Job And Joseph And You And I.

[Reading: Isaiah 12 through 24]

“ ‘Look full in His wonderful face’; not just a glance, but a full look that is strategic.” –Rev. Dr. Samuel Vassel

“To whom can you compare me? Whom do I resemble?” says the Holy One. Look up at the sky! Who created all these heavenly lights? He is the one who leads out their ranks; he calls them all by name. Because of his absolute power and awesome strength, not one of them is missing. (Isaiah 40:25-26)

In Sunday’s sermon we were reminded that we are to reflect on God’s control, compassion, competence, and character. This is what gives us confidence in our Lord. Pastor Sam referred to the lives of two prominent Old Testament men: Job and Joseph.

The book of Job has many chapters where the focus is on circumstances rather than God. Job’s friends, instead of focusing on God, continued to insist that Job must have done something wrong in order to have suffered such calamities. Job, instead of focusing on God, continued to insist that he was innocent. Towards the end of the book, we see that God instructs Job to consider the majesty and power and creativity of the LORD. Job, even before his goods and household were restored, gave testimony to his change of focus: “My ears had heard of You, but now my eyes have seen You.” (Job 42:5)

The narrative of Joseph, found in Genesis 37 and 39 through 50, reveals to us that Joseph kept his focus on God. He shared his prophetic dreams with his family. He remained in favor with God. His captors and overseers recognized and rewarded his abilities. Joseph’s seasons of suffering did not move him to bitterness nor self-defense; instead, he continued to point to God as his source of strength and wisdom.

Pastor Sam shared with us that we start with the knowledge that God is in control. Can we walk in this knowledge that saved Job and kept Joseph? Are we ready to turn our focus from our circumstances, however challenging, and instead turn our eyes to the One who rules over all?

What are you reflecting on today? Where is your focus? Who are you watching? 

Lord God, give us grace to keep our eyes fixed on You!

I Am Close To His Heart!

[For those completing the book of Isaiah this week: Reading: Isaiah chapters 1 through 11]

As noted by pastor and author Phillip Keller, a huge challenge for our modern-day culture is understanding Biblical metaphors that relate to agriculture and animal husbandry. There are some people who have never even seen a sheep, let alone a shepherd, and they are therefore unable to appreciate the depth of the analogy found in Isaiah 40:11. In that passage, Isaiah speaks of the love and compassionate care of God in this way: "He tends his flock like a shepherd; he gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young."

In Sunday's sermon, Pastor Sam made a point that bears repeating: A shepherd is not a hireling. Shepherds do not 'clock in' and 'clock out' of work. They are fully devoted to the care of their sheep. We catch a glimpse of this devotion in the Christmas narrative: "And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night." (Luke 2:8) The shepherds didn't "go home", because their home was with their sheep. Their watch-care of their flocks was constant and consistent.

Take note: for a shepherd, it is never "the sheep"; it is "my sheep". And just as the shepherds of the Christmas narrative opted to live in the fields with their sheep, our God has opted to make His home in our hearts! Those of us who have asked Him to dwell in us can be fully assured of God's presence. God will never leave us alone. So, even in the face of exile and suffering, there is no need for us to be afraid. God is with us (see Deuteronomy 31:6).

Troubles come. Like the sheep in the fields, we may have proverbial gnats and flies and wolves and thieves seeking to harm us. But we take comfort, and we remain at peace, because our Shepherd is present to feed, guide, and protect us.

The LORD is my Shepherd! I have everything I need! (Psalm 23:1, paraphrase mine)

Double, Intended.

In yesterday's sermon, we heard the second installment of Pastor Sam's series An Invitation to Hope in the Face of a Time of Despair. Our pastor began with the same request he shared in Part One of the series: Let us read Isaiah 40 at home, on our own.

So, as I did with last Monday's post, I also do this Monday: Isaiah 40 is printed at the bottom of this post, and I request that we all read it.

But wait, there's more: Pastor Sam added a second request yesterday. Let us read the entire book of Isaiah on our own. Our pastor reminded us of the three main sections of the book:

• chapters 1 through 39 contain prophetic pronouncements of impending judgement;
• chapters 40 through 55 are filled with promises of God's unfailing love;
• chapters 56-66 reveal God's instrument of hope and salvation: the Messiah.

So, for those who wish to read the book of Isaiah over the course of this week, the blog posts for Tuesday through Saturday will each include a link to several chapters of Isaiah.

This is a lot of reading, but it is well worth the time and effort. Some of us may even want to take a fast from watching television this week, and instead devote the time to reading the word of God. For our readers who prefer to listen to the book of Isaiah, there are several websites that offer audio Bibles. The point of this exercise is not to brag about having met the challenge, but to learn of God's justice, love, and provision as revealed through the writings of the prophet Isaiah.

As we read, let us be encouraged. The God who loved ancient Israel is the same God who loves us. Lord God, we rejoice and rest in Your love!


Isaiah 40

“Comfort, comfort my people,” says your God. “Speak kindly to Jerusalem, and tell her that her time of warfare is over, that her punishment is completed. For the Lord has made her pay double for all her sins.”

A voice cries out, “In the wilderness clear a way for the Lord; construct in the desert a road for our God. Every valley must be elevated, and every mountain and hill leveled. The rough terrain will become a level plain, the rugged landscape a wide valley. The splendor of the Lord will be revealed, and all people will see it at the same time. For the Lord has decreed it.”

A voice says, “Cry out!” Another asks, “What should I cry out?” The first voice responds: “All people are like grass, and all their promises are like the flowers in the field. The grass dries up, the flowers wither, when the wind sent by the Lord blows on them. Surely humanity is like grass. The grass dries up, the flowers wither, but the decree of our God is forever reliable.” Go up on a high mountain, O herald Zion! Shout out loudly, O herald Jerusalem! Shout, don’t be afraid! Say to the towns of Judah, “Here is your God!”

Look, the sovereign Lord comes as a victorious warrior; his military power establishes his rule. Look, his reward is with him; his prize goes before him. Like a shepherd he tends his flock; he gathers up the lambs with his arm; he carries them close to his heart; he leads the ewes along. The Lord is Incomparable!

Who has measured out the waters in the hollow of his hand, or carefully measured the sky, or carefully weighed the soil of the earth, or weighed the mountains in a balance, or the hills on scales? Who comprehends the mind of the Lord,or gives him instruction as his counselor? From whom does he receive directions? Who teaches him the correct way to do things, or imparts knowledge to him, or instructs him in skillful design?

Look, the nations are like a drop in a bucket; they are regarded as dust on the scales. He lifts the coastlands as if they were dust. Not even Lebanon could supply enough firewood for a sacrifice; its wild animals would not provide enough burnt offerings. All the nations are insignificant before him; they are regarded as absolutely nothing.

