Look Inside. Look Around. What do you see? Show Me! #30

 

26 Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.” 28 Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” 29 Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” 30 Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; 31 but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. (John 20)

For centuries, scholars have been pointing out how different John is from the other three gospels.  John assumes that many have heard the facts presented in the other Gospels. His emphasis on the signs pointing to Who Christ is, as well as Jesus' own "I Am" statements, along with the summary passage we read above, point the reader to re-examine the evidence of Who Christ is, and having done so, to believe in Him, to trust in Him, to receive the eternal life Christ offers. This passage is in effect an expansion on the best known verse: John 3:16:“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life."

Look inside the Gospel of John. Look for signs of life.  Look for signs of God's love.  Look for the evidence that compels you to say like Thomas: "My Lord and My God!" Show Me. Tell the world. 

Look Inside. Look Around. What do you see? Show me! #29

1 Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the things that have been accomplished among us, 2 just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word have delivered them to us, 3 it seemed good to me also, having followed all things closely for some time past, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, 4 that you may have certainty concerning the things you have been taught. (Luke, chapter 1)

Inquiring minds want to know. And they need to know, especially when the topic is Jesus Christ.  Theophilus apparently had requested of Luke an investigative report about Jesus. As some sort of ranking Roman official, he had heard about this Savior Who had come from among the Jewish people, whose followers seemed to be turning the world upside down - in a good way.  So Luke does interviews, checks out other reports, and now shares things from Jesus' family background, through His activities and teaching as a preacher, to His death, burial and resurrection, and then closes with a snapshot of those He left behind to carry on His ministry.  Luke wrote with a rich and refined style about Jesus' care for all peoples, especially the poor and women.  He carefully chose key miracles, emphasizing instead the parables Jesus spoke.  He focused on Jesus' teaching on prayer, for which His early followers were famous, and on the great joy that He had and spread wherever He went.  Luke packs so much in, all I can say is "Look Inside". What do you see? Now look around. Take a picture and share it, just like Luke did with Theophilus.  What do people  need to see about Jesus? 

Look Inside. Look Around. What do you see? Show Me. #28

 

1 The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.2 As it is written in Isaiah the prophet,

“Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way, 3 the voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight,’”

4 John appeared, baptizing in the wilderness and proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 5 And all the country of Judea and all Jerusalem were going out to him and were being baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. 6 Now John was clothed with camel's hair and wore a leather belt around his waist and ate locusts and wild honey. 7 And he preached, saying, “After me comes he who is mightier than I, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. 8 I have baptized you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

9 In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10 And when he came up out of the water, immediately he saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. 11 And a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”

12 The Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. 13 And he was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan. And he was with the wild animals, and the angels were ministering to him.

14 Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, 15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”

Whereas the gospel of Matthew seems especially addressed to the Jews, Mark seems to be more fitted to the secular Roman world. His does not spend time on details like genealogies or warm fuzzy manger scenes - he cuts right to the chase. His key word is "immediately" - Jesus was a man of action. But as we run to keep up, we are also exposed to the greatest teacher of all times.  Though He is a real man, we are told right away here that He is the Son of God, sent here on a mission. He was sent to do battle with Satan, and we find early and often the mention of "the cross", where the ultimate victory is won.  For people in our fast-paced world, where most would rather watch than read, I encourage you to look inside this shortest of the gospels.  Then look around.  Where do you see Jesus? What short, yet powerful things do you hear Him say?  What is the Good News He shares with us today? Take a picture. Show me. Tell us about this great Son of God. 

Look Inside. Look Around. What do you see? Show me! #27

We've been following along on this journey through

 history, looking at creation, the establishment of the people of Israel as God's servant to show and tell the world Who He is and what He can do. We've been on the exodus, in the wilderness wandering, the entrance into the land, through the empire of David, down into the exile, and through the years of existing in a less than perfect world. If you expected to look into what we refer to as the minor prophets, I hate to disappoint you, but we look instead into Matthew 20:

29 And as they went out of Jericho, a great crowd followed him. 30 And behold, there were two blind men sitting by the roadside, and when they heard that Jesus was passing by, they cried out, “Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David!” 31 The crowd rebuked them, telling them to be silent, but they cried out all the more, “Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David!” 32 And stopping, Jesus called them and said, “What do you want me to do for you?” 33 They said to him, “Lord, let our eyes be opened.” 34 And Jesus in pity touched their eyes, and immediately they recovered their sight and followed him. 

The first of the four Gospels presents to us Jesus as the promised Messiah, the Son of David. Throughout our journey, we have seen God presented as Sovereign Lord, the Most High God, and at Israel's peak, the One True King.  That kingly theme resurfaces here in Matthew with the arrival of Jesus, the Christ. From the first chapter, with the genealogies focuses on the Kingly line, to His final words "All Authority is given unto Me." in the last paragraph, Jesus shows and tells us about His Kingdom.  He gives five great discourses on what it is like, filled in with miracles like the one above, which show that the Son of David is Lord. He heals, calms the sea, and forgives sin. He is worthy of our trust, our worship, our obedience. Go back and look inside. What pictures stick out to you? What great truths that he spoke, or miracles that he performed say to you "Jesus is My King!? Take a pic. Show me.  

