This third I will put into the fire; I will refine them like silver and test them like gold.

Zechariah 13

This third I will put into the fire; I will refine them like silver and test them like gold. v9

Zechariah's prophecy indicates that 2/3 of Israel will be unfaithful yet 1/3 will and it will be those who stand in the final days (see also MacArthur Bible Commentary).  This final remnant will be refined as gold.  In the same way, we are to be refined as we grow and mature into the disciples God calls us to be.  This refinement process is difficult but produces value - for God most importantly but also for us.

The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold, but the Lord tests the heart. Proverbs 17:3

 

Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father? If you are not disciplined—and everyone undergoes discipline—then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all. Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits and live! They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. Hebrews 12:7-11

 

 We can take comfort in knowing Jesus will be with us in our trials and that is able to help us both endure and defeat both sin and death.

 

In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world. John 16:33

 

My Prayer: Lord You are a great God, full of love and compassion for me...even though I know I am not deserving.  Thank You for Your many blessings and mercy, but please forgive me for my lack of patience and anger.  Help me overcome and turn from my sin and turn towards You instead.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself strength and wisdom.  Please cure Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day. 

The people of Jerusalem are strong, because the Lord Almighty is their God.

Zechariah 12

The people of Jerusalem are strong, because the Lord Almighty is their God. v5

We often lament over how those who seemingly sin without consequences...we want judgement but we know that God alone is judge.  Here, Zechariah delivers a message that enemies of Israel will be destroyed.  

A prophecy: The word of the Lord concerning Israel.

The Lord, who stretches out the heavens, who lays the foundation of the earth, and who forms the human spirit within a person, declares: “I am going to make Jerusalem a cup that sends all the surrounding peoples reeling. Judah will be besieged as well as Jerusalem. On that day, when all the nations of the earth are gathered against her, I will make Jerusalem an immovable rock for all the nations. All who try to move it will injure themselves. On that day I will strike every horse with panic and its rider with madness,” declares the Lord. “I will keep a watchful eye over Judah, but I will blind all the horses of the nations. Zechariah 12:1-4

God's justice is perfect and everyone will be held accountable for their lives either upon death or at the end of times.

“Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done." Revelation 22:12

We should be comforted in knowing that God's justice is perfect and be freed to live for Him without concern that justice is not in the cards.  We of course should be working to "snatch" people from the fire.

My Prayer: Lord You are a great God and worthy of worship, praise and full attention.  You bless me beyond what I deserve. Thank You Jesus!  I am not worth such love and blessing.  I worry.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome such sin and turn towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do. Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal her of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

I will strengthen them in the Lord and in his name they will live securely,” declares the Lord.

Zechariah 10

I will strengthen them in the Lord and in his name they will live securely,” declares the Lord. v12

We all seek strength and security in our lives and often times we place our hope in money, jobs, relationships, etc; Yet God wants us to rest securely on Him - for He is the cornerstone.

From Judah will come the cornerstone[.] Zechariah 10:4

So this is what the Sovereign Lord says: “See, I lay a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone for a sure foundation; the one who relies on it will never be stricken with panic. Isaiah 28:16

The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone[.] Psalm 118:22

Jesus also warns us to avoid building our lives, hope, security on anything but Him.

“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.” Matthew 7:24-27

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are indeed a great God and I want You to be the foundation for my life - because I know that You are always with me, will never leave or forsake me, will provide for me and will help me through any difficulty.  Yet I know that worry and I place security elsewhere - please forgive me and help me overcome such sin!  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Help me serve You, my family, the church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! Shout, Daughter Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.

Zechariah 9

Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! Shout, Daughter Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. v9

When God created the Heavens and the Earth and all of its inhabitants in Genesis, God then had a plan to save us from the sting of sin and death through His Son Jesus Christ.


Here in Zechariah we see a prophecy of the coming of Jesus - of his arrival in Jerusalem...on a donkey.  God is gracious, His plan is perfect, and with Jesus Christ we do indeed have victory!

The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 15:56-57 

 

I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world. John 16:33

 
My Prayer: Lord God You are an awesome God full of love and compassion for all, including me.  You sent Your Son for me. Thank You Jesus!  I am not worth such love.  I worry and I often cannot sleep because of it.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome such sin and turn towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul and mind and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.  

