Week 40 - Day 2

Matthew 13-14; Proverbs 5

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Matthew 13-14 YouVersion(NIV)

Proverbs 5 YouVersion(NIV)

Every day so far in the book of Matthew God keeps hitting me with stuff about faith!  In Matthew chapter 14 is the story of when Jesus walked on the water.  He had sent the disciples out ahead of Him while He went to be alone to pray (He did that a lot—we should learn from that, by the way).   It says that the boat was a considerable distance away and that it was the fourth watch of the night, which means they were pretty far out and had been at it for a while.  And the boat was being “buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.” 

So Jesus walks out to the boat – on the water!  It freaks the disciples out!  They were terrified and cried out in fear thinking He was a ghost.  “But Jesus immediately said to them: ‘Take courage! It is I.  Don’t be afraid.”

First learning point for me—sometimes you’re going to be out in the waves for a while before you see Jesus, but He’s never too far.  He’ll always come saying, “Take courage!  Don’t be afraid.”

And then the part that my pastor Bret Nicholson once again brought to life for me recently was Peter’s odd request.  Peter says, “Lord if it’s you, tell me to come to you on the water.”  Now, I always thought that part was pretty cool, but never thought about how strange that was.  What would make Peter think to say – hey, tell me to come on out there and walk on top of the water too?  And Jesus just says, “Come.”

I honestly think I’m a little like Peter in that I’m very eager to be close to Jesus, to experience the fullness of His power and goodness.  I don’t want to just stay in the boat.  I know He’s there.  I know all things are possible through Him.  I know that if I step out of the boat I’ll experience something amazing and I’ll get closer to Him.  I also think I’m like Peter in that even though I want to step out of the boat I also notice the waves and the wind all around and my faith fails.  

I’m a very visual person, and when I read this story in the Bible I have a clear picture in my mind of Jesus on the water with the waves coming all around and the boat being tossed back and forth.  Then there I am in the boat locking my eyes on His.  It is all I see.  His eyes.  I pray, “Lord ask me to come.”  And He says, “Come.” 

Lord, help me to keep my eyes locked on yours. 

“Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders.

Let me walk upon the waters

Wherever You may call me.

Take me deeper than my feet could ever wander

And my faith will be made stronger

In the presence of my Savior.”     ~Hillsong United: Oceans (Where Feet May Fail) 

Week 40 - Day 1

Matthew 10-12; Proverbs 4

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Matthew 10-12 YouVersion(NIV)

Proverbs 4 YouVersion(NIV)

“Let your eyes look straight ahead, fix your gaze directly before you.” Proverbs 4:25

In Matthew chapter 10 Jesus sends out His disciples preaching and performing miracles.  He gives them the power to do this.  He tells them not to take anything with them.  He tells them to be on guard because men would hand them over to be arrested and flogged.

Knowing myself and how I react to things, I think this would be quite a lot for me to take in.  I know I’d be scared.  I know I’d be thinking … what if I can’t do the miracles you told me to do?  What if no one will let me stay with them?  I can’t get arrested!  I can’t beaten and questioned!  What in the world would I say if I got arrested?  I wonder if the disciples were thinking any of the same things when Jesus was telling them all this.  I assume they probably were afraid because Jesus, knowing all their thoughts and fears, tells them – do not worry; do not be afraid. 

Jesus said, “But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it.  At that time you will be given what to say, for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.”  He also reminds them that not even a sparrow falls to the ground apart from God’s will … “And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered.  So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. 

And the last part of Matthew chapter 10 that is so important, yet again a little hard to take in, is being willing to leave everything behind to follow Jesus.  Nothing should come in the way of following Him.  It is like the guy we read about in chapter 8 who wanted to follow Jesus but said he just wanted to wait until his dad died and then he would.  Jesus told him that he had to not worry about that and just come on.  “Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.”

Sometimes following Jesus and doing what He calls us to do can be intimidating and scary, but He wants us to remember that He cares about us, that He is with us and His Spirit gives us what we need, and that if we can just let go of the control and the things we think we want or need He will show us what life is really all about.  “Let your eyes look straight ahead, fix your gaze directly before you.”  Don’t look back, don’t bring along baggage, fear, or worry, don’t hold onto control … just let go and just go.