Look Inside. Look Around. What do you see? Show Me! #26

Yesterday we looked at Ezekiel and the pictures he painted from exile in Babylon - How God is still at work, showing His people and the world that His is still in control, and "Then they will know that I am the Lord"  In the next book we find that Daniel too had been exiled to Babylon, being used of God in the courts of the Babylonians Kings, where he has a reputation for interpreting dreams. In Chapter 5:

17 Then Daniel answered and said before the king, “Let your gifts be for yourself, and give your rewards to another. Nevertheless, I will read the writing to the king and make known to him the interpretation. 18 O king, the Most High God gave Nebuchadnezzar your father kingship and greatness and glory and majesty. 19 And because of the greatness that he gave him, all peoples, nations, and languages trembled and feared before him. Whom he would, he killed, and whom he would, he kept alive; whom he would, he raised up, and whom he would, he humbled. 20 But when his heart was lifted up and his spirit was hardened so that he dealt proudly, he was brought down from his kingly throne, and his glory was taken from him. 21 He was driven from among the children of mankind, and his mind was made like that of a beast, and his dwelling was with the wild donkeys. He was fed grass like an ox, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, until he knew that the Most High God rules the kingdom of mankind and sets over it whom he will. 22 And you his son, Belshazzar, have not humbled your heart, though you knew all this, 23 but you have lifted up yourself against the Lord of heaven. And the vessels of his house have been brought in before you, and you and your lords, your wives, and your concubines have drunk wine from them. And you have praised the gods of silver and gold, of bronze, iron, wood, and stone, which do not see or hear or know, but the God in whose hand is your breath, and whose are all your ways, you have not honored. 

As stated twice in this passage, the Lord is the Most High God.  The world was, and still is, filled with false gods, idols, whom men and nations serve, but there is only one true, Most High God, ruling over all.  Daniel stuck out in the middle of this pagan court, and His writings stick out in the middle of human history to say: God still rules.  He gives us glimpses of things yet to come which reverb all the way through The Revelation of John in the rest of the Bible. God was, is, and will always be the Most High God.  What do you think of when you hear about Daniel? Lions? The Fiery Furnace? The Writing on the wall? Daniel's Prayers? The purity and faithfulness of him and his friends? Picture it. Send it. Show me, and celebrate that the Lord is the Most High God. 

 

11 Thus says the Lord God: “Clap your hands and stamp your foot and say, Alas, because of all the evil abominations of the house of Israel, for they shall fall by the sword, by famine, and by pestilence. 12 He who is far off shall die of pestilence, and he who is near shall fall by the sword, and he who is left and is preserved shall die of famine. Thus I will spend my fury upon them. 13 And you shall know that I am the Lord, when their slain lie among their idols around their altars, on every high hill, on all the mountaintops, under every green tree, and under every leafy oak, wherever they offered pleasing aroma to all their idols. 14 And I will stretch out my hand against them and make the land desolate and waste, in all their dwelling places, from the wilderness to Riblah. Then they will know that I am the Lord.” (Ezekiel 6)

Ezekiel, like Jeremiah, lived through a whirlwind time in Israel's history. Internationally life was crazy; The great Assyrian Empire had fallen, and Egypt and Babylon were vying for power, with Israel in their path. Israel was nose-diving spiritually and politically. Like Jeremiah, he was of priestly descent, but he was called to be a prophet. Before Israel fell and Jeremiah was taken to Egypt, Ezekiel was exiled to Babylon. Because he was an extremely intelligent and gifted man, he could have blended in and lived a relatively easy life. But God send him messages: Jerusalem would completely fall, but God's people were to not lose heart, because God was at work; they would return and rebuild the temple.  But Ezekiel would not see that. What God did show Him is how He was at work behind the scenes of Human history, world history - that God was going to show His people, and the world, that He is Lord.  Look inside Ezekiel for some beautiful word pictures. Then look around you, in the news, for signs that say: He is Lord. I can see it, and some day, everyone else will see it too. Take a pic; post it or send it. Show me. 

 

22 The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;
    his mercies never come to an end;
23 they are new every morning;
    great is your faithfulness.
24 “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul,
    “therefore I will hope in him.”
25 The Lord is good to those who wait for him,
    to the soul who seeks him.
26 It is good that one should wait quietly
    for the salvation of the Lord.
27 It is good for a man that he bear
    the yoke in his youth.

(Lamentations 3)

How? How could this happen? That is literally the title of this book: How? As Jeremiah looks over the devastation of Jerusalem and the ruins of the temple, he laments, he cries out in grief: How did it ever come to this? And it's not just one cry, it's a whole series of them. But it is not an endless or hopeless temper tantrum.  He comes to realizations of the true nature of God.  He is full of love, mercy, and faithfulness to His character.  Yes, it is in times of grief we often get to know God the best.  The sooner we do so, the better.  How have you gotten to know God better through grief? Take a picture. Show & tell me.  

 

27 “Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will sow the house of Israel and the house of Judah with the seed of man and the seed of beast. 28 And it shall come to pass that as I have watched over them to pluck up and break down, to overthrow, destroy, and bring harm, so I will watch over them to build and to plant, declares the Lord. 29 In those days they shall no longer say:
“‘The fathers have eaten sour grapes,
    and the children's teeth are set on edge.’
30 But everyone shall die for his own iniquity. Each man who eats sour grapes, his teeth shall be set on edge.
31 “Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah, 32 not like the covenant that I made with their fathers on the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, my covenant that they broke, though I was their husband, declares the Lord. 33 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 34 And no longer shall each one teach his neighbor and each his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the Lord. For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.”

