A Political Faith

Readings for today: Isaiah 1-4

“The vision of Isaiah the son of Amoz, which he saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah.” (Isaiah‬ ‭1:1‬)

The book of Isaiah begins with a political statement. Everything he says from this point forward (66 chapters!) must be viewed through a distinctly political lens. Uzziah. Jotham. Ahaz. Hezekiah. We know their stories. We’ve just read through their histories in the Kings and Chronicles. We know Uzziah reigned for over fifty years and for the most part remained faithful to God. However, at the end of his life he grew proud and brazenly entered the Temple to offer sacrifices. We know his son, Jotham, reigned for sixteen years and also remained faithful to the Lord but failed to address the nation’s ongoing idolatry on the high places. We know Ahaz reigned for sixteen years and was an evil, faithless king. The entire kingdom suffered under his rule. We know Hezekiah returned to the ways of the Lord, experienced a miracle of healing, but also grew prideful and set his descendents up for disaster when he shows off his riches to the envoys of Babylon. 

Isaiah presumably witnesses all of this. He sees it all go past. He lives it. His prophetic career begins at some point during the glory days under King Uzziah and ends at some point during the reign of King Hezekiah. Through it all, he watches his nation shift its allegiance from Yahweh to other gods. He watches his nation descend into cultural chaos as they abandon true worship and true righteousness. He watches the leaders of his nation attempt to reform and revitalize the country. He sees the ups and downs of their efforts. The successes and failures. He sees it all and then offers this Word from the Lord. It is honest. Real. Raw. No holds barred. He confronts. He speaks the truth. He calls out his own people. “Ah, sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, offspring of evildoers, children who deal corruptly! They have forsaken the Lord, they have despised the Holy One of Israel, they are utterly estranged.” (Isaiah‬ ‭1:4‬) “Hear the word of the Lord, you rulers of Sodom! Give ear to the teaching of our God, you people of Gomorrah!” (‭Isaiah‬ ‭1:10‬) “For Jerusalem has stumbled, and Judah has fallen, because their speech and their deeds are against the Lord, defying his glorious presence.” (Isaiah‬ ‭3:8‬) 

At the same time, he offers hope. He calls them to repentance. He begs them to return to the Lord to find grace and healing and mercy. “Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean; remove the evil of your deeds from before my eyes; cease to do evil, learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow's cause. Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool.” (Isaiah‬ ‭1:16-18‬) He directs their attention to the glorious day of the Lord when all flesh shall witness the appearance of our God. “It shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the house of the Lord shall be established as the highest of the mountains, and shall be lifted up above the hills; and all the nations shall flow to it, and many peoples shall come, and say: Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob, that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths. For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.” (Isaiah‬ ‭2:2-3‬) He calls them back to faithfulness. Back to loyalty. Back to a right relationship with God. “In that day the branch of the Lord shall be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the land shall be the pride and honor of the survivors of Israel. And he who is left in Zion and remains in Jerusalem will be called holy, everyone who has been recorded for life in Jerusalem, when the Lord shall have washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion and cleansed the bloodstains of Jerusalem from its midst by a spirit of judgment and by a spirit of burning. Then the Lord will create over the whole site of Mount Zion and over her assemblies a cloud by day, and smoke and the shining of a flaming fire by night; for over all the glory there will be a canopy. There will be a booth for shade by day from the heat, and for a refuge and a shelter from the storm and rain.” (Isaiah‬ ‭4:2-6‬)

Once can easily recognize the parallels to our own time. How many of us lament the state of our nation? How many of us lament the moral drift of our culture? How many of us lament the pain and suffering and sin and degredation we see all around us? We lament the encroaching secularism that threatens to push our faith to the margins. And yet, are we willing to confront the deeper questions Isaiah poses? Why doesn’t prayer for our nation fill our homes? Why are so many of our churches struggling with sin? Why do so many of our pastors and priests fall? How have we marginalized our own faith by refusing to share Christ with our neighbors, friends, and co-workers? By not speaking out for justice and righteousness and truth? By not walking in a spirit of love and grace and mercy and humility? Are we not as guilty as the people Isaiah was speaking to? And are we willing to hear his words as the Word of the Lord to us? Are we willing to repent and re-commit ourselves to God’s ways?

Readings for tomorrow: None

The Tenderness of God

Readings for today: Hosea 10-14

Hosea includes some of the most tender imagery in the Bible. I love how he describes God’s love for His people. It is deep. Profound. The love of a Father for his children. I identify with this language as a father myself. I know how this love feels. I feel it in my gut when I think about my own children. I remember holding each of them when they were born. I remember the feel of their soft skin and the wonder of their sweet cries. I remember when they took their first steps and said their first words. I remember when they began to smile and laugh. Though my children are now adults or approaching adulthood, these tender feelings of love remain. My heart swells with pride when I think of them and all they have accomplished over their short lives. Are they perfect? No. Have we had our battles over the years? Of course. Has any of that diminished my great love for them? Not a chance. The same is true for our God. Listen again to these words. Let them wash over you. Let them remind you of just how much you are loved and cherished by your Heavenly Father.

“When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son…Yet it was I who taught Ephraim to walk; I took them up by their arms, but they did not know that I healed them. I led them with cords of kindness, with the bands of love, and I became to them as one who eases the yoke on their jaws, and I bent down to them and fed them…How can I give you up, O Ephraim? How can I hand you over, O Israel? How can I make you like Admah? How can I treat you like Zeboiim? My heart recoils within me; my compassion grows warm and tender. I will not execute my burning anger; I will not again destroy Ephraim; for I am God and not a man, the Holy One in your midst, and I will not come in wrath.” (Hosea‬ ‭11:1, 3-4, 8-9‬)

I don’t know who may need to hear this today but God is for you not against you. God loves you, He does not hate you. When God looks at you, He has a smile on His face and a twinkle in His eye. His heart fills with joy every time He thinks of you. He is with you every minute of every day. He will never, ever leave your side. This is His promise and though you may experience what feels like His anger for a moment, His favor is for a lifetime. How do I know these things are true? He says as much in His Word, “I will heal their apostasy; I will love them freely, for my anger has turned from them. I will be like the dew to Israel; he shall blossom like the lily; he shall take root like the trees of Lebanon; his shoots shall spread out; his beauty shall be like the olive, and his fragrance like Lebanon. They shall return and dwell beneath my shadow; they shall flourish like the grain; they shall blossom like the vine; their fame shall be like the wine of Lebanon.” (Hosea‬ ‭14:4-7‬)

Readings for tomorrow: Isaiah 1-4

True Repentance

Readings for today: Hosea 6-9

I often get asked what it means to truly repent. Is it feeling bad about what you’ve done? Is it feeling guilty for being caught? Does it involve shame for being exposed? How do we repent? Is saying sorry enough? Does it involve asking for forgiveness? What about reconciliation? These are all really good questions and thankfully the Bible has answers. Consider Hosea 6:1-6…

“Come, let us return to the Lord; for he has torn us, that he may heal us; he has struck us down, and he will bind us up. After two days he will revive us; on the third day he will raise us up, that we may live before him. Let us know; let us press on to know the Lord; his going out is sure as the dawn; he will come to us as the showers, as the spring rains that water the earth.” What shall I do with you, O Ephraim? What shall I do with you, O Judah? Your love is like a morning cloud, like the dew that goes early away. Therefore I have hewn them by the prophets; I have slain them by the words of my mouth, and my judgment goes forth as the light. For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.” (‭‭Hosea‬ ‭6:1-6‬)

Repentance begins with humility. An honest, transparent acknowledgment of what we have done. No excuses. No blame-shifting. Just a confession that God is right and we are wrong. God is righteous in His judgment and we earned the punishment we received. God has torn us. God has struck us down. Our love was transient. It faded like a morning cloud or like the dew on the grass. God was faithful. He sent us prophets. He warned us by their words. But we did not listen. We refused to change our ways. Therefore His judgment fell on us and we are broken.