 

See, I have taken away your sin, and I will put fine garments on you.

Zechariah 3

See, I have taken away your sin, and I will put fine garments on you. v4

Using imagery, God delivers a message to Joshua - the high priest - that we have a God that cleanses our sin.  We know that this God is Jesus Christ.  We all sin and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23) so we all need God to forgive us and to free us from the sting of sin and death.

We also see a prophecy of Jesus emphasizing this same point:

See, the stone I have set in front of Joshua! There are seven eyes on that one stone, and I will engrave an inscription on it,’ says the Lord Almighty, ‘and I will remove the sin of this land in a single day. Zechariah 3:9

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, I know You are able...able to do all things.  You are the maker of all things, in all things, before all things and You hold all things together.  You are all powerful and all knowing.  You know everything about me, including my sin...and You forgive and remove my sin - thank You Jesus!  I am not worth such love because I continue to worry.  Please forgive me and help me turn from such sin and turn towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects from chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Help me serve You, my family, the church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Be still before the Lord, all mankind, because he has roused himself from his holy dwelling.

Zechariah 2

Be still before the Lord, all mankind, because he has roused himself from his holy dwelling. v13

After 70 years of captivity in Babylon, God gives a message to the Jews through Zechariah, encouraging them to return to the Lord and to rebuild the temple. Yesterday, I posted how the Lord told the Jews how we would live among them.  How encouraging!  When You have the God of the universe with You - how encouraging indeed!  With such encouragement, our faith and trust in the Lord should grow and we should not worry.  Yet the Jews do worry - and I am certainly not one to judge because I worry also - too much.

The story of the Israelites is one of worry - of course among many themes - they constantly complain and grumble and turn from the Lord.  God does not want us to worry - see also Matthew 6:25-43.

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Matthew 6:34

My Prayer:  Lord Jesus, You are a great God and I know You are with me - as the Holy Spirit, as Your Word, as the church and through my brothers and sisters in Christ.  You are indeed a great God and I know will always be with me - thank You Jesus!  I am not worth such love. I do worry too much - please forgive me and help me overcome and turn from my sin and towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself and Lisa strength and wisdom.  Please cure Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo. Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Help me serve You, my family, the church and others. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

“Shout and be glad, Daughter Zion. For I am coming, and I will live among you,” declares the Lord.

Zechariah 2

“Shout and be glad, Daughter Zion. For I am coming, and I will live among you,” declares the Lord. v10

We do not have a distant God who is not involved in our lives.  On the contrary we have a God that lives among us, is in our heart, and who will never leave us nor forsake us.  Even Jesus name proclaims who He is:

The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”). Matthew 1:23

Our God provides for all of our needs and is available anytime we call.

Come near to God and he will come near to you. James 4:8

You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. Jeremiah 29:13

 

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are a great God who knows everything about me, including my sin, yet You chose me, suffered and died for me, saving me from the sting of sin and death.  Thank You Jesus for blessing me, yet You bless me beyond what I deserve.  I worry far too much.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome such sin and turn towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself strength and wisdom.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘Return to me,’ declares the Lord Almighty, ‘and I will return to you,’ says the Lord Almighty.

Zechariah 1

This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘Return to me,’ declares the Lord Almighty, ‘and I will return to you,’ says the Lord Almighty. v2

Once again, the Lord displays how He is full of compassion and mercy, encouraging the Israelites to return to Him after many years of suffering by preceding generations.   The Lord is also faithful in that He never gives up on His covenant to Abraham to prosper His ancestors as God's chosen people.  

As I posted yesterday, God chose us while we were still sinners, and He loves us so much that He will forgive us of our sins - we just need to believe in Him and obey Him.  If we do so, we are promised to be blessed (see also Matthew 5:6).  

James echoes the message that Zechariah delivers:

Come near to God and he will come near to you. James 4:8

My Prayer: Lord, You ARE a great God, full of compassion and mercy and faithful as well!  I know You will never leave or forsake me.  I am not promised a life without trouble but I AM comforted that You will always be there to encourage me and help me through all trials.  I love You Jesus and I am grateful that You love me.  I am not worth such love.  I worry too much.  Please forgive me and help me overcome such sin and turn towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Help me serve You, my family, the church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

...I will make you like my signet ring, for I have chosen you,’ declares the Lord Almighty.”

