Speak Into

9.7.2010

2 Chronicles 36:9 9 Jehoiachin was eight years old when he became king, and he reigned three months and ten days in Jerusalem. He did what was evil in the sight of the Lord.

Can an eight-year old do evil in the sight of the Lord? Well, with the right kind of advisors he can much wrong. Jehoiachin managed to do evil in the sight of the Lord. Who ever intended for eight-year olds to be rulers anyway? Apparently Nebuchadnezzar saw trouble and brought the kid to Babylon where he could inculcate him (verse 10).

Part of my mission is to befriend and speak into the lives of kids – of all ages. It’s risky, many parents don’t care for their kids much but get staunchly jealous when someone else does. Kinda weird, but that’s the way it goes. My own 12-year child needs me to speak into his life and sometimes he doesn’t like it… but there are others out there worshiping Jesus who can speak the truth to him.

Our children are quite capable of doing evil in the sight of the Lord. We must as parents and believers speak truth into them and come alongside to usher them into adulthood. They need us to do so. That means however, that I must carefully usher my own life so that I can effectively and genuinely speak into the lives of the young.

Father in Heaven,

Thank You for our children (thank You for mine!) You intend for us to help our kids to learn right from wrong and to avoid evil and not just avoid getting caught. Help me as I befriend kids who come into my life through my child, through my church and through my vocation that they may see You in me and perhaps want to follow You as well, I pray in the Name of the One who said, Let the children come to Me! Amen.

Keeping Track

9.6.2010

Ezekiel 32:17 17 In the twelfth year, in the twelfth month, on the fifteenth day of the month, the word of the Lord came to me... ESV

Ezekiel kept track of his visitation days. He kept track of when and what the Lord said to him, and from captivity in Babylon, he prophesied about the nations; Ezekiel gave the God-given message at the God-given time.

One of my quests in life is to listen on the level of an Ezekiel, a Jeremiah, an Isaiah. I want to hear from the Lord like they did. I want to know the exact time and specific message for my life (and possibly for others) that I may then go and do or speak as directed. I want to know. I want God to speak to me and direct me that I may do what He says to do, when He says to do it.

So today, in the fifty-fifth year, in the ninth month, on the sixth day I learned this lesson about listening – keep track of when and what. A friend of mine keeps track of the Bible verses that to him are what he calls, ‘life verses’. He records them in a journal of sorts, and regularly reads them to remind him of the verses and the specific times in his life when he felt the Lord was specifically speaking to him. Not a bad idea…

My goal is to keep my ears and eyes open that I may hear and see what God is saying and doing.

Father in Heaven,

Thank You for the lesson this morning and for the diligence of Ezekiel and the other prophets to keep their ears open and to keep track of what You were saying to them. Help me to do the same and to do what You say – I pray in Jesus’ Name, amen.

Proclaiming His Name

9.5.2010

Revelation 10:11 11 And I was told, “You must again prophesy about many peoples and nations and languages and kings.” ESV

What do people think when prophesies spoken against them come true? What goes through their mind when the destruction and chaos that is foretold begins to happen just as it was foretold? Do they shrug and say, “Oh, well!” Do they howl and weep and moan? Do they run and try to flee? What happens when?

This morning I read the prophesies of Ezekiel against Ammon, Edom, Philistia, Tyre and Sidon. And then I read in Revelation 10 that John is told, “You must again prophesy about many people and nations and languages and kings.” In both prophetic books, Ezekiel and Revelation, it appears cataclysmic changes are happening – Ezekiel’s book is about the overthrow of the nations by great kings and vast armies and John’s is about the overthrow of the globe by God. What happens when? And what am I to do in the meantime?

John might’ve thought he’d seen the end when he was invited into the throne-room of God but he was told essentially, ‘Your work is not yet done!’ Ezekiel’s book ends with these words, “The Lord is there.” It all culminates in God.

In the meantime I am to live a holy life and doing everything in my power to stay connected to God and His people. I haven’t been called specifically to prophesy but if I am then I am to do so. But in the meantime I am to represent the Lord in a holy and steadfast manner and trust that everything He has said will come to pass and that all the nations thereby will know that He is the Lord.

Father in Heaven,

You will bring evil and selfishness to an end; it won’t last forever. Help me to patiently wait for You in these days, to trust You, and to live a holy life. May I hear Your voice and feel Your love. May I proclaim Your Name and spread Your fame. May I do exactly as You direct and command me to do – amen.

Watching Me

9.4.2010

Ezekiel 24:24 24 Thus shall Ezekiel be to you a sign; according to all that he has done you shall do. When this comes, then you will know that I am the Lord God.

The other day we spoke about consolation – this day it’s about becoming a sign. A sign tells others something or perhaps points the way. Someone may ask, “What’s the way to heaven?” – you might answer by pointing at yourself. Depending on how we live is what kind of sign we are.