Repentance involves change. “Let us return to the Lord…” There phrase is pregnant with meaning. It signals a shift in attitude and action. A 180 degree turn on the path we were going down. A radical change in direction. Whereas we once were headed down the road to destruction, we are now traveling the narrow way that leads to life. What does this look like in real life? It looks like steadfast, faithful, sacrificial, authentic love instead of empty, nominal, “just going through the motions” worship. It involves a relentless pursuit of God and a longing for a deeper relationship with Him over simply satisfying the letter of the Law.

Repentance clings to hope. God is faithful. If we seek Him with all our heart, He promises to heal. He promises to bind up our wounds. He promises to revive us and raise us up. We can count on Him because we know His “going out is as sure as the dawn.” His love as dependable as the spring showers that water the earth. There will come a day when God will restore the fortunes of His people.

What was true for Hosea and his family and the people of Israel remains true for us today. If we truly repent of our sin and come humbly before our God, He will restore our fortunes as well.

Readings for tomorrow: Hosea 10-14

God’s Great Faithfulness

Readings for today: Hosea 1-5

As a pastor, I have spent countless hours in marriage counseling. More often than not, they are in my office because one or both have been unfaithful. They have stepped out on their spouse with a friend. A co-worker. Perhaps even a prostitute. The pain is unspeakable. The betrayal beyond words. It is almost impossible to recover. Why? Because even in our sex-saturated culture there is a sense that sexual intimacy is the greatest gift one can give to another person. It is the gift of oneself. The gift of the deepest, most profound parts of oneself. It is an act that transcends simple physical pleasure, joining hearts and entangling souls in a deeply spiritual way. This is why God has always reserved it for the marriage covenant. Sex was something to be enjoyed within the bounds of an unconditional commitment to one other person for as long as you both shall live. 

However, we have made a mockery of this gift. Our culture debases sexuality by promoting a hookup, swipe right culture. We called it sexual freedom and yet suffer from an epidemic of STD’s, unplanned pregnancies, and sexual abuse. We thought it would lead to greater relational intimacy but the quality of our relationships continues to decline. Marriages fail at ever high rates as individuals pursue their own pleasure and fulfillment at the expense of the other. The sexual revolution continues to gain steam through social media, television, movies, etc. which are univocal in their declaration that we are at the mercy of our hormonal urges. Whatever feels good is right and true regardless of the collateral damage it leaves in our wake. 

This is the central message of Hosea. God takes up the very real issue of adultery and employs it as a metaphor to describe the relationship between Himself and His people. He even calls His prophet Hosea to embody this relationship by marrying a prostitute. Hosea’s pain is a reflection of God’s pain. Hosea’s heartbreak at Gomer’s continual betrayals is a reflection of God’s heartbreak over Israel’s worship of the pagan gods. The names of Hosea’s children reflect not only his suffering but the divine pathos of God Himself as He wrestles with the unconditional love He pledged to Israel. When Hosea purchases his bride back from the slave traders in Hosea 3, one is reminded of the incredible grace of God which relentlessly pursues us to the day we die. 

It is abundantly clear, throughout the book of Hosea, that our only hope is the great faithfulness of God. The steadfast loyal love of God for His people. No matter what they may do or where they may go or how many times they play the “whore” and chase after other gods, Yahweh will not let go. He will redeem. He will save.  

“Yet the number of the children of Israel shall be like the sand of the sea, which cannot be measured or numbered. And in the place where it was said to them, "You are not my people," it shall be said to them, "Children of the living God." And the children of Judah and the children of Israel shall be gathered together, and they shall appoint for themselves one head. And they shall go up from the land, for great shall be the day of Jezreel.”(Hosea‬ ‭1:10-11‬)

“Therefore, behold, I will allure her, and bring her into the wilderness, and speak tenderly to her. And there I will give her her vineyards and make the Valley of Achor a door of hope. And there she shall answer as in the days of her youth, as at the time when she came out of the land of Egypt. "And in that day, declares the Lord, you will call me 'My Husband,' and no longer will you call me 'My Baal.' For I will remove the names of the Baals from her mouth, and they shall be remembered by name no more. And I will make for them a covenant on that day with the beasts of the field, the birds of the heavens, and the creeping things of the ground. And I will abolish the bow, the sword, and war from the land, and I will make you lie down in safety. I will betroth you to me in faithfulness. And you shall know the Lord.” (Hosea‬ ‭2:14-18, 20‬)

“Afterward the children of Israel shall return and seek the Lord their God, and David their king, and they shall come in fear to the Lord and to his goodness in the latter days.” (Hosea‬ ‭3:5‬)

This is the heart of the gospel. No matter how bad things get. No matter how many times we sin and fall short of the glory of God. No matter how far we run into the far country and play the prodigal. God is faithful. God is loyal. Steadfast. True. He will never stop pursuing. Never stop watching. Never stop waiting for us to repent and return. There is nothing that can separate us from His love. Nothing that can snatch us out of His hand. Nothing that can break the eternal covenant He first made with us. This is good news! Even great news for those who love God and are called according to His purpose! 

Readings for tomorrow: Hosea 6-9

Self-Reflection

Readings for today: Amos 6-9

One of the temptations when reading the prophets is to assume God is talking about someone else. Assume God is talking about kings and princes and nations rather than ordinary people like me. And yet, as I read the opening lines from Amos 6, I feel a deep conviction settle in my own heart. Am I not at ease here in Parker? Do I not feel secure here in suburban America? I live in one of the wealthiest communities on the face of the planet. I live in one of the fastest growing areas in the country. Colorado is one of the most gorgeous states in our nation. Great weather. Majestic mountains. Active lifestyle. Lots of opportunity for work. Good schools for the kids. Great place to raise a family. It’s tempting in such a place to become self-absorbed. To shut out the rest of the world and focus on myself. To retreat into a bubble and never emerge.

Amos confronts our complacency. He calls us to engage those outside our comfort zone. He calls us to pay particular attention to the poor and needy in our midst. Those who are less fortunate. Those who don’t have access and opportunity to the blessings we’ve received. He calls us to radical generosity and a commitment to justice and righteousness. He calls us to faithfulness and obedience to the Lord. If we do these things, we shall live long in the land God has provided. If we fail in these things, we will fall under His judgment.

Amos doesn’t just talk the talk, he walks the walk. He makes a huge sacrifice by leaving his own comfort zone. He leaves all that’s familiar behind - including his home and family and livelihood - to travel north to Israel. He stands in the gap for God’s people when God begins to reveal visions and dreams of judgment. He prays for God to relent lest He utterly destroy His people and God answers His prayers. He is falsely accused of sedition and treason. And despite everything he endures, he ends his prophecy with words of hope. There will come a day when God will restore His people. He will repair their breaches and raise up their ruins. He will bless them with abundance and they will enjoy His favor again.

If you are like me, you long for those latter days. You long for the days when God restores the years the locusts have eaten. You long for the days when “mountains shall drip sweet wine and all the hills shall flow with it.” You long for the days when all that was lost is regained. All that was ruined is rebuilt. All that was uprooted shall be planted and harvested. You long for the days when we can dwell secure once more not in our own strength which is fleeting but in the favor of the Lord which is forever. There’s only one way to get from here to there and that is faithful obedience to the Lord’s commands. Loving God with all our heart. Loving our neighbor as ourself. These are the first and second great commandments. They are the foundation on which we rebuild our lives.