Haggai 2

...I will make you like my signet ring, for I have chosen you,’ declares the Lord Almighty.” v23

The Israelites were God's chosen people.

The Lord your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on the face of the earth to be his people, his treasured possession.  Deuteronomy 7:6

When Jesus came to earth, although the Good News would be open to all, only those who accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior would be saved or set apart.  WE would choose God.  Others would be thrown into the fire.

His winnowing fork is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.” Luke 3:17

As I posted yesterday, our relationship would not be based on deeds but instead on faith.  Also, Jesus sets us apart, knowing everything about us, including our sin.  Yet He still chose us and He still loves us.

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8

My Prayer: Lord, You are a gracious God full of love, compassion, mercy and patience for me.  Thank You!  I am not worth such love.  I worry too much. Please forgive me and help me overcome such sin and turn towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo. Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Help me serve You, my family, the church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Be strong, all you people of the land,’ declares the Lord, ‘and work. For I am with you,’ declares the Lord Almighty. ‘This is what I covenanted with you when you came out of Egypt. And my Spirit remains among you. Do not fear.’

Haggai 2

Be strong, all you people of the land,’ declares the Lord, ‘and work. For I am with you,’ declares the Lord Almighty. ‘This is what I covenanted with you when you came out of Egypt. And my Spirit remains among you. Do not fear.’ v4-5

God made a covenant with Abraham (see Genesis 12) and this covenant rested on obedience to the law.  When God sent Jesus to walk the earth, Jesus gave us a new covenant:

In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you. Luke 22:20  

He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant—not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. 2 Corinthians 3:6

We should be thankful that this new covenant is based on grace and not on deeds.  Yes we will be judged according to what we have done but our faith and trust in God is primary (Matthew 22:37-40).

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are a great God and I know that You will never leave me.  Your Word and Your Spirit remain with me at all times and I desire to draw near to me and You will draw near to me when I draw near to You.  Thank You for Your love and that You will never leave me.  I am not worth such love and attention.  Please forgive me for sloth and my selfishness.  Help me overcome such sin and turn towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul and mind and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Help me serve You, my family, the church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

You expected much, but see, it turned out to be little. What you brought home, I blew away. Why?” declares the Lord Almighty. “Because of my house, which remains a ruin, while each of you is busy with your own house.

Haggai 1

You expected much, but see, it turned out to be little. What you brought home, I blew away. Why?” declares the Lord Almighty. “Because of my house, which remains a ruin, while each of you is busy with your own house. v9

As God brought the Jews out of bondage from Babylon, Jesus rescues us from the bondage of sin.  God's desires for us don't stop there - just as He wanted the Jews to rebuild and move forward from their sins (and resulting punishment), God wants us to move forward and grow towards maturity.

First, we must establish that We (as believers) are God's temple.

Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst? 1 Corinthians 3:16

Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own[.] 1 Corinthians 6:19

Next, we must understand that Jesus is the foundation and cornerstone. 

“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. Matthew 7:24-25

Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. Ephesians 2:19-20

We must build a firm foundation to avoid the calamities that beset the Israelites, and tend to relationship with Jesus such that we continue to build on this foundation with growth and maturity.

Therefore let us move beyond the elementary teachings about Christ and be taken forward to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God[.] Hebrews 6:1

My Prayer:  Lord, You are my foundation and my cornerstone and without You I would be too easily blown about and destroyed by the wind and waves of this world.  You have helped me overcome much and I am grateful.  Thank You Jesus for the blessings of Your life, truth, direction, encouragement, love, forgiveness, etc.  I am not worth such blessings as I continue in my sloth.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself strength and wisdom.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Help me serve You, my family, the church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

The Lord has taken away your punishment, he has turned back your enemy.

Zephaniah 3

The Lord has taken away your punishment, he has turned back your enemy. v15

Zephaniah reminds us that we have a God who is full of mercy, as we get what we don't deserve and we don't get what we deserve.

The Lord, the King of Israel, is with you;
    never again will you fear any harm.

On that day
    they will say to Jerusalem,
“Do not fear, Zion;
    do not let your hands hang limp.
The Lord your God is with you,
    the Mighty Warrior who saves.
He will take great delight in you;
    in his love he will no longer rebuke you,
    but will rejoice over you with singing.” v15-17

Yes, both Judah and its surrounding nations faced harsh punishment for its turning away from and denying the Lord, but God provided a remnant that will once again trust in the name of the Lord (v12) and live in harmony again with Him.