Week 39 - Day 6

Matthew 7-9; Proverbs 3

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Matthew 7-9 YouVersion(NIV)

Proverbs 3 YouVersion(NIV)

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will direct your paths.” (Proverbs 3:5)

Trust – firm believe in the reliability, truth, ability, or strength of

Faith – complete ‘trust’ or confidence in someone or something

Proverbs 3:5 is I guess you could say my “life verse.”  It is always a go-to for me.  It is a reminder to me to have faith in Him every day no matter what. 

Jesus talked a lot about faith.  In Matthew chapter 8 it says Jesus was astonished at the great faith of the centurion.  The centurion was a military officer who could give orders with the emperor’s authority, and he realized that Jesus had the authority of God.  When he asked Jesus to heal his servant, Jesus said that He’d go and heal him, but the centurion had great faith that if Jesus just said the words he would be healed.

Also in chapter 8 is an example of having little faith.  The disciples (His followers and friends who were with Jesus almost all the time) were with Jesus in a boat when a storm came up.  Jesus was sleeping.  “The disciples went and woke him, saying, ‘Lord, save us!  We’re going to drown!’  He replied, ‘You of little faith, why are you so afraid?’ Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm.”  There are storms in life that are going to come up that will cause us to be afraid, but our faith must conquer the fear.  Have faith that He’s not going to let you drown; trust that He can calm the waves.

There are three verses embedded within another story in Matthew chapter 9 that I just love.  It is when Jesus is walking through a crowd and a woman in the crowd says to herself, “If I only touch his garment, I will be healed.”  “Jesus turned and saw her.” (I love that part in itself – He turned and saw her)  “Take heart, daughter,’ he said, ‘your faith has healed you.”

Then again in chapter 9 is one more example of faith.  Two blind men call out for Jesus to have mercy on them.  Jesus asks them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?”  Then He tells them, “According to your faith will it be done to you.”

My prayer is that my faith would increase – that my fears would not win, and that I would believe and expect His miracles.  I am also praying that people would see the miracles He does every day.  When Jesus was on earth people were literally watching Jesus perform miracles right before their eyes.  He still does miracles today, but sometimes we don’t see them or give Him the credit for them.  I pray that He would open our eyes to see His hand moving in our lives and we would have a firm belief in His power and His goodness.

Week 39 - Day 5

Matthew 5-6; Proverbs 2

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Matthew 5-6 YouVersion(NIV)

Proverbs 2 YouVersion(NIV)

Today in Matthew we get to start reading the teachings of Jesus known as His Sermon on the Mount.  There is so much wisdom and truth in every word He said.  One theme that I hear from Jesus is that it is what is on the inside that counts.  God doesn’t want us to look all shiny and cleaned up on the outside but truly be a mess on the inside.  First of all, you can’t fake out God.  And He really doesn’t like pride and boasting.  He says to do good things for others in secret so that you are not seeking reward from man but from God.  He uses the word hypocrite a few times … “do not be like the hypocrites … who love to be seen by men.”  He says that the ones who are meek, merciful, pure of heart, and those who are persecuted are the ones who are blessed.  This was probably quite opposite of their way of thinking then.

Jesus uses the Old Testament Law that the people knew and had been taught and lets them know He’s not there to get rid of it but to fulfill it.  He explains God’s intent behind the law, that His concern was not just about the behavior but it was about the heart’s attitude.  The Pharisees and teachers of the law were extremely strict on the following of the law, but Jesus explains that they were missing the point. 

I remember when I was a kid having somewhat of a light bulb moment when my mom shared this part scripture with me: “You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’  But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment.”  Confession: I have a temper; I always have.  When my mom shared this with me it was after I had gotten so angry with someone that I said I hated them.  It was then that I began to understand the whole sin thing and the need for a Savior thing.  Instead I had kind of been viewing Christianity as more of a check-list sort of thing.  Read my Bible, go to church, do good deeds … check, check, check … don’t do this, don’t do that … check, check. 

