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A Guy with a Violin

Daily Reading

Jeremiah 1-3

Daily Thought

Now the word of the Lord came to me, saying,
“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,
and before you were born I consecrated you;
I appointed you a prophet to the nations.” ~Isaiah 1:4-5

There is no music so beautiful as the Word of God, and God plays through his prophets. Jeremiah was prepared before he was born to perform, but what is music if people will not listen?

L’Enfant Plaza Metro Station in Washington, D.C., a guy in jeans, a long-sleeved T-shirt and a Washington Nationals baseball cap picks up a violin and plays. He leaves the violin case open on the ground in front of him. This isn’t just any guy, though. Joshua Bell is one of the finest classical musicians in the world. This isn’t just any violin, either. It has a name: Gibson ex Huberman; made by Antonio Stradivari in 1713. Bell paid $3.5 million for this violin. And it isn’t just any old music. The composers have names like Bach and Schubert. It is a 45-minute experiment to see if beauty will stop (or slow) the unending rush. Over 1,000 people pass; 7 stop to listen.

Declare this in the house of Jacob;
proclaim it in Judah:
“Hear this, O foolish and senseless people,
who have eyes, but see not,
who have ears, but hear not.” ~Jeremiah 5:20-21

Jeremiah is a faithful prophet, but God sends him to a nation that no longer recognizes God’s glory and now chases after that which has no value–“but my people have changed their glory for that which does not profit” (Jeremiah 2:11). 

“The awkward times,” Bell recalled, “happen right after each piece ends. Nothing.” No one noticed him play, so no one noticed him stop. No applause, no acknowledgment.

For the hustle and bustle, they miss the music. We must stop and listen to the prophets so we will again hear God.

Daily Prayer

Righteous God, You still walk with us. In the Garden, in Eden, we were aware of You. We talked with You and loved Your company. Now, we act as if we are alone, as if You are not here, as if we are not accountable to our Creator. But You never left. You still make Yourself known to those whose spirit listens to Your Spirit.

God, I long to hear You, to listen to You, to walk with You. How wonderful when You say, “Well done.” When You say, “Today you will be with me in Paradise.” Thank You, Father, for giving me a new heart, for awakening my spirit, for opening my ears to Your Word. It’s good to hear You again.

Amen

Daily Question

What distracts you most from hearing God’s Word?

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A Work of Art

Daily Reading

Isaiah 64-66

Daily Thought

A prophet blends judgment with hope; God breaks Israel down, then builds her back a strong and faithful people. “We are the clay, and you are our potter,” explains Isaiah; “we are all the work of your hand” (Isaiah 64:8). “We are his workmanship,” echoes the apostle Paul. Workmanship is English for the Greek poema; we are his poem, a work of art, “created in Christ Jesus for good works” (Ephesians 2:10).

The Statue of David, completed by Michelangelo in 1504, is one of the most renowned works of the Renaissance. “In every block of marble I see a statue as plain as though it stood before me, shaped and perfect in attitude and action,” Michelangelo describes his handiwork. “I have only to hew away the rough walls that imprison the lovely apparition to reveal it to the other eyes as mine see it.”

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

“I simply chip away all that isn’t David,” says Michelangelo.

I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
Wonderful are your works;
my soul knows it very well. ~Psalm 139:14

The work of God is molding you, chiseling you into who you are, a masterpiece who glorifies your Artist.

Daily Prayer

My God, You created man and woman in splendor. Eden was good. So were we, until we traded good for a misguided chance to play god. Good is so much better. Thank You for not giving up on us.

Thank you for seeing within me the man You created me to be. God, continue to work on me, removing the stuff that was never intended to be there. I will try to cooperate, but when I don’t, keep chipping, even if it hurts. I trust You and look forward to becoming the masterpiece you made me to be.

Amen

Daily Question

What has God done to shape you into the person you are today?