In the same way, we have a God in Christ Jesus that spares us from the punishment we all deserve (Romans 3:23, 6:23) by taking our place on the cross.  In doing so, we are able to defeat sin and death - oh what a gift!  

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are a great God who is SO full of mercy, grace, and compassion.  Thank You for such love but I am not worth such love as my anger, grumbling, worries, etc. continue!  Please forgive me and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul and mind and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

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.

Zephaniah 3

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. v9

We must recognize that even when God punishes us, it is out of love.  As such, we should not turn our back from Him when we experience the suffering that may come from punishment.  Instead we should recognize that God disciplines those He loves.

"My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline,
    and do not lose heart when he rebukes you,

because the Lord disciplines the one he loves,
    and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.” Hebrews 12:5-6

 

Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent. Revelation 3:19

 

 See also posts here.

When we view God as a loving God and not like a harsh God we can see how God calls us forward to something, either here on this earth or in heaven.

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28

 

Here in Zephaniah, we see both an angry God and a loving God as He offers us hope beyond the punishment. 

 

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are a great God full of love and compassion for me and everything You do, including punishment, is out of love for me.  I know You love me.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not worth such love, as my worry continues.  Please forgive me and help me turn from such sin and turn towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do. Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength. Please heal and cure Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior. Help me serve You, my family, the church, and others. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Seek the Lord, all you humble of the land, you who do what he commands. Seek righteousness, seek humility; perhaps you will be sheltered on the day of the Lord’s anger.

Zephaniah 2

Seek the Lord, all you humble of the land, you who do what he commands. Seek righteousness, seek humility; perhaps you will be sheltered on the day of the Lord’s anger. v3

The Lord is "slow to anger and abounding in love", and He is full of grace and compassion.  In fact, it is by grace alone that we as believers are saved:


For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. Ephesians 2:8-9

In this passage of Zephaniah, even in God's anger, You can see God's perfect love.  He is angry and full of love as He provides an opportunity to repent and turn to God.  We all face this moments in our life and we must take the gift AND recognize that it is only by God's grace that He can save us.  

My Prayer: Lord, You ARE an awesome God who wants to save ALL of His children...even those who deny You and are full of sin.  You love us THAT much...even then we cannot understand the depth and breadth of Your love.  Thank You for Your perfect love, Your grace, and Your compassion.  I am not worth such love. I worry far too much.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me turn from such sin towards You and help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself strength and wisdom.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior. Help me serve You, my family, the church, and others. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Be silent before the Sovereign Lord, for the day of the Lord is near. The Lord has prepared a sacrifice; he has consecrated those he has invited.

Zephaniah 1

Be silent before the Sovereign Lord, for the day of the Lord is near. The Lord has prepared a sacrifice; he has consecrated those he has invited. v7

Over the past few days, I've posted about the need for reverent fear of the Lord.  Here, we once again learn of an impending punishment for Judah. Although Judah obeyed God under King Josiah, they did not under Josiah's sons.  Punishment awaits not just Judah and the surrounding nations (see v3), but "all mankind on the face of the earth".  Such a punishment equates to the end of times and this message from Zephaniah is once again a warning that God's patience is not unlimited and that there will be an end and at that time all will be judged according to what they have done (Revelation 22:12)

We must act with a sense of urgency during the time we have here on earth.

Be merciful to those who doubt; save others by snatching them from the fire; to others show mercy, mixed with fear—hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh. Jude 1:22-23

Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near. Revelation 1:3

 

Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom. Psalm 90:12

 

The end of all things is near. Therefore be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray. Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. 1 Peter 4:7-8

 

My Prayer:  Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God....creator and author of all things and merciful Heavenly Father.  You have been SO patient with me...thank You Jesus.  I know I am not worth such love and patience because I often fail to dispense such patience, grace and mercy to others.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome such sin and turn towards You. Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself strength and wisdom.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Help me serve You, my family, the church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

The Sovereign Lord is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to tread on the heights.

Habakkuk 3

The Sovereign Lord is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to tread on the heights. v19

Habakkuk previously asks God to judge both Judah (1:1-4) and the Chaldeans (1:12-17) and God does both and Habbakuk in chapter 3 rejoices with a song of worship. 