Readings for tomorrow: Hosea 1-5

Loving our Nation

Readings for today: Amos 1-5

“I love America more than any other country in this world, and, exactly for this reason, I insist on the right to criticize her perpetually.” - James Baldwin

I immediately thought of this quote as I read through the first few chapters of Amos this morning. James Baldwin was a civil rights writer and activist. He mainly gave voice to the oppressed through his brilliant novels and plays. Whereas some might call Martin Luther King Jr. the movement’s prophet, Baldwin was her poet. He described in often deeply personal terms the impact of injustice on his people. Though he lived abroad for a good portion of his life, he loved America enough to call her to live up to her high ideals and traveled extensively through the Deep South giving lectures and advocating alongside other civil rights leaders.

As we dive into the prophetic literature of the Bible, it is tempting to assume these men hated their nation. Their words are often harsh and judgmental. They offer little in the way of hope. They pull no punches and lay out the dire consequences should Israel or Judah refuse to repent. And yet, I’ve come to believe these prophets loved their people just as Baldwin loved America. They longed to see their people return to the Lord with all their hearts. Long to see their nation rise up and live according to the commandments of God. They longed for Israel and Judah to be a light to the nations, set apart as God’s chosen people on earth.

Amos was a simple shepherd when he first received God’s call. He lived at a time when both Israel and Judah seemed to be experiencing great prosperity and success. You might remember Uzziah enjoying great success as he expanded Judah’s borders, rebuilt cities, and amassed much wealth. Similarly, Jeroboam II also enjoyed great success, expanding Israel’s borders to her “former limits”, conquering Damascus, defeating the Arameans, and amassing great wealth through trade. Indeed, most biblical scholars would argue that Israel and Judah reached the zenith of their power and wealth during the reigns of these two kings. Tragically, however, the seeds of destruction for both nations were already sown. They rejected the law of the Lord. (Amos 2:4) They sold the righteous for silver. (Amos 2:6) They trampled the heads of the poor and did not care for the afflicted. They engaged in sexual immorality and profaned God’s holy name. (Amos 2:7-8) These actions brought them under God’s judgment and He sent Amos to warn them with the hope that they might repent and return to Him.

What would such a return look like? Seeking the Lord with all their heart, soul, mind and strength. Honoring Him by obeying His commands. Confessing their sin. Repenting of the way they treated the poor and powerless in their midst. Caring for those in need. Always seeking good rather than evil. Letting justice roll down like waters and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream. This is what it means to return to the Lord and it remains God’s call to the nations of the earth to this day. America will only be great insofar as she seeks the Lord. Insofar as she clings to justice and righteousness and compassion and mercy. America will be judged, like all the nations of the earth, on how she cares for the poor, the afflicted, and the oppressed. She will be judged on how faithfully she follows God’s commands and lives up to the ideals embedded in her founding documents. Ideals birthed out of deep reflection on Scripture and the nature of God. May we take time this 4th of July to not only celebrate the birth of our nation but pray for her as well. May we rededicate ourselves to the task of “forming a more perfect union” in alignment with God’s will and God’s ways.

Readings for tomorrow: Amos 6-9

Love your Enemies

Readings for today: Jonah 1-4

Jonah is a great book. Especially when we read chonologically. We just finished reading about the destruction of the northern kingdom of Israel by the Assyrians and now we read of God’s prophetic attempt to call those same Assyrians to repentance. Jonah is an unwilling prophet to say the least. He must have had a tremendously frustrating career. His own people refuse to follow the Lord. They keep repeating the same mistakes over and over again. They are unfaithful. They are unworthy. They are idolatrous. They are evil. As a result, God sends the Assyrians to punish them. To drive them to their knees in humility and repentance. When that doesn’t work, those same Assyrians become the instrument of His righteous judgment on His own people. One can only imagine the hatred a man like Jonah would harbor for such people. They are Gentiles. Unbelievers. Unclean. Unworthy of God’s grace. But then he receives the call to go and preach the gospel to them. What the heck?! 

Jonah is a great book to read today. Our world is full of hatred and enmity. Social media gives full vent to our anger and rage. Judging others seems to be the order of the day and grace is in short supply. If someone disagrees with you, they are almost sub-human. Worthy only to be unfriended, unfollowed, and publicly shamed. If someone questions you, they become a target. Attacked. Torn down. Their character assassinated. If someone doesn’t affirm you, they get cut out of your life almost immediately. It is sad and disheartening and ultimately self-destructive.

Perhaps this is why Jesus calls us to love our enemies. Love humanizes. Love requires grace and forgiveness. Love requires listening and humility. Ultimately, love is selfless. It forces us to take a good hard look at ourselves, our motives, our intentions, and lay them aside before engaging others. It celebrates diversity and assumes the best of others. It honors difference and dignifies those who disagree. It is deeply practical. And it is what should set believers apart from the rest of the world. 

Unfortunately, believers seem to have forgotten this command. They explain it away. Rationalize it. Reject it. And the result is only more pain as the vicious cycle continues. Every believer should ponder and pray over the closing words of Jonah...“When the sun rose, God appointed a scorching east wind, and the sun beat down on the head of Jonah so that he was faint. And he asked that he might die and said, "It is better for me to die than to live." But God said to Jonah, "Do you do well to be angry for the plant?" And he said, "Yes, I do well to be angry, angry enough to die." And the Lord said, "You pity the plant, for which you did not labor, nor did you make it grow, which came into being in a night and perished in a night. And should not I pity Nineveh, that great city, in which there are more than 120,000 persons who do not know their right hand from their left, and also much cattle?" (Jonah‬ ‭4:8-11‬) We need to ask ourselves if we do well to be so angry? So enraged? We need to ask ourselves if we pity those who are like us more than those who are different? Pity those who agree with us more than those who disagree? Pity our friends more than our enemies? Should God not pity Democrats and Republicans? Liberals and conservatives? Whites and blacks? Asians and Latinos? Aboriginal people as well as immigrants? Should God not pity Americans as well as Mexicans? Israelis as well as Palestinians? North as well as South Koreans? Should God not pity rich as well as poor? Privileged as well as under-privileged? The list is infinite but thankfully so is God’s grace. 

Who are you at war with in your life today? Who engenders hatred in your heart? What enemies is God calling you to reach? Will you go? Or will you run? 

Readings for tomorrow: None

The Danger of Idolatry

Readings for today: 2 Kings 14-15, 2 Chronicles 25-27

High places. We see them pop up all over the place in the Kings and Chronicles. Often the righteousness of kings is judged on whether or not they tolerate them. What are they? Originally, they were sacred spaces where the Canaanite tribes worshipped their gods.  If you flip back to Deuteronomy 12, you read these words, “You shall surely destroy all the places where the nations whom you shall dispossess served their gods, on the high mountains and on the hills and under every green tree. You shall tear down their altars and dash in pieces their pillars and burn their Asherim with fire. You shall chop down the carved images of their gods and destroy their name out of that place.” (Deut. ‭12:2-3‬) Yahweh had set His people apart. They would be different. They would not be like any other tribe or nation. Because they were a nation of priests, they would worship Yahweh in the way He prescribed. “But you shall seek the place that the Lord your God will choose out of all your tribes to put his name and make his habitation there. There you shall go, and there you shall bring your burnt offerings and your sacrifices, your tithes and the contribution that you present, your vow offerings, your freewill offerings, and the firstborn of your herd and of your flock. And there you shall eat before the Lord your God, and you shall rejoice, you and your households, in all that you undertake, in which the Lord your God has blessed you.” (Deut.‬ ‭12:5-7‬) 

Where was this place? Originally, it was the Tabernacle that traveled with them in the wilderness. After Solomon, it was the Temple in Jerusalem. This was the place where God had set His name and indwelt with His presence. This was the “place” the Israelites were commanded to seek when they worshipped. However, the travel could be difficult. The cost was high. It meant time away from the fields. Time away from home. After the kingdoms split, it meant possible defection by the northern tribes so the Israelite kings set up their own shrines (the sin of Jeroboam) and forbid their people from traveling to Jerusalem at the prescribed times. The people set up their own shrines to Yahweh on the very high places He once commanded them to destroy. If we assume the best of them, they were trying to worship Yahweh. Trying to remain faithful. Just not in the way He demanded or the way He deserved. At their worst, they adopted the worship practices of the locals and sought other gods.  

