When God saw what they did, how they turned from their evil way, God relented of the disaster that he had said he would do to them, and he did not do it.

Jonah 3 

When God saw what they did, how they turned from their evil way, God relented of the disaster that he had said he would do to them, and he did not do it. Jonah 3:10

I continue my study in Jonah to supplement my church's current sermon series in this book.  In the text today, God gives Jonah a second chance to complete his mission to preach to Nineveh, and the city does. Here are my observations using the Sword Bible Study Method.  

• What do we learn from the text about God?: V1: God gives Jonah (and us) second (and third, etc.) chances - He is a God of grace who forgives.  Yet He does not forget our sin - we may still have consequences but we are not slaves to sin nor do we get what we deserve - which is death (Romans 6:23).  He also does not let us off the hook for the mission He gives us - in v2 God gives Jonah the same mission as He did in 1:2.  V10: God responds to the king and the people of Nineveh and how they repented of their sin and believed and He withheld the punishment they deserved - again death.  God is full of grace!
• What do we learn from the text about people?: V3: This time, Jonah did the mission "according to the word of the LORD."  In v5, God's message through Jonah moves the people of Nineveh to believe.  The word and faith even reached the king - vv6-9.  God's Word is for everyone - we are all the same in terms of our sin and need for a Savior.  While the king speculates that God might work to "turn from his fierce anger [so that the people of Nineveh] may not perish," we should not doubt God's sovereignty.  He is in complete control of all Creation, including earthly authorities He places above us.    
• Is there anything from the text God wants us to obey (SPEC: Sins to avoid, Promises to claim, Examples to follow, Commands to obey?): Avoid rebellion and when He calls you, say yes to the mission He gives you - do it according to His Word.  Claim the promise of grace that is offered by God and repent and believe and see God work in your life to transform Your heart and life.  Follow the example of Jonah to repent and seek Him.  Serve God and His mission and know that He will never leave or forsake you and will equip you for the mission He gives you.  

Comment and discuss this post

My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God whose mercies never cease and are new every morning - what incredible grace You offer.  Thank You for my salvation and for the blessings You pour out every day for me.  I am not deserving of how You love and save.  My sin is great and it continues...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 me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to 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.

So Moses made a bronze serpent and set it on a pole. And if a serpent bit anyone, he would look at the bronze serpent and live.

Numbers 21:4-9

So Moses made a bronze serpent and set it on a pole. And if a serpent bit anyone, he would look at the bronze serpent and live. Numbers 21:9

I continue my study of Numbers, and in the text today - Numbers 21:4-9, the people once again grumble and complain against the LORD, yet God is abounding in love, relents from His punishment and provides a way out.  Here are my observations using the Sword Bible Study Method.

• What do we learn from the text about God?: God sees grumbling and complaining as a sin, so Israel is punished - v6.  Yet God is merciful and He responds to prayer as the people confess and seek for Moses to intercede - v8.  
• What do we learn from the text about people?: The people are not yet in the Promised Land, and of course one can imagine the people (as we would) seeking the quickest way possible to get to their destination.  Impatience can be seen as a childish behavior (are we there yet?), but it afflicts adults just as well.  The pattern of Israel's grumbling and complaining, and of God showing mercy, is staggering - God not only provides second chances, but third, fourth, etc.  Yes, many are harshly punished, but we have to acknowledge that we ALL sin and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23, 1 John 1:8) and the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23). So we don't deserve God's mercy - yet He provides a way out.  Jesus is this way out - if we confess, like Israel does here in v7 and we have someone like Moses who intercedes on our behalf (we do in Jesus), we can be assured of forgiveness and of salvation (Romans 10:9-10).  Yet we cannot prevent punishment as this is for God alone to determine and we must see punishment as love from the Father for good.  Israel should have seen this in how they remained in the wilderness.   
• Is there anything from the text God wants us to obey (SPEC: Sins to avoid, Promises to claim, Examples to follow, Commands to obey?): Do not grumble and complain.  Claim the promises that God disciplines those He loves, and God forgives and saves.  Follow the example of Israel who confessed - and the example of those acknowledge Jesus as Lord and Savior.  Be thankful in all circumstances. 

Comment and discuss this post

My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God who loves and saves.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  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 love me. Help me grow in my faith. Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to 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 the LORD, all you humble of the land, who do his just commands; seek righteousness; seek humility; perhaps you may be hidden on the day of the anger of the LORD.

