Posts

Humbled Himself Greatly

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2 Kings 21; 2 Chronicles 33; John 4 “In his distress he sought the favor of the Lord his God and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers. And when he prayed to him, the Lord was moved by his entreaty and listened to his plea; so he brought him back to Jerusalem and to his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the Lord is God.” 2 Chronicles 33:12, 13 No one would wish distress, hardship, or pain on someone; yet, this painful discipline was God’s grace in Manasseh’s life. His capture by the Assyrians who put a hook in his nose was a particularly humiliating outcome of Manasseh’s rebellion against the Lord. After all his demonic worship, including human sacrifice, Manasseh “humbled himself greatly” before God. How has the Lord disciplined us in his love for us? How have we responded? This event of humiliating discipline was the turning point in Manasseh’s life. As we intercede in prayer for our prodigals and unsaved family and friends, are we aware of the lengths the Lord will go...
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Evidence of Being Born Again

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Isaiah 65-66; Psalms 62; John 3 “’Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Sprit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.’” John 3:6-8 Jesus’ call that Nicodemus (and anyone interested in a relationship with God) be born again is both very simple and very profound. A new birth signifies a new identity, a new family, and a new Father. Spirit gives birth to spirit. God’s Spirit conceives spiritual life in those who become born again. This living Word grows within us and becomes ‘full term’ when we are willing to fully surrender (die) to our old life and enter a new life of the Spirit. The evidence of being born again (like the wind) is in our new thoughts, attitudes and behavior which come from the Spirit. We see the new life expressed like fruit on a tree. By our fruit, the reality...
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Pursuing God

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Isaiah 63,64; Psalms 107; John 2  \ “Since ancient times no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you, who acts on behalf of those who wait for him…No one calls on your name or strives to lay hold on you; for you have hidden your face from us and made us waste away because of our sins.” Isaiah 64:4, 7 The testimony of men and women throughout the Bible and throughout history is that God reveals himself to seekers, not casual inquirers. When we wait on God, we give evidence of our faith in him. When we pursue God, or “strive to lay hold” of God, we testify that he is worth any sacrifice. When God hides his face from us, it’s not a game of ‘hide and seek.’ God is either grieved with our sin, which should move us to repentance; or, he has taken a step back to draw out our faith in actively pursuing his presence. We were created for a relationship with the Lord. This is not just for vocational clergy or retired people with lots of time. The Lord invites a...
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Born of God

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Isaiah 60-62; John 1   “Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God – children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will; but born of God.” John 1:12, 13 When salvation becomes primarily about our choice to receive Jesus into our lives, we have created our own ‘test tube’ babies. We are not born again solely through our own choice, “nor of human decision;” we are born of God. It is God himself who must fill us with his Spirit to give us his life. Without the evidence of the Spirit’s presence within us we are not yet born of God. How many struggle with the question of whether they are truly born again of God? Sharing Scripture verses and convincing arguments are no substitute for a personal encounter with God. The Father welcomes seekers who are willing to die to their life of self and fully surrender their lives to his indwelling presence. We must both receive him and believe on his name. T...
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Renewal

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Isaiah 57-59; Psalms 103; 2 Peter 3 “Praise the Lord, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits – who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.” Psalm 103:1-5 Renewal of joy for life begins with freedom, healing, and forgiveness in our inmost being. Only God can accomplish that for us. Money can’t buy inner peace and freedom. Power can’t influence whether our destiny is the “pit” of destruction or the crown of life. Like the constant molting of an eagle’s feathers, our life can be renewed. Not renewed through the accumulation of things or a new love-interest but renewed through the inner contentment of being at peace with God our Creator and Sustainer. The Lord knows our desires as well as what we need to enjoy life in abundance. Trusting G...
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Prepare for Children

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Isaiah 53-56; 2 Peter 2 “’Sing, O barren woman, you who never bore a child; burst into song, shout for joy, you who were never in labour; because more are the children of the desolate woman than of her who has a husband,’ says the Lord. ‘Enlarge the place of your tent, stretch your tent curtains wide, do not hold back; lengthen your cords, strengthen your stakes.’” Isaiah 54:1, 2 The pain of barrenness can turn a person inwardly with their questions. However, that is not the picture or outcome in Isaiah’s vision. Instead of fear and despair, Isaiah saw a barren woman in song, shouting for joy with the certain hope of a large family. In expectation and faith, God calls the barren person to expand their tent to hold many more family members. Many of us in the bride of Christ have never led someone to Christ, and our local churches are in decline. We could see ourselves as spiritually barren. Will we receive God’s promise of spiritual reproduction? Will we prepare ourselves to birth many ...
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Aging Well

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Isaiah 50-52; Psalms 92; 2 Peter 1   “The righteous will flourish like a palm tree, they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon; planted in the house of the Lord, they will flourish in the courts of our God. They will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green, proclaiming, ‘The Lord is upright; he is my Rock, and there is no wickedness in him.’” Psalm 92:12-15 This Psalm of Moses gives us keys to aging well. The key to flourishing in old age, like a stately palm tree or cedar, is to be planted in the presence of God, living each day enjoying the presence and person of God. It is the Holy Spirit within us who keeps us fruit-bearing, fresh, and green in old age. Those who age well don’t blame God for the tests and trials they face in life. Instead, they grow deeper roots through the tests. They rely on their Rock for security, strength, and living water. Does this describe us? Moses lived to 120 years of age. His most productive season was after age eighty. Let us age we...
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