God cares about our worship. He cares about what happens week in and week out in local churches all over the world. Not because God is taking attendance but because God seeks worshippers who will worship Him in Spirit and in Truth. Worshippers who will give Him the worship He demands in the way He deserves. Worshippers who will not compromise. Worshippers who will honor Him as holy. Worshippers who refuse to make themselves the center of the experience. Worshippers who lay aside their wants, their needs, their desires, their preferences to come before the Lord in humility. To do anything else is to create a “high place.” A shrine to another god. And most of that time, that “god” is Self. The besetting sin of the Western Church is the idolatry of self. We are the object of our worship. Our satisfaction is the key performance indicator. We engage worship based on our own personal preferences. We refuse to honor God as holy. God as supreme. God as Lord. We are proud. We are arrogant. We think far too much of ourselves. And if the lives of the kings teach us anything it is this...God will not be mocked. We will be judged on the basis of who or what we worship. 

Where are the high places in your life? Do you find yourself despising the gathering of God’s people? Do you find yourself avoiding weekly worship? Do you find yourself struggling to hear the Word? Sing the songs?  Pray the prayers? Let me gently but boldly call you to repentance, friends! Remember whose presence you are in! Remember who you’ve come to serve! Remember what worship is all about! Repent. Confess. And ask the Spirit to renew your passion for true worship. 

Readings for tomorrow: Jonah 1-4

Covenantal Faithfulness

Readings for today: 2 Kings 12-13, 2 Chronicles 24

God always keeps His promises. He made a promise to Noah never again to destroy the world by a flood. He made a promise to Abraham to make him the father of many nations. He made a promise to Isaac and to Jacob to bring forth from them a people He would call His very own. He made a promise to Moses to use him to deliver God’s people from slavery. He made a promise to Joshua to go before him into the Promised Land. He made a promise to David to always have a descendant to sit on Israel’s throne. In the ancient near east, such promises were sealed by a covenant. An agreement between two parties outlining their responsibilities. If one party breaks the covenant, the other party is not only freed from it’s obligations but takes revenge. Not so with God. Though His people abandon the covenant over and over again. Though they refuse to obey it’s conditions and live by it’s terms. God remains faithful. He never lets Himself off the hook.

“But the Lord was gracious to them and had compassion on them, and he turned toward them, because of his covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and would not destroy them, nor has he cast them from his presence until now.” (2 Kings 13:23) These are stirring words especially for the Christian. We know God is so committed to keeping His promises that He sent His only Son to fulfill not only His obligations to us but our obligations to Him! Jesus took our place. He became the faithful “covenant-keeper” on our behalf. He paid the price we owed. He died the death we deserved. He endured the full fury of God’s righteous wrath at human sin, turning it aside through His atoning death on the cross. This is how committed God is to us! He will never leave us or forsake us or abandon us or grow impatient with us or cut us off. His grace is eternal. His love never-ending. His mercies new every morning. His faithfulness is greater than we can ever know.

So what about us? How can we show this same faithfulness not only to God but to one another? How can we extend this same grace to each other? This same love to each other? How can we be merciful to one another as Christ was merciful towards us? There are so many divisions in our world. So many divisions in our churches. So many divisions in our families. We sin against each other. We disappoint each other. We let each other down constantly. And yet the call to covenantal faithfulness remains. To walk with each other through the dark valleys where life often takes us. To love each other even during those times when we are unlovable. To extend grace upon grace towards each other when we inevitably fail. Only God can give us the strength to do this and the good news is He promises to do just that for all those who would seek Him. All you have to do is ask. Make sure to ask God to give you what you need so you can serve those you love today!

Readings for tomorrow: 2 Kings 14-15, 2 Chronicles 25-27

Justice and Righteousness

Readings for today: 2 Kings 9-11, 2 Chronicles 22:10-23:21

The story of Jehu is a terrifying one. Jehu is called to be God’s hand of justice. He executes God’s vengeance in a brutal, terrifying manner that was par for the course in the ancient near east. He assassinates two kings. He orchestrates the mass murder of their children. He systematically destroys the entire house of Ahab and Jezebel. And he eradicates the worshippers of Baal. It’s a stark reminder of how seriously God takes sin. He simply will not allow evil to flourish. He will not allow injustice to stand. He will not allow humanity’s godlessness to have the final word. Yes, He is patient with us. Yes, He gives us every opportunity to repent. But eventually there comes a day of reckoning. A day of judgment. A day when every wrong is set right and every injustice answered for. This is what we see on display in today’s reading and it is simply a repetition of a pattern that’s been in place since the Fall. Cain and Abel. The state of the world just before the Flood. The Tower of Babel. The time of the Judges. Left to her own devices, humanity inevitably descends into violence, suffering, and pain. She chooses her own ways rather than God’s ways. She always wants to do what is right in her own eyes. Thankfully, God is faithful. He refuses to let us go. He refuses to cut us off forever. The rise of Joash strikes a hopeful note. God always preserves a remnant for Himself. A faithful people who follow His will and provide hope for the nation. Joash lived most of his life in faithfulness and the result is peace and prosperity and security. He restored the Temple. He cleansed the land of idolatry. He led the people back to true worship of the Living God.  

Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. We see this dynamic played out over and over again throughout the Scriptures. I love what it says in 2 Kings 13:23, “But the Lord was gracious to them and had compassion on them, and he turned toward them, because of his covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and would not destroy them, nor has he cast them from his presence until now.” No matter how far humanity falls. No matter how bad things may get. No matter how much violence and suffering and pain may be taking place. God is faithful. God is true. God is steadfast. Immovable. He will not abandon us. He will not forsake His people. He loves us with an everlasting love. “For his anger is but for a moment, and his favor is for a lifetime. Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning.” (Psalms‬ ‭30:5‬)

Readings for tomorrow: 2 Kings 12-13, 2 Chronicles 24

Generational Sin

Readings for today: 2 Kings 8:16-29, 2 Chronicles 21:1-22:9

In yesterday’s devotional, I focused on the impact a single righteous person can make in this world. Sadly, the reverse is also true. Ahab was a terrible king for all kinds of reasons. He broke just about every one of the Ten Commandments. He chose to worship Baal rather than Yahweh. He made graven images. He took the Lord’s name in vain. He lied. He coveted. He murdered. He stole. He treated sin flippantly and “did more to arouse the anger of the Lord” than any of the kings who came before him. His wife Jezebel was at least his equal in unrighteousness. She partnered with him in all of his crimes. She sought the death of Elijah, Israel’s greatest prophet. Together, they did more to lead Israel astray than any other king in her history.

