the hurt we experienced. True love overcomes all pain. True forgiveness reunites us with those who truly love us. That is the Father's plan for loving relationships. God loves it when we do this at His prompting before the Master decides it's time to settle accounts.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