Zephaniah 2:1-3

Seek the LORD, all you humble of the land, who do his just commands; seek righteousness; seek humility; perhaps you may be hidden on the day of the anger of the LORD. Zephaniah 2:3

I resume my study of Zephaniah using the Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary volume for this book.  For this morning, my focus is an unassisted review of Zephaniah 2:1-3.  Here, Zephaniah pivots from chapter 1 where as messenger of the Lord he shares God's anger at Judah and how God will soon declare judgement and punish Judah.  As chapter 2 opens, we see a pause in tone from God as Zephaniah shares that "perhaps [Judah] may be hidden on the day of the anger of the LORD" (v3b). God's wrath has yet to come to pass and He is giving Judah an opportunity to repent "before there comes upon you the burning anger of the LORD" (repeated 2x in v2). Before judgement day is upon anyone - and it will be upon everyone - God gives unbelievers an opportunity to repent and be saved by confessing sin and believing in Jesus.  This is Good News indeed.  Zephaniah 2:3 in full gives us what God seeks from us - humility, obedience to God, and righteousness.   

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who is full of grace and compassion for me - my sin is great yet You continue to offer mercies that are new every morning and never cease.  Thank You Jesus! Of course, I am undeserving.  My sin IS great and continues daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me turn from and overcome my sin and turn 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 continue to 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.

O Lord, be gracious to us; we wait for you. Be our arm every morning, our salvation in the time of trouble. At the tumultuous noise peoples flee; when you lift yourself up, nations are scattered, and your spoil is gathered as the caterpillar gathers; as locusts leap, it is leapt upon.

Isaiah 33-36:10

O Lord, be gracious to us; we wait for you. Be our arm every morning, our salvation in the time of trouble. At the tumultuous noise peoples flee; when you lift yourself up, nations are scattered, and your spoil is gathered as the caterpillar gathers; as locusts leap, it is leapt upon. Isaiah 33:2-4

I continue my deep dive of Isaiah, based on the Precept Upon Precept study series. Today, I begin Lesson 13, starting with Day 1, which starts with a read of a high level read of all chapters/verses in the lesson, a prompting for our initial thoughts on these chapters, including how Isaiah chapters 1-35 come to a close.  My commentary discusses how Judah's attempts to save itself by leaning on its own efforts (tributes and alliances with both Assyria and Egypt) have failed, leaving Judah no where else to turn except to God. The commentary states: "[h]ow greatly does turning to God as a last resort dishonor the one who should be our first and only Savior! But God lowers himself and accepts it." There are times in our lives when we feel so broken and abandoned, sapped of strength, etc. God seeks for all of us to seek refuge in Him - of course He wants us to seek Him first.  But God is full of grace and compassion and just like with the prodigal son, God welcomes those back who repent and seek Him. 

Comment and discuss this post. 

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who is full of grace and compassion - You loved me while I was still sinning, You love me despite my ongoing sin, and You never leave or forsake me - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such love.  My sin is daily and it continues.  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 Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

Mark 16 and Luke 5

 The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. Colossians 1:15-17

I continue with my study of - Ten Men of the Bible: How God Used Imperfect People to Change the World - eBook by Max Lucado (for purchase). This morning, I start a review of the story of "Peter: Gospel of the Second Chance*".

*Title of lesson nine from the Max Lucado study.

The commentary* of day one starts with Max Lucado setting a broader context for a study of Peter - as much as anyone Peter must have felt enormous guilt and shame for denying Jesus three times just as Jesus predicted (see also Matthew 26, Mark 14, John 18).  Yet Lucado points out how, in Mark 16, often referred to as the Gospel of Second Chances, an angel of the Lord - found in Jesus' now empty tomb - directs Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome to "...go, tell his disciples and Peter".  Peter is specifically called out and many speculate as to why, and Lucado believes that he is called out because Jesus wants Peter to have relief from the guilt and shame of his denial - He wants Peter to know that he is forgiven and restored.  Hence we have the popular name of Mark 16 as the Gospel of Second Chances.  Lucado wants us to understand Peter's story and how Peter's second chance is our second (or third, or fourth, etc.) chance.  We should not allow our lives to be defined by bad decisions or sin.  

