Tag: The Word of God

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Ears to Hear

Daily Reading

Luke 8-9

Daily Thought

Jesus has an odd explanation for teaching in parables, “so that seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand” (Luke 8:10), as if Jesus does not want his listeners to learn. Quite the opposite, actually.

“A sower went out to sow his seed,” Jesus begins a lesson, “and as he sowed, some fell along the path and was trampled underfoot, and the birds of the air devoured it. And some fell on the rock, and as it grew up, it withered away, because it had no moisture. And some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up with it and choked it. And some fell into good soil and grew and yielded a hundredfold” (Luke 8:5-8). The farmer sows the seed, the teacher gives all an opportunity to hear the good news. Now the soil has its part to play. 

I remember sitting at my desk at school, an eye on the clock because recess and kickball were only minutes away. The learner had already left the classroom. When grades were important, however, I paid attention–for the grades. But there came a time when I connected class to life and listened and learned and understood and applied what I was taught, and it was then that “some fell into good soil and grew and yielded a hundredfold.” 

As Jesus said these things, he called out, ‘He who has ears to hear, let him hear.’” ~Luke 8:8

Jesus teaches in parables not simply so his hearers will learn, but so they will want to learn and seek more. You may listen with your ears and think with your brain, but you learn with your heart.

Daily Prayer

My Lord and God, the heavens declare Your glory, the world Your beauty and Your order and Your thoughtfulness and Your care. There was a time when I missed the message, but that was my fault. I was not paying attention, thinking of other things (usually myself). Thank You for opening my eyes and my heart. I see You everywhere I look now.

Keep me attentive, Lord, to Your wonders and Your ways. May I always love Your Word and delight in knowing You more. I’m paying attention now.

Amen

Daily Question

What are some of the things Jesus has said that are difficult to understand?

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Right On Schedule

Daily Reading

Zechariah 8-14

Daily Thought

Much of the work of God’s prophets is in the proclamation of judgments and the promise of redemption, but sometimes they foretell the future, and Zechariah more than most. The future of God’s glory will be reflected in the salvation of his people, “On that day the Lord their God will save them, as the flock of his people; for like the jewels of a crown they shall shine on his land” (Zechariah 9:16). That day speaks of Jesus Christ and, 500 years before God’s son rode into Jerusalem, Zechariah saw it coming. 

“Behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is he, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.” ~Zechariah 9:9

Just as Zechariah foretold, it happened: “Throwing their cloaks on the colt, they set Jesus on it, saying, ‘Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!’” (Luke 19:35, 38).

When Zechariah said, “They weighed out as my wages thirty pieces of silver” (Zechariah 11:12), is it possible he knew it was the price of betrayal? “Then Judas went to the chief priests and said, ‘What will you give me if I deliver him over to you?’ And they paid him thirty pieces of silver” (Matthew 26:14-15). Of those thirty pieces, Zechariah prophesied, “’Throw it to the potter’–the lordly price at which I was priced by them” (Zechariah 11:13), and they did, “So they took counsel and bought with them the potter’s field as a burial place for strangers” (Matthew 27:7).

As Jesus, God’s only son (John 3:16), the firstborn of all creation (Colossians 1:15), hung on the cross, “one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear” (John 19:34); and Zechariah prophesied, “When they look on me, on him whom they have pierced, they shall mourn for him, as one mourns for an only child, and weep bitterly over him, as one weeps over a firstborn” (Zechariah 12:10).

Five centuries after Zechariah spoke these words, salvation came in the life and death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, and Peter looked to the prophets to explain to a confused crowd, “This Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified” (Acts 2:23). Everything was right on schedule.

Prophecy is given, not so we will know all the future holds, but that we will know God who holds all the future. 

“Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.” ~Acts 2:36

Daily Prayer

All knowing, Almighty God, You are my salvation. You have rescued me from sin, through the blood and the love of Your Son, Jesus Christ. You have brought me into Your family, clothed me in righteousness, and set me apart to be a witness of Your grace.

You have shown me the future, a great future, a future I can be sure of, with Your Son on the throne and all the world subject to Him. In peace He reigns. I will follow You. Thank You for so great a salvation.

Amen

Daily Question

What is the most important thing you learn from reading the Word of God?

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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?