Mark's Daily Reading Journal

What do you expect God to do in your life as a result of reading through HIS precious Word in a year?  I hope and pray that you and I come to HIS Word each day expecting to hear from our heavenly Father and expecting HIM to do great and mighty things.  Jeremiah 33:3  ‘Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.’

READING THROUGH THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR--We begin tomorrow reading through the One Year Bible.  I know that many have purchased the One Year Bible in the New Living Translation, since that is one of our Pastors picks, I will simply say "excellent" choice! 

You will also find the One Year Bible Online at http://www.oneyearbibleonline.com/index.html

If you use the online version, it allows you to choose from multiple translations and multiple languages.  When you click on the link it will open a new browser and take you to Bible Gateway.

SCRIPTURE MEMORY--Additionally, we have discussed memorizing scripture, below is a link to the Children's page at the Bellevue web site...from there you will find the verse that your child is memorizing each week  http://www.bellevue.org/templates/cusbellevue1103/details.asp?id=1360&PID=399976&Style=

I want to adopt the Navigator's Topical Memory system.  Simply put, you memorize scripture by topic and in categories.  Below is a link to their web site, it is loaded with excellent content.  Memorizing by topic and categories helps with recall, for example our first 12 verses will be under the heading "Live The New Life" and you can see the subsequent subheadings.

http://www.navigators.org/us/

LIVE THE NEW LIFE

Christ the Center
2 Corinthians 5:17
Galatians 2:20

Obedience to Christ
Romans 12:1
John 14:21

The Word
2 Timothy 3:16
Joshua 1:8

Prayer
John 15:7
Philippians 4:6,7

Fellowship
Matthew 18:20
Hebrews 10:24,25

Witnessing
Matthew 4:19
Romans 1:16

Our bookstore actually has the exact Navigator's Topical Memory system that you may purchase with all of the cards already printed and it includes a little book on how to memorize scripture.  However, most of the content and information you can also find on their web site. 

Below is a link where you will find the list of verses that will take us through this year.  I know some of you will want to run ahead:)

http://www.navigators.org/us/resources/illustrations/items/Topical%20Memory%20System

Let's have a great time spending time with God and each other this year...I love each of you and praise God for placing you all in our lives.

On to today's reading.

Most of the Israelites (I wonder about the church today) were rejected by God, only those who feared, or reverenced HIS name and spoke to one another got HIS attention!  That is pretty cool as we launch out on a JOURNEY to reverence and honor HIS NAME by reading through HIS precious Word in one year and talking to each other about HIM, HIS faithfulness, HIS love, tender mercies...that my 6 year old, Kyle, says HIS tender mercies are "good all day."  I love it!  THEY ARE AND HE IS GOOD ALL DAY!

16 Then those who feared the Lord spoke to one another, and the Lord gave attention and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before Him for those who fear the Lord and who esteem His name. 17 “They will be Mine,” says the Lord of hosts, “on the day that I prepare My own possession, and I will spare them as a man spares his own son who serves him.” 18 So you will again distinguish between the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves God and one who does not serve Him NASB.

I love the way HE puts it so emphatically..."they will be mine," says the Lord of hosts.""  Isaiah 43:1-2 But now, thus says the Lord, who created you, O Jacob,      And He who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; You are Mine. 2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;      And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, Nor shall the flame scorch you.

Re 22:12-14  “Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to render to every man according to what he has done.  13"I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.” 14 Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter by the gates into the city.

17     The Spirit and the bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who wishes take the water of life without cost.

We are HIS, HE purchased us with HIS own precious blood...HE saved us and then HE does not force us to do anything, but HE lovingly invites us, HE woos us if you will, with those amazing tender good all day mercies.

Come, come to Jesus, come and drink, come and eat, come and be satisfied...the world always leaves you wanting more, BUT HE completely, absolutely, positively satisfies heart, soul, mind and body...come enjoy, come in and delight in HIM.

Psalm 37:4 Delight yourself also in the Lord, And He shall give you the desires of your heart.

He is your treasure, He is your delight!

What a contrast between Malachi 1-2 compared to Revelation 21, in Malachi the people are being severely rebuked for spiritual apathy and indifference toward God...sound familiar?  I'm thinking of the church in America, I'm thinking of myself...if I am not very careful.  Peter warns us to be "sober minded" to be "alert" because of our enemy the devil prowls around like a lion seeking whom he may devour.  In America I believe that the attack, at least for now, is more likely to come in the form of causing us to be indifferent and to wander into spiritual apathy, to be lukewarm as described in Revelation 3.

Malachi is a powerful warning to you and I today to pursue God with a white hot passion to know HIM, to love HIM, to become like HIM...for HIS glory and our joy.

Malachi, whose name means “My messenger,” has a word from God to the Jewish community in Judea. Yet when God announces His love His people scornfully respond, “How have You loved us?” (1:1–5) When the Lord complains that He is not being honored by His people, they bluntly deny His charge despite clear evidence that the priests are indifferent and worse than careless in performing their ministry (vv. 6–14). God sternly rebukes His priests, whose apathy and distorted teaching have corrupted the nation (2:1–9).

But God has a dispute with the people too. Their marriages to foreign wives and their quickie divorces, motivated by passion, reflect their disloyal character (vv. 10–16). It’s because they are a people who break faith, with one another and with God, that the Lord no longer hears or answers their prayers.

Richards, L. O. (1991; Published in electronic form by Logos Research Systems, 1996). The Bible readers companion (electronic ed.) (585). Wheaton: Victor Books.

Revelation 21 is another glorious picture of our future with our heavenly Father...another opportunity to get an idea of how to live in the light of our future instead of living and making decisions based on our past. 

There is something interesting in verses 6-8.  Verses 6 & 7 are very encouraging, we hear the same words that we heard Jesus speak from the CROSS, it is finished, HE acknowledges that HE is the Alpha and the Omega, and basically that HE will satisfy our craving human hearts...and we learn that HE has adopted us as HIS sons and daughters...awesome!  Now in verse 8 notice the list, some things you expect others are surprising...at least they were to me.  The cowardly are rejected...

6 Then He said to me, “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give to the one who thirsts from the spring of the water of life without cost.

7 “He who overcomes will inherit these things, and I will be his God and he will be My son.

8 “But for the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and immoral persons and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their part will be in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”

Proverbs 28:1  The wicked flee when no one pursues,  But the righteous are bold as a lion.

