Listening to the Word

  Micah 5-7; Hebrews 7   “This Melchizedek was king of Salem and priest of God Most High…” First, his name means ‘king of righteousness’; then also, ‘king of Salem’ means ‘king of peace’…’You are a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.’” Hebrews 7:1, 2, 17; [Psalm 110:4] “…his greatness will reach to the ends of the earth. And he will be their peace.” Micah 5:4, 5 The writer of Hebrews pointed to Jesus as the permanent high priest, in the order of Melchizedek, in fulfillment of Psalm 110:4. In both ‘king of righteousness’ and ‘king of peace’, Jesus demonstrated that there is no peace without righteousness. Through Christ Jesus’ sinless sacrifice for our sin, we receive Christ’s righteousness as a gift by faith, and we experience peace with God. Christ is our peace. Righteousness or right standing before God is the first place we must experience peace. From this place of peace with God, we become his ambassadors of reconciliation and peace in our world. Are we living in r...

Micah 1-4; Hebrews 6 “’Every man will sit under his own vine and under his own fig tree, and no one will make them afraid, for I the Lord Almighty has spoken. All the nations may walk in the name of their gods; we will walk in the name of the Lord our God forever and ever.’” Micah 4:4, 5 In times of transition, change, and conflict, what matters is the Word God has spoken over our lives. Listening to the voices of fear and conflict trouble our spirit; listening to the Word of the Lord brings peace when we submit to the Lord of the Word. Micah’s call is to both listen to the Word of the Lord and walk in his paths. Walking in the name of the Lord means our identity and perspective on life are shaped by our relationship with God. We participate in God’s mission for the reconciliation of all things, in Christ, as we experience inner peace with God. Are we living in peace under our own fig tree and vine, or still making a name for ourselves in this world? What has the Lord spoken over our l...

Hosea 13,14; Psalms 100,102; Hebrews 5   “Although he was a son, he learned obedience from what he suffered and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him…” Hebrews 5:8, 9 If God did not spare his own son suffering, why would he spare us? Christ learned obedience from what he suffered and so do we. The pain of suffering the consequences of our sin, of our choices, of other peoples’ choices, and of sin in general is a convincing teacher of our need for God and his redemption. God is capable of taking our suffering and redeeming it into our sanctification and transformation for his glory. Jesus learned obedience and so do we. We are never too old to learn obedience. We are never too old to have our suffering redeemed for God’s glory. What pain is the Lord inviting us to surrender to him today in worship and obedience? “Lord Jesus, you are my example of redemptive suffering, obedience, and surrender to the will of the Father, for your glory.”

Hosea 10-12; Psalms 73; Hebrews 4   “’It was I who taught Ephraim to walk, taking them by the arms; but they did not realize it was I who healed them. I led them with cords of human kindness, with ties of love; I lifted the yoke from their neck and bent down to feed them.’” [‘To them I was like one who lifts a little child to the cheek, and I bent down to feed them.’] Hosea 11:3, 4 The Creator of the universe is also the gentle nurturing Father of Ephraim. The image of a father patiently teaching his child to walk reminds us of God’s instruction through Moses to learn his ways and walk in his truth. The image of a father lifting a little child to his cheek in a loving embrace is so intimate that few of us would describe God that way. Yet, that is his invitation to us in Christ. Are we aware of God’s gentleness with us despite our rebellion and sin? Will we lift up our arms and ask our Father to pick us up? Will we open wide our mouth so our Father can feed us from his Word? Do we k...

  Hosea 6-9; Hebrews 3   “For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings…Israel’s arrogance testifies against him, but despite all this he does not return to the Lord his God or search for him.” Hosea 6:6; 7:10 Religious rituals, services, and ceremonies can warm our soul, but God’s intent is communion with our heart, Spirit to spirit. Spiritual pride can be nurtured through religious services, sacrifices of time, and money. However, it is in humbling ourselves before God and seeking his face that we are transformed. Israel trusted in their spiritual history, clergy, rituals, and sacrifices to earn them standing before God. In what ways have we defaulted to similar patterns? Through Jesus we have access to a relationship with God and fellowship with the Spirit that Israel’s prophets could only dream of. Are we living in the fullness of this gift of relationship with God? “Lord Jesus, you are alive, and I choose to seek you, for your gl...

Hosea 2-5; Hebrews 2   “’In that day I will respond,’ declares the Lord – ‘I will respond to the skies, and they will respond to the earth; and the earth will respond to the grain, the new wine and oil, and they will respond to Jezreel.’…’There is only cursing, lying and murder, stealing and adultery; they break all bounds, and bloodshed follows bloodshed. Because of this the land mourns, and all who live in it waste away; the beasts of the field and the birds of the air and the fish of the sea are dying.’” Hosea 2:21, 22; 4:2, 3 Hosea the prophet connected the fertility of the earth and the ecology to God’s blessing, favor, and response to his promises to plant (Jezreel). Conversely, there were environmental consequences to sin. When bloodshed followed bloodshed, the “land mourns” and all creation “wastes away”. Environmental sensitivity without sensitivity to sin’s consequences is inconsistent with God’s economy and creation. There is a direct connection between righteousness and...