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The Wedding

Daily Reading

Isaiah 59-63

Daily Thought

Our wedding had been my wife’s dream since little girls begin dreaming. Debbie can tell you every detail; I distinctly remember one: 8,500 pearls. A friend made her gown. It was white silk, long train, beautiful, and 8,500 little pearls were hand-sewn one at a time into the fabric of that dress. That’s a lot of pearls and a lot of sewing.

God has clothed me with the garments of salvation;
he has covered me with the robe of righteousness,
as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. ~Isaiah 61:10

Debbie was dazzling and heavenly and beautiful. This was her dream, to look her best for the man she loved, and I was that man.

That was our wedding day, but there is another to come, a wedding at the end of ages and the beginning of eternity.

“Let us rejoice and exult
and give him the glory,
for the marriage of the Lamb has come,
and his Bride has made herself ready;
it was granted her to clothe herself
with fine linen, bright and pure-
for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints.” ~Revelation 19:7-8

We are that bride, Jesus the groom, and there will be a feast and a celebration. Something to look forward to. Someone to prepare for. We shall put on our gown and our righteous deeds sown as pearls on a fine linen. 

Daily Prayer

My God, when you are betrothed to the King, when you are engaged to the Savior, when you are promised to Jesus Christ, then the flirting ends. How many times do we still smile and wink at the world, the flesh, and the devil?

Our acts, what we do, these are the fine silk linen, the pearls sown on the bridal gown of the bride of Jesus Christ. May all of our lives be preparation for the wedding.

Amen

Daily Question

What do you imaging it will be like when you meet Jesus face to face?

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The Little Green Car

Daily Reading

Isaiah 54-58

Daily Thought

He drives fast, whips around a little green car who is not in a hurry, and speeds ahead. The next light is red. Brake. Green light. Accelerate. Red light. Brake again. His eyes dart from the rear view mirror to the road ahead and back to the mirror. He will see the cop before the cop sees him. Switching lanes for the 20th time in 12 miles, the last turn is ahead. He checks his watch. Fifteen minutes. Not bad. 

His shoulder aches.  “Why am I so tense?” he wonders, as he rubs it.  

“The wicked are like the tossing sea;
for it cannot be quiet,
and its waters toss up mire and dirt.
There is no peace,” says my God, “for the wicked.” ~Isaiah 57:20-21

He turns the corner and, one last time, glances at the mirror, spying the little green car coasting through the intersection from which he turned 10 seconds ago.

Thus says the Lord,
your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel:
“I am the Lord your God,
who teaches you to profit,
who leads you in the way you should go.
Oh that you had paid attention to my commandments!
Then your peace would have been like a river,
and your righteousness like the waves of the sea.” ~Isaiah 54:17-18

The guy in the green car, his shoulders feel fine.

Daily Prayer

God of Peace, when I follow You, when I walk on the path You lay before me, when I pursue righteousness, I live confidently and I enjoy peace. Peace is found only in righteousness. What a wonderful feeling it is, Father, to think back on my day without shame. To smile because I made You smile. To know that I do not fear getting caught because I have nothing to hide. To live in the truth because I told no lies. 

God, when I do what is right, I find rest. And it’s a lot easier to talk with You.

Amen

Daily Question

Would you describe your life more often as hectic or peaceful? Why?

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Silence of the Lamb

Daily Reading

Isaiah 49-53

Daily Thought

Isaiah, in describing the coming Messiah, the Servant of the Lord, emphasizes his silence, the silence of the sacrificial lamb.

He was oppressed, and he was afflicted,
yet he opened not his mouth;
like a lamb that is led to the slaughter,
and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent,
so he opened not his mouth. ~Isaiah 53:7

In a debate, I cherish the last word, the snappy comeback, the perfect counter punch that stuns and silences my adversary. “Pilate asked Jesus, ‘Do you not hear how many things they testify against you?’ But he gave him no answer, not to a single charge, so that the governor was greatly amazed” (Matthew 27:13-14). Jesus was silent. He did not desire nor require the last word. 

