Tag: faithfulness

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After the Closing Credits

Daily Reading

2Chronicles 35-36

Daily Thought

Judah repeats evil upon evil and is lost, but through the end, “the Lord, the God of their fathers, sent persistently to them by his messengers, because he had compassion on his people and on his dwelling place” (2Chronicles 36:15). The Hebrew says literally, “God rose up early and sent messengers.” God began his day thinking of his lost people.

I remember certain teachers, when explaining their criteria for grading, would challenge, “You have to really want an ‘F’ to receive an ‘F’ in my class.” These teachers did everything they could to pass us, unless we truly tried to fail. 

“But they kept mocking the messengers of God, despising his words and scoffing at his prophets, until the wrath of the Lord rose against his people, until there was no remedy” (2Chronicles 36:16). God sought to save the lost, but there are those who would not be found, and God “brought up against them the king of the Chaldeans, and they burned the house of God and broke down the wall of Jerusalem and burned all its palaces with fire and destroyed all its precious vessels” (2Chronicles 36:17, 19). 

Thus the Chronicles end. Almost.

Sometimes a movie, at the very end, after the closing credits, adds one more scene, a glimpse of what’s next. There is more to come. All is not lost. 

The Chronicles do this. After Judah failed and the kingdom fell, “the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia” (2Chronicles 36:22), a foreign king, to speak the closing words of the Chronicles, words of hope to the Hebrew nation, “Thus says Cyrus king of Persia, ‘The Lord, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth, and he has charged me to build him a house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Whoever is among you of all his people, may the Lord his God be with him. Let him go up…’” (2Chronicles 36:23). Cyrus and Chronicles stop mid-sentence. Israel and Judah tried hard to fail, but God would not let them. This same proclamation of Cyrus is repeated to open the next book, Ezra 1:1-3, and the story continues.

“Let him go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and rebuild the house of the Lord, the God of Israel—he is the God who is in Jerusalem.” ~Ezra 1:3

Daily Prayer

My God, my Lord, and my Savior, I am so glad that You came uninvited into my life. Thank you for crashing my party and rescuing me from myself, because I would have sought my own pleasure to my destruction. Instead, You saved me for Your pleasure, which is life itself, a life everlasting and overflowing.

May I ever find my joy in You. May I begin my day thinking of You, delighting in Your Word, following Your lead, living life to the full. You are good, a righteous King, a loving Lord, Almighty God. I worship You.

Amen

Daily Question

What do you do when it feels like God has abandoned you?

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History Repeated

Daily Reading

1Chronicles 12-14

Daily Thought

The Chronicles follow the Samuels and the Kings, and there is a sense that we are reading the same stuff over again. The death of Saul and his sons in 1Chronicles 10 was told before in 1Samuel 31. David’s mighty men, listed in 1Chronicles 11, were listed before in 2Samuel 23. Uzzah and the Ark is found in 1Chronicles 13 and 2Samuel 6. Why was Chronicles written if the stories had already been told?

In 1Samuel, God spoke to David, “Your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me. Your throne shall be established forever” (1Samuel 7:16), but in 722BC, the northern tribes of Israel were conquered and taken captive by Assyria, never to return. All of God’s promises of an enduring, everlasting kingdom depended now on Judah, but in 586BC, Judah was exiled to Babylon. Seventy years of captivity followed and forever seemed to be over. At the end of captivity, as the Jews returned from exile and began to rebuild Jerusalem, they questioned, “Are we still the people of God?” It was a legitimate question and Chronicles is the answer. It tells the same story of the same history but with a different focus. God is still keeping his promises because God is forever faithful even when Israel is not. 

Although Chronicles is placed after Kings in the Christian Bible, it is the last book in the Jewish Scriptures. It is a retelling of Israel’s story to a people questioning their future. The opening nine chapters trace their genealogy back, not just to Abraham, but all the way to Adam, to remind Israel that they are God’s people, and his plan for them extends from the very beginning, the first man. When God repeats the exact same stories without changing anything, that’s the good news–nothing has changed! Chronicles reminds God’s people that God’s promises are sure, but his blessings depend on their faithfulness, and they have been unfaithful. 

“If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” ~2Chronicles 7:14

I am still your God, you are still my people, and this is how we will move forward.

Daily Prayer

My forever faithful Father, God of heaven and earth, Creator of all, Creator of me, I shall live my days serving You and Your desires in this world. Teach me and lead me into Your everlasting life, Your kingdom of grace and truth. I pray that my heart remains at all times true to You, for You are always faithful, worthy of my trust.

