Pick a side

Scripture

⁷ ” ‘When any of the Israelites or any foreigner residing in Israel separate themselves from me and set up idols in their hearts and put a wicked stumbling block before their faces and then go to a prophet to inquire of me, I the LORD will answer them myself. ⁸ I will set my face against them and make them an example and a byword. I will remove them from my people. Then you will know that I am the LORD. (Ezekiel 14:7-8)

Observation

God brings a word to the Israelites through his prophet. The word is you can’t have it both ways: you can’t worship an idol, and then ask God to speak, too. God himself honors your devotion to the other idol and will not speak.

Application

I had forgotten about this word from God. For those who want to hear from God, it is clear that something could be in the way. I, too, desire to hear from God, so I must be vigilant in keeping God as the only god in my life.

Prayer

Thank you, God, that you honor our choices. Even though at times, I might prefer a god of my own choosing, I want you. You are the only True God, my Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer. Make me aware of the idols I have set up in my life, and help me to dispose of them. I want to hear your voice and receive your instruction. Amen.

Will You Completely Destroy the Remnant?

Scripture

¹⁹ I will give them an undivided heart and put a new spirit in them; I will remove from them their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh. ²⁰ Then they will follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. They will be my people, and I will be their God. ²¹ But as for those whose hearts are devoted to their vile images and detestable idols, I will bring down on their own heads what they have done, declares the Sovereign LORD.” (Ezekiel 11:19-21)

Observation

The prophet Ezekiel despairs when he looks at the situation around him and asks the question, “Will you completely destroy the remnant of Israel?” The above scripture is part of God’s response. The Lord responds to Ezekiel’s question by assuring him that the captives are being kept safe for a return, and this is how God says things will be better in the future:

• I will give them an undivided heart
• Put a new spirit in them;
• I will remove from them their heart of stone
• Give them a heart of flesh.
• Then they will follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.
• They will be my people, and I will be their God.

Application

As a pastor interested in spiritual practices and discipleship, it is interesting to note what is our responsibility and what is God’s: It is necessary for me to follow God’s decrees and keep his laws – but this is after I have been given an undivided heart, have received a new spirit, my heart of stone has been replaced with a heart of flesh. As God does his work, it enables me to follow as he desires. It is not of my own work!

Prayer

I have been given an undivided heart, have received a new spirit, my heart of stone has been replaced with a heart of flesh. Now, holy God, help me to follow your decrees and carefully keep your laws. Amen.

Who do you look to?

Scripture

Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help,
who rely on horses,
who trust in the multitude of their chariots
and in the great strength of their horsemen,
but do not look to the Holy One of Israel,
or seek help from the LORD. (Isaiah 31:1)

Observation

God knows it is human nature to look outside ourselves for help; the question is where do we go? In the day of the prophet, Isaiah people were looking to the nearest super power – Egypt. Today we look to a number of people. In churches we look to our favorite author or blogger, we look to the churches that seem to be doing well. But none of these is the right answer. None is what God desires. In the New Testament, Simon Peter answered the question in this memorable way: “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.” (John 6:68)

Application

Again, as I reflect on our situation at Bethany, I am drawn to books and blogs, authors and authorities – but none of these will give me what I need. I, like Peter, have to respond in prayer: “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.”

Prayer

Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. Help me desire to seek you before the other sources. Teach me to listen well, and to trust your word to me! Amen.

This is the Way to Go

Scripture

18Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you;

therefore he will rise up to show you compassion.

For the Lord is a God of justice.

Blessed are all who wait for him!

19People of Zion, who live in Jerusalem, you will weep no more. How gracious he will be when you cry for help! As soon as he hears, he will answer you. 20Although the Lord gives you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, your teachers will be hidden no more; with your own eyes you will see them. 21Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.” (Isaiah 30:18-21)

Observation

This is the word that I am waiting to hear on behalf of Bethany Covenant Church, the church I am currently serving as Interim Pastor. Oh that we would hear God say, ‘This is the way; walk in it’! That would make this time of discerning so much easier. I’d love to hear the audible voice of God – but this might diminish the need for faith. We need to proceed even when we aren’t certain – trusting in God’s character and his history (both with us, and throughout time).

Application

As we seek God’s plan, face, and direction I, and the corporate church, need to wait together. We need to seek God and cry for help. This is a really good word for today.

Prayer

God, you are a God of justice, and you hear when we cry to you. At Bethany, we need to know what steps to take next, we need to hear your words, “This is the way; walk in it.” Speak to us, Lord, we want to hear from you. We will wait. Amen.

Yet Their Redeemer Is Strong

Scripture

³³ This is what the LORD Almighty says:
“The people of Israel are oppressed,
and the people of Judah as well.
All their captors hold them fast,
refusing to let them go.