(Jeremiah 31)

Though Isaiah has more chapters than the other prophets, Jeremiah has a lot more words.  That may be because it expresses so deeply the pain of Jeremiah, and of God, as he gives warning after warning of coming judgment on a sinful people, only to see them fulfilled in the great disaster of the exile. For Jeremiah, it's not just professional, it's deeply personal as well.  Starting his career in the good days of Josiah, when a time of spiritual renewal was taking place, as he aged he watched Jerusalem, her kings, and the nation go steadily downhill.  Yet, he never gave up on God.  Though life seemed like sour grapes, as we read above, he knew that God was just, and God gave hope for the future. He is also the God Who forgives, who changes people, and nations. He restores. God still wants us to know Him.  What are the sour grapes in your life today? What is falling apart and being torn down? Now, what has the Lord Promised to build, to restore, to make new? God is still watching over you.  Look for it. Find it. Picture it, and post it here.  

Look Inside. Look Around. What do you see? Show me! #22

 

Go on up to a high mountain,
    O Zion, herald of good news;
lift up your voice with strength,
    O Jerusalem, herald of good news;
    lift it up, fear not;
say to the cities of Judah,
    “Behold your God!”
10 Behold, the Lord God comes with might,
    and his arm rules for him;
behold, his reward is with him,
    and his recompense before him.
11 He will tend his flock like a shepherd;
    he will gather the lambs in his arms;
he will carry them in his bosom,
    and gently lead those that are with young.
12 Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand
    and marked off the heavens with a span,
enclosed the dust of the earth in a measure
    and weighed the mountains in scales
    and the hills in a balance?
13 Who has measured the Spirit of the Lord,
    or what man shows him his counsel?
14 Whom did he consult,
    and who made him understand?
Who taught him the path of justice,
    and taught him knowledge,
    and showed him the way of understanding?
(Isaiah, Chapter 40)

Our transition from the writings into the Prophets begins with Isaiah, the most popular, quoted, and longest of the prophetic books.  It is also first as it has a lot of poetry, personification, and powerful picturesque language like the poetic books. We've talked about books that have been divided from one into two; Isaiah almost seems like two books in one.  The first half is filled with prophecies of judgment for the sins of Israel, as the powerful kingdom of Assyria will be used by God's hand to chastise her, The second half, which has been referred to as the Gospel of Isaiah, focuses on this coming Servant of the Lord, who will deliver and show that God is still sovereign.  It begins in chapter 40, quoted above. Behold, your God.  Behold Him as the Servant; Behold Him as the Sacrificial Lamb in chapter 53; Behold Him as your coming King in the final chapters. Look through this book; find the pictures that stick out to you.  Come up with a picture from google, or your bible story book, or draw one for me that captures this picture you have when you behold God.   

Look Inside. Look Around. What do you see? Show me! #21

 

8Set me as a seal upon your heart,
    as a seal upon your arm,
for love is strong as death,
    jealousy is fierce as the grave.
Its flashes are flashes of fire,
    the very flame of the Lord.
7 Many waters cannot quench love,
    neither can floods drown it.
If a man offered for love
    all the wealth of his house,
    he would be utterly despised.

(Song of Songs 8)

Love, It's worth more than everything else in your house put together.  This Song of Solomon or Song of Songs is one of the most debated books in th e Old Testament, because it is so graphic and literal.  It really does need to be considered in context of the grouping of books within which it is found.  It is about living life "under the Sun"(Ecclesiastes) and in Wisdom (Proverbs), as one who trusts in God.  God has graciously given us love - including passionate love in marriage - to help us understand how He feels about us, the crown of His creation, and to help us prioritize our lives.  Love brings restoration, just as God's visits to the garden in the evening brought rest and renewal to Adam and Eve. The Song is a song of rejoicing and thanksgiving, the I Corinthians 13 of the Old Testament. We find Love talking and acting. So take a look inside. Find the Word, and actions, that will help you understand, speak, share, and show love today.  Take a picture, show me, tell me, and others, how God has blessed you with love.  

Look Inside. Look Around. What do you see? Show Me! #20

Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come and the years draw near of which you will say, “I have no pleasure in them”; 2 before the sun and the light and the moon and the stars are darkened and the clouds return after the rain, 3 in the day when the keepers of the house tremble, and the strong men are bent, and the grinders cease because they are few, and those who look through the windows are dimmed, 4 and the doors on the street are shut—when the sound of the grinding is low, and one rises up at the sound of a bird, and all the daughters of song are brought low— 5 they are afraid also of what is high, and terrors are in the way; the almond tree blossoms, the grasshopper drags itself along, and desire fails, because man is going to his eternal home, and the mourners go about the streets— 6 before the silver cord is snapped, or the golden bowl is broken, or the pitcher is shattered at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern, 7 and the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it. 8 Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher; all is vanity. 9 Besides being wise, the Preacher also taught the people knowledge, weighing and studying and arranging many proverbs with great care. 10 The Preacher sought to find words of delight, and uprightly he wrote words of truth. 11 The words of the wise are like goads, and like nails firmly fixed are the collected sayings; they are given by one Shepherd. 12 My son, beware of anything beyond these. Of making many books there is no end, and much study is a weariness of the flesh. 13 The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. 14 For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil.

These is the concluding chapter of the book of Ecclesiastes, an attempt to find meaning and purpose in life "under the sun."  Even the title sounds intimidating, though it simply means a "calling together" of people to hear, to listen to what the writer has learned after much living and much learning, "under the sun". The picture is that our picture is extremely limited from the human perspective.  It is easy to get lost on one's way, wandering and wondering if their is any purpose and meaning in life. There is, but only when we look beyond the Sun and everything it reveals, To God, His Word, and His purposes. So, what are we to do? First: accept our limitations; realize we cannot know it all or do it all. Secondly, as a follow up to Proverbs, live by that wisdom; fear God and keep His commandments   And start now; don't wait; stop holding out for something better; do it when you're young, or at least before you get any older. God really does have a great life for you to live, and a greater life after, if you'll trust Him. Look around you with a different set of eyes.  Listen for the birds and the grasshoppers and especially the voice of God. Smell the roses, the coffee and the scent of a loved one. Taste and see that the Lord is Good.  Take a picture; show me, tell me, how life lived under the sun can be a great adventure when you include the One above it. 