Holy Father, by your indwelling Spirit enable us to be lionhearted for you, for your glory and our joy

Zechariah is quoted multiple times in the NT, amazingly these few verses in Zechariah 14 are also quoted repeatedly primarily in Revelation.

Chapter 12 opens using the personal name of God, Yahweh, God's name is used over and over in these chapters.  Every time you see LORD in all caps the scripture is referring to Yahweh, the personal name of God, the name God revealed to Moses.  These last chapters of Zechariah are a cause for great hope and great fear.  Great hope because of the future promise for God's children and those that belong to HIM, great fear because so many are cut off.  Dr. Rogers used to say "everyone talking about heaven isn't going."  Matt chapter 7 comes to mind...

Mt 7:21-23

21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22 Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ 23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’

I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT YOU MAY LOOSE YOUR SALVATION!  The last line in Matt states that "I never knew you."  To me this simply means that countless millions are deceived into believing that they are saved.

Jud 21

21 keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.

If you look at verse 20 in Jude the way you keep yourself in the love of God is by praying in the Spirit.  How do we do that?  I believe that as we spend time in HIS presence with HIS Word, seeking HIM, acknowledging our desperation on and for HIM...HE will, as Zechariah 12:10 states, pour out a spirit of grace and prayer...we will see HIM, behold HIM and delight in HIM.  We will mourn and weep bitterly as we see ourselves as we are in the light of HIS presence, understanding that it was MY sin that pierced HIM.  After the mourning comes intense and passionate joy...as we fix our eyes on Jesus we are transformed to HIS likeness, we are conformed to HIS image and that is cause for incredible hope, joy and celebration.

As HIS children we are called to live in the light of our future not in the darkness of our past.  Too often I allow my past to have greater influence over my thinking than my future.

Zec 12:10

Mourning for the Pierced One

10 “Then I will pour out a spirit  of grace and prayer on the house of David and the residents of Jerusalem, and they will look at  Me whom they pierced. They will mourn for Him as one mourns for an only child and weep bitterly for Him as one weeps for a firstborn. 

Then I will pour out a spirit  of grace and prayer and they will look at  Me whom they pierced. They will mourn for Him as one mourns for an only child and weep bitterly for Him as one weeps for a firstborn. 

Holy Spirit of God, please remove the veil from the eyes of my heart and enable me to clearly see, by faith, my LORD and Savior Jesus Christ...enable me to live today in the brilliant, beautiful light of my future with YOU, my King, my LORD, my Savior, my ABBA, my Father...in Jesus Name...amen.

The Lord Will Restore His People

3 “My anger burns against your shepherds,
      and I will punish these leaders.^[a]
   For the Lord of Heaven’s Armies has arrived
      to look after Judah, his flock.
   He will make them strong and glorious,
      like a proud warhorse in battle.
4 From Judah will come the cornerstone,
      the tent peg,
   the bow for battle,
      and all the rulers.
5 They will be like mighty warriors in battle,
      trampling their enemies in the mud under their feet.
   Since the Lord is with them as they fight,
      they will overthrow even the enemy’s horsemen.

In a few days the words will be said again and again throughout the world…Happy New Year!  Happy New Year!

I do hope and pray for a Happy New Year for my family, friends and loved ones, for our country, for the world, but I realize that it will only be happy to the degree that we (each group) looks to and places our ultimate trust in our great God.  Every time I trust in myself, in my abilities, in something or anything else I am setting myself up for misery.

As we approach 2008 one of my prayers is simply that the Holy Spirit would gently reveal all of those areas where I have been hoping in something other than God and then enable me to repent of that sin and trust HIM alone in that part of my life.

It’s not something that I think about doing, it just seems to be my default setting…when things get crazy all of a sudden I begin working in my own power.  A few days or, some times, weeks later I realize what has happened.  My passion this year, my prayer this year is that as I hope in our great God for everything, HE will begin to  conform me to HIM and HE will transform my default setting to trust HIM.

 Praise the Lord!

Praise the Lord, O my soul! I will praise the Lord while I live; I will sing praises to my God while I have my being. Do not trust in princes, In mortal man, in whom there is no salvation. His spirit departs, he returns to the earth; In that very day his thoughts perish.

How blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, Whose hope is in the Lord his God, Who made heaven and earth, The sea and all that is in them; Who keeps faith forever; Who executes justice for the oppressed; Who gives food to the hungry. The Lord sets the prisoners free. The Lord opens the eyes of the blind; The Lord raises up those who are bowed down; The Lord loves the righteous; The Lord protects the strangers; He supports the fatherless and the widow, But He thwarts the way of the wicked. The Lord will reign forever,

Your God, O Zion, to all generations.

Praise the Lord!

I am constantly amazed at how patient HE is with me, HE is so loving, tender, patient  and compassionate.

How happy we will be in 08 if we TRUST HIM as our help, our hope, our everything.

Pursuing HIM together in 08

The more time I spend in the Word, the more I fall in love with the Word, in other words, the more time I spend with Jesus the more I love HIM.

Consider King Jesus, the one John wrote about and said, “apart from Him not one thing was created that has been created.”  Consider that this one could have come with great pomp, but in chose to come in humility.

Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout in triumph, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; He is just and endowed with salvation, Humble, and mounted on a donkey, Even on a colt, the foal of a donkey Zechariah 9:9.

Although HE comes in humility when the time is ripe HE will reveal HIS great and awe-striking power for all to see.

 "These will wage war against the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, because He is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those who are with Him are the called and chosen and faithful."

I love the stark contrast you see when you look at Jesus…look at HIM, look at HIS face!  You have the King of kings come in humility and then you see the “Lion of the Tribe of Judah” coming in power.  On one hand you have meekness and tenderness and then in the next picture you see ultimate fighter Jesus!

How terrible to be among those who wage war against the Lamb and how wonderful to be among those who are with HIM…the called and chosen and faithful.

Worship King Jesus, who came in humility and who will return in power and might, who will destroy HIS most powerful enemy with the “breath of His mouth” and simply by showing up to the fight… “the appearance of His coming.  Darkness cannot remain when the light of the world shows up!

Then that lawless one will be revealed whom the Lord will slay with the breath of His mouth and bring to an end by the appearance of His coming; 2 Thessalonians 2:8

Pursuing Jesus in 08

 I copied the text below from a John Piper sermon from December 23, 2001.  You may read the sermon in its entirety at http://www.desiringgod.org/  Simply search “The Word was made flesh”

As I was reading this morning in Zachariah chapter 8 and I read things like: “I am extremely jealous for Zion; I m jealous for her with great wrath 8:2.”  & “I will save my people fro the land of the east…I will bring them back…They will be my people, and I will be their faithful and righteous God 8:7–8.”  “So I have resolved again in these days to do what is good to Jerusalem and the house of Judah.  Don’t be afraid 8:15.”