To whom can you compare God? To what image can you liken him? A craftsman casts an idol; a metalsmith overlays it with gold and forges silver chains for it. To make a contribution one selects wood that will not rot; he then seeks a skilled craftsman to make an idol that will not fall over.

Do you not know? Do you not hear? Has it not been told to you since the very beginning? Have you not understood from the time the earth’s foundations were made? He is the one who sits on the earth’s horizon; its inhabitants are like grasshoppers before him. He is the one who stretches out the sky like a thin curtain, and spreads it out like a pitched tent. He is the one who reduces rulers to nothing; he makes the earth’s leaders insignificant. Indeed, they are barely planted; yes, they are barely sown; yes, they barely take root in the earth, and then he blows on them, causing them to dry up, and the wind carries them away like straw. “To whom can you compare me? Whom do I resemble?” says the Holy One.

Look up at the sky! Who created all these heavenly lights? He is the one who leads out their ranks; he calls them all by name. Because of his absolute power and awesome strength, not one of them is missing. Why do you say, Jacob, Why do you say, Israel, “The Lord is not aware of what is happening to me, my God is not concerned with my vindication”? Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is an eternal God, the creator of the whole earth. He does not get tired or weary; there is no limit to his wisdom.

He gives strength to those who are tired; to the ones who lack power, he gives renewed energy. Even youths get tired and weary; even strong young men clumsily stumble. But those who wait for the Lord’s help find renewed strength; they rise up as if they had eagles’ wings, they run without growing weary, they walk without getting tired.

Six-Shooter.

As we close out this week of reflections on Isaiah 40, let's take another look at six of the verses in this chapter. Pastor Sam described these verses as a ‘resumé’ of God's sovereign control: our LORD, who needs no help from anyone, is ever present to help us. He is supremely qualified to do what others consider impossible.

v  We serve the God who does the miraculous.

v  We serve the God who empowers martyrs to demonstrate His grace and peace in the face of extreme sufferings.

v  We serve the God who extended His mercy to ancient Israel, even as they lived through the consequences of their sins.

v  We serve the God who sees all, knows all, and judges rightly.

This God, miraculous, loving, merciful, and wise, is here for you and I today. Let us rest in His word, bask in His love, and hope in His faithful promises.

See, the Sovereign Lord comes with power,
    and he rules with a mighty arm.
See, his reward is with him,
    and his recompense accompanies him.

Surely the nations are like a drop in a bucket;
    they are regarded as dust on the scales;
    he weighs the islands as though they were fine dust.

Before him all the nations are as nothing;
    they are regarded by him as worthless
    and less than nothing.

He sits enthroned above the circle of the earth,
    and its people are like grasshoppers.
He stretches out the heavens like a canopy,
    and spreads them out like a tent to live in.
He brings princes to naught
    and reduces the rulers of this world to nothing.
No sooner are they planted,
    no sooner are they sown,
    no sooner do they take root in the ground,
than he blows on them and they wither,
    and a whirlwind sweeps them away like chaff. (Isaiah 40:10, 15, 17, 22-24, NIV)

"God runs things. Things don't run God." -Rev. Dr. Samuel Vassel

He Knows My Names...

Why do you say, Jacob, Why do you say, Israel, “The Lord is not aware of what is happening to me, My God is not concerned with my vindication”? Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is an eternal God, the creator of the whole earth. He does not get tired or weary; there is no limit to his wisdom. (Isaiah 40:27-28)

During this past Sunday's sermon, the Lord had our pastor pause at Isaiah 40:27 to explain the reference to “Jacob” and “Israel”. We learned that the two names refer to one person. Jacob was known as a swindler and con artist, a man whose very name meant “supplanter”—a man who we would probably not choose to engage any work for God, because he had a track record of living solely for himself. But our God had a different view! Time passed by, and eventually Jacob encountered the presence and power of God. God gave the man a new name: You are no longer Jacob, but Israel – the man who has God on his side, fighting for him, and who prevails (see Genesis 32:28; Genesis 35:10).

In Isaiah 40, then, this small reference to Jacob carries heavy weight. God’s message of hope is offered not just to the “Israels” of the world who have submitted to His will, but also to the “Jacobs” of the world who still attempt to make their own way in life. What is the message? It is this: I am the LORD your God. My wisdom is unlimited, and I am eternal. I know everything that is going on in your life. Don’t think that I am unaware or unconcerned.

Even in our faltering attempts at self-sufficiency, God stands ready to save and transform us! I am grateful. Are you?

Lord, You see, You hear, and You know. Thank You for reminding us of Your eternal presence. Thank You for offering Your strength to our weary frames. Give us grace to rest and trust in You.

Examen Nation: Home Edition

And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? (Job 1:8, KJV)

In Sunday's sermon, Pastor Sam reminded us of God's response to the plight of Job. Job and his friends spent much time in reflection and discussion of Job's life after Satan received permission to afflict him. The friends insisted that Job must have sinned in order to have suffered such extreme calamity, while Job insisted that he had done nothing to deserve the losses he'd suffered.

Enter God.

In Job chapters 38 through 41, God speaks to his servant Job. But God's response did not address Job's sufferings. And as Pastor Sam pointed out, Job was never even told about the dialogue between God and Satan that brought about the sufferings he'd gone through. Instead, God called Job to consider the greatness, majesty, and power of God. Our pastor reminded us that we too, like Job, are called to focus on the goodness and greatness of God.

There are some Christians who daily engage in the discipline of examen, and it is a useful discipline for us to adopt if we aren't already involved in this practice. In examen, one takes time to reflect on the day's experiences. But the focus is not merely on the ups and downs of the day. The focus is on: a) recognizing the presence of God in our lives throughout the day, and b) being thankful for who God is and what He does, even as we seek His forgiveness and grace to help us look more like Him every day.

Are you suffering? Look to the Lord. Today let us choose to turn our eyes away from our challenges, and instead turn our attention to our God, the One who remains in complete control.

Lord God, we praise You for Your sovereignty!
You are great and mighty!
There is none on earth like You.

You see and know all things;
You are fully aware of our sufferings,
And You are touched with the pains we go through.

We stand, we kneel, we worship, we praise
on beds of affliction, or in church with hands raised;
We engage in what You have commanded us to do.

Though life is bitter, You, Lord, are sweet.
Though we want to run, we rest at Your feet
and rejoice
at the sound of Your voice:
"Behold, I make all things new..."

(G.A.R.)

Incomparable!