Jesus said they needed a righteousness that surpassed that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law who were only concerned about behavior (check-lists).  We need an inner righteousness, which is why Jesus died for us, so that God could truly transform our hearts.  I was always  a “good” girl, not having done anything all that bad, but I realized that I’m not perfect.  I’m a sinner and sometimes what is in my heart is ugly.  Jesus died as the sacrifice for all of my sins and to clean up my heart … from the inside out.    

The New Testament: Week 39 - Day 4

Matthew 1-4; Proverbs 1

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Matthew 1-4 YouVersion(NIV)

Proverbs 1 YouVersion(NIV)

The New Testament!  We’ve made it through all the Old Testament (except for Proverbs)! We’ve read the prophecies about Jesus and have seen how everything ultimately points to Jesus, and now we finally get to read about His fulfillment of those prophecies.

I think it is great that we get four different accounts of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus in the gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.  I also love that the first gospel is Matthew who was a Jew and who focused his writing toward the Jews, since almost the entire Old Testament is focused on them as God’s chosen people.  He uses the prophecies they all knew to show them that Jesus is the true Messiah they have been waiting for.  His very first words are to record the genealogy of Jesus to prove He was a Jew descended from Abraham; and that He was descended from David, proving He was entitled to inherit the throne of David as prophesied.  Matthew as well as Jesus Himself quotes the prophets (Isaiah, Micah, Hosea, and Jeremiah in these chapters) to show that it was all about Him.

Matthew also includes in the genealogy names that would normally not be included, which is interesting and worthy of taking note.  He includes names of some women, which was not usually done, as well as the fact they were gentiles instead of Jews.  This is just one small example among many others in the New Testament that shows that Jesus came for all.

There is so much in these first few chapters of Matthew that I’m finding myself wanting to go on and on … I’ll try to limit myself; however, there are a couple more things I’d like to mention.

First, did you notice how many times God showed up giving someone a message or warning or direction through dreams in these chapters?  Do I think every dream is from God?  Of course not.  Do I think He still reveals and warns through dreams sometimes?  Very much so. 

And finally, chapter 4: The Temptation of Jesus – There is so much that can be learned from this passage.  We see that Jesus was fully human.  He was hungry.  He was tempted as we are.  It actually says He was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted, which is something to stop and think about.  Every time Satan tempted Jesus, Jesus quoted God’s Word.  Satan even quoted scripture … he is crafty that way … using something that sounds so right to get us to do something wrong.  This makes me want to know God’s Word so deeply that it comes to me when I’m tired, hungry, and being tempted; that the truth would be alive in me.

I’m so excited about this next stretch of the year as we dive into the New Testament!  I feel like it is Christmas morning – The Messiah is Here!

Week 39 - Day 3

Malachi 1-4; Psalm 150

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Malachi 1-4 YouVersion(NIV)

Psalm 150 YouVersion(NIV)

Malachi is a prophet that came along years after the return to Jerusalem, after the Jews had grown deeper in their faith and had obeyed God by rebuilding His Temple.  But as years went by even though they kept their religious rituals, they began losing their relationship with God again.

God tells them that they are showing contempt for His name by offering defiled sacrifices.  Instead of bringing their best to God, they just bring whatever is convenient.  God says to them not to “light useless fires on my altar!”  He didn’t want their offerings when He knew they had a bad attitude, when they were holding back their best for themselves, and when they were thinking, “What a burden!” 

God also tells them they are robbing Him in their tithes and offerings.  (Tithe, by the way, is a tenth of your income.)  Everything belongs to Him already anyway.  When we do not give back, it is as if we are robbing God.  He says, “Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house.  Test me in this,’ says the Lord Almighty, ‘and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.”

I love that verse.  It is, to my knowledge, the only place in the Bible where God actually says to test Him.  And all these messages God sent through Malachi certainly apply to us still today.  He wants our best, our all.  When we offer less than that or give begrudgingly while holding tight to what we don’t want to sacrifice, it is useless to God.  He says that if we will just let go, have faith in Him, and give back to God what He has blessed us with already, He will bless us more than we can even imagine in return.  He says – try me and just wait and see! 