Sometimes silence is the better statement. 

The work of Jesus was not to be argued in Pilate’s court, but accomplished on the cross. Actions speak louder: “Jesus yielded up his spirit. And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And the earth shook, and the rocks were split. The tombs also were opened. And many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised, and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many. When the centurion and those who were with him, keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what took place, they were filled with awe and said, ‘Truly this was the Son of God!’” (Matthew 27:50-54). 

Ah, there it is, the last Word.

Daily Prayer

God, My Savior, You who made the heavens, placed the stars, grew the mountains, filled the seas, You became the servant of man, the lamb of sacrifice, and suffered for my salvation. You showed Your glory through humility, Your majesty through affliction, Your wisdom through the cross.

On the cross, Your Son cried, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken me?” I, on the other hand, am amazed that You pursue me? Who am I, O God, that You would show me grace and mercy, forgiveness and salvation? You are forever to be worshiped. You are my joy, my strength, my life.

Amen

Daily Question

What are the best ways to convince someone of the truth of Jesus Christ?

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Believe Him

Daily Reading

Isaiah 45-48

Daily Thought

God used prophets such as Isaiah to teach his hard-headed people to trust him, “because I know that you are obstinate, and your neck is an iron sinew and your forehead brass, I declared them to you from of old, before they came to pass I announced them to you” (Isaiah 48:4-5). 

For instance, Isaiah said, “Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel” (Isaiah 7:14). Seven hundred years later, an angel appeared to a girl named Mary and told her she will give birth to the son of God (Immanuel means “God with us”). Mary responded,  “How will this be, since I am a virgin?” (Luke 1:34).

“The former things I declared of old;
they went out from my mouth, and I announced them;
then suddenly I did them, and they came to pass.” ~Isaiah 48:3

“There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse,” announced Isaiah (11:1), “in the tent of David” (16:5). The first verse of the first Gospel begins “the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, and Jesse the father of David the king” (Matthew 1:1, 6). 

John the Baptist announced Jesus, “preaching in the wilderness of Judea, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand’” (Matthew 3:1-2). Isaiah, 700 years earlier, forecast John, “a voice cries: ‘In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God’” (Isaiah 40:3). 

Isaiah even knew how and why Jesus would die, “he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5), and Jesus said to his disciple, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe” (John 20:27).

God speaks and it happens.

“Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven” (Acts 1:11). 

Believe him. Trust him. What he says, he does. 

Daily Prayer

Saving God, Immanuel, God with us. You promised a Savior, You sent Your Son. Thank You for Jesus Christ, my Savior, my Lord, my God. I trust You in all things. You are the God of Your Word. May I be a man of my word, as well.

O Lord, You are faithful and true. You said Your Son would come. He did. You said He is to come again. He will.

Amen

Daily Question

Do you believe Jesus will come again? Why or why not?

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God Knows

Daily Reading

Isaiah 42-44

Daily Thought

“To infinity and beyond,” proclaims Buzz Lightyear. The distance from the earth to the sun is 93 million miles, to reach the nearest star, 4.3 light years, and a light year is 5.88 million million miles. Our galaxy, the Milky Way is 100,000 light years across and has 200 billion stars. The Milky Way is 1 of 500 billion galaxies (our best guess). How big is the universe? Who knows?

“I am the Lord, who made all things,
who alone stretched out the heavens,
who spread out the earth by myself.” ~Isaiah 44:24

To infinity and beyond? God will still be there. He knows how big is the universe, but that does not amaze me nearly as much as, “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine” (Isaiah 43:1). God knows me.

“Bring out the people who are blind, yet have eyes,
who are deaf, yet have ears!” ~Isaiah 43:8

Worship opens my eyes and ears, provides perspective, heightens appreciation. Life still happens, God does not keep me from trouble, but…

“…when you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you;
when you walk through fire you shall not be burned,
and the flame shall not consume you.
For I am the Lord your God,
the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.” ~Isaiah 43:2-3

Who better by my side?