It shouldn’t come as a surprise to us when their influence exerts itself generationally over their descendants. Jehoram, king of Judah, came under their sway by marrying their daughter. As such, he chose to walk away from his own father’s example of faithfulness and instead “walk in the ways of the kings of Israel.” The results are predictable. The same things that happen to Israel begin to happen in Judah. War breaks out on their borders. Tribes like Edom successfully revolt and set up kingdoms of their own. Pagan shrines known as “high places” are re-established throughout the hill country. God’s people begin to worship other gods. After Jehoram (or Joram) dies, his son Ahaziah follows his ungodly legacy. He even makes a strategic alliance with the house of Ahab against Syria but it ends in great tragedy. The house of Ahaziah comes to an end. Jehoram, Ahaziah’s father, dies “to no one’s regret.”

It’s a sobering reminder to us all. Generational sin is real. The sins of the fathers and mothers are often passed down to the children. Sin that goes unaddressed in our lives is often repeated by those who follow us. We exert a shaping influence for good or for evil on those around us, especially those in our own homes. How often have I seen my own weaknesses and struggles reflected in my children? How often have I seen my doubts and fears reproduced in the people I serve? How often have my own sinful tendencies come back to haunt me? Thankfully, God is faithful. As I humble myself and repent before Him, He is faithful to forgive and He is faithful to make my life a living demonstration of the gospel. Through my brokenness, His surpassing grace and power makes itself known and this too ripples out across the generations. So it comes down to this…what kind of legacy do I want to pass on? And what I am doing today to build that legacy?

Readings for tomorrow: 2 Kings 9-11, 2 Chronicles 22:10-23:21

One Person’s Impact

Readings for today: 2 Kings 5-8:15

I have heard it said that the world has yet to see the power that would be unleashed through one man or woman who’s sold out to God. I disagree. I think we see such power all the time. Certainly in Scripture. Take the story of Elisha for instance. He’s like a one-man wrecking crew when it comes to Syria. Ben-hadad wanted to destroy Israel. Invaded time after time. He had the best generals. Mighty men of valor like Naaman. The odds were surely in his favor. But Israel had one advantage...Elisha. A man who loved God with all his heart. From Elisha’s deep faith sprung wisdom and insight and even prophetic utterances. He thwarted the plans of Ben-hadad to such an extent that his counselors believed it was like Elisha was hanging out in Ben-hadad’s bedroom! 

Elisha posed such a great threat that Ben-hadad sent his entire army on a seek and destroy mission. Find him. Kill him. Destroy whatever city is giving him refuge. So Elisha and his servant wake up one morning only to see the Syrian army arrayed in all its might before them. It must have been an intimidating sight. The servant is immediately afraid. What will we do? How will we survive? But Elisha doesn’t miss a beat. He asks God to open the eyes of his servant so that he can see what Elisha sees. Horses. Chariots. The mountains ringed with fire from the army of the Lord. 

This is one of my favorite stories in all of Scripture because of the reminder that though my circumstances may seem bleak. Though I may undergo all kinds of trials and tribulations. Though I may suffer and struggle and hurt. Though the enemy wage war against me. Though the government or culture or society grow increasingly hostile to the gospel. No matter what may come, my adversaries - as numerous as they may be - are no match for the armies of the Lord! His sovereign hand continues to lead and guide and protect. His power cannot be measured. His wisdom cannot be fathomed. And if I will simply lift my eyes above the hills, I will see where my true help comes! (Psalm 121) 

 “Again I saw that under the sun the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, nor bread to the wise, nor riches to the intelligent, nor favor to those with knowledge, but time and chance happen to them all.” (Ecclesiastes‬ ‭9:11) I frequently find myself in positions where I am weak. I have no power. No authority. I am not strong or swift or wise or wealthy. In those moments, I am tempted to despair. And that’s when God has me right where He wants me! God does His best work when I come to the end of myself. God does His greatest work when I get out of the way. God is at His most glorious when I am weak and afraid and lonely and have nowhere else to turn. All I have to do is open my eyes. See the power He has brought to bear. Sit back and watch Him go to work. Trust Him for the victory. 

Readings for tomorrow: 2 Kings 8:16-29, 2 Chronicles 21:1-22:9

Miracles: What’s God’s Point?

Readings for today: 2 Kings 1-4

So here’s a question…why does God perform miracles? What’s the point of signs and wonders? Why do they seemingly happen in some places but not others? Why do they appear so random? In our reading today, both Elijah and Elisha perform miracle after miracle. Future telling. Pools of water suddenly appearing in the desert. Water purification. Incredible military victories. Vessels overflowing with oil. Resurrection. Driving out poison with flour. Multiplying bread to feed a hundred men. To the skeptical, stories like these make the Bible seem primitive and superstitious. To the doubter, stories like these can be confusing and frustrating as they wrestle with why they don’t seem to happen much anymore. To the faithful, stories like these encourage belief and deeper trust in God. However, the question still remains...why does God perform miracles? Why does God break through the time/space continuum? Why does He suspend the laws of nature and the universe? Why does He intervene in certain situations but not others? Reach down and touch certain lives and not others? These are important questions that must be faced and thankfully, the Bible provides a clear answer.

First and foremost, miracles are given for the purpose of pointing God’s people to faith. They are not ends in and of themselves. They are signposts. Pointing beyond themselves. They are given to direct our attention heavenward to the Lord of all creation. The Author of all life. They are stark reminders that we are not at the mercy of our circumstances. This world and all the natural laws that govern it - from gravity to thermodynamics to photosynthesis - is not all there is. There is a God who stands above and beyond such laws, who is able to set them aside for reasons He Himself only knows and understands.  

Secondly, miracles are given so that God’s people might always cling to hope. Even when circumstances seem their most dire. When evil seems to be on the march. Injustice and oppression winning the day. Persecution at its fiercest. Rage and violence burning white hot. Disease ravages the body. Famine and poverty threaten our well-being. Even in the darkest of times, we still have hope. Hope in a God who can and does intervene. Hope in a God who draws near the broken-hearted and crushed in spirit. Hope in a God who fights on behalf of the poor and oppressed and outcast and stranger. 

Third, miracles are given to remind us how limited and finite we are as creatures. Power. Wealth. Influence. Control. We like to live with the illusion that we are the masters of our own destines. The captain of our fates. We like to think we are in charge. We like to act like we’ve got everything under control. But miracles remind us who truly holds the power. Miracles remind us of our relative insignificance in the grand scheme of things. Miracles bring us face to face with the power of God and, like Job, we shut our mouths and fall on our faces before Him. 

Ultimately, miracles force us to look beyond ourselves. Beyond our needs. Beyond our circumstances. Beyond our wisdom. Beyond our strength. Miracles force us to trust in God. To trust in His purposes and His design. We cannot bend God to our will. There is no magic formula to get God to do our bidding. Miracles happen on His time and in accordance with His will. Our job is to believe. To have faith. To place our lives in His hands and trust Him for the outcome.  

Readings for tomorrow: None

Singing our Faith

Readings for today: 1 Kings 22, 2 Chronicles 18-20

Jehoshaphat is one of my favorite kings. He’s not perfect. He makes mistakes along the way. He makes alliances with the wrong kind of people. And yet, his heart is for the Lord. “Jehoshaphat lived at Jerusalem. And he went out again among the people, from Beersheba to the hill country of Ephraim, and brought them back to the Lord, the God of their fathers.” (2 Chronicles‬ ‭19:4‬) I cannot imagine the daily pressures a king faces. Pressures to make decisions. Pressures to provide for his people. Pressures to defend against his enemies. Pressures all around and yet Jehoshaphat made it a priority to go out among his people and bring them back to the Lord. He obeyed the Great Commission long before Jesus spoke those words. He taught his people to obey all the Lord had commanded. He believed one of the defining priorities of his kingship was the ability to make disciples. To foster an environment in his nation where his people would grow spiritually. It’s truly stunning when you take a step back to think about it.

