If I am a father, where is the honor due me? If I am a master, where is the respect due me?” says the Lord Almighty.

Malachi 1

If I am a father, where is the honor due me? If I am a master, where is the respect due me?” says the Lord Almighty. v6

Malachi is the last of Minor Prophets and his message from God is a word of warning for those who have ambivalent towards God, unbelieving that God will be what He says He is and do what He says He will do.

God wants all of our heart and 100% of our lives and devotion - He does not want us to hold back.

In response to questioning from the Jewish leaders regarding what the most important commandment is, Jesus responds love God with all of your heart, soul, and mind.

There is danger to holding back - including being held accountable for our actions on Judgement Day.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who gave everything for me - that I could have life and have it with abundance - thank You Jesus!  I am not worth such love.  I get angry too quickly.  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 love me.  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.  Please help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Please 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 be king over the whole earth. On that day there will be one Lord, and his name the only name.

Zechariah 14

The Lord will be king over the whole earth. On that day there will be one Lord, and his name the only name. v9

Zechariah speaks of a day of the Lord that is coming.  Of course this is a prophecy of Jesus, and we must also remember that Jesus will come once again (Luke 17:22) after He dies on the cross, rises from the grave, and then rises into Heaven.  We must be ready and recognize when Jesus arrives in our lives - for He is here for us now - in this life.  Yet many ignore the invitation to accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior. 

We must be ready.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You died on the cross and rose again for me - thank You Jesus for doing this and for giving me freedom from the sting of sin and death - the greatest gift of all time!  I am not worth such love.  I daily miss the mark.  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 love Him.  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.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  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, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.

Zechariah 9

See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. v9

Once again, we have a prophecy of Jesus, and this prophecy of Jesus as King of Kings portrays Him as humble, as one who comes to serve, rather than be served. We are commanded to be transformed into God's image, and humility and service are at the core of who Jesus is (for us) so it is what we should be for others.  

We are to love God and love others as God loves us (John 13:34).  Our desires must come after those of Jesus and others - we are to deny oneself.


Jesus - please help me love You first, then love others as I deny myself.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who serves me each and every day - thank You Jesus.  You love me well beyond what I deserve.  I am not worthy of such love.  I am harsh with my words.  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 I love You.  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. Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  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.

In those days ten people from all languages and nations will take firm hold of one Jew by the hem of his robe and say, Let us go with you, because we have heard that God is with you.

Zechariah 8

In those days ten people from all languages and nations will take firm hold of one Jew by the hem of his robe and say, Let us go with you, because we have heard that God is with you. v23

As both Israel and Judah rebuild Jerusalem, the temple, and their lives after exile, The Lord offers encouragement through promises of blessing.  The Lord also admonishes the Jews to love one another:

These are the things you are to do: Speak the truth to each other, and render true and sound judgment in your courts; do not plot evil against each other, and do not love to swear falsely. I hate all this,” declares the Lord. v16-17

Unfortunately, with all that is going on in the world today, it is difficult to find others who are obedient to God in these ways.  Yet we know as believers that as v23 states if we are a light, others will be drawn to us and God will restore those drawn to Him and make them more like Him so that more can love one another.  The challenges we face in this world are only those that God can solve by giving us new hearts.

Be a light.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God and You are light and truth and I am drawn to You and through You, I have a new heart and rebirth...and life to the full.  Thank You Jesus.  I am not worth such love as daily miss the mark. 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 love me.  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.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  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.

In that day each of you will invite your neighbor to sit under your vine and fig tree, declares the Lord Almighty.

Zechariah 3

In that day each of you will invite your neighbor to sit under your vine and fig tree, declares the Lord Almighty. v10

This chapter is a beautiful picture and prophecy of Jesus Christ.  First, sins are taken away (v4).  Then in v8-10 Jesus as described as the branch, the stone, and Savior.  

John 15 also portrays Jesus as The Vine and His believers as the branches. 

As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. This is my command: Love each other. John 15:9-17

As the Jews emerge and rebuild the temple following exile, they are restored physically, emotionally, and spiritually.  This restoration is made complete and permanent by Jesus Christ.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, what an awesome God You are that You sent Your Son - thank You.  The greatest gift of all time.  I am not worthy of such a gift of mercy and grace.  I daily miss the mark.  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 love me.  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.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  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.