Daily Prayer

My God, my Savior, You are always present, an ever-present help in time of trouble. In good and bad, may I remember You. That secret of contentment, whether I’m high or low, in plenty or in need, safety or trouble, in any and every circumstance, I can do all things through You who gives me the strength.

I know when it feels like You are not there, it’s me that left. I need to stop doing that, to stay on Your path and walk beside You. Thank You, though, for coming after me when I stray and being there when I get back. You are my God, my Savior. There is none like You.

Amen

Daily Question

Why do you worship God?

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Big Deal!

Daily Reading

Isaiah 36-41

Daily Thought

Isaiah was prophet to King Hezekiah, a good king who “did what was good and right and faithful before the Lord his God” (2Chronicles 31:20). He restored Judah to faith and worship, and stood against Assyria, the mighty nation that had defeated the northern kingdom of Israel. Assyria presented to Hezekiah and to Judah a question they must answer, “Say to Hezekiah, ‘Thus says the great king, the king of Assyria: On what do you rest this trust of yours? In whom do you now trust’” (Isaiah 36:4-5). 

That same question is asked of each generation, including ours.

Sennacherib, the king of Assyria, presented Hezekiah with a reasonable argument. Assyria has demonstrated her strength. Lots of little nations depending on lots of little gods have fallen. “Have the gods of the nations delivered them, the nations that my fathers destroyed, Gozan, Haran, Rezeph, and the people of Eden who were in Telassar? Where is the king of Hamath, the king of Arpad, the king of the city of Sepharvaim, the king of Hena, or the king of Ivvah?” (Isaiah 37:12-13). Your God will fail you, too.

Sennacherib made Hezekiah an offer: Trust me. “Make your peace with me and come out to me. Then each one of you will eat of his own vine, and each one of his own fig tree, and each one of you will drink the water of his own cistern” (Isaiah 36:16). Sounds good, but Sennacherib continued, “until I come and take you away to a land like your own land, a land of grain and wine, a land of bread and vineyards” (Isaiah 36:17). My land. Trust Sennacherib, you belong to Sennacherib. You belong to whom you trust.

Rather than listen to these reasoned words of a faithless man, Hezekiah put Sennacherib’s words before God and worshipped. The little gods destroyed by Assyria “were no gods, but the work of men’s hands, wood and stone” (Isaiah 37:19), so big deal! “O Lord of hosts, God of Israel, enthroned above the cherubim, you are the God, you alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth; you have made heaven and earth” (Isaiah 37:16). Worship gave Hezekiah perspective. He would answer the question. He would trust in the one God, his God, the God of the heavens and the earth. Big deal, indeed!

After the one God defeated the Assyrians, Isaiah added this postscript regarding Sennacherib, “as he was worshiping in the house of Nisroch his god, Adrammelech and Sharezer, his sons, struck him down with the sword” (Isaiah 37:38). Another little nation depending on a little god has fallen.

‘Thus says the great king, the king of Assyria: ‘On what do you rest this trust of yours? In whom do you now trust?’” It is a good question.

Daily Prayer

My Creator, You are Lord of all. You establish justice and promote righteousness. You have made Your ways known, Your Laws are clear and they are good. I may choose to follow them. Or not. You give me freedom to decide the path I walk, the choices I make, the direction of my life.

At the end, God, I know I will stand before the King of kings and Lord of lords, the God of all the kingdoms of the earth. Thank You for Your Son, who paid the price for my sins on my behalf. He has given me his righteousness, so that I may stand with confidence before You. There is no other choice but You.

Amen

Daily Question

What do you do that demonstrates you trust God?

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The Applause of God

Daily Reading

Isaiah 31-35

Daily Thought

“Who among us can dwell with the consuming fire? Who among us can dwell with everlasting burnings?” (Isaiah 33:14). Isaiah calls out against the godless, announcing judgment upon the nations. God is a consuming fire; his way is “the Way of Holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it” (Isaiah 35:8). Isaiah appears a prophet of doom, but his question, “Who among us,” has an answer.  