Your faithfulness is amazing, because if I were you, I’d be done with me. I am not always true. I am not often true. All too often I pursue my desires over Yours. Your patience is incredible, because I put it to the test, and yet, Your grace is there waiting. I ask for forgiveness and You grant it, and I return by Your side, walking again along Your path. Fill my heart with Your love, so that I will not stray, but will remain forever faithful to You.

Amen

Daily Question

How do you know you belong to God?

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The Wedding Vow

Daily Reading

2Kings 15-17

Daily Thought

She had selected his wedding band. That part was easy. Now to choose an engraving. The jeweler suggested, “I choo choo choose you.” Not a chance. “Today, I married my best friend”? A little sappy. “August 16, 1986.” It would help him remember your anniversary…  “Two hearts, one soul?” I don’t think so. “Eternally Yours.” Boring. “Today, Tomorrow, Forever,” “My Dream Came True,” “This Day And Always” – No, No, No!

On the wedding night, he pulled off his ring and looked inside to discover the engraving she had selected: “Put it back on.”

The thing is, you only see the engraving if you take the ring off–and that was Israel’s problem. God made a covenant with Israel through Moses,“I will take you to be my people, and I will be your God, and you shall know that I am the Lord your God, who has brought you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians. I will bring you into the land that I swore to give to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob” (Exodus 6:7-8). That’s a wedding vow, a wedding between God and his people. 

Judah to the south had some kings who were faithful and some who were not, but the northern kingdom of Israel had no good kings and Israel kept taking the wedding ring off and playing around. “Zechariah the son of Jeroboam reigned over Israel in Samaria six months and he did what was evil in the sight of the Lord” (2Kings 15:8-9). King Menahem, the same thing, “he did what was evil in the sight of the Lord” (2Kings 15:18). Then Pekahiah (2Kings 15:24), Pekah (2Kings 15:28), and Hoshea (2Kings 17:2). Israel kept taking it off, and God kept reminding them, “You shall not forget the covenant that I have made with you” (2Kings 17:38). Put it back on! 

But they took it off, again and again, until finally, in 722BC, “in the ninth year of Hoshea, the king of Assyria captured Samaria, and he carried the Israelites away” (2Kings 17:6).

You keep taking off the wedding ring, eventually you lose it.

Daily Prayer

Loving God, You sought me out and rescued me from the darkness I was in. You paid the price of my redemption. You spilled blood for my salvation. You gave Your life for me. I love You back. I promise.

I will not seek other ways, other ideas, other gods. You did not need to seek me, You desired to. I, on the other hand, need to seek You. I pray, my God, that You will be and will always be my one desire, my full desire.

Amen

Daily Question

How can something be tempt you enough to pull you away from Jesus?

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Predictably Godly

Daily Reading

Daniel 4-6

Daily Thought

Talk is cheap when not followed up with action, nevertheless, talk can be a good place to begin. It makes public our heart and intention, and Daniel’s was to follow his God. Early on, Daniel resolved that he would not defile himself (Daniel 1:8) and put it into words. “He asked the chief of the eunuchs to allow him not to defile himself, ‘Test your servants for ten days’” (Daniel 1:8, 12). Daniel spoke; now they would wait and see.

This short test grew into a lifelong obedience and Daniel’s consistent character was evident through several generations of kings, always to God’s glory. King Nebuchadnezzar said of Daniel, “the spirit of the holy gods is in you” (Daniel 4:18); then came to acknowledge Daniel’s God is special, “Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven” (Daniel 4:37). King Belshazzar saw the writing on the wall, but did not know it spelled his doom until Daniel spoke, “God has numbered the days of your kingdom and brought it to an end” (Daniel 5:26). Finally, King Darius observed that “Daniel became distinguished above all the other high officials and satraps, because an excellent spirit was in him. And the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom” (Daniel 6:3).

Jealousy ensued. The high officials, now below Daniel, sought grounds to discredit him and concluded, “We shall not find any ground for complaint against this Daniel unless we find it in connection with the law of his God” (Daniel 6:5). They convinced King Darius to establish a silly statute, “For thirty days, no one can pray to any god or man except the king.” Then they sat by Daniel’s window and waited. “When Daniel knew that the document had been signed, he went to his house where he had windows in his upper chamber open toward Jerusalem. He got down on his knees three times a day and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as he had done previously. Then these men came by agreement and found Daniel making petition and plea before his God” (Daniel 6:10-11). The wait was not long. Daniel was predictably godly.