And I myself will be a wall of fire around it, declares the Lord, and I will be its glory within.

Zechariah 2

And I myself will be a wall of fire around it, declares the Lord, and I will be its glory within. v5

Zechariah is another prophet, like Haggai, who appears on the scene with the Jews after their return to Jerusalem from exile.  He offers words of encouragement to Israel and Judah that they will be restored - that they should have hope.  God will both surround and be with them (see also v10-11).

Believers in Jesus Christ have this same hope - for He is with us, and He will never depart from us.

See also
Matthew 1:22-23
John 14:26
Hebrews 13:5
1 Corinthians 6:19-20

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing, incredible God who never leaves or forsakes me.  Thank You Jesus that You are always with me.  I am not worth such a God.  I daily miss the mark.  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 love me.  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.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  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: “Give careful thought to your ways. Go up into the mountains and bring down timber and build my house, so that I may take pleasure in it and be honored,” says the Lord. “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

This is what the Lord Almighty says: “Give careful thought to your ways. Go up into the mountains and bring down timber and build my house, so that I may take pleasure in it and be honored,” says the Lord.  “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. v7-9

Haggai is a prophet who admonishes the Jews for their lack of focus on God after they gained their freedom from 70 years of Babylonian captivity. We should not forget what God has done in our lives - we should daily express our gratitude for Him and worship Him for who He is and His role to give us life and freedom from the sting of sin and death.  Don't ignore God and seek Him only when times are tough.  Go to Him daily, especially when times are good.

See also post here.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who loves me and who died for me. Thank You Jesus for the greatest gift of all time.  I am not worthy of such a gift.  I daily miss the mark. 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 love me.  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.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  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 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.

Zephaniah 3

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. v17

Zephaniah is yet another prophet or messenger from God whose job it is to deliver a message warning Judah (and the whole world) about impending punishment for its sin.  Zephaniah also delivers a message for hope for God's anger does not last.  He restores.  

This is a message believers should deliver to all the earth.  God detests sin and we exist to glorify God.  Yet, we have a God who is slow to anger, abounding in love.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who is slow to anger and abounding in love.  You punish, yet You restore.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not worth such love.  I daily miss the mark.  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 love me.  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.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  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 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

As I've posted for the past several days, we often question how God could let such wickedness surround us - although we are not to judge we do, and we feel threatened by wickedness and its ability to drag us into sin.  Yet as I posted yesterday, God not only is a righteous judge He protects those strive to live a righteous life.

God is our Rock. 

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves and protects me from sin - thank You Jesus.  Yet I often fall prey to sin - and I miss the mark.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me turn from such sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  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.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  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.

For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.

Habakkuk 2

For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea. v14

As the Lord responds to Habakkuk's plea for justice - see post yesterday - God promises punishment for the wicked.  In v9-19, God promises woe for those who disobey God and seek gain and glory for themselves above God.  We are to love God first and foremost and then others as God loves us.

Ten Commandments
Greatest Commandment(s)
"Love one another" as Jesus loves you

One way or another every knee will bow and every tongue will acknowledge the Lord of Lords - Jesus Christ.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who loves me and who has helped me grow in my faith - thank You Jesus!  I am not worth such love.  I daily miss the mark.  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 love me.  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.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  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, the enemy is puffed up; his desires are not upright—but the righteous person will live by his faithfulness[.]

Habakkuk 2

See, the enemy is puffed up; his desires are not upright—but the righteous person will live by his faithfulness[.] v4

We often see wickedness all around us and we question how God can allow wickedness to exist - yet we must recognize that sin exists in the world since the beginning from The Fall. 

Habakkuk questions how Judah can get away with such wickedness. 

God responds to Habakkuk's (chapter 1) plea for justice by handing over Judah to the Chaldeans (Babylonians).  God also reassures us that our focus should be on ourselves (do not judge) and that God sees all sin (nothing is hidden) and sin does not go unpunished.  See also my recent post on Nahum 1.

Help me God live a righteous life by faith.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who sees everything and rules with perfect justice - what a great God You are.  Thank You for Your unending love.  I am not worth the love of a God such as You.  I daily miss the mark.  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 love me.  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.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  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.

All your fortresses are like fig trees with their first ripe fruit; when they are shaken, the figs fall into the mouth of the eater.