Specifically for day one of the study, Lucado wants us to focus on the how Peter became a disciple and Lucado uses Luke's account of how Peter became a disciple.  Peter, James and John had been fishing all night on the Sea of Galilee, and cleaning their nets on the shore, when Jesus, who had been teaching nearby, then tells Peter to push out for more fishing.  Peter begrudgingly questions Jesus' request to push out to deep water for more fishing (Luke 5:5).  Of course we know the rest of the story as Peter, James and John capture a haul as big as they've ever seen.  Peter falls to his knees, acknowledges his need for Jesus and becomes a disciple (Luke 5:8-11). Lucado wants to appreciate that we may be tempted to question God's power but we should not and we are also encouraged to see God's power in all things - big and small.

Comment and discuss this post here.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, I have seen Your power first hand and I know it is great, it knows no bounds, and it is available to me - through You and the Holy Spirit.  I am grateful that I can bring all of my requests to You and how I know You are able.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of how You provide the Holy Spirit and so much more, including second chances!  Please forgive me for my often harsh treatment of others, particularly co-workers.  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.

Moses answered the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.”

Job 1-42

Moses answered the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.” Exodus 14:13-14

I continue with my study of - Ten Men of the Bible: How God Used Imperfect People to Change the World - eBook by Max Lucado (for purchase). This morning, I continue with the story of "Job: God's Presence in the Storm*".

*Title of lesson two from the Max Lucado study.

The commentary* of day four starts with Max Lucado pointing out how Job, once God is finished responding to Job, is speechless.  There are no words to respond to God. Lucado uses the following verse to show us how Job is speechless:

“I am unworthy—how can I reply to you? I put my hand over my mouth. I spoke once, but I have no answer—twice, but I will say no more.” Job 40:4-5

Lucado wants us also to be speechless, but more so not that we never speak to God or never respond to Him, but that we hold God in awe and that we truly seek God's name to be hallowed (holy, sacred, or revered per dictionary). We are also encouraged to look at how God seeks to get our attention. Lucado points to how God appeared to Elijah when he ran for his life after hearing of Jezebel's death sentence for him in 1 King 19:1-18. God seeks to comfort and provide for Elijah, and although God demonstrates his power through a wind, earthquake and fire, "God is not in" any of these as it appears He did not want to be appear to be angry with Elijah.  Instead God wanted to appear full of love so it says God appeared as a "gentle whisper".  God does want Elijah to stand firm in his faith but He is not angry at Elijah when he runs.  Time and time again we see how God is full of love for even those who either lack faith or who whose faith lapses for a period. Jonah, the Prodigal Son, Peter, Paul, etc. I know I can be included in this crowd of faithless or even faithless for a period.  Yet God is full of love, mercy, compassion, and patience.  

Lucado uses the story of Job to encourage us to listen to God vs talking to God in prayer - to be still, or to be silent and to focus on God. 

I am reminded of how Moses encourages the Israelites to be still in the face of looming death as the chasing Egyptian army bears down on them on the edge of the Red Sea.

Comment on and discuss this post here.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an incredible God who loves me and who is full of mercy, compassion, and patience for me. You have helped me see through many a storms in my life and I am grateful.  Yet I am undeserving.  I continue to sin...worry, etc. Please forgive me Lord - 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.

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

Nehemiah 7:73-10

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16

Day 283 of my chronological study of the Bible with The Daily Bible® - In Chronological Order (NIV®) (available by purchase through Amazon - author F. LaGard Smith) continues with the book of Nehemiah where my commentary* describes how "Ezra, Nehemiah, and the Levites spend long hours reading and interpreting the law. When the people mourn for all the sins they have committed under the law, they are reminded that it is a festival day to be celebrated. And the people soon join in the re-institution of the Festival of Tabernacles, which commemorates the Israelites’ living in tents during the wilderness wanderings. Some three weeks later the law is read again, and the people respond with a great national confession and a written covenant with God."

*Smith, F. LaGard. The Daily Bible® - In Chronological Order (NIV®). Harvest House Publishers. Kindle Edition. 

The scripture reading for today also includes how the Levites led the people in confession and worship by describing how from Abram through the current day, God led the people, the people turned from God, and how God heard the people's cries of suffering and rescued them...despite their sin.