I know my husband and I can attest to God’s faithfulness in this.  When we first got married and we were not making very much money combined with everything costing too much money, we struggled with holding on to everything we could.  There were times when we felt like we couldn’t afford to tithe or give.  When we started truly trusting God in this and we made tithing a non-negotiable, we began being blessed in ways we couldn’t explain.  Slowly we began giving more and more on top of our tithe, and God has provided and blessed faithfully.  Instead of holding on to control remember that it is all His.  Don’t rob God and don’t be robbed of the blessings He has in store when you put your trust in Him. 

Week 39 - Day 2

Zechariah 10-14; Psalm 149

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Zechariah 10-14 YouVersion(NIV)

Psalm 149 YouVersion(NIV)

The book of Zechariah can be a little confusing, as can many parts of the books of the prophets.  The prophets often mix prophesies of judgments in their own time, future times such as when Jesus comes, and even more future prophesies about the end of time.  As we’re getting closer and closer to the end of the Old Testament and about to start the New Testament I’m focusing on the prophecies that are pointing to Jesus, the Messiah.

Several prophets in the Bible point to Jesus, the son of David, who will be King of Kings.  Many Jews pictured a great political and military leader, a triumphant warrior.  But Zechariah, much like Isaiah did, tells us that He would be a humble king.  He would come to bring peace, but not in the way many imagined.  Zechariah 9:9, which is quoted and fulfilled in the New Testament gospels says, “See, your king comes to you, righteous and having salvation, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.” 

Zechariah 12 speaks of mourning for “the one they have pierced,” much like in Isaiah 53: “He was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.” 

Jesus himself quoted Zechariah 13:7 on the night of his death when he knew his followers would desert him.  “Then Jesus told them, ‘This very night you will all fall away on account of me, for it is written: ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.” (Matthew 26:31) 

A humble king, a shepherd, God in the form of man … who would have thought the God of the Universe would choose to come in this way.  That He would come not only as a humble king instead of a mighty warrior, but that He would even suffer and die so that we could have forgiveness that we don’t even deserve.  It is unfathomable; it is wonderful.  It is perfect really … because how else could God show us the depth of His love?

Week 39 - Day 1

Zechariah 4-9; Psalm 148

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Zechariah 4-9 YouVersion(NIV)

Psalm 148 YouVersion(NIV)

There is a part of Zechariah chapter 7 that is very similar to what we recently read in Micah chapter 6 (To review click Here).  It’s a different group of people and a different prophet, but it’s the same attitude of the people and the same message from God.  The people are asking if they should continue fasting at a certain time as they had been doing.  God once again tells them – I don’t care about your religious rituals; what I care about is people, and you should too. 

“This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘Administer true justice; show mercy and compassion to one another.  Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the alien or the poor.  In your hearts do not think evil of each other.” (Zechariah 7:9-10)

“These are the things you are to do: Speak the truth to each other, and render true and sound judgment in your courts; do not plot evil against your neighbor, and do not love to swear falsely.  I hate all this,” declares the Lord.” (Zechariah 8:16-17)

It is such a simple thing, but I think we forget how big of a deal the way we treat others really is.  God cares about that a lot.  God cares about all people so His followers should care about all people.  We should always be showing love, mercy, and compassion.  We should “love truth and peace” (8:19b).  Because God is all these things: loving, merciful, compassionate, truthful, and peaceful—when we show these to others, the hope is they will no longer see us but they will see and experience God. 

Week 38 - Day 6

Haggai 1-2; Zechariah 1-3

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Haggai 1-2 YouVersion(NIV)

Zechariah 1-3 YouVersion(NIV)

Haggai and Zechariah were both prophets in the time after the exile was over, years after a remnant of Israelites had returned to Judah with intentions to rebuild the Temple but had given up on it completely.

The people would make the excuse that it wasn’t the ‘right time’ to rebuilt the Temple.  God sends this message through Haggai: “How is it that it’s the ‘right time’ for you to live in your fine new homes while the Home, God’s Temple, is in ruins?”  And I love what God says after that – in fact, He says it twice – “Give careful thought to your ways.”

He tells them to really look at how they are spending their days.  How you spend your days is how you end up spending your life.  They were working but didn’t have really anything to show for it.  Day after day, they would go do their normal routines, focusing on their homes and jobs, but they were never fulfilled.  They were busy, but busy doing what?  For what good?  And for whose sake?   

