Today's reading from the One Year Bible Chronological Reading Plan is Nehemiah 3:7:3
Scripture: Nehemiah 4:6 So we built the wall and the whole wall was joined together to half its height, for the people had a mind to work.
Observation: I remember this being a Teen Missions verse we had to memorize. At the time I thought they were using the bible to make us work:). I did not enjoy TMI my first year, but it grew on me and I ended up loving it. Still, this verse was quoted a lot for team unity and diligence on the mission field. Yet, when I really learned what that verse meant was when our Pastor went through this series at our church. Unfortunately they are no longer on our church site (though he just finished a few years going through Acts which was excellent so when we get there the links will be great. We are blessed with a great expository pastor who trained at The Master's Seminary under John MacArthur's leadership. I learned about church body unity and the importance of the work God has each of us focused on. These people faced incredible opposition and potential for great discouragement, mainly in themselves. Having a heart to work had to have a lot to do with getting over themselves and realizing what they did was for God and not about or for them. They learned to run the race that Paul spoke of later.
Application: Having a mind to work demands a lot. It means not letting discouragement nest in our minds and hearts. Keeping our eyes on Jesus and not our failings. It also means not sitting down and expecting others to do our part in the kingdom. Even if our part is changing diapers and taking cookies to our neighbor or helping out at our kids school and planting seeds there. The work God has for use is part of the walls of his amazing Kingdom! Every stone is important and cannot be missing.
Prayer: Lord, help us to have unity. Help the church to have a mind to work, and to work TOGETHER. Help us let go of where we have let you down or ignore the darts of the enemy against us that would slow us down or even stop us in our tracks. More than anything, help us keep our eyes on you and your purposes. May we have joy in seeing your walls being built today whether literally or figuratively in your Kingdom.
Tomorrow's passage:
Nehemiah 8:13-10:39
Sunday, September 19, 2010
Saturday, September 18, 2010
September 18th - guest post by Pamela
Today's reading from the One Year Bible Chronological Reading Plan is Nehemiah 3-7:3
Scripture: Nehemiah 4:6 and Nehemiah 7:15-16
6 So we rebuilt the wall till all of it reached half its height, for the people worked with all their heart.
15 So the wall was completed on the twenty-fifth of Elul, in fifty-two days. 16 When all our enemies heard about this, all the surrounding nations were afraid and lost their self-confidence, because they realized that this work had been done with the help of our God.
Observation: Enter into a task with perseverance and reliance on God and even the impossible can be achieved.
Application: God's power to do the impossible is limitless. I am sure that rebuilding a wall that had been down for 150 years would have seemed like a daunting task. An impossible dream. A job that was just too big to complete. And it was...except that "the people worked with all their heart" and the "work had been done with the help of our God". We sometimes underestimate what God can accomplish because the situation just seems too large and so we are reluctant to even start it. I know, for me, I struggle to even start something when I think it is too big and that seeing the job to completion seems impossible and so I procrastinate and I certainly do not work at it with all my heart! Then I think about starting university 7 years ago after being out of school for a LONG time and that at the beginning it did seems like an impossible journey. Balancing a heavy course load with a husband and 3 young children who still needed me at home. It was a test of perseverance for sure and God's help through the prayer that I made it through the impossible and graduated last year. Not only did I succeed at the impossible task but now I am reaping the rewards at my dream job (that I honestly feel God had planned for me the whole time). I am certain that the people were reaping the rewards of the completion of their impossible task when the wall was completed as well. Can you imagine their joy when they had the wall rebuilt after 150 years and it had been completed in less than 2 months?! With God, all things are possible (Matthew 19:26) Is there something in your life that seems impossible and needs rebuilding?
"The thought of rebuilding is something that I think each of us needs to meditate upon at times. I believe that over time in our lives we unfortunately can tear things down. Things that need rebuilding. Perhaps we have torn down our faith in some way. Perhaps our love for God. Perhaps our connection to a church community. Perhaps our relationship with a family member. Perhaps our service to the poor. Will you meditate upon your life and begin to rebuild in that area? Will you pray to God for strength in rebuilding in that area and will you allow his Spirit to lead you? I pray you will be encouraged by our readings this week in Nehemiah as you read about the Israelites rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem. And I pray you will begin rebuilding the things in your life that have perhaps tumbled down over time!" excerpt from here
For a while, this song was my theme song. I heard it for the first time during a time when I was struggling with the impossible prospect of staying at my school when there was no job for me. It was impossible and yet I could hear God speaking to me through the words of this song to just trust in Him and that through Him the impossible could become possible. If you are struggling with your own "impossible" situation I hope this song encourages you.
Prayer: Lord, it is only through You that the impossible becomes possible. Our human minds can't even begin to comprehend the amazing power You have. We need Your help to have the desire to work with all our hearts and lean on You for seeing tasks to completion as You have planned. Help us to understand that it is not us but You who make it possible. Lord, I pray for everyone struggling through situations that seem just too big for them and wrap Your arms around them and let them feel Your presence and Your assurance that You will see them through. Amen.