I could not help but go in my spirit to John chapter 1, whether in the body or out of the body I don’t know, I know such a man, whether in the body or out of the body I do not know…God knows…JUST KIDDING…sorry

I did go there in my heart and marveled at what our triune God did in the incarnation of Jesus Christ.  What HE did demands a response!  Dr. Rogers used to say, “you are free to choose, but you must choose, you are not free not to choose.”

Five truths about the Word-Made-Flesh.

1.     He is Jesus Christ after he is made flesh: Savior and God-anointed King of all.

2.     He is God: He was with God and was God.

3.     He was called the Word: God-in-communication, God-Expressing-Himself.

4.     He is the Creator: all things were made through him, but he himself was not made.

5.     He is life and Light: the living power to see and the all-satisfying splendor to be seen.

What are the responses you might give to all this revelation about Jesus Christ, the Word-Made-Flesh?

One Response: I Do not Know Him and I Do not Receive Him

One is described in verses 10-11, “He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. (11) He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him.” You might here this and say, “I do not know him and I do not receive him.” That is a very frightening things so say about your Maker and your Life and your Light. At the very least I plead with you, Don’t say that lightly this Christmas.

Another Response: I Know Him and I Receive Him

The other response is found in verses 12-13, “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, (13) who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.” This is the response I pray for this morning. Receive this great Word-Made-Flesh. Receive him as Savior and King and God and Word and Creator and Life and Light. And all that God is for you in him!

Christmas is like God sending his Son into the world to find all the Bin Ladens of the world, hiding in the caves of darkness and death. Instead of throwing flames into the caves, he first stands at the mouth of the caves and says, “Come out into the light for I have died on the cross for sinners; if you will receive me as your God and your Substitute and your Treasure, my death counts for your death and my righteousness counts as your righteousness, and you will have eternal life.”

Piper, J. (2007). Sermons from John Piper (2000-2007). Minneapolis: Desiring God.

 

 

John 1:1-18

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. 4 In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men. 5 The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. 6 There came a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness, to testify about the Light, so that all might believe through him. 8 He was not the Light, but he came to testify about the Light. 9 There was the true Light which, coming into the world, enlightens every man. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. 11 He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him. 12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. 14 And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth. 15 John testified about Him and cried out, saying, “This was He of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me has a higher rank than I, for He existed before me.’ ” 16 For of His fullness we have all received, and grace upon grace. 17 For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has seen God at any time; the only begotten God who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him.

Our motives matter…at a heart level it makes a huge difference why we do what we do.

"Say to all the people of the land, and to the priests: ‘When you fasted and mourned in the fifth and seventh months during those seventy years, did you really fast for Me—for Me? Zech 7:5

I constantly have to search my heart and check my motives…am I working for the approval of men or of God.  I must serve an audience of one…GOD!

 My ministry and service may look the same on the surface, but at the heart level my motives my be very different

 David displays the only heart posture that keeps our motives pure…the best way for me to describe it is a posture of desperation…being in a constant state of knowing that I am desperate for HIM.

A Psalm of David.

Hear my prayer, O Lord, Give ear to my supplications! In Your faithfulness answer me, And in Your righteousness. Do not enter into judgment with Your servant, For in Your sight no one living is righteous.

For the enemy has persecuted my soul; He has crushed my life to the ground; He has made me dwell in darkness, Like those who have long been dead. Therefore my spirit is overwhelmed within me; My heart within me is distressed. I remember the days of old; I meditate on all Your works; I muse on the work of Your hands.

I spread out my hands to You; My soul longs for You like a thirsty land. Selah

Answer me speedily, O Lord; My spirit fails! Do not hide Your face from me, Lest I be like those who go down into the pit. Cause me to hear Your lovingkindness in the morning, For in You do I trust; Cause me to know the way in which I should walk, For I lift up my soul to You. Deliver me, O Lord, from my enemies; In You I take shelter. Teach me to do Your will, For You are my God;

Your Spirit is good. Lead me in the land of uprightness. Revive me, O Lord, for Your name’s sake! For Your righteousness’ sake bring my soul out of trouble. In Your mercy cut off my enemies, And destroy all those who afflict my soul; For I am Your servant.

The amazing thing about maintaining this heart attitude of desperation is that I am dependent, (desperate) on HIM, HIS in dwelling Spirit for this to occur.

Pursuing HIM with you…seeking to remain in a state of desperation for Jesus!

My heart and mind process things in strange ways sometimes, I actually started with praying over Zechariah 4:6–7, and Revelation 14:13 and my heart and mind flew through the following verses.

It is both exciting and incredibly sobering to meditate on the fact that our works will follow us into eternity!

Then I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, "Write: ‘Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.’ " "Yes," says the Spirit, "that they may rest from their labors, and their works follow them."  Rev. 14:13

We know that each child of God will appear before King Jesus at the judgment seat of Christ!  Our work will follow us and our work will be tested, tested by fire.

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.  2 Cor. 5:10

Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is.  1 Cor 3:12–13

Having this knowledge and understanding, if I am not careful, I want to work really really hard…that’s good right?  In and of its self yes, that is good…my problem I tend to try to do this in my own power and that’s where Zechariah comes in…

"This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ Says the Lord of hosts. ‘Who are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain! And he shall bring forth the capstone With shouts of "Grace, grace to it!" ’ "  Zech. 4:6–7

I remember when David Platt was here in August, during Awesome August, and he was sharing about the believers in Asia and the persecution they endure.  He was describing their incredible devotion to the Word of God, and how they would sit for hours and hours to hear the Word explained and taught.  Then he said something amazing…he said something to the effect… “some of your are thinking, I was, let’s take up a collection and send them some resources, let’s help them.”  Then he rebuked us and said, “ladies and gentlemen the followers of Jesus in Asia believe that all they need is the Holy Spirit, and the Word of God.

God is not impressed with our resources, ‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ Says the Lord of hosts.

Of course we should always help those in need, but if we are not careful we come to trust our resources, we come to trust in the gifts and not the giver of all gifts.  When I love the gifts more than the gift giver then I have fallen into idolatry, I have fallen from my first love.