To whom, then, will you compare God? To what image will you liken him? (Isaiah 40:18, NIV)

In Sunday's sermon, Pastor Sam noted that we live in a society that tends towards pluralism. We are expected to maintain a "level playing field" in which our God is deemed no higher than, say, Buddha or Krishna. There is a social pressure to submit not just to the concept of all gods being equal, but an added pressure to deify certain social systems and cultural expectations. In some regards, our lives today are not much different than the lives of the ancient Jews who were exiled to Babylon. And though we laud the accounts we read in the book of Daniel, particularly those where he and his three friends (Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah) stood boldly for the God of Israel, we must also remember that there were many more young men who acquiesced to the pressure and bowed in worship to false gods. When threatened with suffering, those unnamed men lost their boldness.

But what about us? When we are threatened, what do we say about the God we serve? Our pastor gave us a word to stand on: Our God is incomparably great. He cannot be put into a box with the other gods of this world. He cannot be equated to any earthly philosophies or systems. As we read in Isaiah 40:18, there is no comparison.

Pastor Sam said something else that I would like us to reflect on today: The God of the exiles is our God. We must abandon the notion that God is somehow less powerful if His people are found to be 'in exile'. Our sufferings do not diminish God's power. In fact, our periods of hardship are often moments in which the power of God breaks forth in ways no one could have imagined.

What is your response to exile? What is your response to suffering? I pray that our response will always be to worship our great God, and to recognize that He is incomparable.

"LORD God of Israel, there is no god like thee, in heaven above, or on earth beneath..." (First Kings 8:23a)

Be Ye Comforted.

Isaiah 40

“Comfort, comfort my people,” says your God. “Speak kindly to Jerusalem, and tell her that her time of warfare is over, that her punishment is completed. For the Lord has made her pay double for all her sins.”

A voice cries out, “In the wilderness clear a way for the Lord; construct in the desert a road for our God. Every valley must be elevated, and every mountain and hill leveled. The rough terrain will become a level plain, the rugged landscape a wide valley. The splendor of the Lord will be revealed, and all people will see it at the same time. For the Lord has decreed it.”

A voice says, “Cry out!” Another asks, “What should I cry out?” The first voice responds: “All people are like grass, and all their promises are like the flowers in the field. The grass dries up, the flowers wither, when the wind sent by the Lord blows on them. Surely humanity is like grass. The grass dries up, the flowers wither, but the decree of our God is forever reliable.” Go up on a high mountain, O herald Zion! Shout out loudly, O herald Jerusalem! Shout, don’t be afraid! Say to the towns of Judah, “Here is your God!”

Look, the sovereign Lord comes as a victorious warrior; his military power establishes his rule. Look, his reward is with him; his prize goes before him. Like a shepherd he tends his flock; he gathers up the lambs with his arm; he carries them close to his heart; he leads the ewes along. The Lord is Incomparable!

Who has measured out the waters in the hollow of his hand, or carefully measured the sky, or carefully weighed the soil of the earth, or weighed the mountains in a balance, or the hills on scales? Who comprehends the mind of the Lord,or gives him instruction as his counselor? From whom does he receive directions? Who teaches him the correct way to do things, or imparts knowledge to him, or instructs him in skillful design?

Look, the nations are like a drop in a bucket; they are regarded as dust on the scales. He lifts the coastlands as if they were dust. Not even Lebanon could supply enough firewood for a sacrifice; its wild animals would not provide enough burnt offerings. All the nations are insignificant before him; they are regarded as absolutely nothing.

To whom can you compare God? To what image can you liken him? A craftsman casts an idol; a metalsmith overlays it with gold and forges silver chains for it. To make a contribution one selects wood that will not rot; he then seeks a skilled craftsman to make an idol that will not fall over.

Do you not know? Do you not hear? Has it not been told to you since the very beginning? Have you not understood from the time the earth’s foundations were made? He is the one who sits on the earth’s horizon; its inhabitants are like grasshoppers before him. He is the one who stretches out the sky like a thin curtain, and spreads it out like a pitched tent. He is the one who reduces rulers to nothing; he makes the earth’s leaders insignificant. Indeed, they are barely planted; yes, they are barely sown; yes, they barely take root in the earth, and then he blows on them, causing them to dry up, and the wind carries them away like straw. “To whom can you compare me? Whom do I resemble?” says the Holy One.

Look up at the sky! Who created all these heavenly lights? He is the one who leads out their ranks; he calls them all by name. Because of his absolute power and awesome strength, not one of them is missing. Why do you say, Jacob, Why do you say, Israel, “The Lord is not aware of what is happening to me, my God is not concerned with my vindication”? Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is an eternal God, the creator of the whole earth. He does not get tired or weary; there is no limit to his wisdom.

He gives strength to those who are tired; to the ones who lack power, he gives renewed energy. Even youths get tired and weary; even strong young men clumsily stumble. But those who wait for the Lord’s help find renewed strength; they rise up as if they had eagles’ wings, they run without growing weary, they walk without getting tired.

Know, Sir.

“As for you, O king, the most high God bestowed on your father Nebuchadnezzar a kingdom, greatness, honor, and majesty. Due to the greatness that he bestowed on him, all peoples, nations, and language groups were trembling with fear before him. He killed whom he wished, he spared whom he wished, he exalted whom he wished, and he brought low whom he wished. And when his mind became arrogant and his spirit filled with pride, he was deposed from his royal throne and his honor was removed from him. He was driven from human society, his mind was changed to that of an animal, he lived with the wild donkeys, he was fed grass like oxen, and his body became damp with the dew of the sky, until he came to understand that the most high God rules over human kingdoms, and he appoints over them whomever he wishes. But you, his son Belshazzar, have not humbled yourself, although you knew all this. Instead, you have exalted yourself against the Lord of heaven. You brought before you the vessels from his temple, and you and your nobles, together with your wives and concubines, drank wine from them. You praised the gods of silver, gold, bronze, iron, wood, and stone – gods that cannot see or hear or comprehend! But you have not glorified the God who has in his control your very breath and all your ways!” (Daniel 5:18-23, NET)

There’s an old saying: “When you know better, you do better.” Sadly, this was not true in the life of King Belshazzar. In this past Sunday’s sermon Pastor Andy noted that after Daniel spoke with Belshazzar, Belshazzar gave no indication of repentance. There was no apology, there were no tears, there was no plea for mercy. In fact, Belshazzar’s response to the prophetic word of destruction seemed to be quite odd: he bestowed gifts and praise on Daniel, and gave Daniel a high position in the kingdom (see Daniel 5:29). But King Belshazzar’s response was merely another indicator of the king’s habit of refusing to glorify God. I imagine that it must have broken Daniel’s heart to be the recipient of the king’s temporal praise, while the praises of the living God remained unspoken.

Well, that was a long time ago. But, what about us today? Have we learned from the mistakes of our elders? Have we been careful to admit our moments of wrongdoing? Have we expressed genuine repentance? Have we sought reconciliation with God? Are our days filled with the joy of proclaiming His greatness? Or, are we withholding our praise of God while pouring our devotion onto someone else?