Tomorrow's passage: Nehemiah 7:4-8:12
Tomorrow's passage: Nehemiah 7:4-8:12
Friday, September 17, 2010
September 17th
Today's reading from the One Year Bible Chronological Reading Plan is Ezra 9-10, Nehemiah 1-2
Here are a few commentaries on Nehemiah from Preach the Word.
The Man for the Hour - Nehemiah 1
Preparation for the Work Part 1 and Part 2 - Nehemiah 2
The final chapters of Ezra give us an excellent example of genuine confession and repentance. The Israelites had intermarried with foreigners, something they had been expressly forbidden to do. In this case, genuine confession, repentance and retribution required something extremely difficult - they had to send away their wives and children.
Wow. Those are some very serious consequences to sin. And that's one thing that this passage reminds me of. We may appear to get away with our sin for a time. These people were not immediately struck dead by lightning when they sinned. They or their wives did not die of a plague. Their wives were not barren. In fact, they obviously lived this way for some time, as they had children. Maybe they thought they got away with one. Maybe they had even convinced themselves that what they had done was not wrong because God was blessing them (with children). But you can't pull the wool over God's eyes. Delayed punishment, delayed consequences, delayed wrath, delayed justice, does not mean God condones our actions. It means we are being given a chance to repent, we are being given a chance to change, we are being given a chance to grasp onto mercy. Because eventually the time will come when we have to reap what we sow.
Sometimes the consequences are natural ones whether or not we are sorry for the sin (living in an unhappy marriage due to constant spiritual disunity because of a deliberate choice to marry an unbeliever).
Sometimes the consequences only come about when we repent and recognize what we've done and have to make things right. This was one of those times. And, in this case, they had to send away their wives and children. That is a very serious consequence indeed.
But you know what - sin always has consequences. We like to convince ourselves that it doesn't, when we're trying to rationalize doing something we know to be wrong. But it does. And God will not be mocked. Justice will be carries out. Darkness will be revealed in the Light. No matter how difficult it is.
The first two chapter of Nehemiah give us great insight into the character of this man of integrity. In his sermon Man for the Hour, David Legge says....
the reason why God turned to Nehemiah was not his position. The reason why God turned to Nehemiah to be a man for the hour, were the characteristics that we see in chapter 1 that I want to bring before you this morning. What are they? Here they are, three of them: one, Nehemiah was a man of burden, he was a man upon whom the burden that weighed heavy on God's heart weighed heavy too. Two, he was a man of prayer, he put that burden in his heart into the articulation of the language of heaven, prayer before the throne of grace. Three, he was a man of action - he wasn't just a man who knew what to do, and knew to pray about what needed done, but he was a man willing to get onto his feet and do something about it! Because of those characteristics Nehemiah became the man for the hour. (emphasis mine)
I'm not going to go into too much detail here, but I did want to acknowledge this. Nehemiah was an important person in the king's court, but that is not the reason God chose to use him. Nehemiah had a heart for what God desired, he was a man of prayer, and he was a man willing to act!
If we want to be used by God, there is the recipe right there. We need to have a burden for what God desires, we need to pray and align our will with His, and we need to be willing to step out in faith and do something about it, as He leads us to.
God uses ordinary people to extraordinary things all the time. Am I willing to be used by Him? Are you?
Tomorrow's passage: Nehemiah 3-7:3
Here are a few commentaries on Nehemiah from Preach the Word.
The Man for the Hour - Nehemiah 1
Preparation for the Work Part 1 and Part 2 - Nehemiah 2
The final chapters of Ezra give us an excellent example of genuine confession and repentance. The Israelites had intermarried with foreigners, something they had been expressly forbidden to do. In this case, genuine confession, repentance and retribution required something extremely difficult - they had to send away their wives and children.
Wow. Those are some very serious consequences to sin. And that's one thing that this passage reminds me of. We may appear to get away with our sin for a time. These people were not immediately struck dead by lightning when they sinned. They or their wives did not die of a plague. Their wives were not barren. In fact, they obviously lived this way for some time, as they had children. Maybe they thought they got away with one. Maybe they had even convinced themselves that what they had done was not wrong because God was blessing them (with children). But you can't pull the wool over God's eyes. Delayed punishment, delayed consequences, delayed wrath, delayed justice, does not mean God condones our actions. It means we are being given a chance to repent, we are being given a chance to change, we are being given a chance to grasp onto mercy. Because eventually the time will come when we have to reap what we sow.
Sometimes the consequences are natural ones whether or not we are sorry for the sin (living in an unhappy marriage due to constant spiritual disunity because of a deliberate choice to marry an unbeliever).
Sometimes the consequences only come about when we repent and recognize what we've done and have to make things right. This was one of those times. And, in this case, they had to send away their wives and children. That is a very serious consequence indeed.
But you know what - sin always has consequences. We like to convince ourselves that it doesn't, when we're trying to rationalize doing something we know to be wrong. But it does. And God will not be mocked. Justice will be carries out. Darkness will be revealed in the Light. No matter how difficult it is.