Remember Rev. 3…Remember from where you have fallen, Repent and do the things you did at first…first love.

Holy Spirit of God fill us, enable us to love you with a pure and clean hear…return unto me the joy of your salvation, be glorified in and through your children…amen.

 I love the imagery in this passage.  Our salvation is the same as being snatched from the fire.  Each of us, we were dead in our sins and trespasses…and now, now we are alive together with Christ in the heavenlies, we were lost in darkness and HE called us into HIS marvelous light.  In the same way that God moved on behalf of the high priest, HE works on our behalf…this is totally HIS grace.

Not only did HE save us from hell, removing the filthy garment, but HE clothed us in HIS own righteousness.  These garments of righteousness required the virgin birth, perfect life, death, burial and resurrection.  Now Jesus is the one seated at the right hand of the Father and every time Satan accuses you before God, Jesus is there as your advocate saying to the Father, he is wrong, look Father this one is clothed in MY righteousness, actually Father I am presenting this one to you as a gift…he/she is clean, spotless, perfect washed in MY OWN BLOOD.

Father, thank you for Your precious Word, thank you for revealing Your perfect character, Your attributes and Your will for our lives within Your Word…Holy Spirit enable us to see the wonderful truths in Your Word, to treasure Your Word above ALL THINGS…be glorified in and through Your children.

We love you!

 

 

3:1 Zechariah saw a heavenly courtroom where Joshua, representing the people of Judah, was standing before the Angel of the Lord and was being accused by Satan. This is not the Joshua who succeeded Moses, but the high priest who returned to Jerusalem with the exiles (Ezra 3:2). Satan: The Hebrew is literally “the Satan,” meaning “the Accuser.” The picture is not unlike that of Job 1, where Satan stands before the Lord making accusations against people who follow God.

3:2 The Lord rebuke you, Satan: These words presuppose an earlier conversation in which Satan made accusations against the people and their priest. We are reminded that Satan is not sovereign; he is subject to the Sovereign Lord who will handle him. The brand plucked from the fire refers to Judah, delivered from the fire of Babylonian captivity. Joshua, their priest, represented the nation, a people of God’s favor.

3:3 The high priest represented the people before God (Ex. 28:29) and under no circumstances was to become defiled or unclean (Ex. 28:2; Lev. 21:10–15). Joshua’s filthy garments were literally “befouled with excrement.”

3:4, 5 The cleansing of Joshua was not complete with the removal of his sin-soiled garments. God replaced the dirty clothes, dressing Joshua in clean garments that represented the gift of God’s righteousness. As sin is removed by the work of Christ, so His righteousness is placed in the believer’s account (Rom. 5:18, 19; 2 Cor. 5:21). We are clothed in the garments of Christ’s righteousness. The fact that Joshua had no part in his cleansing indicates that this work was totally by God’s grace.

Radmacher, E. D., Allen, R. B., & House, H. W. (1999). Nelson's new illustrated Bible commentary (Zec 3:1-5). Nashville: T. Nelson Publishers.

The pattern repeats itself over and over…repent, repent, return to me, return to me and I will return to you…

Isaiah 44:22 I have blotted out your transgressions like a cloud and your sins like mist; return to me, for I have redeemed you.

Jeremiah 4:1 "If you will ^areturn, O Israel," declares the LORD, "Then you should return to Me. And ^bif you will put away your detested things from My presence, And will not waver,

Jeremiah 15:19 This is how the LORD responds: "If you return to me, I will restore you so you can continue to serve me. If you speak good words rather than worthless ones, you will be my spokesman. You must influence them; do not let them influence you!

Joel 2:12 "Yet even now," declares the LORD, "return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning;

Malachi 3:7 From the days of your fathers you have turned aside from my statutes and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you, says the LORD of hosts. But you say, 'How shall we return?'

Haggai 2:17 I sent blight and mildew and hail to destroy everything you worked so hard to produce. Even so, you refused to return to me, says the LORD.

What was Gods purpose in sending blight, mildew and hail?  Was the purpose to destroy or to cause HIS children to return to HIM?  HE want us to return!  What is the end game in all that HE is doing within the universe?  It is the new heavens and the new earth, and what is that but a place where our relationship with our creator and Father is restored to perfection, not only our relationship to HIM but to each other.

People long to have wonderful intimate relationships with other people, spouse, children, parents, siblings…IT IS NOT POSSIBLE apart from an intimate relationship with God the Father through Jesus Christ! 

Return, turn and run to HIM, like the prodigal…I must come to my senses and return to my Father in Heaven.

In verse 14 God tells us that HE is “extremely jealous” for us.  This is not a bad jealous, HE knows what idolatry will do to HIS children…HE is jealous that we be in a right relationship to HIM.  It is awesome to know that the work HE began in me, HE will complete it.

Thank you Lord Jesus!

Background and summary of Zechariah

Our text from Haggai and Revelation are found in Handel’s Messiah, below is the link where you may find it in its entirety.  He wrote the Messiah in 1741, and if memory serves me correctly he did it in a very brief period of time.  The second clip is the famous Halleujah chorus.

Haggai is the first of three postexeilic (big fat word for after the Babalonian captivity) prophets.  So some of the people have returned to the homeland, the Temple is in ruins and they are rebuilding their homes.  They appear to be free from idols following the exile, but there remains a spiritual indifference.  Haggai exhorts the people to put God first!

It is amazing to me how ALL of God’s Word applies to us today…the warning and rebuke of the earlier prophets to turn from idols to the one true God; the warning against spiritual indifference, the exhortation to seek God with all our heart, mind, soul and strength. 

If we will have eyes to see and ears to hear HIS WORD is awe striking in its relevance for our lives today.  If we will listen, we learn that there is no area of life where God has not spoken.

http://opera.stanford.edu/iu/libretti/messiah.html

Thus saith the Lord of Hosts:
     Yet once a little while, and I will shake the
     heavens, and the earth, and the sea and the dry land,
     and I will shake all nations,
     and the desire of nations whall come.
     The Lord whom ye seek, shall suddenly come
     to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant,
     whom ye delight in, behold,
     He shall come, saith the Lord of Hosts.
        [Haggai 2:6-7; Malachi 3:1]

CHORUS
     Hallelujah!
     for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.
     The kingdom of this world is become the
     kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ;
     and He shall reign for ever and ever.
     King of Kings, and Lord of Lords.
        [Revelation 19:6; 11:15; 19:16]

If you study the term the “Kingdom of God” you will learn that it is not a place, but it refers to the “rule and reign of God.”  This is the cool part, as HIS adopted children, twice born, we are given the gift of experiencing HIS rule and reign now!  HE longs to demonstrate HIS love, grace, power and peace through HIS children as HE rules and reigns in their hearts and minds.  We are called to be a witness to the world of what the Kingdom of God will look like.  It is a little scary… “they will know you are my disciples if you have love for one another.”  The way we treat each other in the church is intended to be a witness to the World.