The enemy lurks all around us (1 Peter 5:8) and we all need protection from God.  We should all proclaim that He is our strength.  It is only through Him that we can defeat Satan and sin in our lives. We also then have this freedom from sin to serve God in His plan and He will both direct us and protect our path.

 Just as Jesus calls on scripture for protection, we too must "lean not on our own understanding" (Matthew 4, Proverbs 3) but on God.

The Lord makes firm the steps of the one who delights in him; though he may stumble, he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him with his hand. Psalm 37:23-4

 

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are a great God whose justice is perfect and who is slow to anger and abounding in love.  You are my rock and my great encouragement, my hope and my truth.  You are my all in all.  Without You I can do nothing!  Thank You for laying down Your life for me and for being so patient with me...I am not worth such love.  I continue to be selfish.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome my sin and turn towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo. Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior. Help me serve You, my family, the church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

The Lord is in his holy temple; let all the earth be silent before him.

Habakkuk 2

The Lord is in his holy temple; let all the earth be silent before him. v20

Many flaunt their sinfulness and place things, activities, people, themselves, etc. before God.  Sequentially speaking, NOTHING comes before God because HE is the Alpha - the beginning.  He is also the End (Revelation 22:13) with the implication being that God existed before time began, that He will exist after time ends, and that His kingdom will last forever.  You can also place other gods before Jesus in terms of priorities - yet this will end in peril as "no one comes to the Father except through [Jesus]" (John 14:6) and "[e]very tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire" (Matthew 7:18). 

God must possess the rightful place in our lives - He must be the number one priority.

You shall have no other gods before me. Exodus 20:3

We must respect and fear God for who He is.

Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
    and gave him the name that is above every name,

that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
    in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,
    to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2:9-11

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are King of Kings and the Name Above All Names.  You are also the Lord of My Life and worthy of my praise and worship.  I know You love me and I know that You suffered and died for me..even though You lived a sinful life and did not deserve death but willingly surrendered Your life so that I could have life.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not worth such love and sacrifice.  I continue to rage in my sloth and selfishness.  Please forgive me and help me overcome my sin and turn towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength and please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo. Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Help me serve You, my family, the church, and others. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

For the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false. Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay.

Habakkuk 2

For the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false. Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay. v3

Habakkuk pleads with the Lord for justice for the Chaldeans (Babylonians) and the Lord tells Habakkuk that all will have to stand for their sin - be assured that the Lord will bring justice to the Chaldeans.

As a follow up to yesterday, we must not only allow God alone to serve justice but we must also live in reverent fear of the Lord today and offer ourselves as a "living sacrifice" (Romans 12:1) with the hope and confidence that God will save us from eternal damnation. 

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are a great God full of love and compassion for me...I am easily distracted and my priorities are often not of You....thank You for Your great mercies but please forgive me this morning!  Help me overcome such sin and turn towards You first and with my best efforts. Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal her of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Help me serve You, my family, the church, and others. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

“I am against you,” declares the Lord Almighty.

Nahum 2-3

“I am against you,” declares the Lord Almighty. Nahum 3:5

The Lord is "slow to anger, and abounding in love", yet God's patience is not infinite.  At some point, the clock runs out for those who reject Jesus and the result is eternal damnation. This is the case with those destroyed during the flood, in Sodom and Gomorrah, here in Ninevah, and again during the end times.

Even those who fail to fully surrender their lives to Jesus (Ananias and Sepphira, the church in Laodicea) are subject to eternal damnation...don't be fooled.  God is clear, we are to repent and turn to God and to love Him with all of our heart, soul and mind, and to love others as ourselves (Exodus 20, Matthew 22). 

We must try and save others.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are a great God and You are worthy of my reverent fear, love, attention, and obedience.  You have given everything to me and You gave Yourself away for me...thank You Jesus...this is overwhelming and I am not worth such love.  I continue to be stingy with my love. Please forgive me and help me overcome such sin and turn towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul and mind and love others as You do. Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo. Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

The Lord will restore the splendor of Jacob like the splendor of Israel, though destroyers have laid them waste and have ruined their vines.