Nahum 3

All your fortresses are like fig trees with their first ripe fruit; when they are shaken, the figs fall into the mouth of the eater. v12

Some sources (here and here) indicate that Nineveh was once a thriving and secure city, including the MacArthur Commentary, and 2 Kings 19:36 which indicates Nineveh as the home of at least one king.  Whatever security and comfort any of us experience - it is not where we should place our faith, security and trust.  Apart from God we have no good things, and as we have seen throughout the Bible, including Job, we can just as easily lose everything.  Hurricane Florence is a recent example. 

Help me God place my faith, trust, and security in You.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who loves me and who has blessed me.  Yet I am undeserving of such blessings.  I daily miss the mark.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from such sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  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.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  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. The Lord is slow to anger but great in power; the Lord will not leave the guilty unpunished.

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. The Lord is slow to anger but great in power; the Lord will not leave the guilty unpunished. v2-3

Nahum, according to this commentary, is a story of how God does not let the guilty go unpunished.  Nineveh, in Jonah's time, repented and God showed His great patience, mercy and compassion by sparing punishment for the city.  Yet Nineveh went back to it's sinful ways and failed to turn TO God.

Repentance means to turn away from our sin and towards God.  We must acknowledge we need Him, that He is in control, and that His ways are good...for Him and for us.  This is freedom FROM the sting of sin and death.

I am reminded how God's patience is not unlimited and it is up to Him when and how He is patient.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who is slow to anger and abounding in love.  You have shown Your great mercy and compassion to me many times - thank You Jesus!  I am not worth such love.  I am often harsh with my words and actions.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my towards YOU.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  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.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  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....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.

Micah 7

But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me....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. v7,18

God demonstrates all of his attributes all of the time.  We cannot see God as angry without seeing Him as full of mercy and compassion (v18-19).  He is also faithful (v20).

Yes God is angry at Israel and Judah but He is also full of mercy and compassion, and He is faithful.  These among His many attributes which He displays all the time.  God is big...too big for us to even imagine who He is.  And this is a God who loves me, hears me, and who pardons sin and forgives transgression.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God whose anger is justified and who does not stay angry but instead is full of mercy and compassion, forgiveness, etc.  Thank You God for all that You are and do.  I am not worthy of such love.  I daily miss the mark.  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 love me.  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.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  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.

He will stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God. And they will live securely, for then his greatness will reach to the ends of the earth.

Micah 5

He will stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God.  And they will live securely, for then his greatness will reach to the ends of the earth. v4

Micah 5 promises a ruler from Bethlehem, a town, according to the MacArthur Commentary, which was "small in size but not in honor".  In the same way, we have a God who focuses on our heart condition, not on external appearances.  We are called to strive to be more like Jesus - to be holy because He is holy.  If we focus on our heart, through daily time with Him and other spiritual disciplines, God can our renew our heart and 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

Subsequent verses in Romans 12 also point us to humility.  We exist not for our own desires, but to serve and glorify Jesus.

For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. Romans 12:3-5

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who came not be served but to serve.  Thank You Jesus for the cross, the Holy Spirit, Your Word, and all that You are and do.  I am not worth such a God.  I daily miss the mark.  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 love me.  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.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

I will gather the lame; I will assemble the exiles and those I have brought to grief. I will make the lame my remnant, those driven away a strong nation.

Micah 4

I will gather the lame; I will assemble the exiles and those I have brought to grief.  I will make the lame my remnant, those driven away a strong nation. v6-7

Micah's role is to admonish both Israel and Judah for their failure to walk with God, their poor treatment of others, etc.  God exalts those who humble themselves before Him.  If we repent our sins and acknowledge our complete dependence on Him, He will restore us.  We have hope.  This hope is true not just for those who suffer but also those who cause the suffering.  We do not get to be the judge, only God is the judge.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who restores me...even though I have sinned greatly against You and others.  Thank You Jesus but I need Your forgiveness.  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 love me.  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.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  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 the Lord said, “You have been concerned about this plant, though you did not tend it or make it grow. It sprang up overnight and died overnight. And should I not have concern for the great city of Nineveh, in which there are more than a hundred and twenty thousand people who cannot tell their right hand from their left—and also many animals?”