He who walks righteously and speaks uprightly,
who despises the gain of oppressions,
who shakes his hands, lest they hold a bribe,
who stops his ears from hearing of bloodshed
and shuts his eyes from looking on evil (Isaiah 33:15). 

Isaiah, prophet of doom, is a proclaimer of hope, “For the Lord is our judge; the Lord is our lawgiver; the Lord is our king; he will save us” (Isaiah 33:22). He speaks of a people who walk with God, fight oppression, pursue righteousness. “Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you” (Isaiah 60:1). Isaiah summons a people of God to reflect God’s glory. 

There was a concert at the shopping plaza down the street. The band played songs by Journey. Remember Journey? “Don’t Stop Believin’,” “Any Way You Want,” “Wheel in the Sky.” I closed my eyes and could hear Steve Perry on lead vocals. Except it was not Steve Perry. It was a guy imitating Steve Perry, and he sounded a lot like him. A LOT like him. They were reflecting Journey’s glory and they were good. I thought to myself, what if the real Journey band was in the audience listening to their songs being performed by this band? I bet they would have loved them. I bet they would have clapped. I bet they would have said, “Well done!” (Matthew 25:23).

“Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16). 

When we reflect the glory of God, we perform and God is applauded. 

Daily Prayer

Father God, when I think of Your Son, how He lived and how He died and how He rose again, I see a picture of You. He is the image, the perfect image of the invisible God. When we see Jesus, we see the Father, we see You. Father, Son, Holy Spirit.

May I be an imitator of You, as well, so that when people see me, they see what You are like. I won’t be perfect, but I will aim for it. You began the work in me, and I trust You will continue it daily. May I love like You love, forgive as You forgive, seek Your righteousness and Your ways, and follow Your steps wherever You lead. And may I live in such a way that You are forever and always praised.

Amen

Daily Question

What are some examples of God’s glory being displayed in your actions?

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Cotton Candy

Daily Reading

Isaiah 28-30

Daily Thought

I admit, I like cotton candy. It is one of the childhood delights we keep as adults. It is fun food. Well, maybe not food–I looked up the recipe. The ingredients include 5 cups of granulated sugar, 1-⅓ cups of light corn syrup, 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons of water, food color paste, flavored oil, and baking spray. It then listed serving size 28g, calories 180, carbohydrates 28g, dietary fiber 0, sugars 28g.

This all added up to the bottom line, “Nutritional Value: Zero.” It said that on the label. You cannot live on cotton candy. You will die if you try to live on cotton candy.

Prophets are not elected or appointed. They do not inherit the role or take it by force. They are assigned by God and their task is to tell the Truth. They speak the Word of the Lord, and for that, they are accountable only to God. This means they do not have to please the people, and often they do not. Isaiah has been speaking to “a rebellious people, lying children, children unwilling to hear the instruction of the Lord; who say to the seers, ‘Do not see,’ and to the prophets, ‘Do not prophesy to us what is right; speak to us smooth things, prophesy illusions’” (Isaiah 30:9-10).

Rebellious people want cotton candy. For dinner.

“For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth” (2Timothy 4:3-4). 

We still do, and we are starving to death.

Daily Prayer

Heavenly Father, may I keep my eyes on You, the author of life. Because of my rebellion, You took the cross. You traveled the difficult road, You did not give in to the delightful temptations of Satan, but drank the cup of crucifixion. I have got to quit giving in.

There is this overflowing joy in Your Kingdom, and I long to drink from it, but I keep trading it in for things that are fun but don’t last. Yours is the Name above every Name, but not always the popular Name. No matter, I will at all times pursue the joy of Heaven, even during the times it’s not fun on earth.

Amen

Daily Question

What is it about Truth that people don’t like?