Unlike many of the times we’ve read about in the Old Testament when God sent a prophet, this time the people actually listened!  They obeyed God.  God’s response to them – “I am with you.”

After they had been working on it for a bit God sent Haggai to give them another message.  God knew that they were probably beginning to realize that the Temple they were building was not coming close to the splendor of the Temple that Solomon built, and He knew they probably needed some encouragement.  He says over and over - “Be strong … Be strong … Be strong … and work.” 

The take away for me from today:  Give careful thought to how you spend your days.  Are you busy stressing over your own stuff and neglecting what God wants you to do?  Obey and He’ll be with you every step of the way.  If you are doing what God wants but are getting discouraged or frustrated, be strong and work.  Keep at it.  He’s still with you.  “My Spirit remains among you.  Do not fear.”

Week 38 - Day 5

Zephaniah 1-3; Psalm 147

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Zephaniah 1-3 YouVersion(NIV)

Psalm 147 YouVersion(NIV)

Zephaniah follows the theme that has become common in the Old Testament – the description of judgment from a holy God on wicked people followed by the promise of His healing.  There are a couple of verses from Zephaniah that I particularly like that encourage as well as challenge me.

One part I’ve always liked is from Zephaniah chapter 3, verses 16 and 17: “Do not fear, O Zion; do not let your hands hang limp.  The Lord your God is with you; He is mighty to save.  He will take great delight in you, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing.”

“Do not let your hands hang limp” … what a picture of when you experience complete discouragement and helplessness – that moment when your world spins out of control and you feel there is nothing you can do to stop it.  God reminds us, not only is He mighty to save, He is with you; He delights in you.  He will quiet your fears, your doubts, and your discouragement with His amazing love. 

And a new favorite part is also from Zephaniah chapter 3 – verse 9: “Then I will purify the lips of the peoples, that all of them may call on the name of the Lord and serve him shoulder to shoulder.”

“Shoulder to shoulder” … amazing things happen when believers are unified working shoulder to shoulder.  And not only that but I see in this also working shoulder to shoulder with Jesus.  I know that He is above, below, before, and behind us, but He is also beside us.  I want to be unified with Christ – I want to be unified with His thoughts, His ways, His character, His righteousness – to walk with Him and serve others with Him shoulder to shoulder. 

Week 38 - Day 4

Habakkuk 1-3; Psalm 146

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Habakkuk 1-3 YouVersion(NIV)

Psalm 146 YouVersion(NIV)

Habakkuk is an interesting little book that, like most of the Minor Prophets, can be easily read in one day.  It is unlike other minor prophet books in that it is not telling us what Habakkuk is saying to any nation.  Instead it is a conversation between Habakkuk and God, which I think is pretty cool.

First of all Habakkuk complains to God that He hasn’t acted yet.  He says that there is more wicked than good going on and asks God how long before He does something.  God tells him that He’s coming to judge them and He’s going to use the Babylonians to do it.  Habakkuk again questions God – You are going to send the Babylonians?  They are even worse!  Then Habakkuk braces himself waiting for God to rebuke him for questioning Him.  God doesn’t rebuke, however, He explains to Habakkuk that even though it looks like the wicked are winning for a time, they will be judged as well.

Then my favorite chapter – chapter 3 – is Habakkuk’s prayer.  God has helped him see how terrible God’s judgment can be so now instead of asking God why He has not acted, Habakkuk prays that in God’s wrath He will remember mercy.  He prays for God’s fame to be renewed in their day.  He says that even through the midst of this calamity coming, “yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior.  The Sovereign Lord is my strength: He makes my feet like the feet of a deer, He enables me to go on the heights.”

I think God tells us it is okay to question Him sometimes.  He knows we’re not going to understand everything that happens and everything He does or does not do.  We can go to Him and ask.  We will never fully understand His ways, but He will give us what we need so that in the midst of any calamity we can still find joy and strength in the Lord.  He can lift us up above it all.

Week 38 - Day 3

Nahum 1-3; Psalm 145

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Nahum 1-3 YouVersion(NIV)

Psalm 145 YouVersion(NIV)

I read through Psalm 145 several times today and each time something new kept popping out to me, and it basically came down to this – live a life of praise.