Now some might ask what purpose did it serve? Some might question if this is really the king’s job? Shouldn’t he be attending to affairs of state? But then we run across a story in our reading today where God’s people had to put their faith into action and all the hard work Jehoshaphat had put in bore fruit. Once again, God’s people had come under threat. Another enemy rose up and came against them. They are outnumbered. They are outmatched. They are outgunned. But rather than despair, Jehoshaphat turns his heart to the Lord. He calls on the Lord to be faithful to His promises. He walks by faith, trusting God to deliver him. And his people - having been taught the faith by Jehoshaphat himself and seen his example firsthand - follow him. Listen to what Jehoshaphat says and does, "Hear me, Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem! Believe in the Lord your God, and you will be established; believe his prophets, and you will succeed." And when he had taken counsel with the people, he appointed those who were to sing to the Lord and praise him in holy attire, as they went before the army, and say, "Give thanks to the Lord, for his steadfast love endures forever." And when they began to sing and praise, the Lord set an ambush against the men of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah, so that they were routed.” (2 Chronicles‬ ‭20:20-22‬)

Imagine trusting God so much that you can literally face death with a tune on your lips! Imagine believing God so much that you can walk into battle with a song in your heart! Imagine facing whatever overwhelming odds you may face in your life with joy because you know…YOU KNOW…the Lord is good and His steadfast love endures forever! It can happen, friends! I’ve seen it and experienced it myself! Just over a month ago, I was in eastern Ethiopia training church planters. 48 of them were being sent north into a region where a civil war has been raging. Everything has been burned to the ground in that area. There is famine and hardship and incredible suffering. There has been violence and war crimes and the ceasefire is fragile at best. The challenges these men and women face are overwhelming. All of them will face persecution. Some of them will lose their lives. But as we finished commissioning them, they left the platform singing! Singing! They believe God has gone before them. They believe God will be with them. They believe He will have the victory no matter what happens to them. It was simply incredible.

How does one get to such a place in their faith? By worshipping God. Spending time with Him regularly and frequently. Never neglecting the gathering of God’s people. Seeking to serve God in all you say and do throughout the week. Keeping God’s will and God’s glory as the overarching priority of your life not because you are trying to earn anything or have something to prove but simply because you love God and you want to live for Him. Will you do this perfectly? No. Neither did Jehoshaphat. But God’s not asking for perfection. He’s asking for your heart. Give Him your heart today.

Readings for tomorrow: 2 Kings 1-4

No Fear

Readings for today: 1 Kings 20-21

I find myself sitting in denominational meetings this week. I love these people. I love their heart for the gospel. I love their desire to serve God and His Kingdom. They are my friends, my tribe, my family. But I know many of them are hurting. Many of them have come out of the last two years wounded and broken and discouraged. Their churches are rife with conflict and division. They’ve felt each loss personally. In addition, they know the world is changing rapidly. There are forces on the move that are hostile to the church. Those forces can seem overwhelming at times. Many are wondering how much longer they can hold out. Many churches are wrestling over their future. We are living through very challenging times.

Of course, none of this is new to God. Consider the challenge Israel was facing during the reign of King Ahab. The king of Syria had gathered a coalition of thirty-two kings. His army numbered in the thousands and included many horses and chariots. He had sent word ahead that he was coming for all Ahab held dear. All his wealth. All his power. His wives and children. Nothing would be held back. Nothing left out. Ben-hadad would have it all or Ahab and Israel would be destroyed. Wiped off the face of the earth. What Ben-hadad failed to consider was God. Israel’s power was never dependent on the might of her armies. Her wealth could never be measured in just silver and gold. Her influence had nothing to do with the alliances she made with the kingdoms around her. She was beloved by God. Nothing more. Nothing less. Nothing else. He was her Protector. He was her Provider. He was her Stronghold and Shelter.

It’s so easy to give into anxiety. So easy to give into fear. It’s so easy to focus on the winds that swirl around us. Focus on the waves crashing over us. Take our eyes off Jesus and begin to sink under the weight of it all. But the same God who exercised His sovereignty over the hills and valleys in Israel is still at work in the world today. No matter what principalities and powers may rise. No matter what spiritual forces of evil take the field. No matter how hostile the cultural forces of our world may become, God will have the victory. All we have to do is cry out to Him. Throw ourselves on His mercy and grace. Depend on Him for all we say and do. So let’s not get distracted. Let’s not let fear win the day. Let’s stay on mission. Focus on expanding God’s Kingdom. Let’s walk in confidence in the victory Christ has already won for us on the Cross!

Readings for tomorrow: 1 Kings 22, 2 Chronicles 18-20

Miracles

Readings for today: 1 Kings 17-19

For most of my life, when I’ve read the story of Elijah, I tend to focus on his confrontation with King Ahab or his showdown with the prophets of Baal or his flight from Jezebel or perhaps most of all, his encounter with God on the mountain. However, in recent years, I’ve spent more time focusing on the widow of Zarephath. Reading her story reminds me of so many of the women I’ve met in places like Uganda and Ethiopia and Rwanda. Windows who spend their days gathering sticks into large bundles and carrying them on their backs to market. Day in and day out they do this work. Week after week. Month after month. Year after year until their bodies give out. They trade their labor for food or for a little cash. They barely make enough to eat much less save. They never take a day off. They never take a vacation. This is the kind of woman Elijah meets when he arrives in Zarephath. She takes time out from her back-breaking labor to bring him a drink. She willingly sacrifices her last bit of flour and oil - what was going to be her final meal with her son before they died - and gives it to Elijah to eat. Despite her suffering, she never wavers in showing hospitality to this man of God. It’s awe-inspiring.

As I said, I’ve met this widow many times before. I’ve spent time in her home. I’ve shared a meal with her. I’ve watched her prepare what little she has to entertain strangers from afar. I’ve been touched by her gracious hospitality. Despite the fact that she’s worked all day. Made two or three long trips to the local watering hole. Finished her chores. Fed her children and put them to bed. She still finds time to serve. She still finds time to love. I am convinced this is why God answers her prayers. I am convinced this is why God works miracles on her behalf. She has a simple, yet profound faith. She doesn’t complain. Doesn’t question. Doesn’t cop a bad attitude. She is faithful. She is obedient. She trusts the Lord and she is blessed.

How I wish I could be like the widow! How I wish I could live with such simple faith! She has become my teacher in so many ways. She has taught me how to pray. She has taught me how to worship. She has taught me how to sing. She has taught me how to dance. She has taught me how to serve and love and sacrifice for Jesus. When I follow her example, I find my eyes being lifted above the hills. My gaze fixes on Jesus as I realize I am in the presence of one of His very special, beloved children. The widows I’ve met are like “advance scouts” for the Kingdom of God. They are much further along in the journey than I am and Jesus is faithful to send them back to encourage me along the way. They are not just bit players in some other person’s story…even if that person is Elijah himself! They are numbered among God’s greatest saints in glory!

