December 21 - Hebrews 1-6: Focus on Jesus, the Only One Worthy of Our Focus

Today’s Reading: Hebrews 1-6

The Message

English Standard Version

Thought to Guide Your Reading

Jesus is greater than all that came before Him. The writer of Hebrews wanted us to see the different things Jesus is superior to.

Summary in 100 Words or Less

God spoke through Jesus who rules next to Him forever. We must hold this Message: Jesus released us from the fear of death.
Jesus is the centerpiece of our beliefs. Listen and obey Him! That is the only way to get His ever-renewing Promise of Rest.
God chose Jesus because He humbled Himself to set everyone's relationships right.
This sounds complicated because you won't listen! Nothing can be done for a person who turns their back on God.
God made a Promise to Abraham and backed it with His unshakable Word. We hope to never let go of that Promise.

How Today’s Reading Contributes to the Gospel: God is Setting All Things Right

God spoke through Jesus.

The writer of Hebrews is contrasting Jesus with what many people replaced Him with. Today's reading looked at angels, Moses (the Law), and the high priest. God spoke through Jesus because He was greater than all of these: exalted (unlike the angels), gives rest (unlike the Law), and was perfect (unlike the high priests). Jesus deserves to be the focus of our faith because He is greater than any other focus we could have.

Jesus is in charge of setting our relationships right.

This is important for two reasons: 1) We need not look anywhere else to set our relationship right with God; and 2) we need not try to figure out who has their relationship right with God or not. The second is the most important because, as I alluded to yesterday, it frees us from having to make public proclamations of who is "saved" and who is not. If a person asks you, only answer if they are willing to do an honest self-examination.

Our biggest problem is not listening.

We are in good company, though. No entire group has ever fully listened to God—even the people God took out of Egypt eventually lost faith in Him. The writer has to repeatedly remind them that we must listen to join in the Promise. Listen to God and receive the Promises!
It is this problem that leads churches and preachers to preach the same topics over and over again. Because people do not listen, the congregation cannot get beyond the elementary doctrines. Let's not be that way! We should be people who get beyond convincing people to have faith in God to set things right and talk strategy to join Him in setting things right!

If a person experiences God's Goodness and still turns their backs to Him, there is nothing left for God to do.

This section scared me growing up. I was afraid I would be baptized, make a mistake, and God would punish me for eternity. That isn't what this means at all. If we realize that it is another example of people hearing God and rejecting Him as mentioned earlier, we understand that the reason there is no hope for this person is because God has given the person everything He has and the person rejected it. What does God have left to give? He gave Jesus! It is similar to a farmer who tills, fertilizes, and irrigates the crop on a plot of land only to have it grow weeds. We can't blame the farmer for that sorry land. He did everything he could to make it grow. We should not blame God for people tasting and seeing Jesus and rejecting Him to their own peril.

Are you ready to get beyond lessons on how to trust in God to set things right and help other Chosen People set things right?

July 15 - 2 Chronicles 28; 2 Kings 16-17: Judah is Defeated and Israel Taken into Captivity for Abandoning God

Today’s Reading: 2 Chronicles 28; 2 Kings 16-17

The Message

English Standard Version

Thought to Guide Your Reading

Israel forgets God to the extent that they sacrifice children to other gods.

Summary in 100 Words or Less

King Ahaz worshiped Baal gods, sacrificing a child. Aram and Israel defeated Judah.
Oded scolded the Israelite army and the captives were returned.
Assyrian troops attacked and humiliated Ahaz. Panicked, Ahaz ransacked the Temple.
Ahaz worshiped Damascene gods. He died and Hezekiah reigned.
In Israel, Hoshea ruled only slightly better than his predecessors. Assyria took Israel into captivity.
These things happened because Israel acted as the Canaanites. They refused to listen to God's prophets. They followed Jeroboam's sin. God denied their place.
Assyria's king sent a priest to help the remnant honor and worship God. The exiles worshiped other gods.

How Today’s Reading Contributes to the Gospel: God is Setting All Things Right

Ahaz never learns from his defeats.

