Tag: sovereignty

Posted on

God’s Not Done

Daily Reading

Judges 19-21

Daily Thought

The best thing about chapters 19-21 of Judges is they are the last chapters of Judges. Judges is over, and none too soon. The period of the Judges began when Joshua died and there arose another generation after him who did not know the Lord (Judges 2:10); was characterized by the oft-repeated, “the people of Israel again did what was evil in the sight of the Lord” (Judges 2:11; 3:7, 12; 4:1; 6:1; 10:6; and 13:1); and closes in summary, “In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes” (Judges 21:25). How often what is right in our eyes is not so in God’s?

The hope of Judges is that the book will end, but God will keep going. And he does. God’s story continues through Ruth into 1&2 Samuel, when, at last, Israel does have a king, a king after God’s own heart, “The Lord has sought out a man after his own heart, and the Lord has commanded him to be prince over his people” (1Samuel 13:14). Even that is not enough, and the story is far from over, because there is a King to come, the King of kings and Lord of lords, “the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen” (Jude 25).

God’s unfolding story is best captured in the words of the apostle Paul, “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28). If it’s not good yet, God’s not done yet.

Daily Prayer

My Father in heaven, Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. I’ve met the King, my Savior, Jesus Christ, and I will follow Him. May my life display my allegiance, for I am an ambassador of the good news of salvation.

Thank You, God, that You keep working. That what You began, You will finish, and that it will be once-and-for-all good. Keep changing my heart so that I will desire and delight in righteousness and justice and peace. May I love You fully and out of that love, serve the people of this world who so need to know and trust in the Savior, Jesus Christ, my Lord.

Amen

Posted on

Forever True

Daily Reading

Numbers 33-34

Daily Thought

The LORD commanded Moses to keep a list of the places Israel camped after departing Egypt–“When they went out of the land of Egypt by their companies under the leadership of Moses and Aaron, Moses wrote down their starting places, stage by stage, by command of the Lord, and these are their stages according to their starting places” (Numbers 33:1-2). It is more than a list of places, it is a testimony to the sovereignty and faithfulness of God. No difficulty too great. 

The LORD parted the Red Sea to let his people escape, then closed it and drowned the Egyptian army. When the people of God met danger, God prevailed over their enemies. When they thirst, God supplied water, and fed them daily manna from heaven. Miriam died at Kadesh (v 36), and the LORD provided another woman to lead the choir. Aaron died at Mount Hor (vv 38-39), and his son Eleazar stepped in. Eventually Moses died, and Joshua succeeded him. In all of these changes, God remained the same, true to his people. 

God is great, and in the midst of our freedom to wander, he still accomplishes his purpose. The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Command the people of Israel, and say to them, When you enter the land of Canaan…” (Numbers 34:1-2). No matter, they are going to the Promised Land.

Daily Prayer

Faithful Father, no matter what, no matter the ways I wander, no matter my heart’s rebellion, you came to seek and to save me. You are forever true and I am eternally grateful. Thank You for Your grace, for Your long-suffering, for Your patience and persistence. I strayed and you found me and put me on the right path.

You have invited me to follow You. I will follow. I will be a disciple of Your Son, Jesus Christ. I will learn from You and grow in Your likeness, so that I might display Your glory and point others to the way of life.

Amen

Posted on

Simon Says

Daily Reading

Exodus 1-3

Daily Thought

Children play a wonderful game called, “Simon says.” One kid is up front, and he thinks he is in charge. He commanded us to stand on one foot, but no one did. He told us to jump up and down. No one jumped. Finally, he said, “Simon says,” and we all did it. Apparently, it was really Simon who was in charge. We didn’t do anything unless Simon said it.

The people of Israel flourished in Egypt and grew in number, a number that brought fear to the king of Egypt. “Behold, the people of Israel are too many and too mighty for us. Come, let us deal shrewdly with them” (Exodus 1:9-10), so the king instructed the Hebrew midwives, “When you serve as midwife to the Hebrew women and see them on the birthstool, if it is a son, you shall kill him” (Exodus 1:15-16). The king of Egypt thought he was in charge. “But the midwives feared God and did not do as the king of Egypt commanded them” (Exodus 1:17). And the children of Israel continued to multiply, just as God had promised Abraham, “Look toward heaven, and number the stars, if you can. So shall your offspring be” (Genesis 15:5).