But you are a forgiving God, gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love. Therefore you did not desert them, even when they cast for themselves an image of a calf and said, ‘This is your god, who brought you up out of Egypt,’ or when they committed awful blasphemies. “Because of your great compassion you did not abandon them in the wilderness. Nehemiah 9:17-19

From heaven you heard them, and in your great compassion you gave them deliverers, who rescued them from the hand of their enemies. Nehemiah 9:27

And when they cried out to you again, you heard from heaven, and in your compassion you delivered them time after time. Nehemiah 9:28

This story of repeated sin, and God's forgiveness, mercy, and compassion - is the story for all believers.

Ultimately, Jesus paid the price for all sin, for all humanity, for all of time. 

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are compassionate and merciful and You love me so much that You sent Your Son - Jesus - to die on the cross for me.  Thank You Jesus - the greatest gift of all time.  I am not deserving of such a gift.  I worry and I have other sins.  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. 

Yet in spite of this, when they are in the land of their enemies, I will not reject them or abhor them so as to destroy them completely, breaking my covenant with them. I am the Lord their God. But for their sake I will remember the covenant with their ancestors whom I brought out of Egypt in the sight of the nations to be their God. I am the Lord.

Portions of Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy

Yet in spite of this, when they are in the land of their enemies, I will not reject them or abhor them so as to destroy them completely, breaking my covenant with them. I am the Lord their God. But for their sake I will remember the covenant with their ancestors whom I brought out of Egypt in the sight of the nations to be their God. I am the Lord. Leviticus 26:44-45

Day 63 of my chronological study of the Bible with The Daily Bible® - In Chronological Order (NIV®) (available by purchase through Amazon - author F. LaGard Smith) focuses on directives from God through Moses (Moses' Laws) for the Israelites responsibilities under the laws - including blessings for obedience, and punishment for disobedience and hardness of heart.

While portions of Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy are highlighted by my study, Leviticus 26 is a key focus.

What is amazing is how God talks about disobedience and punishment in very stark terms in v14-39, yet He still gives us a path to redemption.  It starts with an acknowledgement of sin and a need for repentance - see v40.  God gives us SO many second chances - although His patience is NOT unlimited.

Any reader of the Old Testament must come to the realization that God is faithful, and full of compassion and mercy - despite everything the Israelites have done to disobey His will and instructions. Of course we have a new covenant with Jesus Christ, whereby Jesus died once and for all, for all sin, for all of humanity. He knows that we all sin, we all need a Savior and so He willingly died for us so that we could have victory over the sting of sin and death.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are slow to anger and abounding in love and full of compassion and mercy - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of all the second chances You have provided.  I continue to sin - 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 for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life.

1 Timothy 1

But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life. v16

In v12-17 Paul shares a bit of his testimony and the heart and life change he experienced. We should all acknowledge the "immense patience of God" in our own lives.  I KNOW that God is patient and scripture is full of such examples of how God is slow to anger and abounding in love - He gives us second chances DAILY!

That is why Paul appropriately writes in Romans 12:1 that we should "offer [our] bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is [our] true and proper worship".

God is great indeed!

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who loves me and who gives me second chances daily - thank You for for your immense patience and that You are slow to anger and abounding in love.  I need this love in my life and cannot live without it - it feeds and sustains me.  Yet I know I am undeserving of it - all the more reason why I am thankful.  Please forgive me for the sin I commit daily even the sin I know I will commit today.  Please 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.

You will know that I am the Lord, when I deal with you for my name’s sake and not according to your evil ways and your corrupt practices, you people of Israel, declares the Sovereign Lord.

Ezekiel 20

You will know that I am the Lord, when I deal with you for my name’s sake and not according to your evil ways and your corrupt practices, you people of Israel, declares the Sovereign Lord. v44

We will all know the Jesus is Lord of All at one point or another.  Israel's wickedness is so pervasive that, although a righteous and repentant remnant is saved from which Jesus will rise, God's wrath is poured out on them on many occasions.  God does this to punish Israel but also to ensure that all will know His Name. On many occasions, in His compassion and mercy, He holds back the full the wrath of the Lord.

We will either bow at the end of times, our day of judgement, or when we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior.

God loves us so much and is so full of patience, mercy and compassion that He wants us to come to Him during our lives here on earth so that we will not perish - He gives us many, many second chances.  God is great.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are a great God full of love and compassion for me.  Thank You Jesus. I am not worth such love.  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 for 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, I will create new heavens and a new earth. The former things will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind.