First of all – praise Him because He is worthy!  “Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; His greatness no one can fathom.”  God is good, He is gracious, He is compassionate, He is trustworthy, He is righteous.  He deserves our praise!

Praise Him because when we do, others will know of His love and glory.  “Your faithful people extol you.  They tell of the glory of your kingdom and speak of your might, so that all people may know of your mighty acts and the glorious splendor of your kingdom.”

Praise Him because He is near … because He wants to hear from His children and He wants to show us His love.  “The Lord is near to all who call on Him in truth.  He fulfills the desires to those who fear Him; He hears their cry and saves them.”

Praise Him every day, all the time.  It is so tempting and easy to fill our days with complaints when we should fill our days with praise.  “I will exalt you, my God the King; I will praise your name for ever and ever.  Every day I will praise you and extol your name for ever and ever.”

Exalt ~ Lift Him high

Praise ~ Bow down before Him

Extol ~ Boast about Him

Exalt … Praise … Extol … Every day forever and ever.

Week 38 - Day 2

Micah 5-7; Psalm 144

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Micah 5-7 YouVersion(NIV)

Psalm 144 YouVersion(NIV)

Micah tells us what the people have been thinking as they have heard his message from God.  Their reaction is – What does God want?  More burnt offerings?  Would thousands of rams satisfy Him?  How about ten thousand rivers of oil?  They didn’t quite have the right attitude.  Micah shows them that they are missing the point.  God doesn’t want more of their half-hearted, going-through-the-motions, hypocritical attempts at worship.  Micah said, “He has showed you, O man, what is good.  And what does the Lord require of you?  To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” (Micah 6:8)

Taking some time today to reflect on what these three things mean in my own life.  What does it mean in your life … to act justly … to love mercy …  to walk humbly with God.

Micah also says in the same chapter to “Keep all God’s salvation stories fresh and present.” (Micah 6:5b MSG)  I love this reminder to always keep with you the stories of what He has done for you and how He has shown you mercy.  “For mercy is God’s specialty.  That’s what He loves most.” (Micah 7:18b MSG)

Do I love mercy like God loves mercy?  Do I show mercy to others the way God has shown it to me?  Do I act justly?  Not just do I hope for the right thing to be done, but do I ‘act’ on it?  Do I walk humbly with God, staying close to Him and letting Him have complete control?

Week 38 - Day 1

Micah 1-4; Psalm 143

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Micah 1-4 YouVersion(NIV)

Psalm 143 YouVersion(NIV)

Today began another book in the Old Testament from the Minor Prophets, and as I was reading I started to think about what a large portion of the Old Testament is about God’s judgment on sin as well as His desire for relationship with His people.  He gives chance after chance for people to repent of sins and turn to Him; He sends prophet after prophet to warn them and inspire them to look to Him, but they constantly fail. 

I’m also thinking about how the Old Testament all points to Jesus.  A verse from Psalm 143 kind of brings it all into perspective I think.  David prays, “Do not bring your servant into judgment, for no one living is righteous before you.” 

The Old Testament proves over and over the need for a Savior, for the Messiah.  God wants to be in relationship with people, but as a perfect and Holy God, He cannot tolerate sin.  Mankind is sinful … “no one living is righteous before God.”  So the wonderful amazing gracious plan all along was for Jesus, God’s son, to come to earth and to lay down His life as a sacrifice for all. 

“For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.” 2 Corinthians 5:21 NLT

Week 37 - Day 6

Obadiah; Jonah 1-4

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Obadiah YouVersion(NIV)

Jonah 1-4 YouVersion(NIV)

The book of Jonah is another one of those stories in the Bible I knew and loved as a young girl.  It has a simple story and a simple take away:

God told Jonah to go; Jonah said no.

Jonah got thrown off a ship, swallowed by a great fish, and after three days in its stomach Jonah prayed and was vomited back out.

God said go; Jonah obeyed.

The entire city turned to God and they were saved.

Take away: When God says go – Don’t say no.