Look Inside. Look Around. What do you see? Show Me #19

 1 The proverbs of Solomon, son of David, king of Israel:
2 To know wisdom and instruction,
    to understand words of insight,
3 to receive instruction in wise dealing,
    in righteousness, justice, and equity;
4 to give prudence to the simple,
    knowledge and discretion to the youth—
5 Let the wise hear and increase in learning,
    and the one who understands obtain guidance,
6 to understand a proverb and a saying,
    the words of the wise and their riddles.
7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge;
    fools despise wisdom and instruction.

(Proverbs 1)

Proverbs. I often used think of them as short, pithy statements about the best way to live, but they are so much more.  Some of them are actually much longer. The word itself is also translated "oracle, taunt, and parable," so you cannot just step up to the vending machine and get your "proverb for the day." Actually, the introduction above does tell us the purpose of the book: to gain wisdom, knowledge and understanding about life; for those who are unwise to gain wisdom and those who are wise to gain more wisdom; and   most of all for us to live life the way God designed: in the fear of the Lord. That phrase in itself has stirred up a lot of controversy (by the way, the verb form is also translated "stir up, churn, and twist"), so the idea is not to give us an easy set of rules to live by, but to help us come to grips with what it is to live life fully in God's presence, and therefore live life to the full.  Interestingly, that's one of the stated reasons Christ came: so that we might have life, abundant life, life lived to the full.  So look inside, then look around: in your life, on your wall, on the news - where do you see wisdom, the need for it? - in your life and those around? Take a picture of that poster, post an article, take a selfie of you reading that proverb. Then post it, text or email it.  Share the wealth. We all need more wisdom. 

Look Inside. Look Around. What do you see? Show me! #18

Psalm 47: Clap your hands, all peoples!

    Shout to God with loud songs of joy!

2 For the Lord, the Most High, is to be feared,

    a great king over all the earth.

3 He subdued peoples under us,

    and nations under our feet.

4 He chose our heritage for us,

    the pride of Jacob whom he loves. Selah

5 God has gone up with a shout,

    the Lord with the sound of a trumpet.

6 Sing praises to God, sing praises!

    Sing praises to our King, sing praises!

7 For God is the King of all the earth;

    sing praises with a psalm!

8 God reigns over the nations;

    God sits on his holy throne.

9 The princes of the peoples gather

    as the people of the God of Abraham.

For the shields of the earth belong to God;

    he is highly exalted!

The Book of Psalms - all 150 of them, with different styles and lengths, by different authors through all the times of Israel's Old Testament History. From songs of praise to teaching sections - some super short while some have 22 verses - How do you summarize that? If there is any one statement it is simply this: God Is King,  He made all; He rules over all. He is the center of reality.  That is the key to life we are prone to forget and even push out of our hearts and minds.  What is your favorite?  What psalm or song reminds you that God is King; He is in control; He rules your life and your world. You trust Him?" Post it here: Take a selfie of you singing it, reading it, or a picture of the lyrics or a key verse, a plaque on your wall.  Let us rejoice today that God is King. 

Look Inside. Look Around. What do you see? Show me! #17

Job 1:1 There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job, and that man was blameless and upright, one who feared God and turned away from evil. 2 There were born to him seven sons and three daughters. 3 He possessed 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 yoke of oxen, and 500 female donkeys, and very many servants, so that this man was the greatest of all the people of the east. 4 His sons used to go and hold a feast in the house of each one on his day, and they would send and invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them. 5 And when the days of the feast had run their course, Job would send and consecrate them, and he would rise early in the morning and offer burnt offerings according to the number of them all. For Job said, “It may be that my children have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts.” Thus Job did continually. (Job 1)

Many Bible scholars believe that Job lived during the time of the patriarchs, like Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. The length of life, the description of his wealth in livestock and servants, and the way he served as priest for his family all are like those of the people of that era. The question in my mind then, is why is Job thrown in her at this point, right after the post exile accounts of Ezra, Nehemiah and Esther? This is totally out of Chronology.  Well, two reasons. First of all, we are dealing with a totally different kind of record, entering into what is called "the writings", but also because the theme is so close to these last two: what does it mean when God's people, or good people, suffer?  Is God not Sovereign, unable to protect His people? Is He not as good as we thought? Can man  be totally good on his own?  Those are the ways our thoughts can tend to gravitate when we suffer.  The fact is God is Almighty, perfectly just, and that none of us are sinlessly pure - no not even you, or me.  Beginning in the next paragraph, what we see is that Satan is trying to convince us otherwise - that it is God who brings suffering, not him.  We do not need to look far to find suffering: it could start in your toenail, up to your headache, to someone in your home, family, neighborhood, local hospital, and on that screen that screams suffering all around the world.  God is watching too. He does care.  The account of Job proves to him, and to us, that our suffering is not the end of the story, and we will find God to be everything we need, we are not perfect, and God still has a plan that includes us.  Look inside. Look around.  Filter the suffering you see with this: 

“Behold, I go forward, but he is not there,
    and backward, but I do not perceive him;
9 on the left hand when he is working, I do not behold him;
    he turns to the right hand, but I do not see him.
10 But he knows the way that I take;
    when he has tried me, I shall come out as gold.