Readings for tomorrow: 1 Kings 20-21

Spiritual Entropy

Readings for today: 1 Kings 15:25-34, 1 Kings 16, 2 Chronicles 17

Humanity is broken. Leave us on our own and we will choose sin over and over again. We just can’t seem to help ourselves. I love how Proverbs 26:11 describes it, “Like a dog that returns to his vomit is a fool who repeats his folly.” Pretty visceral image, right? We see this pattern repeated throughout Scripture. From the opening pages of Genesis all the way to Revelation. God reaches out to humanity. Raises up a man or woman after His own heart. Noah. Abraham and Sarah. Moses. Joshua. Deborah. Hannah. Samuel. David. But with each passing generation, things go from bad to worse. Spiritual entropy on display. The faithfulness of those who’ve gone before us is lost as our lust for power and control and self-gratification takes over. Jeroboam abandoned the ways of David. Despite the fact that God Himself raised him up and gave him the northern kingdom, Jeroboam refused to worship God in the way He deserves and demands. He sets his kingdom on disastrous course. After he dies, chaos sets in. Constant conflict. Assassinations. Betrayal. Rebellion. And throughout we read this refrain, “He did what was evil in the sight of the Lord...”

What keeps us from experiencing a similar fate? Courageous faith. I love how the Bible describes King Jehoshaphat. 2 Chronicles 17:6, “His heart was courageous in the ways of the Lord.” What does this mean? Jehoshaphat removed all the idols and shrines that kept getting built on the hills throughout Judah. He loved God and followed His commandments. He sent out his officials to the farthest reaches of his kingdom to bring God’s Word to the people. Doesn’t that sound like the Great Commission from Matthew 28? Rather than wait for the people to come to him, come to the Temple, come to Jerusalem to learn about the ways of God; Jehoshaphat is so passionate about God, he sends out evangelists! Incredible! And what does God do in return? He honors Jehoshaphat. He entrusts him with wealth and riches. He gives Jehoshaphat power and authority. His kingdom experiences a season of peace as the fear of the Lord falls on everyone around them. 

Is your heart courageous in the ways of the Lord? Do you seek God daily for wisdom and guidance and strength? Do you love His Word? Hunger and thirst for time with Him? Do you love to worship? To gather with God’s people to bring God praise? Do you seek to serve Him in all you do? Is your work an offering? Is your home a temple? Do you share the good news of the gospel with those around you who do not know the Lord? Do you pray for revival in our nation? Do you want to see God move powerfully in our town?

Now more than ever, we need men and women of faith whose hearts are courageous in the ways of the Lord! It’s literally the only answer and the only hope we have! I’ve seen it in action. I’ve seen what happens when men and women dedicate their lives to God. They plant churches. They risk pain and suffering and persecution and death for the sake of the gospel. They give up all they have for the glory of Christ. If I’ve learned anything from my African brothers and sisters it is this...nothing can stop a man or woman whose heart is courageous in the ways of the Lord! Thousands of new churches. Hundreds of thousands of new believers. Entire communities and regions being transformed. There’s simply nothing like it on earth!

Readings for tomorrow: 1 Kings 17-19

Faith of our Fathers

Readings for today: 1 Kings 15:1-24, 2 Chronicles 13-16

Yesterday was Father’s Day. A day we take time to celebrate our fathers and what they mean to us. For some it is a day of celebration. They’ve been blessed to have a great dad. Perhaps even a godly dad. A dad who poured his life into them. A dad who provided for them. A dad who served them. A dad who taught them about Jesus. For others, it’s a painful day. They don’t have a great dad. Their dad walked out on them. Their dad abused them. Their dad cursed them. Their dad certainly didn’t teach them about the love of Jesus. For still others, it’s a bittersweet day. They’ve lost their dad. They miss his wisdom and advice. They miss his hugs and affection. They miss his faithful presence. Fathers serve a special role in our lives. They have a high calling which is to do their best to reflect the character of their Heavenly Father to their children. So many kids form their view of God based on their relationship with their dad.

I thought about the power of fathers as I read our text for today. As we read deeper into the histories of God’s people, you will begin to see patterns emerge. Some kings are faithful and accomplish great things for God. Some kings are faithless and fall under His judgment. All of them are a mixed bag to some extent, seeking God faithfully at times and falling short at other times. We’ve already seen this reflected in the life of David and Solomon and Rehoboam. Today we read about Abijah and Asa. Two men who followed their fathers’ example. The judgment of the author of 1 Kings is that Abijah did not wholly walk with the Lord. He continued the pattern of sins that his father did and yet God remained faithful for the sake of His covenant with David. The author of the Chronicles is less harsh in judging Abijah. He acknowledges the way Abijah called on God in his war with Jeroboam. Still it seems clear that Abijah left a mixed legacy to his own son, Asa. Asa seems to fair better. He “did what was right in the eyes of the Lord” though he did not remain true all his days. He cleansed Judah of her idolatry. He set an example by giving generously to the Temple. He cried out to God when faced with overwhelming odds in his war with Zerah the Ethiopian. Perhaps most importantly, he led a covenant renewal ceremony for all of Judah. However, towards the end of his life, his courage failed and his faith in God faltered. When the king of Israel invaded, Asa sought help from Syria rather than from God. When confronted, he refused to repent and even became cruel. God’s judgment fell. He contracted a wasting disease. His reign ended in conflict. His life serves as a sobering reminder to us all.

What kind of father did you have? Was he a godly man? Did he show you how to love Jesus? Did he teach you how to pray, how to read God’s Word, how to worship and serve? Did he set an example for you to follow? Did he leave a spiritual legacy? If you are a father, what kind of dad are you? Are you godly? Are you showing your children how to love Jesus? Are you teaching them how to pray, how to read God’s Word, how to worship and serve? Are you setting an example for them to follow? Are you planning on leaving a spiritual legacy? If you are not a father yet but long to be one, what plans are you making right now to make sure you will be the kind of godly father your children need you to be? How are you developing your character? How are you growing your relationship with Christ? How are you preparing for that day when your first child arrives and you’re given both the opportunity and the responsibility to raise them in the Lord? By the way, these are great questions for mothers as well. They are worthy of reflection for anyone who is a parent, longs to be a parent, or who serves as a spiritual parent for the children in a local church family.

Readings for tomorrow: 1 Kings 15:25-34, 1 Kings 16, 2 Chronicles 17

True Worship

Readings for today: 1 Kings 13-14, 2 Chronicles 11-12

God cares about our worship. He expects, even demands, His people worship Him in Spirit and in Truth. He expects us to enter into worship focused solely on bringing honor and glory to Him alone. Worship that honors God is faithful to Scripture. Music that honors God has little to do with style and everything to do with the words being sung. Prayers that honor God are humble and contrite. Liturgy that honors God connects us with the saints who have gone before us and we join them even as they worship now around God’s throne. Preaching that honors God comes straight from the Bible and has little use for human opinion. The way we shape our spaces and gatherings and experiences in worship is critical and must be focused on drawing us close to God and to each other. All of these things have been hallmarks of worship for God’s people down through the ages going all the way back to ancient Israel. And while the ceremonial laws governing worship surely have changed - and even been fulfilled in Christ - it still doesn’t release us from the responsibility of giving God the worship He deserves and demands. Anything less and we run the risk of engaging in what the Bible calls “abomination.”