Isaiah 65

See, I will create new heavens and a new earth. The former things will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind. v17

Our God gives us many, many second chances, as he is a patient God.  Yet God's patience is not unlimited.  God will judge all of us - this should gives all of us urgency to live for God.  For those who live for God, there is hope and a glimpse of the end of times where we will experience a new heaven and new earth.  See also Revelation 21. Among the great promises from God for those who remain faithful:

He will provide (v13)
He will give us joy (v14, 18)
He will forgive all of our sins (v16, 17)
No more weeping or crying (v19)

Great promises indeed.

We must live with an eternal focus.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and whose promises always come true - a faithful God indeed!  Thank You Jesus.  I am not worth such a God as 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 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.  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 live in a high and holy place, but also with the one who is contrite and lowly in spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite.

Isaiah 57

I live in a high and holy place, but also with the one who is contrite and lowly in spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite. v15

God wants all of His children to return to Him...to turn from their sinful ways towards Him.  We must be willing to acknowledge that we all sin and are in need of a savior...that we are poor in spirit (Matthew 5:3).

See also the Parable of the Lost or Prodigal Son.  

God loves us so much that He offers forgiveness and second (and third, etc.) chances.

However, God's patience is not unlimited and we must act with a sense of urgency.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who has welcomed me back SO many times.  Thank You Jesus! I am not worth such love.  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 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.  Please help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to accept 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.

Have you noticed how Ahab has humbled himself before me? Because he has humbled himself, I will not bring this disaster in his day, but I will bring it on his house in the days of his son.”

1 Kings 21

Have you noticed how Ahab has humbled himself before me? Because he has humbled himself, I will not bring this disaster in his day, but I will bring it on his house in the days of his son.” v28-29

Over chapters 18-21, we see God exercising amazing patience with Ahab and Israel.  In chapter 18, the Lord, through Elijah, demonstrates his power to those who worship Baal by burning up the altar and by bringing rain to drought savaged Israel. 

In chapter 19, we God encouraging Elijah by providing for him, by appearing to him in person and by providing a successor Elisha.  

In chapter 20, God delivers the armies of Ben-Hadad to Ahab.  Contrary to God's instructions (v42), Ahab spares Ben Hadad's life.  One of the Lord's prophets (unnamed), condemns Ahab.

In chapter 21, Ahab and his wife Jezebel conspire to kill and steal Naboth's vineyard.  Elijah confronts Ahab and once again Ahab is condemned (v20-24). Despite very strong words describing the sin of Ahab and Jezebel (v25-26), Ahab is spared.

God is indeed slow to anger and abounding in love. We should not claim that our sin is any less than that of Ahab - our sin may just be different.

[F]or all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God[.] Romans 3:23

If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 1 John 1:8

Thank You Jesus for Your amazing patience!

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, what an amazing God You are that You are so patient, slow to anger and abounding in love.  I am not worth such love, 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 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.   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 that is not what God desires; rather, he devises ways so that a banished person does not remain banished from him.

2 Samuel 14

But that is not what God desires; rather, he devises ways so that a banished person does not remain banished from him. v14

After killing his brother Amnon, Absalom flees.  Joab, David's commander of his army, devises a plot to bring Absalom back to Jerusalem.  He conspires with a woman from Tekoa to deliver a message to King David.  The woman convinces David to allow Absalom to return to Jerusalem.  

Part of her message includes a statement on God's mercy God, and that while God does get disappointed (and angry at times) when we sin, He does desire for us to return to Him.  That is well documented with the Israelites, and ultimately, Jesus Christ paves the way for us to have freedom from the sting of sin and death, inviting all to accept an invitation for Jesus to become our Lord and Savior.

See also the Parable of the Lost Sheep, Lost (Prodigal) Son, and the Lost Coin in Luke 15.


God is great!

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God, full of love and compassion for me...for You have always welcomed me back to Your arms when I sin and ask for Your forgiveness.  You have always forgiven me.  Thank You Jesus.  I am not worth such love and compassion and mercy.  I continue to worry.  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.  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 give them Godly friends and spouses.  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 if they will confess their sins and the sins of their ancestors—their unfaithfulness and their hostility toward me, which made me hostile toward them so that I sent them into the land of their enemies—then when their uncircumcised hearts are humbled and they pay for their sin, I will remember my covenant with Jacob and my covenant with Isaac and my covenant with Abraham, and I will remember the land.