³⁴ Yet their Redeemer is strong;
the LORD Almighty is his name.
He will vigorously defend their cause
so that he may bring rest to their land,
but unrest to those who live in Babylon. (Jeremiah 50:33-34)

Observation

‘Your god is weak! He has forgotten you!’ This had to have been a common jeer from the Assyrians and the Babylonians. Jeremiah assures God’s people that Israel was not led away in captivity because their God was weak. Their God is the LORD Almighty, that is his name. He is their Redeemer, and he is strong – despite the appearance of the situation.

Here in these oracles, Jeremiah consoles the captives by assuring them that Babylon will come to ruin as God ordains, and that their sin will soon be atoned for and they will be able to return to Jerusalem – he will bring rest to their land.

Application

It is a good reminder that God is always strong – no matter what the circumstances show. The LORD Almighty is his name! There are times when we don’t know or don’t see what God is doing – but his character doesn’t change.

Today I will wait… knowing that God is patient, and God is sovereign. He knows my requests, and has heard them. He will respond in his time. He is strong enough to answer but the time is not right. I also have to acknowledge that there still might be sin left to deal with.

Prayer

You are the LORD Almighty, my Redeemer, you are not slow to answer or to move – your timing is perfect. This morning I would ask that your Kingdom come, your will be done. Forgive me for the sin that is present at my life – bring to mind the ones I am not aware of, and give me your strength to overcome. I ask that you give me patience as I await your action. I don’t want to move ahead of you – so I will wait. and trust. Amen.

Your Place in the Cosmos – and God’s

Scripture

¹ Then the LORD spoke to Job out of the storm. He said:

² “Who is this that obscures my plans
with words without knowledge?

³ Prepare to defend yourself;
I will question you,
and you shall answer me.

⁴ “Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation?
Tell me, if you understand.

⁵ Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know!
Who stretched a measuring line across it?

⁶ On what were its footings set,
or who laid its cornerstone—

⁷ while the morning stars sang together
and all the angels shouted for joy?

(read the rest of Job 38-39)

Job 38:1-7

Observation

I love the tone of these chapters. After Job addresses God in truculent tone, God responds by reminding Job who he is, and where God ranks in the cosmos. In a day and age where I spend more time thinking about God as my friend, and Jesus my Redeemer – here we have the omnipotent, Creator addressing ungrateful creation.

Stand back and listen!

Be awestruck by this God!

Application

I will bow in humble adoration today.

There is little more to do. I will shut my mouth and listen to/for God today.

Prayer

Lord, give me humility before you. Amen.

Day of Rest

There is no assigned reading for the Book-at-a-Time Bible Reading Plan.

Each seventh day, and some days at the end of the month the plan has provided a day of reflection. Please use these days to meditate more deeply on something that was significant in the past week, to catch up on any missed readings, or to revist favorite or recently read passages.

God With Us

Scripture

¹⁴ Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel. (Isaiah 7:14)

Observation

Very few verses have the weight of this verse – especially in light of the New Testament!

The Lord himself will give this sign.

A virgin will conceive and give birth.

He will be called Immanuel, God with us.

Jesus was this gift. “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” (John 3.16-17)

This is good news!

Application

Today I will give thanks to God for this indescribable gift! I will also look to Jesus as a sign – a sign of the Father’s love for humanity, a sign that God is with us.

Thank you, Lord!

Prayer

Thank you, Lord, for sending Jesus to be God with us. Thank you for this sign – this demonstration of your love! Amen.

Even in the Old Testament

Scripture

² In the last days
the mountain of the LORD’s temple will be established
as the highest of the mountains;
it will be exalted above the hills,
and all nations will stream to it.

³ Many peoples will come and say,
“Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD,
to the house of the God of Jacob.
He will teach us his ways,
so that we may walk in his paths.”
The law will go out from Zion,
the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. (Isaiah 2:2-3)

Observation

Even in the Old Testament, it was God’s desire to reach the nations. Some see the missionary task of the New Testament as diametrically opposed to the mission of the Old Testament. It is not opposed, but the methods differ: in the Old Testament the model was attractional, in the New Testament – missional. The Old Testament model was that of a Temple to which all people would stream so that the Law could go out to the world. In the New Testament, the model changes to be a missionary that brings the New Law to the world.

Application

Our churches are at a point, too, where we must shift from the attractional model to one that is missional. We can no longer expect that people who don’t know Jesus will stream into our churches – that just isn’t happening anymore. We need to bring our message of hope and love from God out into the world. Jesus initiated this movement – we must continue it!

Prayer

Lord, the harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Encourage your church to send out workers into the harvest! Give us what we need to be bearers of your good news. Amen.

Day of Rest

There is no assigned reading for the Book-at-a-Time Bible Reading Plan.

Each seventh day, and some days at the end of the month the plan has provided a day of reflection. Please use these days to meditate more deeply on something that was significant in the past week, to catch up on any missed readings, or to revist favorite or recently read passages.