(Job 23:8-10)

Take a picture that speaks to you of God taking someone through suffering. Post it or send it, then talk to God about seeing them, or you, through suffering. 

Look Inside Look Around. What do you see? Show Me! #16

Having traveled along with Israel through their history of the Exodus through their entry into the promised land, being established there only to disobey and be exiled, then endure that and enter again to rebuild the temple and city of Jerusalem, we come to the unique account of Esther. We find this summary in chapter 9:

20 And Mordecai recorded these things and sent letters to all the Jews who were in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus, both near and far, 21 obliging them to keep the fourteenth day of the month Adar and also the fifteenth day of the same, year by year, 22 as the days on which the Jews got relief from their enemies, and as the month that had been turned for them from sorrow into gladness and from mourning into a holiday; that they should make them days of feasting and gladness, days for sending gifts of food to one another and gifts to the poor. 23 So the Jews accepted what they had started to do, and what Mordecai had written to them. 24 For Haman the Agagite, the son of Hammedatha, the enemy of all the Jews, had plotted against the Jews to destroy them, and had cast Pur (that is, cast lots), to crush and to destroy them. 25 But when it came before the king, he gave orders in writing that his evil plan that he had devised against the Jews should return on his own head, and that he and his sons should be hanged on the gallows. 26 Therefore they called these days Purim, after the term Pur. (Esther 9)

Some of us have read this short book, but I believe many never get this far. It is a great summary that fits right in with the time period of Ezra and Nehemiah, answering the question: "What about the Jews who did not return to Jerusalem?" How did they fare? This shows how God preserved them, and why they established the celebration of Purim to remember that. Again we find a remnant of God's faithful people, despite being surrounded by unbelievers who are bent on their destruction. The roots of this bitterness go all the way back to the Exodus and the jealousy of the Amalekites against Israel. This book is full of banquets and celebrations, and the reminder that God preserves His people. Many have noted that God's name never appears in the book, which appears to be by design. This society was so secular that the thought o f God never entered their minds, so when those who do believe in him rise up, they stick out.  Look around.  How do you see your life, or that of others sticking out simply for your faith? Where do you see remnants of trust in God in a society seeking to wipe out all memory of Him? What celebrations do you have so you never forget He is here, even in such a time as this? Take a picture. Post it or send it! Look for God at work behind the scenes and beneath the surface. 

Look Inside. Look Around. What do you see? Show me! #15

Yesterday we looked at the book of Ezra and the rebuilding of the temple after the exile; today we look at the companion book: Nehemiah, chapter 8:1 And all the people gathered as one man into the square before the Water Gate. And they told Ezra the scribe to bring the Book of the Law of Moses that the Lord had commanded Israel. 2 So Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly, both men and women and all who could understand what they heard, on the first day of the seventh month. 3 And he read from it facing the square before the Water Gate from early morning until midday, in the presence of the men and the women and those who could understand. And the ears of all the people were attentive to the Book of the Law. 4 And Ezra the scribe stood on a wooden platform that they had made for the purpose. And beside him stood Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah, and Maaseiah on his right hand, and Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchijah, Hashum, Hashbaddanah, Zechariah, and Meshullam on his left hand. 5 And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people, for he was above all the people, and as he opened it all the people stood. 6 And Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God, and all the people answered, “Amen, Amen,” lifting up their hands. And they bowed their heads and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground. 7 Also Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, the Levites, helped the people to understand the Law, while the people remained in their places. 8 They read from the book, from the Law of God, clearly, and they gave the sense, so that the people understood the reading. 9 And Nehemiah, who was the governor, and Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people, “This day is holy to the Lord your God; do not mourn or weep.” For all the people wept as they heard the words of the Law. 10 Then he said to them, “Go your way. Eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions to anyone who has nothing ready, for this day is holy to our Lord. And do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” 

Much like in Ezra, we find here in Nehemiah these significant lists of relationship: we are the people of God together. Both in this passage, and in the last chapter, we have Ezra and Nehemiah standing with one another, unified in leading the people. There are four keys to what is going on. First, there are the walls.  Nehemiah's burden was for the walls. God wants us to have security - not some shallow, false security, but a true deep peace that all is well, no matter how badly we are outnumbered or opposed. Secondly, as we see here, there is worship. There is serious worship here, as they life of their hands, bow their heads, and fall on their faces.  That leads to a commitment to the Word of God. They build a special place from which to read it; they took time to make sure the understood it. They responded to it, which leads to the fourth key: weeping. They saw in what they heard their sin failure, and disobedience to God.  Such grief is not an end in itself; it is intended to be the good grief that leads to joy, a joy that comes from a renewed dependence on God to live by His word, to strengthen us for the task, to live out our lives the way He desires.  Look around.  Where do you find to worship? To spend time in His Word? What are the Walls of security He provides for you? What pictures for you His peace and joy? Take a picture; post it or send it.  May we sense today that the Joy of the Lord is our Strength. 