A few days ago, we read Isaiah's and Amos' harsh indictment of Judah and Israel for not understanding God's punishment. This is what Amos referred to. Ahaz first thought his allies were not strong enough. When he sought stronger allies he was roundly defeated again. So he began worshiping the gods of Damascus. The only thing that could have saved his reign, the one thing he needed to do was the furthest from his mind—ask God for salvation. Therefore, he was punished. Go to God when you feel alone and weak. He will help.

Ahaz ransacked and boarded up the Temple.

What a sad day for Israel. In less than 400 years the Temple David envisioned to honor God, the building that represented God's presence with Israel, which ushered in the pinnacle of Israel's existence has now been abandoned and boarded up by the people who have a perpetual throne in Jerusalem. Sin will ruin even the greatest and most important parts of our existence. Stay away from other gods!

The sin of Jeroboam (the Older) has reached its conclusion—Israel's exile.

Jeroboam erected two golden calves to prevent Israel from returning to Judah to worship God. It was meant to keep the division between Judah and Israel set and Jeroboam (the Older) in power. What it did instead was place the split nation of Israel (and later all the children of Abraham) on a path to being removed from God's Promise to Abraham. Beware your small faults today. They can turn into huge stumbling blocks for future generations.

Israel's obituary consists of one line—they would not listen.

Israel no longer has a country of its own. They are scattered within Assyria. The cause of death: abandoning their god. The symptoms: repeating the sins of the Canaanites who came before them, who God casted out because of sins such as child sacrifice. God tried to help them see the truth of their actions but they were too stubborn to listen. God's prophets were ignored or killed. God's attempts at shocking them into seeing their precarious condition only caused them to seek outsiders as allies. Israel would not listen and therefore must be punished.

"Don't honor other gods: Don't worship them, don't serve them, don't offer sacrifices to them. Worship God, the God who delivered you from Egypt in great and personal power. Reverence and fear him. Worship him. Sacrifice to him. And only him! All the things he had written down for you, directing you in what to believe and how to behave - well, do them for as long as you live. And whatever you do, don't worship other gods! And the covenant he made with you, don't forget your part in that. And don't worship other gods! Worship God, and God only - he's the one who will save you from enemy oppression." (2 Kings 17:35-39, The Message, emphasis original)

Learn from Israel's mistakes! Do not worship other gods!

In a moment of momentous irony, the king of Assyria has to send a priest back to Israel to teach the remnant how to worship God again.

To add insult to captivity, the king of Assyria had to send a priest back into Israel to teach them how to honor and worship God again. "The people … don't know what's expected of them from the god of the land, and now he's sent lions and they're killing people right and left because nobody knows what the god of the land expects of them" (17:26). Someone will honor and worship God. Either His Chosen People or strangers who occupy His People's place will worship Him.

Don't worship other gods!

July 14 - Micah: God Indicts His Chosen People for Their Salvation

Today’s Reading: Micah

The Message

English Standard Version

Congratulations, you have read 20 books of the Bible! That means 46 to go.

Thought to Guide Your Reading

The proper response to God's indictments is not more sacrifice.

Summary in 100 Words or Less

God's message through Micah during the reigns of Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah:
"God takes the stand to witness against Samaria and their shrines to other gods.
"'I will destroy Samaria with her gods, you people who dream of evil. You have polluted the land with your wrongs, yet you think you are righteous.'
"The truly righteous will be with God soon."
Later, Micah adds, "What happened to justice? Where is God's message? Someday, people will flock here for God's message. You couldn't hear it if it was piped into your homes.
"God will remove our sins and reinstate the Promise."

How Today’s Reading Contributes to the Gospel: God is Setting All Things Right

Israel is in denial about their wrongdoings.