The first two chapter of Nehemiah give us great insight into the character of this man of integrity. In his sermon Man for the Hour, David Legge says....
the reason why God turned to Nehemiah was not his position. The reason why God turned to Nehemiah to be a man for the hour, were the characteristics that we see in chapter 1 that I want to bring before you this morning. What are they? Here they are, three of them: one, Nehemiah was a man of burden, he was a man upon whom the burden that weighed heavy on God's heart weighed heavy too. Two, he was a man of prayer, he put that burden in his heart into the articulation of the language of heaven, prayer before the throne of grace. Three, he was a man of action - he wasn't just a man who knew what to do, and knew to pray about what needed done, but he was a man willing to get onto his feet and do something about it! Because of those characteristics Nehemiah became the man for the hour. (emphasis mine)
I'm not going to go into too much detail here, but I did want to acknowledge this. Nehemiah was an important person in the king's court, but that is not the reason God chose to use him. Nehemiah had a heart for what God desired, he was a man of prayer, and he was a man willing to act!
If we want to be used by God, there is the recipe right there. We need to have a burden for what God desires, we need to pray and align our will with His, and we need to be willing to step out in faith and do something about it, as He leads us to.
God uses ordinary people to extraordinary things all the time. Am I willing to be used by Him? Are you?
Tomorrow's passage: Nehemiah 3-7:3
Thursday, September 16, 2010
September 16th
Today's reading from the One Year Bible Chronological Reading Plan is Ezra 4:7-23, 7:1-8:36
There, by the Ahava Canal, I proclaimed a fast, so that we might humble ourselves before our God and ask him for a safe journey for us and our children, with all our possessions. I was ashamed to ask the king for soldiers and horsemen to protect us from enemies on the road, because we had told the king, "The gracious hand of our God is on everyone who looks to him, but his great anger is against all who forsake him." So we fasted and petitioned our God about this, and he answered our prayer. Ezra 8:21-23
There are so many applications to this passage!
We need to humble ourselves, acknowledging our weaknesses, our inability to do things without the help of God. We need to be dependent on God alone for protection. We need to have faith that God is in control. We need to pray first and then step out in faith, believing that God is faithful and in control of each and every situation.
We also cannot take God's promises for granted. We cannot pray glibly and treat God like a genie or fast food takeout.
I love this whole passage today - Ezra consistently gives God the praise for everything. I love 7:27 Praise be to the Lord, the God of our fathers, who has put it into the king's heart to bring honor to the house of the Lord in Jerusalem in this way
And here's another one
7:28b Because the hand of the Lord my God was upon me, I took courage and gathered leading men from Israel to go up with me.
And another
7:6b The king had granted him everything he asked, for the hand of the Lord his God was on him.
Ezra had done a lot of dedicated studying, he was determined to obey the law, he taught others - but he did not credit a single thing to himself - he gave all the glory to God.
John Piper has also applied this passage to fasting for the unborn - you can see his sermon here.
Tomorrow's passage: Ezra 9-10, Nehemiah 1-2
There, by the Ahava Canal, I proclaimed a fast, so that we might humble ourselves before our God and ask him for a safe journey for us and our children, with all our possessions. I was ashamed to ask the king for soldiers and horsemen to protect us from enemies on the road, because we had told the king, "The gracious hand of our God is on everyone who looks to him, but his great anger is against all who forsake him." So we fasted and petitioned our God about this, and he answered our prayer. Ezra 8:21-23
There are so many applications to this passage!
We need to humble ourselves, acknowledging our weaknesses, our inability to do things without the help of God. We need to be dependent on God alone for protection. We need to have faith that God is in control. We need to pray first and then step out in faith, believing that God is faithful and in control of each and every situation.
We also cannot take God's promises for granted. We cannot pray glibly and treat God like a genie or fast food takeout.
I love this whole passage today - Ezra consistently gives God the praise for everything. I love 7:27 Praise be to the Lord, the God of our fathers, who has put it into the king's heart to bring honor to the house of the Lord in Jerusalem in this way
And here's another one
7:28b Because the hand of the Lord my God was upon me, I took courage and gathered leading men from Israel to go up with me.
And another
7:6b The king had granted him everything he asked, for the hand of the Lord his God was on him.
Ezra had done a lot of dedicated studying, he was determined to obey the law, he taught others - but he did not credit a single thing to himself - he gave all the glory to God.
John Piper has also applied this passage to fasting for the unborn - you can see his sermon here.
Tomorrow's passage: Ezra 9-10, Nehemiah 1-2
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
September 15th
Today's reading from the One Year Bible Chronological Reading Plan is Esther 5-10
Even though God's name is not recorded in the Book of Esther, and even though there is speculation by scholars as to how strong Mordecai and Esther's spiritual lives really were (there's no doubt the Jews of the times were in a backslidden state as a whole) - of one thing there is no doubt - God's fingerprints are all over this book!
I can think of no other book in the Bible where so many little details take place in the exact order necessary for events to play out the way they needed to.
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28
The king's heart is in the hand of the Lord; he directs it like a watercourse wherever he pleases. Proverbs 21:1
I think those two verses basically sum up this book as a whole.