Nahum 2

The Lord will restore the splendor of Jacob like the splendor of Israel, though destroyers have laid them waste and have ruined their vines. v2

Scripture this morning reminds me that because sin entered the world through the first Adam, "we will have trouble in this world" (John 16:33).  Just as the Israelites has trouble (Assyrians, etc.) , we will have trouble.  But God promises those who live by faith (and return to faith - see posts here) that they will be restored in this world or in heaven.

Come, let us return to the Lord. He has torn us to pieces but he will heal us; he has injured us but he will bind up our wounds. After two days he will revive us; on the third day he will restore us, that we may live in his presence. Hosea 6:1-2

 

For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning. Psalm 30:5

   

Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity. Joel 2:13

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are a gracious God full of love and compassion for all of Your children, regardless of their sin.  You are slow to anger and abounding in love...I am grateful to have a God such as You because I desperately need a God like You.  I continue in my sin...often grumbling and complaining.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin and turn towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal and cure Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo. Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day. 

The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in him, but with an overwhelming flood he will make an end of Nineveh; he will pursue his foes into the realm of darkness.

Nahum 1

The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in him, but with an overwhelming flood he will make an end of Nineveh; he will pursue his foes into the realm of darkness. v7-8

We must live in reverent fear of the Lord.  God is in control (Colossians 1:17), He is all powerful (Matthew 19:26) and all knowing (Hebrews 4:12-13).  We must accept Him as our Lord and Savior and obey Him and His commandments (Exodus 20, Matthew 22:37-40), otherwise we face eternal damnation...this is truth.

What does it mean to live in reverent fear of the Lord.  For starters, we must love Him, worship Him and come to Him daily.  We must also serve Him, His church and others.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are a great God worthy of my love, my worship and my full attention.  You freely give Yourself away to me and You have blessed me beyond what I deserve - all that You ask for is a relationship with me. I am thankful for all the ways that You bless me...and it is impossible for me to fully recognize all that You do for me...all I know is that I am blessed beyond what I deserve...thank You Jesus.  Yet again I am not deserving...I am too easily distracted.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength. Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

The Lord is a jealous and avenging God; the Lord takes vengeance and is filled with wrath. The Lord takes vengeance on his foes and vents his wrath against his enemies.

Nahum 1

The Lord is a jealous and avenging God; the Lord takes vengeance and is filled with wrath.
The Lord takes vengeance on his foes and vents his wrath against his enemies. v2

In a prophecy regarding Ninevah, a city spared by God's great mercy following Jonah's warnings to repent, God is described as a jealous God.  God is jealous because He loves us, and He wants and deserves our full attention.  Yet we often serve other Gods because our hearts become distracted and we wander of course. 

We must grow our desire of God such that we don't wander.  God promises to protect us.

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Matthew 5:6

Throughout scripture we are warned to be alert, to watch out and to be awake.  If we desire God and are faithful to Him He will protect us.

Then you will understand what is right and just and fair—every good path.For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul. Discretion will protect you, and understanding will guard you. Proverbs 2:9-11

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, I know You are a jealous God - but that is a good thing...it is because You love me and You don't want anything bad to happen to me.  You deserve my full attention.  You are faithful to me and You bless me beyond what I deserve - thank You Jesus but I am not deserving of such love.  I am too easily distracted.  Please forgive me for my sin and help me overcome such sin and turn towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of his inheritance? You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy. You will again have compassion on us; you will tread our sins underfoot and hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea.

Micah 7

Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of his inheritance?  You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy. You will again have compassion on us; you will tread our sins underfoot and hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea. v18-19

The answer is Jesus Christ...God's one and only Son (John 3:16)...He is this great God who can do and did do everything for us.  Jesus is patient, compassionate and full of mercies.  Galatians 5:22 describes how we bear fruit when the Holy Spirit is with us and we fully surrender our lives to Jesus.   This post provides scripture examples of how we have a God who is slow to anger and abounding in love.  We have a God that has overcome the world and gives us the same power that raised Him from the dead.  WE have all of this and He FREELY gives Himself away...all we need to do is accept Him as our Lord and Savior and believe and trust in Him.

My Prayer: You ARE this God who can do all of this and who frees us from the sting of sin and death!  You gave Your life to us knowing everything about us, including our sin.  You came to save us...thank You Jesus.  You ARE a great God and we are undeserving of such a God.  I know for myself that I too often live for myself vs living for You and others.  Please forgive me and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You. Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me.