Look Inside. Look Around. What do you See? Show me! #14

 

When the seventh month came, and the children of Israel were in the towns, the people gathered as one man to Jerusalem. 2 Then arose Jeshua the son of Jozadak, with his fellow priests, and Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel with his kinsmen, and they built the altar of the God of Israel, to offer burnt offerings on it, as it is written in the Law of Moses the man of God. 3 They set the altar in its place, for fear was on them because of the peoples of the lands, and they offered burnt offerings on it to the Lord, burnt offerings morning and evening. 4 And they kept the Feast of Booths, as it is written, and offered the daily burnt offerings by number according to the rule, as each day required, 5 and after that the regular burnt offerings, the offerings at the new moon and at all the appointed feasts of the Lord, and the offerings of everyone who made a freewill offering to the Lord. 6 From the first day of the seventh month they began to offer burnt offerings to the Lord. But the foundation of the temple of the Lord was not yet laid. 7 So they gave money to the masons and the carpenters, and food, drink, and oil to the Sidonians and the Tyrians to bring cedar trees from Lebanon to the sea, to Joppa, according to the grant that they had from Cyrus king of Persia. (Ezra 3)

Yesterday we talked about Chronicles and all the ways God's people were to look back, at their present, and to their future and know that God was not done with them; He still cared about them. These next two books demonstrate that. First, today, In Ezra we have one of the ways we see that: the rebuilding of the Temple.  God wanted to meet with them; He wanted that constant reminder He was with them, so He moved government officials to pronounce and help pay for that rebuilding - just as he used pagan punishments to chastize His people, He also used them to bless them.   Throughout the book we find all sorts of lists: of people and objects, and also all sorts of formal documents - letters and invoices, which were evidence that God was at work.  What kind of evidence will you see today around you that God is at work, that He is using people and events to build the future for you: geneologies, picture books, letters, marriage licenses - even bills or speeding tickets - that show God is on the move.  Take a pic, think about what God is doing: Show me! Post it. Send it. May God bless your day!. 

Look Inside. Look Around. What do you see? Show Me! #13

We've spent the last few days looking at the books of Samuel and Kings, and the history of the journey of Israel after the Exodus, through the wilderness, into the promised land, becoming established under a king, only to blow it all, lose it all, and be taken out of the promised land into exile. Then we come to Chronicles, where we will cut to the chase and go directly to the last paragraph of the second book:

22 Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom and also put it in writing: 23 “Thus says Cyrus king of Persia, ‘The Lord, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth, and he has charged me to build him a house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Whoever is among you of all his people, may the Lord his God be with him. Let him go up.’” (II Chronicles 36)

At first glance, I & II Chronicles might just seem like a rehash of the history of Samuel and Kings, with the same time period being covered, but the purpose and structure are much different. The key is found here in the last paragraph. It takes place after the exile, when the people are looking back on this history with this big question: "Does God Still Care About Us?  Is it worth us going back to the Promised Land?" Why would they ask that question? Because they no longer had a king.  They were now under the rule of Cyrus, and could never see things changing.  Chronicles is full of reasons why God's people should go on in life, and maybe go back.  One big thing is the temple was going to be rebuilt: the temple, which is the pinnacle of events in I Chronicles, reminded them that God was with them. But there was much more: even when the temple was not there, God was still with them. They had God's Law, which throughout the Chronicles is emphasized with reminders to take immediate obedience more seriously - that was a lesson they needed to learn from the exile, and we'll see that lesson emphasized in upcoming books. Next, the promise of the Messiah still holds true; the great King would come some day. Finally, God has given us community: through our families - there are a lot of genealogies in the Chronicles, and also through the united people of God: the emphasis in the Kings is how North and South, Israel and Judah were always at odds with one another; the tone of Chronicles is more like: we are all God's people: when we squabble and fight, we are fighting against God's good plan for us. 

So, look inside: Chronicles is not boring history; it's a book of hope and promise. The story is not over God cares about us and has a plan for us. God has given us people to worship with, worth with, and have community with. Don't waste time fretting about the past or worrying about the future; appreciate and enjoy all God h as given and who He gives you today. Take a picture; Show me: post it or send it. 

Look Inside. Look Around. What do you see? Show Me! #12

 

After Ahab’s death, Moab rebelled against Israel. 2 Now Ahaziah had fallen through the lattice of his upper room in Samaria and injured himself. So he sent messengers, saying to them, “Go and consult Baal-Zebub, the god of Ekron, to see if I will recover from this injury.” 3 But the angel of the Lord said to Elijah the Tishbite, “Go up and meet the messengers of the king of Samaria and ask them, ‘Is it because there is no God in Israel that you are going off to consult Baal-Zebub, the god of Ekron?’ 4 Therefore this is what the Lord says: ‘You will not leave the bed you are lying on. You will certainly die!’” So Elijah went. 5 When the messengers returned to the king, he asked them, “Why have you come back?” 6 “A man came to meet us,” they replied. “And he said to us, ‘Go back to the king who sent you and tell him, “This is what the Lord says: Is it because there is no God in Israel that you are sending messengers to consult Baal-Zebub, the god of Ekron? Therefore you will not leave the bed you are lying on. You will certainly die!" The king asked them, “What kind of man was it who came to meet you and told you this?” 8 They replied, “He had a garment of hair and had a leather belt around his waist.” The king said, “That was Elijah the Tishbite.” 9 Then he sent to Elijah a captain with his company of fifty men. The captain went up to Elijah, who was sitting on the top of a hill, and said to him, “Man of God, the king says, ‘Come down!’” 10 Elijah answered the captain, “If I am a man of God, may fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty men!” Then fire fell from heaven and consumed the captain and his men. (II KIngs 1)