But first, Esther prayed and asked all the Jews of Susa to fast and pray with her. And THEN she acted. You know the saying "Pray as if it all depended on God, act as if it all depends on you". It DOES all depend on God, and we need to act as prompted by the Spirit.
Can you imagine the shock and then the tension in the court when Queen Esther appeared, without being summoned by the King - especially after everyone knew what happened to the last Queen who angered this powerful king, and the consequences of appearing before him unsummoned? There must've been an audible gasp in the court, all eyes focused on the dramatic scene in front of them. But, to paraphrase Prov 21:1, God turned the heart of the King, and he held out the golden scepter, sparing Esther's life.
And then Esther showed restraint. For whatever reason, she felt she should not ask the king in court, but she should invite him to a banquet.
Sometimes we are in the right to confront someone about something, but we don't wait for God's timing. Esther waited for God's timing.
And then Haman is infuriated by Mordecai's lack of respect for his high position and he build those gallows, which is then followed by the king's bout of insomnia during which Mordecai's act of loyalty is read to him and his realization that this loyalty had so far been unrewarded. Then Haman happens to walk in right then and ends up having to reward the man he loathes. Ahhh the irony! It's delicious!
You know, until I read this little tidbit in my Life Application Bible....
Our initial response to the story about Haman is to say that he got what he deserved. But the Bible leads us to ask deeper questions: "How much of Haman is in me?" "Do I desire to control others?" "Am I threatened when others don't appreciate me as I think they should?" "Do I want revenge when my pride is attacked?" Confess these attitudes to God, and ask him to replace them with an attitude of forgiveness. Otherwise, God's justice will settle the matter.
Man, even the story of Haman can hurt my toes.
Obviously my pride isn't as out of control as his was, but the basic sinful nature is the same. And it's only the grace and mercy of God that separates me from Haman.
Anyway, then Haman's rushed to the banquet where the Queen finally blurts out her charge, still witholding the man's name until the most opportune time, and then Haman falls on her couch right when the King returns from the garden and he ends up being hanged on the very gallows he had built for Mordecai.
Detail after detail, timing after timing. This story is not about Mordecai, it's not about Esther, though they acted in faith as prompted to by God.
This story is about God.
It's all about God.
Tomorrow's passage: Ezra 4:7-23, 7:1-8:36
Even though God's name is not recorded in the Book of Esther, and even though there is speculation by scholars as to how strong Mordecai and Esther's spiritual lives really were (there's no doubt the Jews of the times were in a backslidden state as a whole) - of one thing there is no doubt - God's fingerprints are all over this book!
I can think of no other book in the Bible where so many little details take place in the exact order necessary for events to play out the way they needed to.
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28
The king's heart is in the hand of the Lord; he directs it like a watercourse wherever he pleases. Proverbs 21:1
I think those two verses basically sum up this book as a whole.
But first, Esther prayed and asked all the Jews of Susa to fast and pray with her. And THEN she acted. You know the saying "Pray as if it all depended on God, act as if it all depends on you". It DOES all depend on God, and we need to act as prompted by the Spirit.
Can you imagine the shock and then the tension in the court when Queen Esther appeared, without being summoned by the King - especially after everyone knew what happened to the last Queen who angered this powerful king, and the consequences of appearing before him unsummoned? There must've been an audible gasp in the court, all eyes focused on the dramatic scene in front of them. But, to paraphrase Prov 21:1, God turned the heart of the King, and he held out the golden scepter, sparing Esther's life.
And then Esther showed restraint. For whatever reason, she felt she should not ask the king in court, but she should invite him to a banquet.
Sometimes we are in the right to confront someone about something, but we don't wait for God's timing. Esther waited for God's timing.
And then Haman is infuriated by Mordecai's lack of respect for his high position and he build those gallows, which is then followed by the king's bout of insomnia during which Mordecai's act of loyalty is read to him and his realization that this loyalty had so far been unrewarded. Then Haman happens to walk in right then and ends up having to reward the man he loathes. Ahhh the irony! It's delicious!
You know, until I read this little tidbit in my Life Application Bible....
Our initial response to the story about Haman is to say that he got what he deserved. But the Bible leads us to ask deeper questions: "How much of Haman is in me?" "Do I desire to control others?" "Am I threatened when others don't appreciate me as I think they should?" "Do I want revenge when my pride is attacked?" Confess these attitudes to God, and ask him to replace them with an attitude of forgiveness. Otherwise, God's justice will settle the matter.
Man, even the story of Haman can hurt my toes.
Obviously my pride isn't as out of control as his was, but the basic sinful nature is the same. And it's only the grace and mercy of God that separates me from Haman.
Anyway, then Haman's rushed to the banquet where the Queen finally blurts out her charge, still witholding the man's name until the most opportune time, and then Haman falls on her couch right when the King returns from the garden and he ends up being hanged on the very gallows he had built for Mordecai.
Detail after detail, timing after timing. This story is not about Mordecai, it's not about Esther, though they acted in faith as prompted to by God.
This story is about God.
It's all about God.