Israel seems surprised that God would fight them. Their first instinct is to question God's reaction rather than their actions. They actually believe God is overreacting! What arrogance and outright lunacy! They have polluted their land with their sins, similar to the Canaanites. Their wrongdoings caused the separation from God.
Yet, I cannot read this without thinking of what I hear in churches today. One reason we do not like reading the Old Testament is because we do not like the portrayal of God as an angry, vengeful god. If someone came and warned us of God's impending punishment, we would suggest their view of God is too "harsh." We must come to grips with our hearts and actions. God is always just and when we fight Him we are always on the wrong side. It is hard to read this section without thinking of examples of each bad thing Israel was doing. Oh, that we would repent and come to see God's Way!

Israel misses the irony that the entire world will flock to Jerusalem to learn of God's Way.

The irony in this situation is that God cannot pay Israel enough to obey His Commands when there are people from around the globe who would journey far over dangerous roads just to sit and learn how God sets things right. These sojourners will become peaceful and sit in luxury while Israel, the Chosen Nation, slaves away in captivity. God's Chosen People must listen and obey to continue in God's great blessings.

God wants Israel to repent—not by sacrificing their goods but by sacrificing their wills.

God does not enjoy "religious" acts as Israel thought. King Saul had this misunderstanding. David wrote on this theme. Solomon, too. God does not want violent sacrifices to rectify wrongs. He wants hearts who want to set things right!

Micah's final message to Israel—stick around, God will make it right.

In a book full of anger, wrath, and correction, we would expect the book to end with a warning. Instead, it ends with praise. There will be punishment; however, that punishment is to remove all wrongdoing and wrongdoers from God's Chosen People. Once that is over, God is once again with His People. Their sins are now at the bottom of the ocean! The Promise of Abraham still stands! Hallelujah! Praise God because He removes our wrongs and takes wrongdoers away from our presence!

Stick around, God will make things right.

July 5 - 2 Kings 12-13; 2 Chronicles 24: Jehoiada Leads a Nation to God who Soon Forget that God

Today’s Reading: 2 Kings 12-13; 2 Chronicles 24

The Message

English Standard Version

Thought to Guide Your Reading

Judah obeys God as long as their leader guides them in the truth.

Summary in 100 Words or Less

Joash became king over Judah at seven years-old. Jehoiada trained him well.
Joash renovated the Temple.
After Jehoiada died at 130 years-old, Joash and Judah abandoned the Temple and stoned Jehoiada's son. God allowed a small band of Arameans defeat Joash's army.
Joash's servants assassinated him. Amaziah succeeded him.
In Israel, Jehoahaz, son of Jehu, reigned. He continued Jeroboam's sins. Hazael hurt them. Jehoahaz prayed for healing. However, Israel continued evil.
Jehoahaz's son Jehoash also did evil. However, Elisha prophesied from his death bed that God would help Jehoash defeat Aram three times.
God protected Israel because of the Promise.

How Today’s Reading Contributes to the Gospel: God is Setting All Things Right

Joash ruled well while Jehoiada the priest was there to guide him.

Joash became king at seven years-old. This is an extremely early age to become the leader of a nation, no matter the size. Jehoiada, the man responsible for Joash's ascension to the throne, trained him to worship and obey God. He was so loved by Judah that they buried him in the royal cemetery. When leaders surround themselves with godly advisors, God can set things right.

Joash did not keep Jehoiada's memory alive and left God soon after Jehoiada died.

This part of the history of Judah is heartbreaking. Jehoiada left a large imprint on the nation by bringing them back to God after several years of Baal worship. Unfortunately, his influence was quickly forgotten. Judah's leaders convinced Joash to return to worshiping Asherah, the goddess of sex and motherhood. Joash abandoned The Temple in Honor of God, what he had refurbished during Jehoiada's lifetime. Even great leaders cannot change a nation after they die. Although it may be depressing for a leader to know their legacy may not hold, it should be a greater warning for people to remember we must stay vigilant toward God. One generation can lead a nation down an irreversible path to leaving God.

God protected Israel because of the Promise, not their righteousness.