Because he prayed, “Daniel was brought and cast into the den of lions. The king declared to Daniel, ‘May your God, whom you serve continually, deliver you!’” 

God did and the king issued a new statute, a better one, “I make a decree, that in all my royal dominion people are to tremble and fear before the God of Daniel, for he is the living God, enduring forever” (Daniel 6:26). 

Our talk and our walk go together. Daniel walked well and kings thought him a good guy. Daniel talked well and they knew why. Daniel followed a good God.

Daily Prayer

My Savior, my God, my Friend. Yes, You call me friend. I love You so much. How can I not speak of You?

I thank You so much for Your care for me. You gave me parents and friends, a neighborhood and teachers, many people have had an incredible influence on me. But You, most of all. If I talk of my friends and family, how much more shall I shout Your Name. You are the One who gives meaning and purpose, who fills me with love and compassion, who teaches me about life. You are my God, my Father in Heaven, my Savior and Lord.

Amen

Daily Question

What is your reputation with others?

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Stand Out

Daily Reading

Ezekiel 43-45

Daily Thought

As God works restoration into the heart of his people, a burden of judgment remains against the Levitical priests, “but the Levites who went far from me, going astray from me after their idols when Israel went astray, shall bear their punishment” (Ezekiel 44:10). Priests are called to a higher standard. They represent the people before God and God before the people. If the people are faithless, they must remain faithful. If they do not, they bear not only their own guilt, but share in the guilt of all. 

One family of priests did remain true to God and Ezekiel singles them out, “the sons of Zadok, who kept the charge of my sanctuary when the people of Israel went astray from me” (Ezekiel 44:15). Zadok had served faithfully as priest during the reigns of David and Solomon, and was appointed leader among the priests. His faithfulness, apparently, passed along to his children and his children’s children. 

It is an easy thing, finding the faithful. They are the ones standing before God when everyone else is bowing to the world.

Our choice is always idolatry or faith. Idolatry was the ongoing offense of Israel, choosing something other than God; faithfulness chooses God over everything. God said of the sons of Zadok, “this shall be their inheritance: I am their inheritance: and you shall give them no possession in Israel; I am their possession” (Ezekiel 44:28). To be given no possession in Israel seems an odd reward, but they were not given nothing. They were given nothing but God, and that is everything. 

“Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” ~Matthew 6:33

Daily Prayer

Holy Father, Thy Kingdom come! We long for the eternity ahead of us, when we are free from sin, when we are surrounded with Your holiness, when the world is pure and good, when the lion lays with the lamb, when there is peace on earth. God, as we live this side of eternity, may our lives reflect Your Kingdom in a world that desperately needs love and purity. May Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

You are my King, and You have invited me into Your Kingdom. “Follow me,” you offered (and could have commanded). You gave me the choice, to put my life in the hands of this world, or in the world to come. I will give up all, and place my life in Your hands. I am Yours.

Amen

Daily Question

Why is idolatry more popular than faith?

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The Message for a Divided Nation

Daily Reading

Ezekiel 37-39

Daily Thought

Ezekiel is a prophet, and, in one sense, a prophet of doom, Israel’s doom. The united nation of Israel became divided under the poor leadership following the successful reign of Solomon. Godly leadership is essential, Israel was found lacking, and the nation split and would fall, first Israel to the north, and now, at the time of Ezekiel, Judah in the south. God, nevertheless, remains One and true, and in him must be our allegiance and trust. Israel will someday learn again God is not done with them.

Ezekiel has a vision of the future restoration of Israel. They died in judgment, but God will breathe new life into their old dry bones, “Thus says the Lord God: Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe on these slain, that they may live” (Ezekiel 37:9). Three thousand years have passed and on Friday, May 14, 1948, the Israeli Declaration of Independence announced that the State of Israel has been formally established on land where, in antiquity, the Kingdoms of Israel and Judah had once been. The nation of Israel is still on the map.

This, however, is not the final chapter. Ezekiel sees another vision of the evil king Gog, born in the land of Magog, ruler over Meshach and Tubal, who will lead an army from the four corners of the earth against Israel (Ezekiel 38:1-6). Gog represents all of Israel’s enemies attempting to crush God’s people; but God is greater than Gog, “On that day, the day that Gog shall come against the land of Israel, declares the Lord God, my wrath will be roused in my anger. I will show my greatness and my holiness and make myself known in the eyes of many nations. Then they will know that I am the Lord” (Ezekiel 38:18, 23).