My God, I repent over the idols have I set up and praised while neglecting to exalt Your great name! Have mercy on me.

Not On The Guest List.

Due to the noise caused by the king and his nobles, the queen mother then entered the banquet room. She said, “O king, live forever! Don’t be alarmed! Don’t be shaken! There is a man in your kingdom who has within him a spirit of the holy gods. In the days of your father, he proved to have insight, discernment, and wisdom like that of the gods. King Nebuchadnezzar your father appointed him chief of the magicians, astrologers, wise men, and diviners. Thus there was found in this man Daniel, whom the king renamed Belteshazzar, an extraordinary spirit, knowledge, and skill to interpret dreams, solve riddles, and decipher knotty problems. Now summon Daniel, and he will disclose the interpretation.” (Daniel 5:10-12, NET)

In this past Sunday’s sermon, Pastor Andy shared a point concerning the words of the queen mother recorded in Daniel 5:11. Our pastor noted: “There is a man in the kingdom. He is not at the party.”

Daniel was advanced in years. He had served faithfully under the rule of King Nebuchadnezzar, but by the rule of King Belshazzar Daniel was no longer found in the king’s court. However, Daniel’s reputation stood firm throughout the decades. In the time of crisis, the queen mother remembered him as a man of holy wisdom and insight.

King Belshazzar was surrounded by wise men, but their wisdom was not sufficient to decipher the writing on the wall. The king had to seek help from outside of his court. Things are not so different today. There are many men who can assert that there is prophetic handwriting on the walls of our communities, but few to present a divine interpretation of what is written.

An old hymn reinforced this idea of being a source of divine insight to our communities: “Standing by a purpose true, heeding God’s command: honor them, the faithful few. All hail to Daniel’s band. Dare to be a Daniel! Dare to stand alone, dare to have a purpose firm, and dare to make it known.” (Philip P. Bliss, 1873)

Where are we found? Are we at the party with the nobles? Are we in the company of those deemed to be wise, but who fail to provide holy wisdom and insight? Or are we living the life of Daniel: leading quiet lives in the kingdom of God, and waiting for Him to open opportunities for us to minister?

Enlisted?

While under the influence of the wine, Belshazzar issued an order to bring in the gold and silver vessels – the ones that Nebuchadnezzar his father had confiscated from the temple in Jerusalem – so that the king and his nobles, together with his wives and his concubines, could drink from them. So they brought the gold and silver vessels that had been confiscated from the temple, the house of God in Jerusalem, and the king and his nobles, together with his wives and concubines, drank from them. (Daniel 5:2-3)

“There are still some things that God calls holy.” –Pastor Andy Rubin

Alcohol is an agent famed for its ability to cause men to speak what is in their hearts. Under the influence of alcohol, King Belshazzar expressed his desire to use holy things for unholy purposes. In carrying out his desire, he enlisted assistance from other people: “So they brought the gold and silver vessels that had been confiscated from the temple…” (Daniel 5:3a) In the narrative, we are not told who constitutes “they”. Given the context and time, “they” may have been slaves, or servants, or personal assistants, or persons assigned to maintain the objects that had been taken from Jerusalem.

In this past Sunday’s sermon, Pastor Andy shared a warning with us (paraphrased here): Be careful who talks to you and asks you to do things: you might be setting yourself up for danger. The Lord of all creation still makes a distinction between the holy and the profane, and He calls us to do the same. To submit to the ungodly desires of others is to open ourselves to unholy actions, and to place ourselves under judgement for knowingly doing what is wrong in the sight of God.

Respect the holy.

Reject the profane.

Today, as we consider Belshazzar’s actions, let us ask ourselves: Am I one of the “they”, helping to carry out the ungodly desire of someone else? Am I a type of Belshazzar, coveting the use of holy things for unholy purposes while enlisting others to participate in sinful behaviors? Or am I, like Daniel, choosing to remain faithful to God without regard to the desires of men?

Post This.

"At that very moment the fingers of a human hand appeared and wrote on the plaster of the royal palace wall, opposite the lampstand." (Daniel 5:5a)

"What belongs to God must remain exclusively His." (Pastor Andy Rubin)

There is no voice. But take a look at the wall...

Sometimes we assume that if God is not speaking, and if God has not sent some prophetic person to give us a warning concerning our lifestyle, then we are not being condemned. But as we consider our lives, our community, and our world, we must ask ourselves whether we are missing the message. While we are complacent in the face of not hearing a prophetic voice, we may be missing an equally prophetic warning: the handwriting of God.

In Daniel 5, the handwriting of God appeared in response to the king's use of holy things in an unholy way (see Daniel 5:1-6). The goblets from God's temple were set apart exclusively for use in God's service, but King Belshazzar turned them into common objects. God has given us modern-day "goblets" dedicated for service to Him alone: our voices and instruments, our bodies, our minds, our ministries. But, are we using these precious vessels for Him? Or have we opted to treat them as common?

In Daniel's time, and in ours, God has demonstrated zero tolerance for the misuse of that which was dedicated to Him. And, as we see in Daniel 5, God responds not just with His voice, but with His hand of judgement. On this past Sunday Pastor Andy asked an important series of questions: "Could it be that God is writing over the nation? Could it be that God is writing over our ministry? Could it be that God is writing over our community? He's not saying anything: He's just writing on His Facebook page, on the wall, next to the lampstand."

God is writing. Are you reading His posts?

Share This.

In yesterday's sermon, titled "God's Facebook Posting", Pastor Andy shared with us concerning the prophetic word of God in Daniel 5. Let's begin our week of reflections by reading that chapter in its entirety.

Daniel 5 (NET Bible)

King Belshazzar prepared a great banquet for a thousand of his nobles, and he was drinking wine in front of them all. While under the influence of the wine, Belshazzar issued an order to bring in the gold and silver vessels – the ones that Nebuchadnezzar his father had confiscated from the temple in Jerusalem – so that the king and his nobles, together with his wives and his concubines, could drink from them. So they brought the gold and silver vessels that had been confiscated from the temple, the house of God in Jerusalem, and the king and his nobles, together with his wives and concubines, drank from them. As they drank wine, they praised the gods of gold and silver, bronze, iron, wood, and stone.

At that very moment the fingers of a human hand appeared and wrote on the plaster of the royal palace wall, opposite the lampstand. The king was watching the back of the hand that was writing. Then all the color drained from the king’s face and he became alarmed. The joints of his hips gave way, and his knees began knocking together. The king called out loudly to summon the astrologers, wise men, and diviners. The king proclaimed to the wise men of Babylon that anyone who could read this inscription and disclose its interpretation would be clothed in purple and have a golden collar placed on his neck and be third ruler in the kingdom.