This is a humbling, troubling, and awe-inspiring thought. Israel, who for generations followed in Jeroboam's sin and worshiped gods other than the one who took them out of Egypt, was protected by God. The reason He protected them was a Promise He made hundreds of years ago to a man named Abraham. What a God! God will put up with generations of misbehavior because of a promise He made hundreds of years ago. I only wished Israel had understood how awesome their God was.
For us, yesterday we celebrated Independence Day. We honored our past, celebrated our nation's ancestors, and enjoyed a day of relaxation (at least many of us did). At the same time, there are a growing number of people questioning the legitimacy of our respect and honor paid to these (mostly) men. As I wrote earlier, we are not blessed by God because of our righteousness but because of our ancestor's righteousness. Even though we could delve into the minutiae of their actions and argue for hours on end whether they had a legitimate cause to rebel; whether the country they set up is a "Christian nation," a "nation of Christians," or a completely secular society; or if they lived up to their own standard, we cannot forget that our founding fathers came here to worship God in their own way. Just like God took non-perfect person in Abraham and called the nation of his children His Chosen People, our ancestors were blessed by God because of their faith, not their perfect obedience to a Law, and we continue to be blessed because of their willingness to obey Him. This does not mean we are now a Chosen Nation or we get a pass on our lives. What it does mean is that God's ability to forgive our faults is both humbling and awe-inspiring. Let's not become like Israel and let God's forgiveness lead us to complacency!

Who are the leaders who helped you become the person you are today?

May 6 - Psalms 89, 96, 100, 101, 105, and 132: Give Thanks to God - His Promises are Eternal

Today’s Reading: Psalms 89, 96, 100, 101, 105, and 132

The Message

English Standard Version

Thought to Guide Your Reading

God's Promises never fail.

Psalm (P)Synopsis

Psalm 89

Ethan writes how he will never stop speaking of God's faithfulness. God will be with David forever. Ethan repeats what God did for Israel from the beginning in the Exodus. However, if Israel sinned against God, He would punish them. However, God would never wipe out His Promise. Israel sinned against God. Because of this they are now punished, a byword among their neighbors. But the Promise remains.

Psalm 96

Sing praises to God for God is great! Everyone praises God as they would a world-famous musician. Let the entire creation give loud ovations to the God who sets things right!

Psalm 100

Praise God because He is our God and has made us His Chosen People!

Psalm 101

David writes his theme to God—love and justice. He will not do evil and will not stand for anyone to do evil in his employment. He will purge God's city of evil.

Psalm 105

Thank God by telling everyone you meet what He has done! Remember to watch for more things God has done. He is the one in charge of the whole world. He called Jacob and made him who He is. He took Joseph from prison to the top in Egypt. He brought the ten plagues and helped Israel leave Egypt. God has done all of these things for His Chosen People so they could obey Him! Hallelujah!

Psalm 132

Remember, God, what David has done for you—built a place for you to dwell. We all want to go and honor you at your place. So God gave David a perpetual throne. God has chosen Zion for His place on earth. And God promised to make David's enemies low.

How Today’s Reading Contributes to the Gospel: God is Setting All Things Right

Ethan never stops telling others how faithful God is.

Ethan traces Israel's story back to Egypt. He then shows how David is given a special promise. Ethan knows God is great because of God's blessing upon David. However, what is important to read in this psalm is that although it mentions God's promise to David, Ethan is writing much later. Ethan could be a man who is in exile writing a psalm about how wonderful God is. And that makes this psalm even more wonderful. God's Chosen People should never stop telling others how faithful our God is—even when we have been punished by God.

All of creation shows the supremacy of God.

Psalm 96 helps to reiterate how God's wonder, majesty, and power are greater than any other god. The other gods may claim to control parts of the world but none of them can claim to have created the world single-handedly. On top of that, He gave creation the ability to choose to honor Him. The animals honor God and the whole world praises God. So should humans! Join in the shout, "Bravo, God! Your creation is magnificent!"

We are God's people.

How wonderful to be able to make the claim that the God who created the entire world, the entire universe has called us to be His Chosen People! We are God's people!

David is very prejudiced against those who do not set things right.

David has learned from Saul's mistakes. David knows that Saul's corrupt heart was made worse by the people who were around him. So David has decided not to even shake their hands. Be very prejudiced against those who would not set things right!