I cannot control everyone, but I can cry out to God day and night, longing for every person that I encounter to see HIM IN ME!

Pursuing HIM together.

m

God’s Word is filled with awesome promises that, if taken to heart, fill God’s children with hope for a bright future.  A bright future not within this world system, but in the City of God, the New Jerusalem, the new heavens and the new earth.  HE will not let the guilty go unpunished, and HE WILL discipline HIS children.  Where you find bright promises of God typically just before those bright awe inspiring promises you will find HORRIFIC judgments and chastisements.

Everyone loves to read and quote Jeremiah 29:11… “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.”

This is a wonderful verse and should be delighted in, but please read Jeremiah chapters 27–33 to get the context…from a human perspective some horrible things are going to happen…things that if they happened to you and I…I hope and pray that I know how I would respond…I don’t think anyone can until they are there…I pray that none of us ever are.  Keep in my that Christians around the world do experience these horrors.

Another passage that is, apart from the Spirit, impossible to process is Deuteronomy chapter 28…Don’t read it alone or at night…I’m really not kidding.

OK Mark what is this all about, well a passage like this for me is Zephaniah 3:17–18.  There are some powerful images of our heavenly Father, some powerful promises from Abba, but they come after a painful, painful purification process.  God is jealous for HIS children, HE fully and perfectly knows what sin does to us and HE will be faithful to root it out, to destroy sin in our lives.  This past Sunday Bro. Steve said that God will not leave sin unpunished in one of HIS children. 

So delight in these promises, enjoy, enjoy and meditate on them, but don’t miss the context and don’t think that HE will leave you with a pet sin in your life!

 The Lord your God in your midst, The Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing."

"I will gather those who sorrow over the appointed assembly, Who are among you, To whom its reproach is a burden.

Background information…

Background and context…

 The Prophet Habakkuk lived in Judah and ministered there, probably during the reign of Josiah (639–609 b.c.). Josiah, a godly king, called for revival. But despite a superficial veneer of religion, that society was marred by injustice.

Many earlier prophets had seen injustice in Judah’s society and sternly condemned it. But under Manasseh, Josiah’s grandfather, Hebrew society became committed to idolatry and associated social evils. Josiah, who came to the throne as an eight–year–old, called his nation back to God. After finding a lost book of God’s Law, he rooted out idolatry, reestablished temple worship, and attempted to administer God’s ancient Law. But he could not root out the corruption now deeply rooted in the people and institutions of his nation.

When Habakkuk begged God for an explanation of why he permitted the wicked to sin and the innocent to suffer, the prophet was given an answer. God, even then, was shaping the Babylonians into a world power. The Lord would use these pagan armies to punish His own people. Habakkuk understood, for the use of enemy nations to discipline Israel and Judah was a well–established precedent. But there was still a moral issue that troubled the prophet. How could God use a less righteous people to discipline the more righteous? How could God permit the Babylonians to succeed?

This problem has troubled believers in one form or another from the beginning. Why does God permit the wicked to succeed in this world? Why doesn’t He act, so that the good rather than the wicked prosper? The answers we find in Habakkuk show us that the wicked do not succeed—and that no one, good or bad, can avoid the disciplining hand of God.

There are moral and theological questions raised by sin’s presence, in our own lives and in the ways of the wicked. Perhaps the best and most satisfying answers to be found in Scripture are revealed here in this small, but vital, Old Testament book.

Richards, L. O. (1991; Published in electronic form by Logos Research Systems, 1996). The Bible readers companion (electronic ed.) (560). Wheaton: Victor Books.

Though the fig tree does not bud and there is no fruit on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will triumph in the Lord; I will rejoice in the God of my salvation!  Yahweh my Lord is my strength; He makes my feet like those of a deer and enables me to walk on mountain heights!

When you understand the history between Nineveh and Israel it makes perfect sense why Jonah ran the other direction.  I include these two sections from “The Bible Readers Companion” to help you see why it is so important to understand the context of God’s Word.  Without some basic background information it does not always make sense.  A simple tool like this one can make reading through the bible a much richer experience.  Also, if you have been to the One Year Bible web site you will see that after you click on the daily passage and it takes you to Bible Gateway there is a button that will give you commentary on each passage…it is a great tool.

As we live our lives as salt & light in the world we constantly have the opportunity to walk in a manner worthy of the calling of God, to live in a way that vindicates HIS love for HIS adopted children.  The alternative is to live an unchanged life, to live like the world and to know that HE will vindicate HIS NAME by disciplining HIS OWN!

HE is very clear, HE has revealed HIS will for each of us.

He has told you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you But to do justice, to love kindness, And to walk humbly with your God?

Micah 6:8

As I read through the Bible each year I have found it very helpful to use a tool like the one below.  “The Bible Readers Companion” gives excellent background information, helps you understand the context of the text and highlights key people and texts as you go.  I have found it especially helpful as I go through some of the less familiar Old Testament passages and books.  Typically when people start reading through the bible in a year they do great until Leviticus…Leviticus is where most casualties occur in bible reading plans.  However, if you have a tool that gives context and meaning, vision, it helps you press on.

Below are two samples from todays reading.

I continue to be amazed at how slow I am!  Over and over and over and over throughout HIS precious WORD God warns HIS people, HE rebukes HIS people, HE cries out to the to RETURN, (REPENT) TO HIM!  They don’t listen until things get really, really bad.

 I am still working through this, but it seems apparent that you cannot seek unity for unity sake.  In other words, if you seek unity you will not find it, but if you seek Jesus you will.  It’s like the illustration about tuning pianos, you don’t use one piano to tune another you use a tuning fork.  God’s children, fully devoted followers of Christ cannot manufacture unity by having an emphasis on unity.  Unity comes, revival comes when we individually and corporately we “fix our eyes on Jesus the author and finisher of our faith.”

 Here in Revelation 5 we have another opportunity to gaze upon the beauty, majesty and glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

"Stop weeping; behold, the Lion that is from the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has overcome so as to open the book and its seven seals."