So all the king’s wise men came in, but they were unable to read the writing or to make known its interpretation to the king. Then King Belshazzar was very terrified, and he was visibly shaken. His nobles were completely dumbfounded.

Due to the noise caused by the king and his nobles, the queen mother then entered the banquet room. She said, “O king, live forever! Don’t be alarmed! Don’t be shaken! There is a man in your kingdom who has within him a spirit of the holy gods. In the days of your father, he proved to have insight, discernment, and wisdom like that of the gods. King Nebuchadnezzar your father appointed him chief of the magicians, astrologers, wise men, and diviners. Thus there was found in this man Daniel, whom the king renamed Belteshazzar, an extraordinary spirit, knowledge, and skill to interpret dreams, solve riddles, and decipher knotty problems. Now summon Daniel, and he will disclose the interpretation.”

So Daniel was brought in before the king. The king said to Daniel, “Are you that Daniel who is one of the captives of Judah, whom my father the king brought from Judah? I have heard about you, how there is a spirit of the gods in you, and how you have insight, discernment, and extraordinary wisdom. Now the wise men and astrologers were brought before me to read this writing and make known to me its interpretation. But they were unable to disclose the interpretation of the message. However, I have heard that you are able to provide interpretations and to decipher knotty problems. Now if you are able to read this writing and make known to me its interpretation, you will wear purple and have a golden collar around your neck and be third ruler in the kingdom.”

But Daniel replied to the king, “Keep your gifts, and give your rewards to someone else! However, I will read the writing for the king and make known its interpretation. As for you, O king, the most high God bestowed on your father Nebuchadnezzar a kingdom, greatness, honor, and majesty. Due to the greatness that he bestowed on him, all peoples, nations, and language groups were trembling with fear before him. He killed whom he wished, he spared whom he wished, he exalted whom he wished, and he brought low whom he wished. And when his mind became arrogant and his spirit filled with pride, he was deposed from his royal throne and his honor was removed from him. He was driven from human society, his mind was changed to that of an animal, he lived with the wild donkeys, he was fed grass like oxen, and his body became damp with the dew of the sky, until he came to understand that the most high God rules over human kingdoms, and he appoints over them whomever he wishes.

“But you, his son Belshazzar, have not humbled yourself, although you knew all this. Instead, you have exalted yourself against the Lord of heaven. You brought before you the vessels from his temple, and you and your nobles, together with your wives and concubines, drank wine from them. You praised the gods of silver, gold, bronze, iron, wood, and stone – gods that cannot see or hear or comprehend! But you have not glorified the God who has in his control your very breath and all your ways! Therefore the palm of a hand was sent from him, and this writing was inscribed.

“This is the writing that was inscribed: MENE, MENE, TEQEL, and PHARSIN. This is the interpretation of the words: As for mene – God has numbered your kingdom’s days and brought it to an end. As for teqel – you are weighed on the balances and found to be lacking. As for peres – your kingdom is divided and given over to the Medes and Persians.”

Then, on Belshazzar’s orders, Daniel was clothed in purple, a golden collar was placed around his neck, and he was proclaimed third ruler in the kingdom. And in that very night Belshazzar, the Babylonian king, was killed. So Darius the Mede took control of the kingdom when he was about sixty-two years old.

The Grand Illusion, Remixed.

Jesus said to another, "Follow Me." But he replied, "Lord, first let me go and bury my father." But Jesus said to him, "Let the dead bury their own dead, but as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God." (Luke 9:59-60)

Pastor Shane made a profound statement concerning Luke 9:59: The man who asked to first go and bury his father was himself dead: not physically, but spiritually.

In considering the importance of having Jesus as our first love, we must also keep in mind the danger of holding to the illusion of religious duty as an expression of love. Our pastor noted that, although we might be in church, our presence is no indicator of our depth of love for the Lord. He gave an example from his days as a gang member, during which he faithfully served as an usher in the church while keeping his gang flag hanging visibly from his pocket. The message represented by the gang flag was this: He's here in church, but he's not sold out to Jesus: it's the gang culture that has captured his heart.

There came a day when the Spirit of the Lord caught Shane's attention, and the ensuing years have been a joyful testimony of the power of God to change a man from the inside out. And just as God transformed Shane from a gang member to a pastor, God longs to transform all of us into people who reflect His character and His love. Our pastor has implored us to transcend the concept of mere church attendance, and to embrace the concept of loving God: a love that makes all other loves pale in comparison.

In the Luke passage, Jesus had a message for the man: "Follow Me." It was a message with an undercurrent of urgency. Jesus was, and is, seeking people to become citizens of the kingdom of God. And there is a time limit on the offer. The world has painted the illusion that humanity has all the time in the world to make decisions that involve the state of our souls. But we are finite beings. As Pastor Shane said, now is the time for us to 'get with the program.' We are not promised tomorrow, nor even the next hour.

Is your love of Jesus a present reality? Or are you living an illusion?

Price Tag

As they were walking along the road, someone said to him, "I will follow you wherever you go." Jesus said to him,  "Foxes have dens and birds in the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head." (Luke 9:57-58)

This past Sunday, Pastor Shane shared a prophetic inquiry from the heart of Christ: Are you ready? Do you understand the implications of what it means to follow Me?

Christians are tasked with reflecting the goodness of God in a sick and wicked world. But as we endeavor to do so, we may encounter hardships and circumstances that are designed to discourage our hearts or distract us from honoring God with our lives. The Luke 9 passage reminds us that, because God's kingdom is not of this world, there are some things that are not guaranteed to us in this world. Pastor Shane exhorted us to realize that material security, financial stability, and perfect relationships are not always found in our lives. As members of God's kingdom, though, we are assured that our God will supply all our needs as He sees fit: not according to our timetable, but according to God's timetable.

Our challenge, and our calling, is to be a consistent example of the love and grace of God without being derailed by our circumstances. Sometimes our most powerful testimony is not our recounting of spiritual victories, but our joy and our worship of God in the midst of severe struggles. Are you experiencing hardship today? Remember that our Lord sees, He knows, and at His appointed time He will act. Rejoice in the Lord; rest in Him; trust Him to do what is right and good.

May we always be willing to follow Him.

What God ordains is always good: He is my Friend and Father.
He suffers naught to do me harm, though many storms may gather.
Now I may know both joy and woe:
Someday I shall see clearly that He hath loved me dearly.
-Samuel Rodigast

F.M.

And Jesus said to another man, "Follow Me." But the man replied, "Lord, please let me go and bury my father first." Jesus said to him, "Let the dead bury their own dead; but you, you go and proclaim the kingdom of God wherever you go." (Luke 9:59-60, paraphrase mine)

As I walked through downtown Brooklyn yesterday, I met a woman who had come to New York City from Illinois. She came to New York to pray.