Jonah 4

But the Lord said, “You have been concerned about this plant, though you did not tend it or make it grow. It sprang up overnight and died overnight. And should I not have concern for the great city of Nineveh, in which there are more than a hundred and twenty thousand people who cannot tell their right hand from their left—and also many animals?” v10-11

Jonah's self-righteous attitude leads him to grow angry over not just the Lord's compassion for Nineveh (see v1-4), but also over how he believes the Lord fails to shelter him from the heat (see v7-9).  

In Jesus' day, the Jewish leaders cared more about their own opinion, status and comfort than about others' - in defiance of God's law as laid out by Moses (see Matthew 23, Exodus 20 and Matthew 22:37-40). 

All are deserving of God's grace and salvation - it's not up to us to decide...only God can do this.  We must put God first, then others....humility (vs self-righteousness and arrogance).  

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, what an awesome God You are that You are so full of grace and compassion. You love me and You saved me while I was still sinning...and I continue to do so.  Thank You for Your love and grace. I am not worth such love.  I am often harsh with my words and actions.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  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.

When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, he relented and did not bring on them the destruction he had threatened.

Jonah 3

When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, he relented and did not bring on them the destruction he had threatened. v10

This morning I am reminded of how God's grace and mercy is available to us all - even when we believe we have sinned beyond where God would provide such grace and mercy. See also verse 5:

The Ninevites believed God. A fast was proclaimed, and all of them, from the greatest to the least, put on sackcloth.

"[T]he greatest to the least" infers not just social, economic and political stature but also the degree to which people have sinned and disobeyed God.  You see...if we repent, salvation is available to ALL.  Paul was a murderer (Acts 7-8)...as was Moses and David (by way of conspiracy).  

Additionally, God redeemed the sin of these biblical heroes through the death of His Son Jesus Christ and used these people for something ONLY God could design and create.  I think also of Chuck Colson.  We should not question God's plan to save as we don't know God's plan for those He is saving (see also Isaiah 55:8).

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, what an incredible God You are that You are able to use broken and sinful people like me to do incredible things.  I have seen the miracles in my own life that You have done.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not worth such blessings.  I worry, am harsh with others, etc.  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 love me.  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.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  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 said, ‘I have been banished from your sight; yet I will look again toward your holy temple.’ The engulfing waters threatened me, the deep surrounded me; seaweed was wrapped around my head. To the roots of the mountains I sank down; the earth beneath barred me in forever. But you, Lord my God, brought my life up from the pit.

Jonah 2

I said, ‘I have been banished from your sight; yet I will look again toward your holy temple.’ The engulfing waters threatened me, the deep surrounded me; seaweed was wrapped around my head. To the roots of the mountains I sank down; the earth beneath barred me in forever. But you, Lord my God, brought my life up from the pit. v4-6

Jonah, like the Prodigal Son, ran from God, and yet God still welcomed him back.  We need to be restored daily...and our confession and repentance, like Jonah's and that of the Prodigal Son will facilitate this.  We may, by sins of either commission or omission, separate ourselves from God...but God gives us freedom from the sting of sin and death through reconciliation with His Son.

Greatest gift of all time.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You offer the greatest gift of all time - freedom from the sting of sin and death and reconciliation through Your Son.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not worth such a sacrifice - such love.  I miss the mark daily.  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 love Him.  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.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  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.

Now the Lord provided a huge fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.

Jonah 1

Now the Lord provided a huge fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights. v17

Most believers know Jonah's story - for a good overview check this out.  This overview draws a distinction in the book of Jonah to first God's compassion for Jonah, then God's compassion through Jonah.

Despite Jonah's sin of disobedience, for running from the Lord and running from the task of delivering a message of repentance to Nineveh, God is full of compassion for Jonah.  Jonah does not drown - he is swallowed by a great fish.  Note how God "provided" for Jonah.

In the same way, God is full of compassion and mercy for all of us - daily and throughout the day as we continue to sin.  We all desperately need a Savior and Jesus Christ is that Savior.  Without Jesus, we become slaves to sin and ultimately destined for eternal damnation.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me, and who is full of compassion and mercy for me.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not worth such love.  I miss the mark - daily.  I often am harsh with others with my words and actions.  I sometimes slander.  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 love me.  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.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  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 on Mount Zion will be deliverance; it will be holy, and Jacob will possess his inheritance. Jacob will be a fire and Joseph a flame; Esau will be stubble, and they will set him on fire and destroy him. There will be no survivors from Esau.” The Lord has spoken.