What a way to start the second half of the discussion of the times of the kings.  Elijah is about to transition off the scene and pass the baton to Elisha, but he's not going out without a splash or a raging fire. God is making a point: "Why are you seeking wisdom from the idols of this world instead of men who speak for God?"  We could very well ask that same question today in our society. So many are turning away from the Church to media and politicians and movie and sports stars for what to believe. By the time we get two-thirds of the way through this book, Israel, the northern kingdom of which Ahazia was king, had reached the end of God's patience and were exiled, and the attention is turned onto the downhill slide in Judah, the southern kingdom. Though there were small spurts of revival, by the end of the account we find Judah also reaps the rewards of placing their trust in all the places, with most people either killed or exiled to Babylon, while Jeremiah and a small remnant escape to, of all places, Egypt, from where this whole journey began. We are left with the question: How will God's people fare there?  Interestingly, that's what our Ladies Bible study on Thursday Evenings is studying: how to survive in Babylon, a cutlure totally alien and opposed to God's pattern. Look inside this book of Second Kings. There are some exciting accounts here, and some good news despite the downward slide. Look around.  Where do you see misplaced trust in our culture, in your own life? Take a picture of something or someone you are encouraged by, or leery of as a place of false hope.  Post it or send it. Let's remember today: There is a God here and now - the Everlasting God of all Truth and Hope. 

Look Inside. Look Around. What do you see? Show me! #11

We've spent the last two days talking about the books of I and II Samuel and their description of the transition from the time of the judges to that of the kings through Samuel, Saul and David.  Like them, the books of I & II Kings were originally one book, which has been somewhat divided into a division of when the ministry of Elijah transitioned into that of Elisa.  Listen to this excerpt from I Kings 16:

21 Then the people of Israel were split into two factions; half supported Tibni son of Ginath for king, and the other half supported Omri. 22 But Omri’s followers proved stronger than those of Tibni son of Ginath. So Tibni died and Omri became king.

23 In the thirty-first year of Asa king of Judah, Omri became king of Israel, and he reigned twelve years, six of them in Tirzah. 24 He bought the hill of Samaria from Shemer for two talents[a] of silver and built a city on the hill, calling it Samaria, after Shemer, the name of the former owner of the hill.

25 But Omri did evil in the eyes of the Lord and sinned more than all those before him. 26 He followed completely the ways of Jeroboam son of Nebat, committing the same sin Jeroboam had caused Israel to commit, so that they aroused the anger of the Lord, the God of Israel, by their worthless idols.

27 As for the other events of Omri’s reign, what he did and the things he achieved, are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Israel? 28 Omri rested with his ancestors and was buried in Samaria. And Ahab his son succeeded him as king. (I Kings `16)

The nation of Israel was politically divided down the middle. Omri came out on top, and notice his acheivements: He moved the capital to Samaria; he caused the worship of idols to flourish, and it says he "achieved" all sorts of other things. His reign was politically monumental, yet he only gets six verses. His son Ahab was a wimp who whined and complained and chapters on spent on his reign. Why? Because Kings is not so much a book about kings.  What is described is not so much the political, social and economic achievements of the king, as it is their reliance on their relationship with God and their obedience to His commands.  It  whether he lived by or ran from the Covenantal commitment between Israel and God. 

You and I live in a time of great political division, and politics is getting the press, but the real stories are going on behind the scenes in the recording of God's history.  There are much more pressing spiritual battles taking place that will shape the future.  Look inside this book. What do you see about man's heart, about your heart?  Who are you letting speak more into your heart? As we look here, kings come and go, but the prophets are the ones who hold things together.  What are your "achievements" in life - where do you see the glory of God coming through.  It may be tough to take a picture of it, but try - take a picture, post it here or send it to me.  May God help us see what really is going on in history. 

Look Inside. Look Around. What do you see? Show Me! #10

 18 Then King David went in and sat before the Lord, and he said:

“Who am I, Sovereign Lord, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far? 19 And as if this were not enough in your sight, Sovereign Lord, you have also spoken about the future of the house of your servant—and this decree, Sovereign Lord, is for a mere human!

20 “What more can David say to you? For you know your servant, Sovereign Lord. 21 For the sake of your word and according to your will, you have done this great thing and made it known to your servant.

22 “How great you are, Sovereign Lord! There is no one like you, and there is no God but you, as we have heard with our own ears. 23 And who is like your people Israel—the one nation on earth that God went out to redeem as a people for himself, and to make a name for himself, and to perform great and awesome wonders by driving out nations and their gods from before your people, whom you redeemed from Egypt? 24 You have established your people Israel as your very own forever, and you, Lord, have become their God.

25 “And now, Lord God, keep forever the promise you have made concerning your servant and his house. Do as you promised, 26 so that your name will be great forever. Then people will say, ‘The Lord Almighty is God over Israel!’ And the house of your servant David will be established in your sight.

27 “Lord Almighty, God of Israel, you have revealed this to your servant, saying, ‘I will build a house for you.’ So your servant has found courage to pray this prayer to you. 28 Sovereign Lord, you are God! Your covenant is trustworthy, and you have promised these good things to your servant. 29 Now be pleased to bless the house of your servant, that it may continue forever in your sight; for you, Sovereign Lord, have spoken, and with your blessing the house of your servant will be blessed forever.  (II Samuel 7)

Yesterday we noted that the books of I & II Samuel were at one time one book describing for us the transition from the time of the judges to that of the kings. The first book ends with the death of King Saul, then the second begins with the process of David consolidating the nation over the course of numerous years. When we read with our Starbuck's drive-through mentality these events seem to be quick and short, but it took a long time for David to become King over all Israel. When he finally did, He wanted to build God a temple. He said: "LORD, it's not right that I have a fancy temple while You live in a tent that is hundreds of years old." But God said "no", saying his Son would build the temple, and instead giving David the promise of an everlasting kingdom - that this rule of David was not the end of this journey, but that one of His descendants would be the ultimate king. That is what leads David to this prayer of praise above. David is overwhelmed by the Sovereignty of God, and moved to ask these questions: "Who am I for you to do this for me and to let me know? What more can I say in response than this: Do it Lord! Whatever will bring You glory and accomplish Your purpose: I'm in!" As the book continues on, things go downhill; we see the sinful side of David's life with all it's struggles, yet at the end He is still praising God for these same reasons: "Who am I, that Holy God would even use me or speak to me? What more can I say?" Look inside. Read the scripture above again. Then look around: What do you see that God has done or given that makes you say: "Who am I, Lord?" No matter how great or badly things are right now, I can see your gracious hand in my life!" Take a pic, Show me. Have your kids re-enact the crowning of David, but don't bow before Him; bow in praise of our Sovereign King.

