Category: devotional

Isaiah 12:1-2

 

1 You will say in that day:

“I will give thanks to you, O Lord,

for though you were angry with me,

your anger turned away,

that you might comfort me.

2 “Behold, God is my salvation;

I will trust, and will not be afraid;

for the Lord God is my strength and my song,

and he has become my salvation.”

 

            Over the past few years, my book shelves have become weighed down with nice new works focusing strongly on the gospel. At times, I begin to wonder why so many pieces should be written on such a simple topic, such a fundamental principle. But then I realize that, indeed, the gospel is simple, fundamental, and indeed essential for any Christian or any church to have any concept of God, of worship, and of salvation. And it is also sadly true that many simply do not have a solid grasp on what should be the center of their Christian lives.

 

            Notice the wording of Isaiah 12:1-2. There are things said here that can only be true of one who has truly received the forgiveness of God. Isaiah has the people recognizing that God was angry with them, justly and rightly furious at them because of their sinful rebellion. This is so often missed in modern congregations. Instead of declaring God to be rightly angry at us for our sins, modern churches too often depict God as tearfully desperate for us to come to him to make him feel better. O, make no mistake, God loves his children. God loves those he calls to himself. God loves the lost with a love that is infinitely better than any of us could deserve. However, God is rightly and justly angry at rebels against him.

 

            So, If you grasp the gospel, what do you grasp? You grasp that a holy God was angry with you, but he set aside that anger to turn to you in mercy. He punished Jesus with his full anger in order to welcome you into his family with gentleness and tenderness.

 

            When a sinner grasps that God set aside his anger to bring his children to himself, he or she will sing as Isaiah has sinners singing in verse 2. God is our salvation. We have no other hope. We have done nothing good on our own. We have brought nothing to the table but our sin. God is the center of the Gospel. It was his anger, his justice, his kindness, his mercy, his forgiveness of our sin, his will that was done, his glory that we drink from, his family into which we are adopted, his doing from start to finish. O worship this God and never fail to grasp the genuine, biblical, glorious gospel of grace.

2 Kings 7:1-2

 

1 But Elisha said, “Hear the word of the Lord: thus says the Lord, Tomorrow about this time a seah of fine flour shall be sold for a shekel, and two seahs of barley for a shekel, at the gate of Samaria.” 2 Then the captain on whose hand the king leaned said to the man of God, “If the Lord himself should make windows in heaven, could this thing be?” But he said, “You shall see it with your own eyes, but you shall not eat of it.”

 

            If we read the Old Testament too quickly, our eyes tend to glaze over as we read of the judgments of God as run-of-the-mill events. We watch glorious victories occur. Then we watch God strike down somebody for touching the ark or gathering on the Sabbath. Somehow, if we are not careful, we fail to ask what is going on.

 

            Here, Elisha is threatened by the king of Israel. The enemies of the kingdom are at the gates of the capital city, and the besieged people inside Samaria are starving. The king is frustrated by the hardship, and decides to take out his frustration by lopping off the head of the prophet.

 

            The story that grabbed my attention, however, is the exchange between the king’s guard and Elisha. As the man comes to fetch and execute Elisha, the prophet tells him that, tomorrow, food will no longer be scarce in Samaria; the threat of the Syrian army will be eradicated. The guard simply cannot believe this to be possible. When he pronounces his doubt, Elisha tells the man that he will see this provision of God, but he will die before he tastes any of it.

 

            Now, if this story is familiar, you need to stop and ask some questions. Why? Why would this man face such a hard judgment for simply doubting? Why would he die at the end of the siege because he has trouble believing the impossible?

 

            The answer is that God has exalted his own name and his own glory above all things. Since the universe was created by God, for God’s glory, how could there be a greater sin than to doubt the strength of God? Remember, the man did not ask if God would really do such a thing, but could such a thing really be done. The guard, in an open pronouncement to God’s representative, said that God could not accomplish what he declared he would do.

 

            What dangerous doubts do you have? What do you say either with your lips or in your heart that God cannot do? Do you doubt that God can forgive a sinner by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone? Do you doubt that God can provide for you in your particular area of need? Do you doubt that God’s word is sufficient for life and godliness? Do you doubt that God’s word is enough to feed his people, grow his church, and build his kingdom? Do not doubt the power of the God who spoke the universe into existence. Do not doubt the God who raised Jesus from the dead after Christ paid for the sins of all his children. Do not doubt the God whose word is living and active. Do not doubt the God who, just as he promised, freed Samaria from the famine in one single day. 