Tomorrow's passage: Ezra 4:7-23, 7:1-8:36
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
September 14 - Miriam
Today's reading from the One Year Bible Chronological Reading Plan is Ezra 6:14-22; Ezra 4:6; Esther 1-4.
So briefly at the beginning of today's reading, the temple in Jerusalem is finally completed, in spite of the fact that every time there was a new Persian king, new opposition was raised and always the kings decreed that the temple building proceed. I can only imagine how joyful the completion of the temple and its consecration must have been for them after having been without a proper place of worship for so long.
Now we begin the story of Esther, a young Jewish girl who became queen of the Medo-Persian empire. I was interested to notice that the book of Esther is considerably more detailed in its story-telling than many other books of the Bible. For example, they even describe the length of time and a few of the beauty treatments that were administered to the virgins before they were presented to King Xerxes. But they set up the scene very well. Here is a king who "shows off" his great wealth and majesty for SIX MONTHS when he becomes king. Then he throws a banquet for a week to finish the whole thing off, requests his beautiful wife to come before him so he can show her off, and she refuses to come. (I don't know if I'd want to show up at a banquet full of men who've been drinking and partying for six months myself, but anyway...) So Xerxes and his wonderful advisors decide she's setting a bad example for wives everywhere and consequently she's divorced and stripped of her "royal estate". So she's not queen anymore. Hopefully she was intelligent enough to realize that this was a blessing and not a curse. Anyway, later Xerxes is kind of bummed out at no longer having a beautiful wife (although who knows how many beautiful women were in his harem) and they decided to have a virginal beauty contest. Enter Esther.
Tomorrow's passage: Esther 5-10
So briefly at the beginning of today's reading, the temple in Jerusalem is finally completed, in spite of the fact that every time there was a new Persian king, new opposition was raised and always the kings decreed that the temple building proceed. I can only imagine how joyful the completion of the temple and its consecration must have been for them after having been without a proper place of worship for so long.
Now we begin the story of Esther, a young Jewish girl who became queen of the Medo-Persian empire. I was interested to notice that the book of Esther is considerably more detailed in its story-telling than many other books of the Bible. For example, they even describe the length of time and a few of the beauty treatments that were administered to the virgins before they were presented to King Xerxes. But they set up the scene very well. Here is a king who "shows off" his great wealth and majesty for SIX MONTHS when he becomes king. Then he throws a banquet for a week to finish the whole thing off, requests his beautiful wife to come before him so he can show her off, and she refuses to come. (I don't know if I'd want to show up at a banquet full of men who've been drinking and partying for six months myself, but anyway...) So Xerxes and his wonderful advisors decide she's setting a bad example for wives everywhere and consequently she's divorced and stripped of her "royal estate". So she's not queen anymore. Hopefully she was intelligent enough to realize that this was a blessing and not a curse. Anyway, later Xerxes is kind of bummed out at no longer having a beautiful wife (although who knows how many beautiful women were in his harem) and they decided to have a virginal beauty contest. Enter Esther.I am always impressed most by Esther's bravery. She knows what happened to Xerxes' previous wife. She's been primped and preened and pampered for a year just to be presented to the king (and spend the night with him - did you catch that part?), which must be nerve-wracking in and of itself, and then she is chosen to be his wife. I can imagine my heart sinking down to my toes upon realizing what the consequences of this could be, if I weren't very, very careful. Of course, had she not been chosen, she would have had to remain in the harem under the care of a eunuch for the rest of her life, forbidden to marry anyone else. After all, once one has spent the night with the king, one is ruined for all other men. (sarcasm) But had that happened, she probably wouldn't have saved the life of the king by intervening in an assassination plot, thereby gaining his trust, and she wouldn't have saved her people. But I'm getting ahead of the story.
Moving right along... Enter Haman. It amazes me how often people are so quick to judge an entire nation of people for having different customs and practices than they have themselves. I would think Haman could have satisfied himself with all the other people who bowed to him all day long. But no, he decides to wipe out an entire group of people all across the empire on one specific day. Can you imagine all the people who would have to be involved in an undertaking like that? I do not understand how so many people can go along with such an evil plan. Of course, I understand that many of them would decide they had no choice, as it was a royally decreed undertaking and they are all under the rule of the king. Not to mention that many of them probably didn't think much of the Jews in the first place. But still. To exterminate an entire group of people because they're different than you are? I know it's happened over and over again, but I don't get it. (Did anyone else think of the Holocaust while reading this? Does anyone know how many times the Jews as a nation have been threatened with genocide?)
Anyway, the royal decrees are issued and now the Israelites have almost a year to fret and worry and get their affairs in order before the axe falls. (Or whatever other method they were planning on using.) So now the king has inadvertently decreed that his own wife shall be executed. She finds out from Mordecai what is going on and she decides to go to the king, knowing that anyone who enters the king's presence without his first requesting it will be killed unless he extends his sceptre to them. She must have been terribly afraid. Here she is, a young woman hiding the secret of her heritage from her husband the king and everyone else. Her husband got rid of his first wife for disobeying him. He's issued a royal decree at the behest of Haman, the most powerful advisor in the empire, and now she, who was chosen for her beauty and not necessarily expected to have brains, must attempt to see him without his having called for her, inviting a death penalty if he's not pleased to see her, and then convince him not to massacre her people and her along with them. Whew! I must say, I'm certainly glad I'm not her. Or wasn't her. You know what I mean.