God's Promises never fail.

They last for at least a thousand generations.

Israel wanted to worship God at His Footstool—the Tabernacle.

For a people who have had a rocky relationship with God, worshipping at God's Footstool would be a dangerous place to be. It requires holiness and purity. However, it is better to dwell with God outside His House or be His footstool than to have a place of honor at Evil's mansion.
Today, we should worship with God's temple—the body, or the church (people). The Temple of God is no longer in a certain location, a certain geographic area on Earth. His Temple is now inside us—the ones who obey Him! Let's worship God has His footstool—the church!

How have you seen God's promises last for thousand generations?

March 25 - Joshua 9-11: Israel Conquers Canaan (Almost)

Today’s Reading: Joshua 9-11

The Message

English Standard Version

Thought to Guide Your Reading

Notice the difference in outcome when Israel consults God and when they do not consult God.

Summary in 100 Words or Less

The Hivites at Gibeon tricked Israel by imitating emissaries from a far land. They became Israel's servants.
Several kings attacked Israel and Gibeon. Israel roundly defeated them when God rained stones on the kings' armies and held the sun to help Israel kill their enemy. Joshua executed the five kings to show Israel God's power.
Other kings attacked Israel and God gave them into their hands. The abnormally-tall tribe was driven out of Canaan.
Joshua and Israel did all that God commanded them to do through Moses—conquer the land of Canaan. Israel rested from war.

How Today’s Reading Contributes to the Gospel: God is Setting All Things Right

The story of the Hivites at Gibeon shows the perils of not consulting God on decisions.

Israel decided not to take the strange emissary's request to God before agreeing even though they had reservations at first. This provides a great example that all decisions should have God's approval through prayer. Do not make decisions without consulting God in prayer.

Joshua executes the kings in public to remind Israel that God was defeating their enemies before them.

The conquest of Canaan took a long time. Israel could have become war-weary or questioned God's ability to defend them. So Joshua gives yet another example of God helping Israel—defeating the five kings. Leaders should show how God is helping His Chosen People.

The new generation fulfilled another part of God's promise to Abraham—land.

This generation finished the task God wanted the preceding generation to accomplish—the conquest of Canaan. They were faithful. God will fulfill His Promises when His Chosen People are faithful.

The people of Canaan are being punished for their sin.

Reading this section of scripture is difficult. There is a lot of death and destruction. It is easy to write this off as God being a ruthless, punishing god. This assessment of God is one of the major reasons I wanted to write this blog in the first place. If you have followed the entire readings you know that God has repeatedly given Israel reasons to not allow the Canaanites to live. This reason is a simple one—the people in Canaan disobeyed God and polluted the land. God is cleansing the land of their sin. It is difficult for us to read this section of scripture because of its violence. However, we should feel more uncomfortable because of what it says about God's character. God will punish people who do not set things right on this earth.

Be strong and courageous!

March 23 - Joshua 1-4: Israel Crosses the Jordan, Rahab (a Non-Chosen Person) is Saved

Today’s Reading: Joshua 1-4

The Message

English Standard Version

Thought to Guide Your Reading

Rahab's story shows the proof of God's word—the nations would marvel at how God protected Israel.

Summary in 100 Words or Less

God told Israel to enter Canaan and charged them to be strong and courageous.
The Reubenites, Gadites, and Manassehites (who wanted the land east of the river) sent their armies across the Jordan. They expressed loyalty to Joshua.
Joshua sent two spies to Jericho. Rahab protected them. The entire city shook with fear from God's protection of the Israelites. Rahab's family would be saved because of her faith.
Joshua ordered the Ark of the Covenant be carried into the Jordan. The water stood upstream and Israel crossed on dry land. They removed 12 stones as a sign of God's works.

How Today’s Reading Contributes to the Gospel: God is Setting All Things Right

God renews The Promise with the new generation.

Finally, Israel is ready to fulfill part of God's promise to Abraham. So God reminds the people again of His protection.