2 Kings 6:15-17

 

15 When the servant of the man of God rose early in the morning and went out, behold, an army with horses and chariots was all around the city. And the servant said, “Alas, my master! What shall we do?” 16 He said, “Do not be afraid, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” 17 Then Elisha prayed and said, “O Lord, please open his eyes that he may see.” So the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw, and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.

 

        How easy it is to look at your personal circumstances, especially from within the cloud of uncertainty, and to wonder, “What shall we do?” Perhaps you have never been in  a place where things seemed to fall apart around you, where the enemies of God seem to have the victory. If not, you won’t understand the fear that Elisha’s servant felt. But if you have experienced something similar, you will have much sympathy for the young man.

 

        Elisha prayed for his servant, asking that God make it plain to him the things that God was doing behind the scenes. There was more than one army on that hill. God was not about to be defeated. The bad guys were not about to win. Though the servant, with human eyes, would never have been able to see it at the time, God was in control, moving to accomplish something amazing for his own glory.

 

        What do you face today? Does it look like the bad guys will win? God will not be defeated. I’m not suggesting that you go out and buy little figurines of angels so that you remember heavenly armies. Instead, I simply want to remind you that God will be glorified in all that occurs. Whether it looks good to you at present or not, the sovereign Lord of all Creation will be victorious. He will not let the bad guys win. He will not be defeated. He will vindicate his name and his holy word. Take courage, even if you cannot, at present, see the hand of God in the midst of the cloud of uncertainty.

Proverbs 30:5-6

 

5 Every word of God proves true;

he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.

6 Do not add to his words,

lest he rebuke you and you be found a liar.

 

                The perfection and sufficiency of Scripture may still be the central issue upon which modern Christianity will either stand or fall. While I have heard many of my Southern Baptist brothers tell me that the battle over the Bible is over, that we conservatives have won, and that now it is time to move on, I cannot agree. With every new challenge to solid theology that arises, the battle for the accuracy and sufficiency of the Scripture again takes center-stage.

 

                Think of some of the most recent controversies that have taken the Internet by storm. Debates over literal, six-day creationism verses theistic evolution truly amount to a question of the authority and accuracy of the Bible. Debates over gender roles in the home or in ministry boil down to the authority of Scripture. Hip controversies over the existence, justice, and eternality of hell are essentially debates over the authority of Scripture.

 

                But God reminds us that his word is true. Every one of his words is sound. We do not need to add to it. IN fact, if we attempt to make the Bible better by adding anything to it, we dishonor God and distort the teaching of our Lord.

 

                Imagine a mountain that a man climb to its peak. He stands on the top-most point. What will happen if he takes a step in any direction? Of course, he will go down. This is true of Scripture. When we stand on Scripture, we stand on the top point of Gods’ perfect revelation. Any step, either to ignore the Scripture or to add something to it, is a step down from the peak to something less than perfect. Let us learn to love and obey the perfect word of God.

 

Ecclesiastes 7:10

 

Say not, “Why were the former days better than these?”

For it is not from wisdom that you ask this.

 

            This verse hardly needs any extra commentary, but it is a worthy thought for any day. Why do we think to ourselves that former days, former times, were somehow better than the times we are in? God tells us that such thinking does not come from wisdom.

 

            I have recently been reading with my daughter the Little House books by Laura Ingalls Wilder. As we read the stories of the Ingalls family during the late 19^th century, it is easy to think that those were the good days. Children had discipline and obeyed their parents. Law seemed to be obeyed. The courtship between Almanzo and Laura was sweet and innocent.

 

            But were those days better? OF course they were not. Sin still reigned in the hearts of men. Sexual immorality still happened in those days, it was simply less public. Drunkenness was still a vice. Racism against blacks and native Americans was prevalent. And the churches showed evidence of poor preaching, bad doctrine, and disregard of rightly-handled Scripture.