Levitcus 26

But if they will confess their sins and the sins of their ancestors—their unfaithfulness and their hostility toward me, which made me hostile toward them so that I sent them into the land of their enemies—then when their uncircumcised hearts are humbled and they pay for their sin, I will remember my covenant with Jacob and my covenant with Isaac and my covenant with Abraham, and I will remember the land. v40-42

God knows we are not perfect - that is why He sent His one and only Son to rescue us from our sin.  God gives second chances - we are to confess our sin, turn from our sin and turn towards Him.

He reiterates His faithfulness to us once again:

But for their sake I will remember the covenant with their ancestors whom I brought out of Egypt in the sight of the nations to be their God. I am the Lord. v45

THAT is how much God love us...that He keeps His promises even when we fail to be who God intended us to be.  

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 Jesus - You are a great God - You love us despite our sin and You even died for us so that we would have freedom from sin and death. Thank You Jesus!  I am not worth such love.  I neglect my relationship with You and my role as father and husband.  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.

So then, it was not you who sent me here, but God. He made me father to Pharaoh, lord of his entire household and ruler of all Egypt.

Genesis 45

So then, it was not you who sent me here, but God. He made me father to Pharaoh, lord of his entire household and ruler of all Egypt. v8

Joseph confronts his brothers as they come to Egypt for grain and he is at first harsh and unforgiving.  However, he ultimately relents and forgives - he recognizes that it was God's plan that brought him to Egypt.

He also seeks to comfort his brothers because they know Joseph is in a position of great power and they are subject to harsh retaliation and punishment.  Yet Joseph knows that those who sin are to be forgiven because we all sin and we should dispense grace as we have received it.

If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 1 John 1:8

Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. Colossians 3:13

My Prayer: Lord, You are an awesome God, full of love, compassion and mercy for me - even though I am quite undeserving.  Thank You Jesus.  Please forgive me for failing to dispense mercy on others.  Help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love (and forgive) 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.

I will heal their waywardness and love them freely, for my anger has turned away from them.

Hosea 14

I will heal their waywardness and love them freely, for my anger has turned away from them. v4

As a follow up to yesterday's post on how God is slow to anger and abounding love, here we have God promising to restore and heal the Israelites. 

Ultimately, however, we know where this goes and it takes God to send His one and only Son to save us (John 3:16).  Jesus will be victorious and Hosea prophesizes as such:

I will deliver this people from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death. Where, O death, are your plagues? Where, O grave, is your destruction? Hosea 13:14

“Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.” Acts 2:36

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords, Messiah and my Savior.  You came to rescue me and You did indeed!  Thank You Jesus!  I am not worth such an act of love. I am lazy and selfish - 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 strength and wisdom.  Help us point Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Help me serve You and my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.  

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

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. v1-2

God is SO merciful and He offers to take us back despite our sin.  He knows we are broken and imperfect and He loves us just as we are and He wants more for us.  See also the Parable of the Lost (Prodigal) Son.

But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. Luke 15:20

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

We have life because He died for us - this is love.

Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. John 15:13

We love because he first loved us. 1 John 4:19

The story of the Israelites in Hosea is our story and the promise of healing and restoration is available to us all!

What a great God I have!

 My Prayer: Lord Jesus, what an awesome God You are that You were willing to suffer and die for me, knowing everything about me, including my sin.  Thank You Jesus!  And You continue to love me regardless of my sin.  I am not worth such love.  I am harsh.  Please forgive me for my worry and help me 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 her of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help me lead Zach and Dustin to You 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.

Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.

Psalm 139

Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?  If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. v7-10

We often want to hide and flee from God - because our sin is something we know disappoints Him.  Yet not only does this further separate us from God but it is not possible!  

And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age. Matthew 28:20

You, God, know my folly; my guilt is not hidden from you. Psalm 69:5 

 

"For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be known or brought out into the open." Luke 8:17

 

God is not only with us, seeing our sin, but He wants us to run back into His arms to seek forgiveness - as this is why He came for us.  See verse 9 and also the story of the Prodigal Son.

 

 My Prayer: What an awesome God You are Jesus that You welcome us back into Your arms time and time again...You are so full of compassion and love for us....for me.  Thank You Jesus.  Yet I am not worth such love.  I worry too much and stress out too much.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me turn from such sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength. Please heal and cure Lisa of her cancer and the side effects from chemo.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach, and Dustin...and serve You.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.