The lesson of history is to trust not in any one nation, but in the one Name, “so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:10-11). The prophet of God is not foremost one of doom, but always one of hope. “And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:6). If it is not good yet, God is not done yet.

“And my holy name I will make known in the midst of my people Israel, and I will not let my holy name be profaned anymore. And the nations shall know that I am the Lord, the Holy One in Israel.” ~Ezekiel 39:7

Daily Prayer

My God, You are the giver of life, both the first time, and then again. You bring us out of the grave, for we are to You the aroma of Christ, the fragrance of life. We have His righteousness.

Thank You for breathing life back in me through Your Holy Spirit. This second time, You are in control, You are on the throne, You are my Lord and Savior. I live my life now in Christ for Your glory and pleasure, taking off the grave clothes and clothing myself in Your love and holiness.

Amen

Daily Question

Which has a greater impact on your life, your citizenship to your country or your citizenship in God’s Kingdom?

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Sunrise, Sunset

Daily Reading

Jeremiah 30-31

Daily Thought

Thus says the Lord,
who gives the sun for light by day
and the fixed order of the moon and the stars for light by night,
who stirs up the sea so that its waves roar—
the Lord of hosts is his name. ~Jeremiah 31:35 

It says sunrise will occur at 6:32am, so I show up at 6:30 and wait. Five minutes pass, I check my watch, and still no sun. Here is what I know: either my watch is wrong or the charts were wrong, or maybe I am facing west. The sun is not wrong. It shows up exactly on schedule every morning. You can bet your life on it; in fact, God says you should: 

“If this fixed order departs
from before me,” declares the Lord,
“then shall the offspring of Israel cease
from being a nation before me forever.” ~Jeremiah 31:36

Judah sinned and was taken captive by God’s enemies. Would God remain faithful to them, they wondered, even though they were not faithful to him? Jeremiah assures them God will and fastens God’s promise to the universe; more sure is his Word than the sun and the moon and the stars. “This is the day that the Lord has made,” proclaims the Psalmist. Every sunrise is a promise kept, a daily reminder that God is true.  

“Let us rejoice and be glad in it.” ~Psalm 118:24

Daily Prayer

My God, You are true and right and good. By Your breath this world came into existence, and Your Son holds it together. “He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together” (Colossians 1:17). You are faithful and true. When You declare what will happen, it will happen.

I place my trust in You, O God, because there is no foundation more sure. So much is outside of my control, I would feel helpless and hopeless, but I know that You, my God, are sovereign. You have declared the end from the beginning so that I may always live in the wonderful hope of things to come.

Amen

Daily Question

What have you done that you wouldn’t have done unless you trusted God?

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Donut Day

Daily Reading

Psalm 86-89

Daily Thought

I am writing this on a Saturday. It’s Donut Day, and always has been. When we were little, my brother and I went with Dad to help him choose the right donuts. Later, the teen years, we preferred sleeping in. Still, Dad disappeared each Saturday, before we or the sun arose, and came home with a pink box. I liked the maple bar and there was always a maple bar. I could count on it. Now I am Dad and Saturdays are Donut Day, and as soon as I finish writing this, I am off to get donuts. 

Psalm 89 proclaims the steadfast love of the Lord, forever. Steadfast, firmly fixed, does not change, a love you can count on. God’s love is bonded to his faithfulness, “Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne; steadfast love and faithfulness go before you” (Psalm 89:14). Even when we were in trouble, and we often were, Saturday was Donut Day. Ethan, the writer of Psalm 89, says of God, “If his children forsake my law and do not walk according to my rules, if they violate my statutes and do not keep my commandments, I will not remove from him my steadfast love or be false to my faithfulness” (Psalm 89:30-31, 33). Ethan knows what Israel has done, that they are in trouble, but he looks to the heavens, to the sun and the moon, “a faithful witness in the skies” (Psalm 89:37), and knows that God is forever faithful, even when Israel is not. 

To be honest, this is a bit of silliness and not a perfect illustration, but still it speaks of family and faithfulness. Today is Saturday and there are donuts on the counter and I know I am in the right house.