All of this to say that it is easy, in hindsight, to see the hand of God guiding all these events, making sure both Mordecai and Esther were in the right place at the right time, finding favour with the right people, etc. May we accept our roles in the work of God with grace, whether we're Vashti (stepping aside to make way for someone else, though we don't realize it at the time) or Esther (called upon to do things that terrify us, though probably won't cause death nowadays).
I don't know about you, but I'm looking forward to tomorrow's reading, for sure!
Tomorrow's passage: Esther 5-10
Monday, September 13, 2010
September 13th
Today's reading from the One Year Bible Chronological Reading Plan is Zechariah 9-14
This passage is filled with amazing prophecies of both Jesus first and second comings to earth.
The question that struck me is - would there have been any way for the Jews of that time to realize that these prophecies spoke of Christ's first and second coming?
We have the benefit of seeing this from hindsight. We know that Jesus was born, grew up, ministered to people for 3 years and then was crucified and rose from the dead again, returning to heaven until the unknown but certain day of His second return.
But they didn't.
And I wonder. Who would I have believed Jesus to be if I had lived when He came the first time?
Because His coming did not fulfill all of the prophecies - some are yet to be fulfilled.
Consider Zechariah 9:9 and 10
Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion! Shout, Daughter of Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and having salvation, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. I will take away the chariots from Ephraim and the war-horses from Jerusalem, and the battle bow will be broken. He will proclaim peace to the nations. His rule will extend from sea to sea and from the River to the ends of the earth.
Verse 9 was obviously fulfilled with the triumphal entry of Jesus riding into Jerusalem (Matthew 21:1-11). But Verse 10 has yet to be fulfilled.
Were those who didn't believe that Jesus was the Christ skeptical/unbelieving because they were expecting all the prophecies to be fulfilled at once? A possibility that's for sure.
We have the gift of the Holy Spirit (promised in Zechariah 12:10 and fulfilled at Pentecost), we have the benefit of both the Old Testament and New Testament.
We are without excuse.
What will we do with these blessings? Give the Word a cursory glance now and again, or worse yet, leave it on the shelf collecting dust? Ignore the Spirit's nudges in our hearts?
With greater knowledge comes greater responsibility. Let us not abuse the amazing priviledge we have been given.
One thing is certain, just as the prophesies of Christ's birth have been fulfilled, so will the prophecies of His second coming be fulfilled. We do not know the timing, and so we need to be prepared - in obedience and spiritual readiness.
Come Lord Jesus!
Tomorrow's passage: Ezra 6:14-22, Ezra 4:6, Esther 1-4
This passage is filled with amazing prophecies of both Jesus first and second comings to earth.
The question that struck me is - would there have been any way for the Jews of that time to realize that these prophecies spoke of Christ's first and second coming?
We have the benefit of seeing this from hindsight. We know that Jesus was born, grew up, ministered to people for 3 years and then was crucified and rose from the dead again, returning to heaven until the unknown but certain day of His second return.
But they didn't.
And I wonder. Who would I have believed Jesus to be if I had lived when He came the first time?
Because His coming did not fulfill all of the prophecies - some are yet to be fulfilled.
Consider Zechariah 9:9 and 10
Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion! Shout, Daughter of Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and having salvation, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. I will take away the chariots from Ephraim and the war-horses from Jerusalem, and the battle bow will be broken. He will proclaim peace to the nations. His rule will extend from sea to sea and from the River to the ends of the earth.
Verse 9 was obviously fulfilled with the triumphal entry of Jesus riding into Jerusalem (Matthew 21:1-11). But Verse 10 has yet to be fulfilled.
Were those who didn't believe that Jesus was the Christ skeptical/unbelieving because they were expecting all the prophecies to be fulfilled at once? A possibility that's for sure.
We have the gift of the Holy Spirit (promised in Zechariah 12:10 and fulfilled at Pentecost), we have the benefit of both the Old Testament and New Testament.
We are without excuse.
What will we do with these blessings? Give the Word a cursory glance now and again, or worse yet, leave it on the shelf collecting dust? Ignore the Spirit's nudges in our hearts?
With greater knowledge comes greater responsibility. Let us not abuse the amazing priviledge we have been given.
One thing is certain, just as the prophesies of Christ's birth have been fulfilled, so will the prophecies of His second coming be fulfilled. We do not know the timing, and so we need to be prepared - in obedience and spiritual readiness.
Come Lord Jesus!
Tomorrow's passage: Ezra 6:14-22, Ezra 4:6, Esther 1-4
Sunday, September 12, 2010
Sunday
Today's reading from the One Year Bible Chronological Reading Plan is Zechariah 6, Ezra 5:3-6:14, Zechariah 7-8
I am unable to do a post today. Could everyone please share there thoughts or helpful links for the passage? Thank you.