 

            In fact, in the chapter leading up to Laura and Almanzo’s wedding in These Happy Golden Years, Laura balks at the use of the word “obey” as part of the wedding vows. Almanzo points out to her that their preacher in their town did not use that word, and in fact, that the preacher argued against Paul on that topic. Regardless of one’s views of gender roles in the home, to hear that the preacher is praised for arguing against Paul on a topic is not the sign of faithful, biblical Christianity.

 

            The point I’m making is that, if we examine the former times, there was as much sin, as much hardship, and as much sorrow as we see today. OF course our sins are different today. Today’s lack of morality seems so much more brazen, so much more callous, than it did in years gone by. But the times were not better. Men were still sinners in need of grace. Men were still rebels against their Creator who needed to repent and turn to Jesus to find salvation.

 

            So, the next time you are tempted to long for the good old days, be they the 1950s, the 1880s, the first century, or just the days of that pastor you like so much more than the one you have now, realize that longing for the good old days is not from wisdom. The good old days were fraught with difficulty as well as beauty. So too are these present days. Instead of longing for days of old, let us obey God’s word and glorify Christ with all that we have in the time we have been given.

Ecclesiastes 2:10-11

 

10 And whatever my eyes desired I did not keep from them. I kept my heart from no pleasure, for my heart found pleasure in all my toil, and this was my reward for all my toil. 11 Then I considered all that my hands had done and the toil I had expended in doing it, and behold, all was vanity and a striving after wind, and there was nothing to be gained under the sun.

 

            King Solomon had it all. He was rich. He was famous. He had more stuff than any king before him. He had entertainment, wine, women, property, and success on every side.

 

            Interesting, isn’t it, that when he assessed what he had, he declared it all to be vanity. Like a little soap bubble that floats up, pops, and leaves no trace, so Solomon saw his success. If this life is all there is, there is absolutely no reason to think that success or failure matters. If this life is all that there is, Solomon had no reason for joy or hope.

 

            What Solomon found is not unusual for people to see. Watch Hollywood. Read the stories of the rich and powerful whose lives are miserable. Watch stars and politicians who have everything they ever dreamed of getting fall prey to the folly of drugs, affairs, and generally self-destructive behavior. Why? Because they see that all that they have gained is empty.

 

            Ecclesiastes would be a terrible book were it not for the conclusion. At the end of the day, Solomon understands that life’s only true meaning comes in being made by and serving a God who is far greater than you. Our only hope for lasting joy is found in the glory of the eternal God whose we are and to whom we owe all things.

Proverbs 29:9

 

If a wise man has an argument with a fool,

the fool only rages and laughs, and there is no quiet.

 

            Would you agree with me that the art of civil debate has been lost in our society? It certainly seems that way. Just turn on one of those TV news programs where they maintain they will give both sides of a discussion on an issue, and what do you see? You see yelling, name-calling, interrupting, and cheap sarcasm.

 

            Of course, the Bible has seen these tendencies in the nature of fools for thousands of years. The more foolish you are, the more likely you are to yell, scoff, make fun, and fail to listen in a discussion. Wise people listen, are polite, and treat others with respect.

 

            How are you when you get into a debate or discussion? Are you polite? Can you let the other person finish a point? Must you get in little sarcastic jabs, or can you be kind? Be careful, your style of arguing says as much about you as the argument you are trying to put forward.

Proverbs 27:5

 

Better is open rebuke

than hidden love.

 

            The Proverbs often offer us sweet and simple nuggets of wisdom. That wisdom often challenges us greatly regarding our relationships with others, be they friends or enemies. One such a wisdom nugget is found in the above verse which communicates two things to consider.

 

            Open rebuke is better than hidden love. Open rebuke is actually a very good thing for the life of any wise person. When you or I do wrong, we need people who will, with grace and charity, come to us and let us know. This is far better than someone seeing us ruin our lives and refuse to tell us what they see.

 

            How often have you heard one person complaining about the failings and shortcomings of another? How often has the complainer actually first gone and told the one against whom they are complaining? So often our rebukes are hidden, or worse, they are told as morsels of gossip intended to wound. O how much better we would be as believers if we would talk to one another about our concerns instead of spreading them abroad.

 

            The second half of this proverb, the opposite of good rebuke, is a strange thing to consider an opposite. While open rebuke can be a very good thing, hidden love is not. Think about your own experience in your local church. Do you love your pastor? Do you love your Sunday School teacher? What about other sweet and godly believers in Christ? If so, do they know? It is great that you love your fellow Christians, but if they cannot see that you love them, you need to do what you can to rectify that.