God commanded Ezekiel to behave in a certain manner when his wife died – when God took her (we need to remember God did it; God took Ezekiel’s wife (Ezek. 24.15ff)). But God told Ezekiel to behave in a certain manner so that the captives would understand why when Jerusalem fell – and Ezekiel obeyed and became a sign to them of their future expected behavior…

I know people are watching me. I know they are wondering if I really believe in God and obey Him or if I the same hypocritical sham they’d expect from one who claims to be a true believer. So not only am I behaving a certain way before God but also before men – as a sign to them of the presence of God in me.

Father in Heaven,

You make sure I am know for who I am. I cannot claim to know You with my mouth and walk against You with my feet. Help me to be a sign of Your presence in all I do and say – I pray in Jesus’ Name, amen.

On the Outs to the Ins

9.3.2010

Revelation 8:12 12 The fourth angel blew his trumpet, and a third of the sun was struck, and a third of the moon, and a third of the stars, so that a third of their light might be darkened, and a third of the day might be kept from shining, and likewise a third of the night.

Dim days, dark nights – these are the days coming upon the earth. God never intended for this to happen; God has always desired to see fruitfulness and creativity and bounty and blessing. But men have rejected all of His goodness. And divine wrath is His sole just response.

As I watch the current events around me I wonder how long this dream will last. I wonder how long we can keep going. It seems that man cannot handle his freedom and he cannot handle oppression. What we humans really need is the Lord; what we really need, He’ll give. And He’ll give bountifully and He’ll give graciously; and He’ll give lovingly, and He’ll give mercifully; all we have to do is just accept it.

Today, while it is still called today, I must let my light shine. Today, I must remember that my calling is to represent the Lord as His ambassador and through me His light is to shine into my little corner of the world. I cannot afford to be all butt-hurt over current events when there is so much to live for today. Dim days, dark nights – these are coming fast but for today, His light still shines.

Father in Heaven,

Your servant, Ezekiel and John wrote somber words about somber days when men would begin to realize that their time was running out. I’m not sure when those days are coming, and they may be closer than I think, but let me this day represent You with a glad and hopeful heart. May I share Your goodness with those around me and somehow may my life draw those who are on the ‘outs’ with You to the ‘in’s’ – I pray in Jesus’ Name, amen.

Divine Abandon

9.2.2010

Ezekiel 17:8 8 It had been planted on good soil by abundant waters, that it might produce branches and bear fruit and become a noble vine. ESV

What do you suppose is God’s divine intention for your life? Do you suppose you were planted in good soil by abundant waters that your life may produce branches and bear fruit and become a noble life? If you believe in God you have that kind of potential; that kind of divine intention.

There are many who believe in human potential. There are many who think if you just stay stuck to your dreams, ambitions, desires and goals, you’ll achieve them – if you believe, you’ll achieve. Human potential falls short because it factors out divine intention. We might inherit the whole world in human potential and forfeit heaven in the process; is it worth it?

My mission this day (and the direction of my life in general) is to live with divine abandon – letting go and letting God. I know that may sound glib or perhaps a cop-out to some, but that is truly what I’m to do in Christ. The vine that was planted in the proverb in Ezekiel 17 was to become a noble vine under the care of God. What about me – can I live with that kind of abandon? I must if I call God my Caretaker.

Father in Heaven,

Lord, take control of my life (as if You ever let go!). Help me to recognize Your hand in my every day and to cooperate with You and Your divine intention for my life. I ask to become a noble vine that produces branches and bears fruit for You. Hold me close, I pray in Your Name, amen.

I Too

9.1.2010

Psalm 70:5 5 But I am poor and needy; hasten to me, O God! You are my help and my deliverer; O Lord, do not delay! ESV

Much of our present day evangelical theology is faulty – we in the church somehow feel the need to call the sinner a sinner. The problem with that is he knows he’s a sinner; he has no qualms with that at all. But he also knows he isn’t loved and he can’t quite figure out why the church doesn’t love him. So he lashes back in defensiveness that the church is a bunch of hypocrites who cannot tell the truth; and the battle rages from there seemingly never to be settled.

But even sinners get broken, and when they do they’re looking for answers and the pain is real, and they want fixed; they may not want God but they do want fixed. That is when we in the church have a golden opportunity to call out like David, “But I am poor and needy; hasten to me, O God! You are my help and my deliverer; O Lord, do not delay!” Sinners need to see the life of Jesus in our behavior and the brokenness of Christ in our speech. Sinners don’t need to be condemned by the churchy; they need to get to the place where they too, before God, cry out, “I am poor and needy; hasten to me, O God!”

Yes, sinners sin, but the truth is I do too. I need to be a spirit-filled, spirit-led witness and look past their sin to their potential in Christ and share His salvation from a heart that says, I too am poor and needy and without the Lord, I am doomed. I cannot excuse their sin but I can say with conviction and love, but for the grace of God, there go I…

Father in Heaven,

You are the Eternal Healer, Helper, and Friend to the sinner who gets to the place where he recognizes his sin without my help. Help me to love and minister love, and witness to sinners around me that but for Your grace, there go I – in Jesus’ Name, amen.