Tomorrow's passage:
Zechariah 9-14:21
I am unable to do a post today. Could everyone please share there thoughts or helpful links for the passage? Thank you.
Tomorrow's passage:
Zechariah 9-14:21
Saturday, September 11, 2010
September 11th
Today's reading from the One Year Bible Chronological Reading Plan is Haggai 2:1-9, Zechariah 1:1-6, Haggai 2:10-19, Ezra 5:2, Haggai 2:20-23, Zechariah 1:7-5:11
With less flipping: Haggai 2; Zechariah 1-5, Ezra 5:2
The Message of Zechariah by Mike Leake is a good read, if you have the time.
My favourite portion of this scripture...
Now Joshua was dressed in filthy clothes as he stood before the angel. The angel said to those who were standing before him, "Take off his filthy clothes." Then he said to Joshua, "See, I have taken away your sin, and I will put rich garments on you." Zechariah 3:3-4
Could there be a passage more symbolic of what Jesus does for us? What incredible prophecy! What a beautiful picture. What hope!
None of us are perfect, not one. Our goodness is like filthy rags to Him. Judged on our merit, we would be found wanting. And that's a major understatement.
But the blood of Jesus changes all that. The blood of Jesus cleanses our sin. By His wounds we are healed. And we become white as snow. And we are forever changed.
Tomorrow's passage: Zechariah 6, Ezra 5:3-6:14, Zechariah 7-8
With less flipping: Haggai 2; Zechariah 1-5, Ezra 5:2
The Message of Zechariah by Mike Leake is a good read, if you have the time.
My favourite portion of this scripture...
Now Joshua was dressed in filthy clothes as he stood before the angel. The angel said to those who were standing before him, "Take off his filthy clothes." Then he said to Joshua, "See, I have taken away your sin, and I will put rich garments on you." Zechariah 3:3-4
Could there be a passage more symbolic of what Jesus does for us? What incredible prophecy! What a beautiful picture. What hope!
None of us are perfect, not one. Our goodness is like filthy rags to Him. Judged on our merit, we would be found wanting. And that's a major understatement.
But the blood of Jesus changes all that. The blood of Jesus cleanses our sin. By His wounds we are healed. And we become white as snow. And we are forever changed.
Tomorrow's passage: Zechariah 6, Ezra 5:3-6:14, Zechariah 7-8
Friday, September 10, 2010
September 10 ~ tammi
Today's reading from the One-Year Bible Chronological Reading Plan is Daniel 10-12, Ezra 4:24-5:1, Haggai 1.
I want to focus on Haggai today. We've spent some time looking at Daniel already and we've heard his stories from the time we were children. (Though not surprisingly, not the ones from the prophecy half of his book! I never knew he did so much end-time prophesying either until I read through it last year). He's quite a famous prophet. Now let's have a show of hands ~ who can recall hearing anything from or about Haggai?! You won't find many commentaries on this little 2-chapter book of the Bible either, but he's got just as important a message for us as any of the other more famous prophets do.
Haggai delivered only four recorded messages to the returned Israelite exiles, all relatively short. Three of the four are in the second chapter, but the first chapter, which is in our reading today, is devoted entirely to his first message: Getting (and keeping) our priorities straight.
We see here the first wave of Israelite exiles returning to Judah and Jerusalem and initially, they're on fire for rebuilding God's house and re-establishing worship. I mean, they REMEBER why they were exiled in the first place and God is their number one priority when they finally return. But time passes and after struggling with opposition for 4-5 years, the temple rebuilding project is abandoned and the focus shifts to their own homes. In just FOUR YEARS!!!
I don't know about you, but I find myself getting so frustrated with these Israelites!! So many times we read about them neglecting their relationship with God, often forgetting the amazing miracles He's done for them in the very recent past. And then I think, "Oh my goodness, how like them I am!" How many times have I praised Him for some direct answer to prayer or His gracious provision in time of need and then promptly fallen into a season where I feel like I don't need Him anymore because things are going well?
There seems to have been a progressively relaxed attitude about the temple repair. At first the excuse was the opposition, then the fact that they needed to build their own homes and plant their own crops, then the feeling that since it had waited this long, it didn't matter if it waited a little longer... Do any of these sound familiar? I think we often use these to excuse our meagre diet of spiritual food and our lack of will-power when it comes to pursuing a life of holiness. The conditions for hard work are never ideal, but that doesn't mean we should ever allow ourselves to de-prioritize God and our duty to glorify Him in all we do. No, that's all the more reason to diligently work at developing a "habit of holiness!"
My new Life Application Bible says this: "God asked his people how they could live in luxury when his house was lying in ruins. The temple was the focal point of Judah's relationship with God, but it was still demolished. Instead of rebuilding the temple, the people put their energies into beautifying their own homes. However, the harder the people worked for themselves, the less they had, because they ignored their spiritual lives. The same happens to us. If we put God first, he will provide for our deepest needs. If we put him in any other place, all our efforts will be futile. Caring only for your physical needs while ignoring your relationship with God will lead to ruin.