Obadiah 1

But on Mount Zion will be deliverance; it will be holy, and Jacob will possess his inheritance.  Jacob will be a fire and Joseph a flame; Esau will be stubble, and they will set him on fire and destroy him.
There will be no survivors from Esau.” The Lord has spoken. v17-18

God not only restores but He is also faithful.  He had long ago (Genesis 25:23) promised that Esau would serve Jacob, and Obadiah's prophecy regarding Edom demonstrates how God always keeps His promises.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God whose promises always come true - You are faithful!  Thank You Jesus for Your many, many promises!  I am blessed because of Your faithfulness.  Thank You.  Yet I am not worthy of such love.  I daily miss the mark.  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 love me.  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.  Please help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  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 days are coming,” declares the Lord....I will plant Israel in their own land, never again to be uprooted from the land I have given them,” says the Lord your God.

Amos 9

“The days are coming,” declares the Lord....I will plant Israel in their own land, never again to be uprooted from the land I have given them,” says the Lord your God. v15

God's justice is perfect and it is just (see v4 as God sees all of our sin).  His punishment for Israel is also just as Israel proved unfaithful.  At the same time, Israel's punishment is not destruction nor is it permanent.  God will restore Israel and will rise up a King who will be the King of Kings - Jesus Christ - and His Kingdom will last forever.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who loves me and who reigns with compassion and perfect justice.  Thank You for Your compassion and for mercy - for loving me even though I am broken and sinful.  I am not worth such compassion and mercy as I daily miss the mark.  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 love me.  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.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  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.

Amos answered Amaziah, “I was neither a prophet nor the son of a prophet, but I was a shepherd, and I also took care of sycamore-fig trees. But the Lord took me from tending the flock and said to me, ‘Go, prophesy to my people Israel.’ Now then, hear the word of the Lord.

Amos 7

Amos answered Amaziah, “I was neither a prophet nor the son of a prophet, but I was a shepherd, and I also took care of sycamore-fig trees. But the Lord took me from tending the flock and said to me, ‘Go, prophesy to my people Israel.’  Now then, hear the word of the Lord. v14-16

Amos intercedes on behalf of Israel and God relents twice. In v14-16, Amos describes to Amaziah how God gave him a job to do....and he did His job delivering God's message of judgement.  Although Amaziah rejects Amos and the message he delivers from God.  However, God proceeds with His judgement and punishment of Israel (v17).

There will be times when God gives us a job to do that is difficult or uncomfortable. We cannot shirk our God given roles and responsibilities.  God helps us do the difficult tasks - He equips us.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who has given me great strength, wisdom and energy to help me do things You ask of me.  Thank You Jesus.  Yet I am undeserving of such love.  I often fail to do what You ask of me.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from such sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa 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.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  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 abhor the pride of Jacob and detest his fortresses.

Amos 6

I abhor the pride of Jacob and detest his fortresses. v8

Pride (and arrogance) has led Israel to feel secure in their own abilities and in their material wealth and power.  This is something all believers, at least some of the time, struggle with.  

We all need a savior.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who has humbled me and helped me recognize that I need You.  Thank You Jesus.  Yet I am undeserving of such love.  I often am prideful and arrogant.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from such sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa 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.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  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.

Seek good, not evil, that you may live. Then the Lord God Almighty will be with you, just as you say he is. Hate evil, love good; maintain justice in the courts. Perhaps the Lord God Almighty will have mercy on the remnant of Joseph.

Amos 5

Seek good, not evil, that you may live. Then the Lord God Almighty will be with you, just as you say he is.  Hate evil, love good; maintain justice in the courts.  Perhaps the Lord God Almighty will have mercy on the remnant of Joseph. v14-15

Verses 14-15 may seem straightforward enough, yet God wants us to love others as He loves us - see John 13:34-35.  This is a high bar indeed - but anything is possible through God.

Everything is possible for one who believes. Mark 9:23 

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who has transformed my heart and life.  Thank You Jesus.  Yet I am undeserving of such love.  I daily fail to love others as You love me.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from such sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa 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.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  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.

Yet I destroyed the Amorites before them, though they were tall as the cedars and strong as the oaks. I destroyed their fruit above and their roots below. I brought you up out of Egypt and led you forty years in the wilderness to give you the land of the Amorites.