I love the way this is written, it’s like the Angel is talking to John like a parent would to a child, STOP! STOP IT!  STOP CRYING AND LOOK!  BEHOLD THE LION OF THE TRIBE OF JUDAH!

And I saw between the throne (with the four living creatures) and the elders a Lamb standing, as if slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God, sent out into all the earth.

And then John sees an amazing sight…he sees a Lion like lamb, a lamb like Lion… “as if slain”

And He came and took the book out of the right hand of Him who sat on the throne.

When He had taken the book, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each one holding a harp and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.

It is awesome to know that all those prayers that you thought never made above your ceiling actually make it to the throne of grace.

And they sang a new song, saying,

"Worthy are You to take the book and to break its seals; for You were slain, and purchased for God with Your blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation.

"You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to our God; and they will reign upon the earth."

Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne and the living creatures and the elders; and the number of them was myriads of myriads, and thousands of thousands,

saying with a loud voice,

"Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing." And every created thing which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all things in them, I heard saying, "To Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, be blessing and honor and glory and dominion forever and ever." And the four living creatures kept saying, "Amen." And the elders fell down and worshiped.

Jesus alone is worthy, HE is worthy of our worship, our time, our resources, our ALL.  It is only when we have this heart posture, attitude that unity and harmony will flow like a river among brothers and sisters.  It’s all about Jesus.

Let’s encourage one another to keep our eyes on Jesus…the Lion like Lamb and the Lamb like Lion…HE alone is WORTHY!

M

A Song of Ascents, of David.

Behold, how good and how pleasant it is For brothers to dwell together in unity!

It is like the precious oil upon the head, Coming down upon the beard, Even Aaron’s beard, Coming down upon the edge of his robes.

It is like the dew of Hermon Coming down upon the mountains of Zion; For there the Lord commanded the blessing—life forever.

There are some passages of scripture where the glory of God shines so bright it seems like you take away from by trying to say anything about it.  For me this in one of those places, this is one passage this is simply to be gazed upon and loved.

The wonderful thing about being a child of God is that we dwell in HIS presence and HIS presence dwells within us.  At any moment, as HIS child, we have access to the Throne of Grace…let’s go together!

 Rev 4

And the four living creatures, each one of them having six wings, are full of eyes around and within; and day and night they do not cease to say,

"Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God, the Almighty, who was and who is and who is to come."

And when the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, to Him who lives forever and ever, the twenty-four elders will fall down before Him who sits on the throne, and will worship Him who lives forever and ever, and will cast their crowns before the throne, saying,

"Worthy are You, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and because of Your will they existed, and were created."

As I gaze on HIS precious Word in Revelation 4 my mind and heart leaps to Isaiah 6 and Isaiah’s experience in the throne room.

And one called out to another and said, "Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord of hosts, The whole earth is full of His glory." Isa. 6:3

From there my heart and mind rushes to 2 Corinthians 3 & 4 to contemplate the transformation that comes about in the child of God as we gaze upon the face of God through Jesus Christ.

but whenever a person turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.

 And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, in whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For we do not preach ourselves but Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as your bond-servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who said, "Light shall shine out of darkness," is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.

But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves;

Let’s gaze upon the face of God together and be transformed…this transformation will set you free to be what YAHWEH, our great God, created you to be!

IN HIM!

M

Summary of Amos from the ESV Bible

Amos, the first of the writing prophets, was a shepherd and farmer called to prophesy during the reigns of Uzziah (792–740 b.c.) in the southern kingdom and Jeroboam II (793–753) in the north. During this time both kingdoms enjoyed political stability which in turn brought prosperity. It was also a time of idolatry, extravagance, and corruption. The rich and powerful were oppressing the poor. Amos denounced the people of Israel for their apostasy and social injustice and warned them that disaster would fall upon them for breaking the covenant. He urged them to leave the hypocrisy of their “solemn assemblies” (5:21) and instead to “let justice roll down like waters” (v. 24). Nevertheless, said Amos, God would remember his covenant with Israel and would restore a faithful remnant.

Thus He showed me, and behold, the Lord was standing by a vertical wall with a plumb line in His hand. The Lord said to me, "What do you see, Amos?" And I said, "A plumb line." Then the Lord said, "Behold I am about to put a plumb line In the midst of My people Israel. I will spare them no longer.

It is amazing how often God warns HIS people, HE gives them opportunity after opportunity to repent, to turn from thier evil ways and return to HIM.  If I am not careful, I find myself asking how is it possible that they could not see, how could they be so blind.  Also, if I am not careful I find myself saying the same thing about people today…how could they be so blind, the things of God are so clear…how can you be so blind.

It is VERY dangerous to apply God’s Word to others first, we MUST ALWAYS drop the plumb line of HIS wonderful Word in our own hearts first.  Look at the contrast between the two heart attitudes in our reading in Revelation 3.

They say confession is good for the soul.  We are clearly taught in James to confess our sins to one another. 

Doing my daily reading knowing that I am going to share some of my thoughts with you all, knowing that each of you is holding me accountable…simply with a desire to share something that the LORD, YAHWEH, shared with me while I prayerfull read HIS revealed Word…IS VERY SOBERING! 

I realized in the past many times I have done my daily reading so that I may check of my daily reading box, part of my spiritual check list.  I have been convicted of this in the past, but this exercise has pressed it home again.  Second, I confess that I feel a presure to perform now, WHAT IF GOD DOES NOT SAY ANYTHING WORTH WRITING!  HORROR OR HORRORS!  YOU ALL MIGHT SEE ME FOR WHO I REALLY AM  DESPERATE, NEEDY, NOTHING WITHOUT HIM, HAVING NOTHING TO SAY APART FROM HIS PRECIOUS WORD…I know, I know, you already knew it.

Now I feel much better and we all know that it is all about me feeling better…I hope you all don’t mind me having fun as we begin this journey together.

Alright, back to work…I was amazed again at how all of the readings for today were connected.  In Amos chapter 4, five times God referred to a circumstance that HE sent to get His peoples attention and followed it with the phrase… “yet you did not return to me.”  After I read it the 5^th time I wondered…Hmmmmmmmm, do you really think God speaks to us through our circumstances.  If HE does, (and HE DOES), what is HE trying to say to me in the light of my current situation?

I have loved this passage in Revelation 2 for several years now.  Bill Bright wrote a wonderful little book called “First Love” a few years before his home going.  I believe the book came out in 2002, I had been on staff at Bellevue for about one year when I read it for the first time.  God used this passage of scripture and HIS servant Bill Bright to bring me under conviction or as Bill put it…Remember, Repent and Resume or do the things you did at first, Revival and Reward.  Remember your first love!