“Then Jeroboam built Shechem in the hill country of Ephraim and lived there. And he went out from there and built Penuel. And Jeroboam said in his heart, "Now the kingdom will turn back to the house of David. If this people go up to offer sacrifices in the temple of the Lord at Jerusalem, then the heart of this people will turn again to their lord, to Rehoboam king of Judah, and they will kill me and return to Rehoboam king of Judah." So the king took counsel and made two calves of gold. And he said to the people, "You have gone up to Jerusalem long enough. Behold your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt." And he set one in Bethel, and the other he put in Dan. Then this thing became a sin, for the people went as far as Dan to be before one. He also made temples on high places and appointed priests from among all the people, who were not of the Levites. And Jeroboam appointed a feast on the fifteenth day of the eighth month like the feast that was in Judah, and he offered sacrifices on the altar. So he did in Bethel, sacrificing to the calves that he made. And he placed in Bethel the priests of the high places that he had made. He went up to the altar that he had made in Bethel on the fifteenth day in the eighth month, in the month that he had devised from his own heart. And he instituted a feast for the people of Israel and went up to the altar to make offerings.” (1 Kings‬ ‭12:25-33‬)

Yesterday, we read about Rehoboam’s folly as he refused to listen to wise counselors and instead took his advice from fools. The result was the dividing of a nation. God had ordained Jeroboam to take over the northern kingdom of Israel. Ten tribes were entrusted into his hands. God was with him. God had established him. God had raised him up to be king. But Jeroboam was scared. Afraid of what might happen if his people returned to Jerusalem for worship. He was afraid their hearts would return to the house of David and he would lose his kingdom. So he makes a tragic mistake. Rather than trust God, he creates his own system of worship. Rather than give God the worship He deserves and demands, Jeroboam makes idols. Establishes his own priesthood. Built his own temples and high places. Established his own feasts. To be sure, these things paralleled the system laid out in Scripture. They had the same forms and functions. They seem to accomplish the same purpose which was the worship of Yahweh. But they were not the same and the consequence for falsely worshipping Yahweh is utter destruction. The northern kingdom of Israel will be wiped off the map. The people will be scattered, never to return. It’s a painful reminder of how deeply God cares about His own glory. Worship is about Him, not about us. 

This story serves as a sobering reminder of how dangerous it is to bring our personal preferences into worship. This is something that afflicts so many churches in America today. I can’t tell you the number of conversations I’ve had over the years about the style of music, the shape of the liturgy, the personality of the preacher, the color of the carpet in the sanctuary, you name it. I can’t tell you the number of preachers I know who uncritically adopt secular communication methods, employ gimmicks, or even seek to manipulate the worship experience in order to elicit a particular emotional response. Worship is not entertainment. It’s not a TED talk. It’s not a concert. It’s not a spectator sport. It’s not a religious “good” or “service” that we consume. Worship is about God. It’s about coming before God and offering all that we are and all that we have back to Him. It’s about gathering with God’s people to offer praise and thanksgiving for what He has done. Worship happens under trees, in dark basements under threat of persecution, in soaring cathedrals, auditoriums filled with the latest and greatest technology, humble storefronts, living rooms, or simple sanctuaries all across the globe. Worship is accompanied with organ, guitars, drums, keys, and most of all, the human voice. It doesn’t have to be on key. The amplification doesn’t always have to work. The songs may be strange or unfamiliar. All that matters is that the music leads us to God. Worship is led by preachers and pastors and priests and laypeople who do their best to interpret God’s Word. They may be young or old. Dynamic or dull. Humorous or boring. Energetic or lethargic. The main point is that they speak God’s truth to God’s people to the best of their limited ability. This is true worship and anything less runs the risk of falling under God’s judgment.

So let me be a little bold. If you find yourself in worship thinking about how much you hate the music and refuse to sing...you are in sin. If you find yourself dis-engaged in worship as the gospel is being preached...you are in sin. If the primary reason you attend church is to be entertained or to be emotionally moved...you are in sin. If you jump from church to church without ever committing your gifts, talents, wealth, and abilities to a local church family...you are in sin. If you go to church to “be fed” rather than to give God the honor and praise He deserves...you are in sin. If you attend worship flippantly, casually, or only when it’s convenient for your schedule...you are in sin. You must repent. You must ask God to forgive you and grant you a heart for true worship. Neglecting the worship of the Living God is serious, friends. Make sure your heart is right before God. 

Readings for tomorrow: None

It’s All About Me

Readings for today: 1 Kings 12, 2 Chronicles 10

We live in a narcissistic age. The focus is all on “me.” It shapes the way we work. The way we live. The way we relate to others. Millions of dollars are being spent every year by advertisers and the media to convince us that “we” are the center of the universe. Our needs are what are most important. We deserve more. We are worth more. We are owed more. The messaging is endless. Relentless. Ubiquitous. It’s impossible to escape. The impact is devastating and wide-ranging. Entitlement affects our families, neighborhoods, little leagues, schools, businesses, churches, politics, you name it. Entitlement is the source of the “culture of outrage” one experiences on cable news and social media. Entitlement creates and reinforces divisions in our country because the grand American experiment was founded on the principle of self-sacrifice. But to the entitled, sacrifice is a foreign concept. Serving others is anathema. Giving oneself away is not in the vocabulary. 

Solomon is dead. The wisest and most powerful king Israel has ever known is no longer on the throne. It’s Rehoboam’s time. Will he unite the nation? Clearly the opportunity is there. “Rehoboam went to Shechem, for all Israel had come to Shechem to make him king.” (1 Kings‬ ‭12:1‬) All Israel showed up with the intent of making him king. This is his moment. All he has to do is reach out and capture it. The people even show him the way. Lighten our load a bit. Give us some rest. Your father worked us hard and we need a break. Do this and we will serve you. The wise counselors his father relied on for advice agree. "If you will be a servant to this people today and serve them, and speak good words to them when you answer them, then they will be your servants forever." (1 Kings‬ ‭12:7‬) Serve the people. Bless them. Honor them. Do right by them. If you will do this, they will serve you forever. But Rehoboam feels entitled. We don’t know his inner thoughts but I imagine he desired to do even greater things than his father. He aspired to an even greater fame. Greater glory. He doesn’t want to serve the people. They exist to serve him. This is the essence of the advice of his peers. Don’t show weakness. Don’t give an inch. Show them you’re twice the man your father was. It is better to be feared than to be loved. “My little finger is thicker than my father's thighs. And now, whereas my father laid on you a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke. My father disciplined you with whips, but I will discipline you with scorpions.” (1 Kings‬ ‭12:10-11‬) You owe me, Israel. I demand you serve me. I demand you submit to me. I demand you love me. The result? Outrage. Rebellion. Division. The fracturing of a once great nation. 

Do you struggle with entitlement? When your child is benched at a game, do you automatically assume he or she has been unfairly treated? When they come home complaining about their teacher, do you automatically assume the teacher has it out for them? When you are passed over for the promotion at work, do you assume something nefarious about the decision? When you hear politicians from the other political party speak, do you assume the worst about their intentions? When you are disappointed at church, do you gossip and spread rumors? Such attitudes and actions betray a sinful sense of entitlement that needs to be confessed before the Lord. 

Repentance in this area is critically important. Repentance replaces entitlement with a servant-heart. A heart that longs to serve others rather than be served. Husbands lay down your lives for your wives. Wives serve your husbands. Fathers, don’t exasperate your children. Serve them as unto the Lord. Employers, don’t treat your employees as commodities to be used but honor them as co-laborers in the work you are doing. Employees seek to serve your employers with a gracious heart and be thankful for the job they provide. Teachers, serve your students. Students, serve your teachers and understand they are there because they have your best in mind. Coaches, serve your players. Do everything you can to further their athletic careers. Players trust your coaches. Put the good of the team above your own success. Politicians, work not for the good of your party but for the good of our nation. Church leaders, seek first the Kingdom of God and do all you can to help those God has entrusted to your care to grow in their relationship with Jesus. 

Entitlement poisons everything it touches. A servant-heart blesses everything it touches. Where do you find yourself today? 

Readings for tomorrow: 1 Kings 13-14, 2 Chronicles 11-12