Daily Prayer

Heavenly Father, You are faithful and true, and I am not. I am so glad that Your love depends on You, not me. I know I let You down, I blow it, and mess up, yet You are always there, forever true. Thank You. I don’t deserve it, but that is the way of grace.

As I draw closer to You, my God, I pick up Your ways. I learn Your love, Your faithfulness, Your grace. Draw me close, then, that I might reflect Your goodness to this world around me, so that people will know Your steadfast love and faithfulness, and that heaven is home.

Amen

Daily Question

Who would describe your love for them as steadfast? 

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Bibles Well-Worn and Tattered

Daily Reading

2John 1; 3John 1; Jude 1

Daily Thought

Mr. Hooper taught Sunday School, 6th grade boys. They were not in the habit of bringing Bibles, but Mr. Hooper thought they should. “Bring your Bibles next Sunday.”

The next week, all had obeyed. “Okay, hold your Bibles up,” commanded Mr. Hooper. Nine obeyed. Their Bibles were very nice, cool covers, white clean pages. They looked almost new, almost unread, except Billy’s. Billy’s was still hidden in his backpack. His was old and tattered, rabbit-eared pages with lots of writing and underlining, and a frayed cover. He was embarrassed.

Mr. Hooper said, “Billy, what about yours? Let’s see it. Every one look at Billy’s Bible.” Now he was really embarrassed!

“That’s what a Bible should look like. That’s the best Bible, well worn and well used. When it falls apart, buy a new one and start all over again. Well done, Billy.”

“I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.” ~3John 1:4

If any book should be found at a Used Book Store, it is the Bible.

Daily Prayer

God, I love Your Word. It is the Word of life. In it, I see what You are like. I also see what I am like and what I should be like. Keep me in Your Word, God. The devil will keep me from Your Word, but Your Word will keep me from the devil. It is the Truth.

May I not only know Your Word, but live it, too. May my life be Your Word to others, leading them to Your Word, the Bible, leading them to Your Word, the Son, Jesus Christ.

Amen

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History Repeated

Daily Reading

1Chronicles 12-14

Daily Thought

The Chronicles follow the Samuels and the Kings, and there is a sense that we are reading the same stuff over again. The death of Saul and his sons in 1Chronicles 10 was told before in 1Samuel 31. David’s mighty men, listed in 1Chronicles 11, were listed before in 2Samuel 23. Uzzah and the Ark is found in 1Chronicles 13 and 2Samuel 6. Why was Chronicles written if the stories had already been told?

In 1Samuel, God spoke to David, “Your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me. Your throne shall be established forever” (1Samuel 7:16), but in 722BC, the northern tribes of Israel were conquered and taken captive by Assyria, never to return. All of God’s promises of an enduring, everlasting kingdom depended now on Judah, but in 586BC, Judah was exiled to Babylon. Forever seemed to be over. Seventy years of captivity followed. Then, as the Jews returned from captivity and began to rebuild Jerusalem, they questioned, “Are we still the people of God?” Chronicles is the answer. It tells the same story of the same history but with a different focus. God is still keeping his promises because God is forever faithful. 

Although Chronicles is placed after Kings in our Bibles, it is the last book in the Jewish Scriptures. It is a retelling of Israel’s story to a people returning from captivity, slavery, and exile, and questioning their future. The opening nine chapters of genealogy trace back, not just to Abraham, but all the way to Adam, to remind Israel that they are God’s people, and his plan for them extends from the very beginning, the first man. When God repeats the exact same story over again without changing anything, that is the good news–nothing has changed! Chronicles reminds God’s people that God’s promises are sure, but his blessings depend on their faithfulness, and they had been unfaithful. “If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land” (2Chronicles 7:14).  I am still your God, you are still my people, and this is how we will move forward.

Daily Prayer

My forever faithful Father, God of heaven and earth, Creator of all, Creator of me, I shall live my days serving You and Your desires in this world. Teach me and lead me into Your everlasting life, Your kingdom of grace and truth. I pray that my heart remains at all times true to You, for You are always faithful, worthy of my trust.

Your faithfulness is amazing, because if I were you, I’d be done with me. I am not always true. I am not often true. All too often I pursue my desires over Yours. Your patience is incredible, because I put it to the test, and yet, Your grace is there waiting. I ask for forgiveness and You grant it, and I return by Your side, walking again along Your path. Fill my heart with Your love, so that I will not stray, but will remain forever faithful to You.

Amen