Amos 2

Yet I destroyed the Amorites before them, though they were tall as the cedars and strong as the oaks.
I destroyed their fruit above and their roots below.  I brought you up out of Egypt and led you forty years in the wilderness to give you the land of the Amorites. v9-10

Amos, a prophet from Judah, is sent by God to Israel to deliver a stern message from God about their sin.  They sinned by abusing the needy, poor, and oppressed (v6-7).  We are to show compassion for those in need by giving to the best of our ability.  God reminds us in v9-10 that we have all been in need of assistance from time to time in our lives we should recall how God has helped us, so in turn we should help others.

A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another. John 13:34-35

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who has helped me in my time of need.  Thank You Jesus.  Yet I am undeserving of such love.  I often lack compassion.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from such sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa 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.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  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 gather all nations and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat. There I will put them on trial for what they did to my inheritance, my people Israel, because they scattered my people among the nations and divided up my land.

Joel 3

I will gather all nations and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat. There I will put them on trial for what they did to my inheritance, my people Israel, because they scattered my people among the nations and divided up my land. v2

God punished Judah for turning away from Him (see chapter 1-2) as an example of how we all face consequences for our sin.  While we are held accountable for our actions, it is not our role to judge others in their own sin.  Judah's neighbors were certainly not innocent - see v2-3,5 - but it is God's role to judge others.

Do not judge.

Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. Matthew 7:1-2

...

Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in the way of a brother or sister. Romans 14:13

...

Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye. Matthew 7:3-5

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who punishes me out of love - thank You Jesus!  Yet I am not worthy of Your love because I judge others.  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 love me. 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.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  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.

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

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. v13

Judah's punishment for its sin is justified, but God is full of grace and mercy, and He fully restores Judah.  MacArthur's Commentary refers to a material restoration (2:21-27), a spiritual restoration (2:28-32), and in Joel 3, a national restoration.

Even though Judah did not deserve God's grace and mercy, He provided it anyway.  This is true for all of us as well.

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 an awesome God who loves us - even though we are broken and sinful - thank You Jesus!  I am not worth such love.  I worry, and I gossip as well.  Please forgive me Jesus!  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 love me.  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.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  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.

To you, Lord, I call, for fire has devoured the pastures in the wilderness and flames have burned up all the trees of the field. Even the wild animals pant for you; the streams of water have dried up and fire has devoured the pastures in the wilderness.

Joel 1

To you, Lord, I call, for fire has devoured the pastures in the wilderness and flames have burned up all the trees of the field.  Even the wild animals pant for you; the streams of water have dried up and fire has devoured the pastures in the wilderness. v19-20

Joel is the 2nd of the minor prophets and the focus of Joel is Judah's sin, God's punishment for Judah, and Joel's efforts to bring about Judah's repentance.  Just like Israel, Judah turned away from God, and God uses a plague of locusts to bring famine to the land to get Judah's attention. 

There are times in our lives when God either allows something devastating to happen or He causes it.  It's not necessarily something we did (i.e. punishment), as God often allows or causes difficulties for strong believers so that His power is seen through His children.  In Joel, it is that Judah has turned away from God and God uses famine and Joel to get the attention of Judah - to get them to see their sin and to get them to repent and turn towards God.  Judah (as anyone experiencing a famine would) has nowhere to turn except to God - they become desperate.

We should not wait for calamity to happen - regardless of what we are experiencing in our life we should be desperate for God.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who provides for me during all times - good and bad.  Thank You Jesus.  I know that without You, I have no good things.  I am undeserving of the rich blessings You pour out for me.  I worry.  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 love me.  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.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  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 ways of the Lord are right; the righteous walk in them, but the rebellious stumble in them.

Hosea 14

The ways of the Lord are right; the righteous walk in them, but the rebellious stumble in them. v9

As I wrap up my study of Hosea - I end on a positive note, with Israel returning to God and with God welcoming back a repentant Israel.  In verse 2-3 we see this "return" along with a recognition that the Gods fashioned by man serve no good and only anger the one true God.  In verse 4-8 we see the blessing that accompanies those who turn to and submit to God.  Most importantly, there is humility and a recognition, that God is before and in all things and in control (Colossians 1:16-17), and that without Him there is no good things, especially wisdom.





, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.