 

            I’m not telling you to go all sappy here and get weepy over everybody. But letting people know that you care for them, that you appreciate them, or that you are praying for them is a very good thing to do. Why not take a moment to examine your life and see where your love of brothers and sisters in Christ might seem hidden.

 

            I can think, in my own life, of times where I have been reminded that I need to show my concern for brothers and sisters in Christ more clearly. That led me to do more pastoral visits, to make more phone calls, and to make it a point, each Sunday, to stop by the senior adult Sunday School classes just to let them know that I’m thinking of them. These are small things, but they can go a long way in helping believers to understand that you actually do care. What can you do that would do the same?

Revelation 7:15-17

 

15 “Therefore they are before the throne of God,

and serve him day and night in his temple;

and he who sits on the throne will shelter them with his presence.

16 They shall hunger no more, neither thirst anymore;

the sun shall not strike them,

nor any scorching heat.

17 For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd,

and he will guide them to springs of living water,

and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”

 

        No matter how hard this life gets, there is a home for all of those who have sought shelter in Christ. There is simply nothing to compare to the beauty of what we see before the throne of God.

 

        Those who have been forgiven of their sins in Christ will serve God like priests in the temple. They will find shelter, rest, and peace in the presence of the Almighty. No dangers will ever frighten them. No hardships will ever hurt them again. No hunger or thirst will ever weaken them.

 

        Those who enter heaven will never again feel the harshness of nature—no tornados, no floods, no blizzards, and no heat waves. Never again will they worry about a drought. Never again will they feel discomfort. Never again will a day be too hot or too cold, too humid or too dry.

 

        But verse 17 is most beautiful to me. The Lamb of God, Jesus himself, will be the shepherd of God’s people. Just as you have often read in Psalm 23, Jesus will lead his sheep beside still waters. Jesus will give his followers the true, soul-satisfying, living water that will never fade. Never again will we thirst in any way. We will not desire something that we cannot have. All of our needs will be met in the perfection of the presence of the Lord.

 

        Then we see the glorious promise that the Lord will wipe away every tear from the eyes of his children. There will be no more crying. There will be no more sorrow. There will be no more grief. Finally, for all eternity, there will be perfect joy, perfect peace, perfect rest, perfect satisfaction.

 

        Christians, God wants you to hear these words, and he wants you to long for heaven. He wants you to set your heart on what you see here. He wants you to desire the satisfaction that only he can give. Do not settle for less. Do not settle for the petty pleasures of this life. Hunger and thirst for the righteousness of God, and he will fill your soul with joy.

Revelation 7:1-3 (ESV)

 

1 After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds of the earth, that no wind might blow on earth or sea or against any tree. 2 Then I saw another angel ascending from the rising of the sun, with the seal of the living God, and he called with a loud voice to the four angels who had been given power to harm earth and sea, 3 saying, “Do not harm the earth or the sea or the trees, until we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads.”

 

            John looks and sees four angels holding back the four winds. Remember, this is a vision, and there is much symbolism. When the Bible talks about the winds blowing here, it is referring to the coming judgment, the wrath of God. The angels are not to let that wrath be poured out on the earth until a fifth angel places the seal of God on his servants.

 

            What is the point of the seal? An official seal might do many things. In this instance, the seal marks ownership. It says that those who bear this seal belong to God and may not be harmed by the outpouring of his wrath. It parallels something we see in the Old Testament, in Ezekiel 9:1-7. There God had plans to destroy Jerusalem for the sin of the people. However, God would not pour out his anger on those who were his, those who bemoaned the sin of the people. So God sent out someone to place his mark on the foreheads of his people in order to protect or preserve them from the wrath to come.

 

            The same concept is in view in Revelation 7, and it should give you great encouragement. God will not pour out his anger, his fury, his wrath on his people. No, if someone belongs to God, they will bear his seal. If someone belongs to God, they will be protected by God from the fury that he will unleash on the lost world. Praise God for preserving his people. If you are one of God’s people, rejoice that God protects you from his fury. If you have not given your life to Jesus, do so to be under his protection before it is too late.