Micah 7

But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me. v7

There will be times of turmoil in our lives when we have personal tragedies, challenges, etc. or when we are surrounded by those in the world whose sin and influence gives us great fear.  My hope is that I don't give in to my fear but instead rest in the Lord.

We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. Hebrews 6:19

You are my refuge and my shield; I have put my hope in your word. Psalm 199:114

I lie down and sleep; I wake again, because the Lord sustains me.  I will not fear though tens of thousands assail me on every side. Psalm 3:5-6

The fear of the Lord leads to life; then one rests content, untouched by trouble. Proverbs 19:23

 

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are a great God who will never leave or forsake me even during times of trouble.  You are faithful and You are my refuge, strength, shield and rock.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not worth such love as I continue in my sin.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome my sin and turn towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day. 

He has shown you, O mortal, 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

He has shown you, O mortal, 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. v8

God wants us to love Him with all of our heart, soul and mind and to love others as ourselves (Exodus 20, Matthew 22).  We should desire to get to know Him (see also post from Weds this week) and as Micah states "walk humbly with your God".   God wants a relationship with Him, not as a friend but as our Lord and Savior.

We should want such a relationship.  We all need God (Romans 3:23) and God promises freedom from the sting of sin and death and eternity in heaven with Him (John 3:16).  We have a God that produces fruit from us for His glory and our good (Galatians 5:22).

Yes, there will be costs to following God but we should "take heart, because [He] has overcome the world" (John 16:33).

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are a great God worthy of our full attention and worship!  You created the heavens and the earth and everything in it.  You lived a sinful live on earth then suffered and died for us...knowing everything about our lives, including our sin.  You chose and adopted us out of Your grace and mercy, giving us freedom from sin and eternity in heaven with You.  What an amazing God You are!  Thank You for the many blessings and for the love You pour out on me daily.  I am not worth such love.  I am lazy and selfish.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from such sin and turn towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal and cure her cancer and the side effects from chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Help me serve You, my family, the church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.

Micah 5

But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times. v2

Jesus is who He says He is and He is the Promised Ruler.  Here we have a prophesy of the coming King Jesus Christ.  These prophecies bring a sense of excitement, something for which we should have great hope.  God wants us to live this way all of the time, with a sense of excitement - that we have something special...and we do....a living God who is with us always and who promises live to the full and eternal life.

I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. John 10:10

Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven. Luke 6:23

Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth, burst into jubilant song with music; make music to the Lord with the harp, with the harp and the sound of singing, with trumpets and the blast of the ram’s horn—shout for joy before the Lord, the King. Psalm 98:4-6

 

My Prayer:  Lord, I know You are the Promised King, the Messiah, the Lord of Lords and My Lord and Savior.  You came to earth to suffer and die for me...knowing everything about me, including my sin.  Thank You Jesus - I know I am not worth such love but through Your grace You provide it anyway.  Thank You!  Please forgive me for not demonstrating the joy and fullness of life that You create me for me.  I know You want me to live so that others see You in me.  Please forgive me because I often fall short.  Help me overcome such sin and turn towards You. Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Please heal and cure Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Help me serve You, my family, the church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

But they do not know the thoughts of the Lord; they do not understand his plan[.]

Micah 4

But they do not know the thoughts of the Lord; they do not understand his plan[.] v12

I desire to know God....and to please Him.  That is why we exist.  

[The people] are the shoot I have planted,

the work of my hands,

for the display of my splendor.  Isiah 60: 21

Although we will not know all of the thoughts and plans for God, we should strive to know God's thoughts and plans for us.  God has a plan for each of us (Jeremiah 29:11).  

Paul writes in Romans that we can better understand God's will for our lives by "renewing" our mind;

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:2

Renewing of the mind occurs when we deny ourselves and surrender our lives to Him, seeking Him daily.

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Matthew 5:6

Blessed are those who listen to me, watching daily at my doors, waiting at my doorway. Proverbs 8:34

Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. Luke 9:23

 

Give us each day our daily bread. Luke 11:3

 

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God, full of love and compassion for me.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not worth such love and compassion because I continue in my sin.  I worry...too much.  Please forgive me and help me overcome such sin and turn towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.