In Revelation 2:2–3 our LORD commends the Church at Ephesus for their hard work and perseverance, their tenacity for the truth.

‘I know your deeds and your toil and perseverance, and that you cannot tolerate evil men, and you put to the test those who call themselves apostles, and they are not, and you found them to be false; and you have perseverance and have endured for My name’s sake, and have not grown weary.

Fresh out of seminary and then experiencing the pressures of the ministry I found myself in the same spiritual condition as the Ephesians.  The joy I had experienced starting in the early 90’s and running through to 2000 was gone, everything felt like a burden and a duty.

The subtitle of Bright’s little book is, Renewing Your Passion for God…and by God’s wonderful grace HE renewed my passion, my first love as I read, reread, memorized and meditated on Revelation chapter 2.  While there is pain in realizing that you have fallen from your first love, there is wonderful news in learning that it may be restored. 

In Revelation 2:4–5 our LORD explains the simple process of coming home to our LORD, the simple process of returning to our first love.

‘But I have this against you, that you have left your first love.

‘Therefore remember from where you have fallen, and repent and do the deeds you did at first; or else I am coming to you and will remove your lampstand out of its place—unless you repent.

I will never forget the feelings and emotions I had for Diane the first time we met and how those exploded the more I knew about her.  I wanted to spend every waking moment with her, I spent much time and energy trying to think of ways to be around her…she consumed my thoughts through the day and my dreams through the night.  Now after 24 years of marriage, 3 career changes, 3 children and a full ministry I love her more than ever.  However, we have to work at our marriage, we both must nurture our relationship.  It is so easy to grow apart and to lose the intimacy that God desires us to experience.  It is so easy to take each other for granted…the relationship must be nurtured!

In the same way we must pursue God, we must continually nurture our relationship with our precious LORD.  We must remember our first love, remember from where we have fallen and do the things we did in the beginning of our relationship with Jesus.  When we do pursue HIM we experience revival and reward.

I love the way Hebrews puts it…

let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.

Let’s consider how to stimulate or provoke one another to love our LORD JESUS and each other.  One way to demonstrate that is to store up, to treasure up HIS WORD in 2008.

Grace to you…

Mark

Below is a link to the One Year Bible web site…you will find a lot of cool stuff there.

http://www.oneyearbibleonline.com/index.html?version=47

Every time I begin to read Revelation I remind myself that it is very simply & yet profoundly the revelation of Jesus Christ.  It is Jesus going public with HIMSELF, HIS will, and HIS end game…HE is letting HIS slaves in on who HE is and what He is going to do.

The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants—things which must shortly take place. And He sent and signified it by His angel to His servant John, who bore witness to the word of God, and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, to all things that he saw.

He promises blessings, happiness to those who read, hear and obey these Words of HIS!

Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near.

In verses 5 & 8 HE uses language to reveal that HE is the first and the last, the Alpha and Omega, the A to Z…meaning I AM the beginning and the end and everything between…as Paul said in Romans… “for from HIM and through HIM and to HIM are all things.”

the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth.

Below is an excellent example of why it is wise to use 2 or 3 good translations for your quiet time.  I love the New King James version, its poetic sound, readability etc…however, there is a strong difference in the 2 translations below and I have listened to many preachers make a big deal about the fact that “we will be kings in God’s kingdom.”  This is a time where the translation is a big deal…the text does not say that we will be kings it says that we will be a kingdom, priests to His God and Father.  I only point that out to say that it is wise to have an excellent study Bible and to read 2 or 3 versions.

Having said that, please do not miss the awe striking truth that it is Jesus who loves us and released us from our sins by HIS OWN BLOOD!  John tells us in John 8 that if the Son sets you free you will be free indeed.  There is incredible freedom to live a radical life for Jesus when this verse is rightly understood.  I’m still working on it

To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood, and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. NKJV

To Him who loves us and released us from our sins by His blood— and He has made us to be a kingdom, priests to His God and Father—to Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen. NASB

Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him. Even so, Amen.

"I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End," says the Lord, "who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty."

Let’s behold HIM, love HIM and pursue HIM together that HE might make us one in heart and in Spirit.

Grace to you…

Mark

 A Song of Ascents. Of Solomon.

Unless the Lord builds the house, They labor in vain who build it; Unless the Lord guards the city, The watchman stays awake in vain. It is vain for you to rise up early, To sit up late, To eat the bread of sorrows; For so He gives His beloved sleep. Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, The fruit of the womb is a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, So are the children of one’s youth. Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them; They shall not be ashamed, But shall speak with their enemies in the gate.

Psalms 120–134 are known as “Songs of Ascent.” Tradition says each of these “pilgrim psalms” was to be sung as God’s people approached Jerusalem for one of the major worship festivals. Another tradition suggests that the “ascent” was fifteen steps leading up to the temple, and that these psalms were sung by choirs of Levites.

Psalm 127 is praise for family. This psalm lies at the midpoint of the “Songs of Ascent” and is filled with a sense of the joy the Israelites took in their children. Children were viewed as gifts of God (cf. Isa. 8:18), and childlessness caused great grief (cf. 1 Sam. 1:3–20; 2 Sam. 12:14–25). Luke 1:24–25 pictures the intimate involvement of mothers and fathers in the nurture of children, reflected in a variety of Old Testament passages (cf. Deut. 4:9–10; Ps. 78:4–6; Prov. 4:3–4).

Richards, L. O. (1991; Published in electronic form by Logos Research Systems, 1996). The Bible readers companion (electronic ed.) (378). Wheaton: Victor Books.

Many people know about Jonathan Edwards, the preacher.  Some interesting facts about the heritage of Jonathan Edwards...

...173 years after their marriage, a study was made of some 1.400 of their descendants.  By 1900 (he married in 1727) this single marriage produced 13 college presidents, 65 professors, 100 lawyers, a dean of an outstanding law school, 30 judges, 56 physicians, a dean of a medical school, 80 holders of public office, 3 US Senators, 3 mayors of large American cities, 3 governors, 1 vice president, 1 Comptroller of the Treasury.   Members of the family had written 135 books, edited 18 journals and periodicals.  They had entered the ministry in platoons, with nearly 100 of them becoming missionaries overseas.