Judah's problem was confused priorities. Like Judah, our priorities involving occupation, family, and God's work are often confused. Jobs, homes, vacations, and leisure activities may rank higher on our list of importance than God. What is most important to you? Where is God on your list of priorities?"
Most of us would claim God is of utmost importance in our lives, but something we need to continually ask ourselves is this: Does it show?
Our beliefs determine our behaviour. Whether we like it or not, our actions are based on what we truly believe. So if our actions aren't lining up with what we say we believe, it's because what we claim we believe and what we really DO believe are two different things. The Israelites claimed they believed in God. They claimed worship was important ~ which is why they were satisfied that the altar was rebuilt. They had a place to offer sacrifices; what did it matter that the building around the altar wasn't complete yet? Clearly, it mattered to God.
We need to make conscientious efforts to honour God with our lives ~ with everything from cleaning toilets and wiping noses at home to playing piano or teaching Sunday school at church. He doesn't just want our lives on Sunday mornings at the altar, doing the bare "requirements" of our faith; He wants us in our "paneled houses" during the week, too, where we live out our true beliefs.
Tomorrow's passages: Haggai 2:1-9, Zechariah 1:1-6, Haggai 2:10-19, Ezra 5:2, Haggai 2:20-23, Zechariah 1:7-5:11.
I want to focus on Haggai today. We've spent some time looking at Daniel already and we've heard his stories from the time we were children. (Though not surprisingly, not the ones from the prophecy half of his book! I never knew he did so much end-time prophesying either until I read through it last year). He's quite a famous prophet. Now let's have a show of hands ~ who can recall hearing anything from or about Haggai?! You won't find many commentaries on this little 2-chapter book of the Bible either, but he's got just as important a message for us as any of the other more famous prophets do.
Haggai delivered only four recorded messages to the returned Israelite exiles, all relatively short. Three of the four are in the second chapter, but the first chapter, which is in our reading today, is devoted entirely to his first message: Getting (and keeping) our priorities straight.
We see here the first wave of Israelite exiles returning to Judah and Jerusalem and initially, they're on fire for rebuilding God's house and re-establishing worship. I mean, they REMEBER why they were exiled in the first place and God is their number one priority when they finally return. But time passes and after struggling with opposition for 4-5 years, the temple rebuilding project is abandoned and the focus shifts to their own homes. In just FOUR YEARS!!!
I don't know about you, but I find myself getting so frustrated with these Israelites!! So many times we read about them neglecting their relationship with God, often forgetting the amazing miracles He's done for them in the very recent past. And then I think, "Oh my goodness, how like them I am!" How many times have I praised Him for some direct answer to prayer or His gracious provision in time of need and then promptly fallen into a season where I feel like I don't need Him anymore because things are going well?
There seems to have been a progressively relaxed attitude about the temple repair. At first the excuse was the opposition, then the fact that they needed to build their own homes and plant their own crops, then the feeling that since it had waited this long, it didn't matter if it waited a little longer... Do any of these sound familiar? I think we often use these to excuse our meagre diet of spiritual food and our lack of will-power when it comes to pursuing a life of holiness. The conditions for hard work are never ideal, but that doesn't mean we should ever allow ourselves to de-prioritize God and our duty to glorify Him in all we do. No, that's all the more reason to diligently work at developing a "habit of holiness!"
My new Life Application Bible says this: "God asked his people how they could live in luxury when his house was lying in ruins. The temple was the focal point of Judah's relationship with God, but it was still demolished. Instead of rebuilding the temple, the people put their energies into beautifying their own homes. However, the harder the people worked for themselves, the less they had, because they ignored their spiritual lives. The same happens to us. If we put God first, he will provide for our deepest needs. If we put him in any other place, all our efforts will be futile. Caring only for your physical needs while ignoring your relationship with God will lead to ruin.
Judah's problem was confused priorities. Like Judah, our priorities involving occupation, family, and God's work are often confused. Jobs, homes, vacations, and leisure activities may rank higher on our list of importance than God. What is most important to you? Where is God on your list of priorities?"
Most of us would claim God is of utmost importance in our lives, but something we need to continually ask ourselves is this: Does it show?
Our beliefs determine our behaviour. Whether we like it or not, our actions are based on what we truly believe. So if our actions aren't lining up with what we say we believe, it's because what we claim we believe and what we really DO believe are two different things. The Israelites claimed they believed in God. They claimed worship was important ~ which is why they were satisfied that the altar was rebuilt. They had a place to offer sacrifices; what did it matter that the building around the altar wasn't complete yet? Clearly, it mattered to God.
We need to make conscientious efforts to honour God with our lives ~ with everything from cleaning toilets and wiping noses at home to playing piano or teaching Sunday school at church. He doesn't just want our lives on Sunday mornings at the altar, doing the bare "requirements" of our faith; He wants us in our "paneled houses" during the week, too, where we live out our true beliefs.
Tomorrow's passages: Haggai 2:1-9, Zechariah 1:1-6, Haggai 2:10-19, Ezra 5:2, Haggai 2:20-23, Zechariah 1:7-5:11.
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