It is easy even for a child to understand this.  As an adult though, I think it is harder to go where and when God tells us, and it is easier to run like Jonah or to have a bad attitude like Jonah.  When I was a child learning this story I just assumed Jonah didn’t want to go to Nineveh because he was scared to … I didn’t realize that Jonah didn’t want the city of Nineveh to get saved.  He knew they were a threat to his people, and he wanted God to destroy them.  In fact Jonah got so angry when God saved them that he wanted to die.  But God said, “Should I not be concerned about that great city?”

I found written in the margins in an old Bible of mine a couple of thought-provoking statements that I had written down when listening to a sermon on Jonah.  (I don’t remember who said these things; so sorry to whomever I’m not giving credit to.)

~”The road away from God’s Will might be the easiest, but being in obedience to God is the safest place in the world.”

~”If you’re in the WRONG place, then the RIGHT place is empty.”

Just like when I was a girl, the take away is still the same: When God says go; do not say no.  Trust Him, love others like He does, and go.  The question is – will I really apply that to my life? 

Week 37 - Day 5

Amos 6-9; Psalm 142

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Amos 6-9 YouVersion(NIV)

Psalm 142 YouVersion(NIV)

“I was neither a prophet nor a prophet’s son, but I was a shepherd, and I also took care of sycamore-fig trees.  But the Lord took me from tending the flock and said to me, ‘Go, prophesy to my people Israel.” (Amos 7:14-15)  

There are so many examples from the Bible where God calls ordinary people to use for special purposes.  Amos was just an ordinary guy, not special in the eyes of the world.  He had been a shepherd who pruned some trees, but Amos says, “The Lord took me and said to go.”  God could have chosen anyone; He chose Amos.

I’ve always struggled with self-confidence.  I’m extremely self-conscious about everything.  Anyone who has met me would probably describe me as quiet or shy.  The main reason I don’t talk much around people, especially people I don’t know well, is because I’m always afraid I’m going to say something stupid.  I’ve always seen myself as ordinary … mediocre … just kind of okay at a lot of different things, but not truly special or intelligent or talented in any certain area.  In fact, I was very close to not starting this blog because I thought… I’m not that great of a writer.  Who would want to read what I write?  I’m sure someone else would do so much better at something like this.

It is so easy to give in to fears like that.  It doesn’t tell us in the Bible the reaction Amos had when God called him and sent him to be a prophet, but I imagine it would have been tempting to let fear and self-doubt take over.  He could have compared himself to others and decided that he wasn’t good enough.  But God doesn’t compare us with other people.  He sees us for who He created us to be. 

I’m thankful that God sees me differently than the way the world sees me and the way I see myself.  When we let go of fear and self-doubt and trust God, He can do amazing things through us. 

“When my spirit grows faint within me, it is you who know my way.” ~ Psalm 142:3

Week 37 - Day 4

Amos 1-5: Psalm 141

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Amos 1-5 YouVersion(NIV)

Psalm 141 YouVersion(NIV)

Amos is speaking in the same time as Hosea, addressing Israel when it was booming financially.  They had power, prosperity, and extravagant wealth, but horrible injustices were happening at the same time.  It was kind of the “It was the best of times; it was the worst of times” scenario.  And God gets fed up.

“They buy and sell upstanding people.  People for them are only things—ways of making money.  They’d sell a poor man for a pair of shoes.  They’d sell their own grandmother!  They grind the penniless into the dirt, shove the luckless into the ditch.” (2:6-7 MSG) 

“Hear this word, you cows…, you women who oppress the poor and crush the needy and say to your husbands, “Bring us some drinks!” (4:1)

“You trample on the poor and force him to give you grain.” (5:11)

“You oppress the righteous and take bribes and you deprive the poor of justice in the courts.  Therefore the prudent man keeps quiet in such times, for the times are evil.” (5:13)

God tells His people who are still going through the motions of worshiping Him even though their lives do not match up:  “I can’t stand your religious meetings…  I want nothing to do with your religion projects… your public relations … Do you know what I want?  I want justice—oceans of it.  I want fairness—rivers of it.  That’s what I want.” (5:21-24 MSG)

The injustices and the attitude of the wealthy describing the time of Amos is very similar to things happening in our own world in our own time – oppression of the poor, injustices in the courts, and human trafficking is growing rampant.  We cannot be the “prudent who keep quiet in such times.”  God is fed up.  It is time His followers get fed up too and do something about it.