Having a stellar legacy is not the goal, loving, cherishing, delighting in our LORD and Savior Jesus Christ is the goal…to glorify HIM in everything that we do.  We are told in Hebrews that HE rewards those who diligently seek HIM.  I believe that part of that reward, or maybe better said, a fruit of a life that diligently seeks HIM is a godly legacy.  I long for HIM to be glorified in and through our children and one day…grandchildren.

GRACE,

Mark

I have long loved the words of Hosea 6:6…years ago when I began having quiet times in the morning I ran across Jesus words in Matt 9:13… “go and learn what this means, I desire mercy and not sacrifice.”  I took Jesus seriously and began meditating on the passage He quoted from in Hosea 6:6…

6 I want loving-kindness and not a gift to be given in worship. I want people to know God instead of giving burnt gifts.

As I pondered these words it began to sink in that HE wants our devotion, love, our hearts…HE does not need our gifts…HE owns them all.  Secondly, HE wants us to know HIM, not just know about HIM, but truly know HIM.  When God blessed Diane and I with Zach, Kyle and Alexis this began to make more and more sense.  In the same way that I long for a relationship with my children God longs for a relationship with HIS…to the point of sending Jesus to shed HIS blood that we might have an intimate relationship with our LORD.

 God is jealous for HIS children in the same way we are jealous for our children when we see them making choices that will do them great harm…our LORD know what worshiping idols will do to us.

9 Worshiping foreign gods has sapped their strength,
      but they don’t even know it.
   Their hair is gray,
      but they don’t realize they’re old and weak.
 10 Their arrogance testifies against them,
      yet they don’t return to the Lord their God
      or even try to find him.

Understanding this explains why the old Apostle John experienced such joy to hear of his children in the faith walking in the truth.

4 I could have no greater joy than to hear that my children are following the truth.

In the old testament God’s people were destroyed because they were not willing to learn…I pray that God would grant me, that HE would grant each of us a teachable, humble spirit to pursue HIM, to love HIM, to know HIM…for HIS glory and our own joy!

6 My people are destroyed because they have not learned. You were not willing to learn.

Psalm 126

A song for pilgrims ascending to Jerusalem.

 1 When the Lord brought back his exiles to Jerusalem,
      it was like a dream!
 2 We were filled with laughter,
      and we sang for joy.
   And the other nations said,
      “What amazing things the Lord has done for them.”
 3 Yes, the Lord has done amazing things for us!
      What joy!

 4 Restore our fortunes, Lord,
      as streams renew the desert.
 5 Those who plant in tears
      will harvest with shouts of joy.
 6 They weep as they go to plant their seed,
      but they sing as they return with the harvest.

Consider your salvation, consider what it is that the God of the universe has done for you and worship HIM!

love,

m

 Alright, Alright, Alright…I promise, if I promise then I must do it, I won’t write this much every day…I can’t!  I am enjoying this I am sure much more than anyone else.

Today I hope and pray to get the link blasted out to the entire class so that those that desire to participate will be able.

For those joining for the first time today this is the 3^rd entry…I just wanted to get a running start before the new year.

Right off the bat let me bless your heart with some Greek stuff

In 2 John verse 4 you see John exclaiming his joy to have found, (or find) some of the children walking or living in the truth.  The word find or found, in the Greek is the same word as “eureka,” like “eureka” I found gold, I found an incredible treasure.  Psalm 119 talks about God’s Word being more valuable than riches, gold, silver…the Psalmist states that… “your Word have I hidden” or “your Word have I treasured up in my heart”

 How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word. With my whole heart I have sought You; Oh, let me not wander from Your commandments! Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You.  Psalm 119:9–11

 I only know one way to hide His Word in my heart, to treasure up His Word in my heart…I must prayerfully read His revealed Word and then I must memorize and meditate His Word.  Then and only then will I truly be able to “WALK IN THE TRUTH.”

I rejoiced greatly that I have found some of your children walking in truth, as we received commandment from the Father. And now I plead with you, lady, not as though I wrote a new commandment to you, but that which we have had from the beginning: that we love one another. This is love, that we walk according to His commandments. This is the commandment, that as you have heard from the beginning, you should walk in it. 2 John v. 4–6 NKJV

How happy I was to meet some of your children and find them living according to the truth, just as the Father commanded.  2 John v. 4 NLT

Don’t you long for this for your own children?  God longs for it for HIS…you and me!  Let’s hide and treasure up HIS WORD together in 08…for HIS glory and our joy!

Love you all,

M

2 John outline

 I am always amazed, I don’t know why, how God ties my daily Bible reading together with so many things in my life.  He is always faithful to bless the discipline of daily bible reading and meditation.

For example today in the one year bible I began reading in Hosea and came to the end of 1 John.  1 John ends with the following words:

And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us an understanding, that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life.

Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen. 1 Jn 5:20–21

I love the way that the New Living Translation puts it!

Dear children, keep away from anything that might take God’s place in your hearts 1 Jn 5:21NLT.

What if the Lord had not been on our side? Let all Israel repeat: What if the Lord had not been on our side when people attacked us? They would have swallowed us alive in their burning anger.  The waters would have engulfed us; a torrent would have overwhelmed us.  Yes, the raging waters of their fury would have overwhelmed our very lives.  Praise the Lord, who did not let their teeth tear us apart!  We escaped like a bird from a hunter’s trap.  The trap is broken, and we are free!  Our help is from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.  Psalm 124:1–8

This is so cool…Jesus broke the trap, He allowed it to kill Him, He took our place, “and we are free.” 

Someone has wisely said that the human heart is an idol factory, this is so true…GUARD YOURSELVES FROM IDOLS.

GRACE, PEACE AND CHRIST IN YOU THE HOPE OF GLORY.

There are precious few practices that a child of God may engage in that has the power to so radically transform the spiritual life as daily Bible reading, memorization and meditation.  The natural overflow of those three disciplines (I know that discipline is a bad word, but I believe that you will grow to love it.) is a robust, powerful prayer life.  There is an inherent danger because we know that the religious leaders of Jesus day had the entire Old Testament memorized, but they were not transformed by it…they were filled with pride.  In John chapter 5 Jesus rebukes the Pharisees, although they knew the scriptures they were unwilling to humble themselves and come to Jesus.

^{39 You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me. 40 But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life.}

1 Jn 4:7-10, 16

 Love the Saints (4:7–21).

Willmington, H. L. (1999). The Outline Bible (1 Jn 4:18). Wheaton, Ill.: Tyndale House Publishers.

See if this actually works.

Are you :