She was not alone. Hundreds of Christians, who are not from our city, are currently in our city as part of a parachurch prayer effort. Spread Truth is committed to sharing the good news of Jesus Christ. They are serving, they are teaching, and they are praying.

I had the honor and privilege of engaging in conversation with this sister in the Lord, and her prayer for me was filled with grace and faith. As we said goodbye and I continued on my way, I was reminded of Pastor Shane's sermon this past Sunday. In the middle of the sermon Pastor Shane addressed the concern of many a Christian: What is my purpose? What is God's desire for my life? The answer is found in a succinct directive from our Lord: Follow Me. The expectation of Christ is that His people will follow Him. Our pastor pointed out that if we are following Jesus, then it is He who will instruct us regarding where we go, what we do, what we say, and how we pray.

Follow Him from the Bronx to Brooklyn.
Follow Him from Illinois to New York.
Jesus is the Leader. Will you follow?

Today, Lord, give us grace and a deep desire to follow You: not because of what we will get in return, but simply because we love You.

Err Space.

Yesterday we had the privilege of hearing a powerful , timely message from Pastor Shane. Our youth pastor shared from the book of Luke:

As they were walking along the road, someone said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” Jesus said to him, “Foxes have dens and the birds in the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.” Jesus said to another, “Follow me.” But he replied, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.” But Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” Yet another said, “I will follow you, Lord, but first let me say goodbye to my family.” Jesus said to him, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.” (Luke 9:57-62)

This week, we will consider some of the points that our pastor shared in the sermon. Let’s begin with reflection on our own spiritual state. During the sermon, Pastor Shane noted that some people have been claiming to be Christians for a very long time, while others consider themselves to be new in the faith. For all of us, today's question is the same: Do we really love Jesus?

The Luke passage shows us that, in addition to Jesus, there are other loves we may hold in our hearts. We love the security of having a place to live. We love the honor and accolades that come with bearing responsibility for handling the final arrangements of our loved ones. We love the prestige and sympathy that arises when people realize how much we have given up for the sake of our faith-walk. But our pastor’s sermon carried a strong warning: Jesus is not in a competition. This Christian walk is an all-or-nothing deal. If Jesus has to wait for you to handle some other issues before you turn your attention to His call, or if Jesus has to wait for the applause of men to settle down before you're able to hear Him speak, then there’s a problem.

Does the Lord have your full attention today?

Molech 2.0

"They built places of worship for the god Baal in the Valley of Ben Hinnom so that they could sacrifice their sons and daughters to the god Molech.  Such a disgusting practice was not something I commanded them to do! It never even entered My mind to command them to do such a thing! So Judah is certainly liable for punishment." (Jeremiah 32:35)

In this past Sunday’s sermon, Pastor Althea spoke of the modern-day equivalents of child sacrifice. Though we may not see individuals placing their children onto bonfires, and we may not see individuals taking knives to slay their children, this twenty-first century offers forms of sacrifice that are more subtle, but no less dangerous.

Our pastor noted that modern-day Baal worship is marked by a love for money and a desire for the trappings of prosperity. For decades, if not longer, many cultures have been sold the lie that it is appropriate to neglect the supervision of the young. As parents have left children to fend for themselves, children have been exposed to all sorts of evils. As parents have failed to express love to their children, those children have fallen for cheap substitutes of “love” in gangs and in illicit relationships.

Today, what do our hearts look like? Are our hearts devoted to God alone? Have we given ourselves over to the worship of Baal? Have we left our children to be consumed for the appeasement of Molech? If we find ourselves in a position of having personally  left the next generation to care for themselves, then let us repent and do our best to make amends. Perhaps it is not too late for us to have a godly impact on the next generation.

God, You know our hearts. Forgive us for chasing income at the expense of our children and the children in our communities. Forgive us for not trusting You to provide for us as You see fit. Forgive us for buying into the lie that our identity is grounded in our bank account, our wardrobe, or our personal connections. We believe that You are all that we really need, and that You will be faithful to meet our needs. Give us grace to live in light of what we believe. 

Wiccans In The House

In this past Sunday's sermon, Pastor Althea noted that it is foolish and dangerous to claim to be a Christian while engaging in religious practices that run counter to the word of God.

Jeremiah 32:33-35 reveals the controversy of God against the people who have ignored His commands: "They have turned their back to Me and not their face; though I taught them, teaching again and again, they would not listen and receive instruction. But they put their detestable things in the house which is called by My name, to defile it. They built the high places of Baal that are in the valley of Ben-hinnom to cause their sons and their daughters to pass through the fire to Molech, which I had not commanded them nor had it entered My mind that they should do this abomination, to cause Judah to sin."

What is it that we believe? What does our behavior say about our faith? What does it mean when a Christian consults a spiritist or a necromancer? What does it mean when a Christian engages in pagan rituals? God Himself has answered that question: it means that the person has turned his back to God. In other words, the person is telling God, "Kiss my behind. I don't need to behold Your glory. And I don't need to 'wait on the LORD': I can get what I want, immediately, from some other source."

Pastor Althea warned us that, although there may be historical and cultural pressure to engage in certain "religious" activities, we must be extremely diligent to reject every act that has its roots in the occult. Both the Old and New Testament scriptures warn against idolatry: not just the presence of a carved statue, but the presence of heart-thoughts and actions that show we have not given God the first, best, and only place in our lives.

Below are some passages for our reflection today. I pray that as we read, we will be even more encouraged and empowered to obey the word of God.

Leviticus 20:1-8
First Corinthians 10:1-14

Lord God, we long to worship You extravagantly and exclusively. Deliver us from the evil one who seeks to turn our devotion away from You.

Hope In The Face Of A Hopeless Case

In this past Sunday's sermon, Pastor Althea shared with us from Jeremiah chapter 32. As we begin this week's reflections, let us take time today to read the chapter in its entirety.

Jeremiah 32 (NASB)

The word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord in the tenth year of Zedekiah king of Judah, which was the eighteenth year of Nebuchadnezzar. Now at that time the army of the king of Babylon was besieging Jerusalem, and Jeremiah the prophet was shut up in the court of the guard, which was in the house of the king of Judah, because Zedekiah king of Judah had shut him up, saying, “Why do you prophesy, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord, “Behold, I am about to give this city into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he will take it; and Zedekiah king of Judah will not escape out of the hand of the Chaldeans, but he will surely be given into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he will speak with him face to face and see him eye to eye; and he will take Zedekiah to Babylon, and he will be there until I visit him,” declares the Lord. “If you fight against the Chaldeans, you will not succeed”’?” And Jeremiah said, “The word of the Lord came to me, saying, ‘Behold, Hanamel the son of Shallum your uncle is coming to you, saying, “Buy for yourself my field which is at Anathoth, for you have the right of redemption to buy it.”’ Then Hanamel my uncle’s son came to me in the court of the guard according to the word of the Lord and said to me, ‘Buy my field, please, that is at Anathoth, which is in the land of Benjamin; for you have the right of possession and the redemption is yours; buy it for yourself.’ Then I knew that this was the word of the Lord.