God is in charge and that is better than any alternative, whether king or culture or even (especially) me. So, what God says, obey. Everything else take under advisement.

Daily Prayer

My God, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of the Hebrews, the God of this world, the one and only God. May I know You, love You, and listen to You. May I know Your voice, and when I hear it, follow it.

God, You are good. Everything that is good comes from You. When I pursue righteousness, when I love my neighbor, when I serve the least of these, I live according to Your kingdom. I display Your kingdom on earth. Your will be done, on earth, as it is in heaven.

Amen

Posted on

January 17

Daily Reading

Genesis 48-50

Daily Thought

Moses was called by God, and so was Pharaoh. “The Scripture says to Pharaoh, ‘For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I might show my power in you, and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth’” (Romans 9:17). God put him on the throne of Egypt. Likewise, the wicked nations attacking God’s people in Israel were doing God’s bidding, “for behold, I am raising up the Chaldeans, that bitter and hasty nation” (Habakkuk 1:6). They were God’s servants, whether or not they intended to be.

Jews never imagined partnering with the Romans, and yet they did, because salvation required a cross and only the Romans could crucify. “This Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you [Jews] crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men [Romans]” (Acts 2:23). 

Jesus chose twelve disciples, including one named Judas Iscariot; “Did I not choose you, the Twelve? And yet one of you is a devil” (John 6:70). He knew it ahead of time.

And ten brothers were intent on murder, but God was intent on salvation, so Joseph was sold as a slave to be just the right person in just the right place at just the right time. “As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today” (Genesis 50:20).

When your world seems out of control, remember who is in charge. God’s plans and God’s promises are a sure thing. “And Joseph said to his brothers, ‘I am about to die, but God will visit you and bring you up out of this land to the land that he swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob’” (Genesis 50:24).

Daily Prayer 

Sovereign God, the mountains and the oceans, the sun and moon and stars display Your majesty. I hear Your story in the history of my world. I see Your love and Your lordship in, and often in spite of, the events around me. Throughout history, we people try to live without You and against You. How foolish! How foolish we are if we do not call You King of kings and Lord of lords. You are sovereign over the good and the bad. Over all.

Lord, may I live in such a way that people see good works and praise You. God, may I always walk in Your Holy Spirit and do those works You have set before me, good works that reflect Your love to this world.

Amen

Posted on

Let God Define You

Daily Reading

Genesis 30-31

Daily Thought

Israel, the great nation of God, would come through the line of Jacob. Jacob had twelve sons and a daughter by four women. Two were wives, two weren’t. Why would God use such a convoluted, sin-filled line to bring forth his people?

We are sinners, simple as that. When God uses us to accomplish his plan, sin tags along. We don’t have to search; sin doesn’t hide. Jacob’s wives invited him to sleep with their maidservants, and Jacob said, “Okay.” What a mess! 

We do bad things and bad things happen to us, and God shapes it into his design. “Joseph said to his brothers, ‘You meant evil against me, but God meant it for good’” (Genesis 50:20). God used the actions of the sons of Jacob to refine them so that they would learn love and trust through the consequences of their own hate and betrayal. God is sovereign, but that doesn’t mean he makes everything happen. For instance, God didn’t make the sons of Jacob sin. Sovereignty is much bigger than that. It means that God is in charge of this world, and he takes everything that happens, good and bad, and uses it to carry out his plan. And it will be good for us.  

Often we let the bad things we do define us – “I’m a bad person” – but God can reshape the bad you have done into a work of his glory. God’s goodness is more powerful than your sin. Let God define you.

Daily Prayer

Father God, thank You for Your mercy. Your son made a trade: He took my sin and gave me His righteousness. What amazing grace! You have made me a new person in Jesus Christ. My old self, delighted with sin, is dead. I am born again, born from heaven, a new person who now delights in You.  

God, I hunger and thirst for righteousness. May I be filled and overflowing. May I live a good and godly life that lights the world around me so that people see You and delight in You, as well. 

Amen