Look Inside. Look Around. What do you See? Show Me! #9

We've been looking at the journey into and taking possession of the Promised Land by the people of Israel.  It has been a trip full of stop and go, getting lost, and sometimes going the wrong way. The next step is found in the book of Samuel.  

4 Then all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah 5 and said to him, “Behold, you are old and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now appoint for us a king to judge us like all the nations.” 6 But the thing displeased Samuel when they said, “Give us a king to judge us.” And Samuel prayed to the Lord. 7 And the Lord said to Samuel, “Obey the voice of the people in all that they say to you, for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected me from being king over them. 8 According to all the deeds that they have done, from the day I brought them up out of Egypt even to this day, forsaking me and serving other gods, so they are also doing to you. 9 Now then, obey their voice; only you shall solemnly warn them and show them the ways of the king who shall reign over them.” (I Samuel 8)

The accounts in Samuel are full of history and theology - so much so that what was once one book has been divided into to.  One of the key elements is calling.  God had called Samuel to accept a special place in God's plan: he was to help transition Israel from the time of the judges to that of the Kings. It was no easy task: transitions rarely are, but God enabled him to navigate that rocky road.  Others were also called upon to step up and take leadership: Saul and David were both called to be King, while many others were called to supporting roles in the Kingdom. Some served well; many did not.  Saul was willing to serve, but not the way God wanted.  David was "the man after God's own heart", not perfect but humble, willing, and worshipful.  Secondly, as we see above, there was a need for consistency.  God was still being faithful to His covenant promises; His people were still bucking at every turn. They wanted a human king for all the wrong reasons, and the wrong kind of king at that.  Thirdly, there is a revived interest in the  ark of the covenant, representing the presence of God, the Word of God, and the memorials of the faithfulness of God.  Simply put: we need to stop forgetting God.  So look inside: the book of I Samuel has some great accounts. Look around you. Are you in a time of transition? What makes that obvious? What makes it seem so long and hard?  What is God calling on you to do?  Who else is He using around you? Family? Religious Leaders? Political leaders? Look inside the ark.  What do you see that reminds you how faithful God is?  Take a picture. Create a video. Post it; email it, text it. Let me see how God is working in your life and home.  

Look Inside. Look Around. What do you See? Show Me! #8

Yesterday we moved on in the history of Israel to the time of the judges. We noted that overall it was a dark time in their history, as everyone was doing what was right in their own eyes, and that they got into this rut of sinning over and over again, falling into the idolatry of the land. But we also saw a lot of crying out to God in prayer, the continual covenantal mercy of God, and a faithful, influential remnant of people who really loved God. That's what we find in Ruth:

Now Boaz had gone up to the gate and sat down there. And behold, the redeemer, of whom Boaz had spoken, came by. So Boaz said, “Turn aside, friend; sit down here.” And he turned aside and sat down. 2 And he took ten men of the elders of the city and said, “Sit down here.” So they sat down. 3 Then he said to the redeemer, “Naomi, who has come back from the country of Moab, is selling the parcel of land that belonged to our relative Elimelech. 4 So I thought I would tell you of it and say, ‘Buy it in the presence of those sitting here and in the presence of the elders of my people.’ If you will redeem it, redeem it. But if you will not, tell me, that I may know, for there is no one besides you to redeem it, and I come after you.” And he said, “I will redeem it.” 5 Then Boaz said, “The day you buy the field from the hand of Naomi, you also acquire Ruth the Moabite, the widow of the dead, in order to perpetuate the name of the dead in his inheritance.” 6 Then the redeemer said, “I cannot redeem it for myself, lest I impair my own inheritance. Take my right of redemption yourself, for I cannot redeem it.” (Ruth 4)

After the history of Judges and before the history of Samuel may seem like a strange place to put this love story, but it really is appropriate, as it is an example of more people open to God during the period of the judges, as well as God's ongoing guiding of His plan.  Ruth lovingly followed her mother-in-law back to Israel after all the men of the family died, and God provided a husband to love Ruth and provide for them both.  In the process, this Moabitess Ruth becomes a part of the line of the coming King, David, and therefore utimately the Messiah. The fact that she is from the people of Moab, with whom the Israelites had had great conflict for agenerations, makes this story even amazing.  Key to understanding this whole story is that term repeated over and over in this paragraph and throughout the book: Redeemer.  Just as Boaz bought back the right to marry and provide for the bride of his relative's widow, God buys back His people, as He did over and over again in Judges, as He was preparing to do through David their great King, and He is doing throughout History in His great Son, Jesus Christ.  It is all part of The Great Love Story of all time.  So, if you look around and see all sorts of terrible things, look into Ruth, then look around you again. Where do you see traces of God's love? People whom He is working? Ways He is working to provide - even if it is small things like Ruth gleaning through the fields to get enough food to get by - God is working out His plan.  Take a picture and post it here, let me see and rejoice with you.