All your life, no one will be able to hold out against you. In the same way I was with Moses, I'll be with you. I won't give up on you; I won't leave you. Strength! Courage! (1:5-6, The Message)

God will protect His Chosen People when they make all things right on the earth.

The new generation wants to obey Joshua.

These people are very different than their previous generation. Moses had to argue, fight, and beg Israel to follow him. Joshua does not need to battle. They are willing and ready to go. God can make all things right when we follow the leaders God has chosen.

The story of Rahab is about how the people in Canaan feared God because He protected Israel.

Most English translations consider Rahab a harlot and thus make the story about an immoral woman who had faith in God. However, that is not the point at all. The main point of the story is her statement of faith,

I know that God has given you the land. We're all afraid. Everyone in the country feels hopeless. We heard how God dried up the waters of the Red Sea before you when you left Egypt, and what he did to the two Amorite kings east of the Jordan, Sihon and Og, whom you put under a holy curse and destroyed. We heard it and our hearts sank. We all had the wind knocked out of us. And all because of you, you and God, your God, God of the heavens above and God of the earth below. Now promise me by God. I showed you mercy; now show my family mercy. (2:9-12, The Message)

Rahab has greater faith in God than many of the Israelites! Rahab's profession was is immaterial to the story—and the reason it wasn't included in this text. God's protection of His Chosen People makes their enemies fear.

God protected Rahab because she protected His Chosen People.

Rahab and her entire family are saved from destruction because she was willing to set things right for God's Chosen People. She did this because of her faith. Yet she was not an Israelite and the spies did not tell her to obey the Torah (the laws section of the Pentateuch) to be saved. God will protect anyone willing to set things right on this earth.

Be strong and courageous!

March 11 - Deuteronomy 1-2: Moses Reminds Israel's New Generation Their Story

Today’s Reading: Deuteronomy 1-2

The Message

English Standard Version

Today we begin Deuteronomy, the last book of the Pentateuch. It is a series of sermons given by Moses to the Israelites before he dies and they cross into Canaan. Much of the book repeats narratives and laws found in the previous three books (Exodus, Leviticus, and Numbers). I will not copy-paste what I have written in those books but will touch on themes that repeat.

Onward and upward!

Thought to Guide Your Reading

Moses begins his series of speeches on why they were there and not in Canaan already.

Summary in 100 Words or Less

Moses spoke to Israel near the Jordan River 41 years after leaving Egypt.
"God led us through the wilderness. Now you can take the land promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. God fulfilled part of His Promise—Israel is as numerous as the stars! You chose leaders to settle quarrels justly.
"We sent scouts into Canaan. You became afraid and God punished us. You tried to enter without God and were routed. I cannot enter. Joshua will lead you.
"God had given the wilderness we visited to the descendents of Esau and Lot. But some fought us and were defeated."

How Today’s Reading Contributes to the Gospel: God is Setting All Things Right

Moses is retelling the wilderness story to a new generation.

No one over 20-years-old when the scouts went into Canaan could enter Canaan. They have all died. Now a new generation is ready to enter Canaan. Moses wants to make sure they understand how they got here and who will protect them when they go in. He does not want a repeat of the previous fiasco. Every generation must receive its call from the previous generation. Without this the next generation floats by without truly knowing God's purpose for His Chosen People.

God has fulfilled part of the Promise—Israel now numbers as the stars.

God promised Abraham that his descendents would be as numerous as the stars. Moses gives praise to God for fulfilling that part of the Promise. God will fulfill His Promises!

God also makes promises to non-Chosen People

The Moabites and the People of Esau are not people of the Promise. They are relatives of the Israelites but God did not make the same promise to them as He did Abraham. However, He promised them land. God makes promises to those outside the Promise of Abraham.
What does that mean for us today? It means we do not hold a monopoly on God. God will deal with anyone willing to listen to Him. This can be people who know nothing about Christianity as we know it. What does this mean for missions? Missions is not about taking God to a new place He has never been. Missions is about taking Jesus' name to a people who have not yet called on His name.