“I bought the field which was at Anathoth from Hanamel my uncle’s son, and I weighed out the silver for him, seventeen shekels of silver. I signed and sealed the deed, and called in witnesses, and weighed out the silver on the scales. Then I took the deeds of purchase, both the sealed copy containing the terms and conditions and the open copy; and I gave the deed of purchase to Baruch the son of Neriah, the son of Mahseiah, in the sight of Hanamel my uncle’s son and in the sight of the witnesses who signed the deed of purchase, before all the Jews who were sitting in the court of the guard. And I commanded Baruch in their presence, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, “Take these deeds, this sealed deed of purchase and this open deed, and put them in an earthenware jar, that they may last a long time.” For thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, “Houses and fields and vineyards will again be bought in this land.”’

“After I had given the deed of purchase to Baruch the son of Neriah, then I prayed to the Lord, saying, ‘Ah Lord God! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and by Your outstretched arm! Nothing is too difficult for You, who shows lovingkindness to thousands, but repays the iniquity of fathers into the bosom of their children after them, O great and mighty God. The Lord of hosts is His name; great in counsel and mighty in deed, whose eyes are open to all the ways of the sons of men, giving to everyone according to his ways and according to the fruit of his deeds; who has set signs and wonders in the land of Egypt, and even to this day both in Israel and among mankind; and You have made a name for Yourself, as at this day. You brought Your people Israel out of the land of Egypt with signs and with wonders, and with a strong hand and with an outstretched arm and with great terror; and gave them this land, which You swore to their forefathers to give them, a land flowing with milk and honey. They came in and took possession of it, but they did not obey Your voice or walk in Your law; they have done nothing of all that You commanded them to do; therefore You have made all this calamity come upon them. Behold, the siege ramps have reached the city to take it; and the city is given into the hand of the Chaldeans who fight against it, because of the sword, the famine and the pestilence; and what You have spoken has come to pass; and behold, You see it. You have said to me, O Lord God, “Buy for yourself the field with money and call in witnesses”—although the city is given into the hand of the Chaldeans.’”

Then the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah, saying, “Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh; is anything too difficult for Me?” Therefore thus says the Lord, “Behold, I am about to give this city into the hand of the Chaldeans and into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and he will take it. The Chaldeans who are fighting against this city will enter and set this city on fire and burn it, with the houses where people have offered incense to Baal on their roofs and poured out drink offerings to other gods to provoke Me to anger. Indeed the sons of Israel and the sons of Judah have been doing only evil in My sight from their youth; for the sons of Israel have been only provoking Me to anger by the work of their hands,” declares the Lord. “Indeed this city has been to Me a provocation of My anger and My wrath from the day that they built it, even to this day, so that it should be removed from before My face, because of all the evil of the sons of Israel and the sons of Judah which they have done to provoke Me to anger—they, their kings, their leaders, their priests, their prophets, the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem. They have turned their back to Me and not their face; though I taught them, teaching again and again, they would not listen and receive instruction. But they put their detestable things in the house which is called by My name, to defile it. They built the high places of Baal that are in the valley of Ben-hinnom to cause their sons and their daughters to pass through the fire to Molech, which I had not commanded them nor had it entered My mind that they should do this abomination, to cause Judah to sin.

“Now therefore thus says the Lord God of Israel concerning this city of which you say, ‘It is given into the hand of the king of Babylon by sword, by famine and by pestilence.’ Behold, I will gather them out of all the lands to which I have driven them in My anger, in My wrath and in great indignation; and I will bring them back to this place and make them dwell in safety. They shall be My people, and I will be their God; and I will give them one heart and one way, that they may fear Me always, for their own good and for the good of their children after them. I will make an everlasting covenant with them that I will not turn away from them, to do them good; and I will put the fear of Me in their hearts so that they will not turn away from Me. I will rejoice over them to do them good and will faithfully plant them in this land with all My heart and with all My soul. For thus says the Lord, ‘Just as I brought all this great disaster on this people, so I am going to bring on them all the good that I am promising them. Fields will be bought in this land of which you say, “It is a desolation, without man or beast; it is given into the hand of the Chaldeans.” Men will buy fields for money, sign and seal deeds, and call in witnesses in the land of Benjamin, in the environs of Jerusalem, in the cities of Judah, in the cities of the hill country, in the cities of the lowland and in the cities of the Negev; for I will restore their fortunes,’ declares the Lord.”

Represent.

As Bronx Bethany Church of the Nazarene celebrated Pastor Richard's ordination and held his robing ceremony, the testimonies and words shared revealed a stark contrast. The recollections of Richard's early years were marked by comments that described him as, to put it kindly, a challenge to manage. Though Richard knew the ways of the Lord, he had chosen to life a worldly lifestyle. In contrast, the later years were marked by comments that described Richard as a responsible Christian, a man who sought to live a life of holiness and godly character.

What made the difference? For those of us who heard Pastor Richard speak, we learned that the difference was not an issue of "what", but an issue of "who". God Himself stepped in. Our pastor spoke of the moment where, after a night of partying, he heard a clear message from the heart of God: "I did not build you for this." That revelation was followed by years of Richard engaging in prayer, study, and seeking after God. And though he is now an ordained Elder, the journey is not over for him. It's not over for us either! Scripture assures us that, as people of God, we move "from glory to glory" (see Second Corinthians 3:18). Each day, we have opportunity to draw nearer to Christ. 

Our pastor made an important point: Holiness and godly character must be present in us. Holiness is not a lifestyle reserved solely for pastors and leaders; it is for all who claim to belong to Jesus our Lord. If you belong to Christ, then draw near to Him today. Let Him transform you into His image.

Lord God, we kneel before You in awe, reverence, and adoration. We love You and we long to look like You. Draw us closer to You today; make us clear reflections of Your glory. When people see us, let them see a true representation of You.

Meanwhile, Four Miles Away...

Last night I went to a prayer and Bible study at a church not far from where I live. As the evening was winding down, a young woman asked me a question: "There's a guy at your church who has long dreadlocks, he made us feel so welcome when we visited your church a few years ago, he knew a lot, and he had a lot of people around him. I think he's on the staff. Do you know who he is?" After a bit of thought I replied to her, "Well, his hair is shorter now, and he doesn't have locs anymore, but you're talking about Pastor Richie." She then said a wonderful thing: "I've been thinking about him lately."

Sometimes, our experience of "the community of faith" leads us to believe that every local church is operating in a vacuum, and that our prayer needs are limited to the people who we spend most of our time with. That's not true. God is not limited by geography, nor culture, nor anything else. Though God had not given this young lady our pastor's name, He had given her a vision of Richie as she knew him five years ago, and she prayed in faith even though she didn't know his name or title. When I told her that Pastor Richie had recently been ordained an Elder in our denomination, and that his robing ceremony had just occurred this past Sunday, she nodded: "Now I know why God put him on my heart."

Consider God's action. He was looking for someone to pray for our pastor, and He found a willing intercessor: a woman who never sat under our pastor's ministry, met him only once at a leadership event, and never saw him again since that day. God chose to remind her of him.

Think about it.

Speakers Of The House...

Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you. Before you were born, I set you apart for my holy purpose. I appointed you to be a prophet to the nations. (Jeremiah 1:5, NLT)

On this past Sunday, we had a robing ceremony for Reverend Richard Griffiths (our local church's newest ordained elder). As our other elders spoke words of congratulations and encouragement, a particular theme emerged: You are a prophet to the nations.

The directive to be a prophetic voice in the world is not only for Pastor Richard: it is for all of us who claim to be ambassadors of Jesus Christ. An interesting point about ambassadors is that they do not speak from their own initiative: rather, they speak the words, opinions, and intentions of the nation they represent. As citizens of the kingdom of God, we are called to share the way of God with the world. As Second Corinthians 5:20 says, "We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making His appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God."

Are you an ambassador?

Lord, whenever we speak, please help us to represent You and Your kingdom authentically.

Service Charge.

"God gave me the word for this sermon two months ago. I didn't know that today was going to be the launch for Summer Serve... but God's plans are perfect." -Pastor Martha

At Bronx Bethany Church of the Nazarene, we are blessed to have a group of pastors who are faithful in hearing and obeying the word of the Lord. The experience of Isaiah, which was the subject of Sunday's sermon, is also the experience of our pastors. Pastor Martha obeyed God's instructions by preaching from Isaiah 6:1-13, and Pastor Althea echoed the theme as she gave an overview of Summer Serve 2014.

As we re-read the Scripture passage and as we prayerfully consider the opportunities for ministry over these next several weeks, there are a number of points we can reflect upon:

• The Lord God rules us. He is King over all that exists. He is adored and reverenced by all who have caught a vision of His glory.
• The Lord God hears us. His ears are open to receive our praise of Him and our confession of our own unworthiness.
• The Lord God cleanses us. He is the only one strong enough to break the chains of sin, sickness, and occultic bondage.
• The Lord God calls us. He takes the initiative to seek out men, women, and children who are willing to serve Him.

What is God saying to us? He has called us to speak His truths in a time where people are reluctant to heed His word. He has called us to share His message in a spirit of love. The ministry we are doing this summer is not done to evoke a particular response from the people we serve: we simply do the work because it is what God has called us to do.

Today, wherever you are in life, and wherever you are in the world, take time to worship God. As you take the time to honor Him, He will take the time to reveal His desires to you. And, He will equip you to do whatever He asks.

What is God saying to you?

Hearing... And Responding.

Then I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, "Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?" Then I said, "Here am I. Send me!" (Isaiah 6:8)

You may have heard the old joke: "Lord, here am I... send someone else!" Sadly, though, it's not a joke for everyone. There are countless stories of Christians who, in the face of hearing a call from God, opted to respond with a resounding "No."

In this past Sunday's sermon, Pastor Martha shared with us that hearing the voice of the Lord should evoke within us the desire to obey His voice. A key component of obedience is availability: if we truly adore the One who is King, then we will want to please Him. If we truly love Him, then we will want to be found in His presence. If we have taken His interests to heart, then we will want to participate in carrying out His agenda.

As we reflect today, we must ask ourselves whether our worship of God is authentic. Worship is not measured by the beauty of our singing voice, nor even our participation in ministry events. The Scripture reminds us that God examines our hearts (see First Samuel 16:7; Isaiah 29:13-14): He takes note of our motivations and inner thoughts. Isaiah's response, "Send me!", was not a begrudged acquiescence to the call of God. Rather, Isaiah was excited. Isaiah was eager to do something for this great King of kings. Isaiah wanted to be a part of God's program, and he said "yes" to God even before he learned what his specific assignment was.

What about us? Are we responding to the voice of God with an eagerness to go wherever He sends us? Or, are we asking Him to lay out every detail of our life-path before we say 'yes'?

O Master, let me walk with Thee in lowly paths of service free;
Tell me Thy secret; help me bear the strain of toil, the fret of care.
(Washington Gladden)

Seeing... And Recognizing.

In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord, high and exalted, seated on a throne; and the train of his robe filled the temple. (Isaiah 6:1, NIV)

In this past Sunday's sermon, Pastor Martha encouraged us to keep in our minds this vision of God as the One exalted over all.

The prophet Isaiah had experienced a deep loss: King Uzziah, who had reigned for decades, was now dead. Yet, in the face of death, God opened Isaiah's eyes to recognize the Lord God as the King who lives forever.

In the narrative, Isaiah shares a profound description: The train of the Lord's robe filled the temple. The Lord had spread His covering over every person, every action, and every object in that worship-space. In Isaiah's vision, the presence of God overshadowed everything, including Isaiah's mourning: when the prophet recognized the King of kings and Lord of lords, all thoughts of Uzziah were laid aside.

Are we covered? Does His train fill our temple and overshadow our despondency? Scripture says, "Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own?" (First Corinthians 6:19, NASB) When our eyes are opened to see the greatness and majesty of God, we are drawn in to His loving embrace. We are inspired to find our rest in Him. We are shifted from mourning our personal losses to marveling at God's majesty and power.

Lord God, today we choose to turn our eyes away from our circumstances; we choose to turn our eyes towards You. Astound us with Your majesty! Embrace us with Your love! Open our eyes to recognize You as the King Eternal. Great King, fill us with Your presence.

Breathing... And Conscious.

In this past Sunday's sermon Pastor Martha shared with us from Isaiah 6:1-13. The prophet Isaiah had a profound worship experience, and in the atmosphere of worship he became conscious of his own unworthiness. As he confessed his sins and the sins of his people, the LORD purified Isaiah and gave him a ministry assignment.

In this narrative we find that Isaiah received clear instructions after engaging in adoration and confession. What was true for Isaiah can be true for us! As we become intentional in taking time for worship and repentant prayer, our God is faithful to open our understanding and point us in the direction He wills us to go.

The atmosphere of worship is not an event reserved for chapels and sanctuaries: it is something we can experience every day, wherever we are. Today, as we go through our day, let us praise God. Let us pray to God. Let us confess to God. Let us wait on God. Let us love God. Let us call to God.

I just want to be where You are,
Dwelling daily in Your presence!
I don't want to worship from afar;
Draw me near to where You are.
(Don Moen)