Listening to the Word

Job 22; Mark 7-8   “’Be careful,’ Jesus warned them. ‘Watch out for the yeast of the Pharisees and that of Herod.’…‘…when I broke the seven loaves for the four thousand, how many basketfuls of pieces did you pick up?’ They answered, ‘Seven.” He said to them, ‘Do you still not understand?’” Mark 8:15, 20, 21 Jesus’ warning to watch out for the yeast of the Pharisees and of Herod exposed a rival source of supposed life which the people of that day were trusting in. They were looking to politics or religion for their answers to their needs for life. Some felt that a revolution against the Romans would bring what they were looking for. Jesus multiplied the bread and fish and offered more than enough. His abundant life would satisfy. The cost of that life, however, was death to self and following the pathway of the cross. Are we still looking to religion and politics for our life? “Lord Jesus I repent for looking for life in other places than you.   You are my life.”

  Job 2l; Mark 5-6   “…Then Jesus went around teaching from village to village. Calling the Twelve to him, he sent them out two by two and gave them authority over evil spirits…They went out and preached that people should repent. They drove out many demons and anointed many sick people with oil and healed them.” Mark 6:6, 12, 13 If the discipling ministry of Jesus is to be our model, we, too, must learn to preach repentance, drive out demons, and anoint sick people with oil for healing. Where this holistic gospel approach is practiced, the kingdom of God is advancing forcefully. There are ministries that preach repentance, but are hesitant or uncomfortable to practice deliverance from unclean spirits or for physical healing. Other ministries pray for the sick and focus on the sign gifts, but overlook repentance. Jesus equipped his disciples to both proclaim and demonstrate a holistic Gospel that transforms the heart, soul, and body in the power of the Spirit. Are we experiencing and s

Job 20; Mark 3-4 “’Others, like seed sown on rocky places, hear the word and at once receive it with joy. But since they have no root, they last only a short time…What shall we say the kingdom of God is like, or what parable shall we use to describe it? It is like a mustard seed, which is the smallest seed you plant in the ground. Yet when planted, it grows and becomes the largest of all garden plants…’” Mark 4:16, 17, 30-32 The scattering of gospel seed requires germination and rooting for that seed to grow into a plant. Faith is the germination miracle that transforms hearts. The process of rooting requires humility, the hidden work of surrender, and death to self. Unless a seed dies, it remains a single seed. But if it dies, germination occurs, roots develop, and the plant grows to produce many seeds. Have we been planted, or is faith still a dormant seed in the soil of our heart? “Lord Jesus, I surrender all for the sake of your kingdom; I pray for your increase, for your glory.”

  Job 19; Mark 1-2 “…a voice came from heaven: ‘You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.’…he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. ‘Come, follow me’ Jesus said, ‘and I will make you fishers of men.’” Mark 1:11, 16, 17 When we know and experience the Father’s love, we have the motivation to invite others to also join us. Jesus was discipled by the Father and enjoying his Father’s love and pleasure. His ‘fishing’ for men like Simon and Andrew was motivated by love and a desire to see them experience this love. Are we learning to ‘fish for men’ because we love them, or because it’s a skill in which we want to become proficient? If we fish for men before we know the Father’s love, we will find our identity in fishing, rather than in being loved by our Father. If the Father’s love is transforming us, we will join his mission to introduce others to this same loving Father. “Father God, thank you for your love and pleasure and t

Job 18; Psalms 114; Acts 27-28   “Tremble, O earth, at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the God of Jacob, who turned the rock into a pool, the hard rock into springs of water.” Psalm 114:7, 8 “…this people’s heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.” Acts 28:27   This painful word from the Lord, originally to Isaiah and then repeated by Jesus and Paul in their preaching ministry, describes the spiritual condition of hard hearts. The word is to a people with calloused hearts, not just to an individual. There are people in the world that are responding to the Gospel with repentance and faith, while other people are described as ‘post-Christian’. No matter how hard our hearts, God is still reaching out to us through his Spirit and Word, desiring to transform hearts of stone into hearts of flesh. The G

  Job 17; Acts 24-26 “…The whole Jewish community has petitioned me about him [Paul] in Jerusalem and here in Caesarea, shouting that he ought not to live any longer…’I have appeared to you to appoint you as a servant and as a witness of what you have seen of me and what I will show you…to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God…’” Acts 25:24; 26:16, 18 The Jewish community wanted Paul killed, although many of them now confessed Jesus as their Messiah. They had received forgiveness of sins by faith, but this work of transformation had not yet gone into their identity. They still saw themselves as righteous through Abraham and the covenant of circumcision. Paul’s call to the Gentiles was seen as a threat to that identity Have we fully embraced God’s love for us and received our new identity as sons and daughters of God? Any other identity in position, status, wealth, or beauty will disappoint us and make us vulnerable to opposing the very

Job 16; Acts 21-23 “The next day Paul and the rest of us went to see James, and all the elders were present…they said to Paul: ‘You see, brother, how many thousands of Jews have believed, and all of them are zealous for the law…they will certainly hear that you have come, so do what we tell you…” Acts 21:18, 20, 22, 23 The Jerusalem elders were counselling Paul to come under a Nazirite vow for a period of cleansing and fasting in order to demonstrate his respect for the Jewish law, and in doing so, prevent persecution against him. However, God had already informed Paul that he would be handed over to the Gentiles and would testify before kings in Rome. Even though Paul knew God’s plan and had submitted to it, he still submitted to the counsel of James and the Jerusalem elders because he knew that God’s sovereign plan and will would prevail. Are we also confident of God’s sovereign will and plan, even as we walk in submission to the authority he has placed in our lives? Where is God cal

  Job 15; Acts 19-20   “…Remember that for three years I never stopped warning each of you day and night with tears. Now I commit you to God and to the word of his grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.” Acts 20:31, 32 Paul’s discipleship of the Ephesian Church and the many followers of Christ throughout Asia was focused on their sanctification into an inheritance which was eternal. This was so strategic and essential to Paul that for three years, day and night and with tears in his eyes, he never stopped warning these believers and equipping them to take their stand against the devil’s schemes (Ephesians 6:10-12). Are we focused on sanctification with the same intensity that Paul had? Paul was confident in the word of God’s grace, not the word of rules or human effort, to accomplish this sanctification. Both Paul’s personal engagement and his release of these disciples to God were essential. The establishment of believers in new f

Job 13-14; Acts 17-18   “…They stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabus and expelled them from their region. So they shook the dust from their feet in protest against them and went to Iconium. And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit…when the Jews opposed Paul and became abusive, he shook out his clothes in protest and said to them, ‘Your blood be on your own heads! I am clear of my responsibility. From now on I will go to the Gentiles.’” Acts 13:50; 18:6 Paul expected opposition and even persecution for the Gospel. He recognized that his battle wasn’t against flesh and blood, but against principalities and powers. One day those powers would be judged by the Lord; until then, God’s power and grace would be enough. However, when persecution became physical, Paul withdrew from an area where he had been speaking, and shook out his clothes in protest. This shaking off of the dust symbolized the future shaking of these persecutors at the judgment of the Lord.

  Job 11-12; Acts 15-16 “Some men came down from Judea to Antioch and were teaching the brothers: ‘Unless you are circumcised…As they traveled from town to town, they delivered the decisions reached by the apostles and elders in Jerusalem for the people to obey.’” Acts 15:1; 16:4 When leaders teach through their own authority what they feel is important, they can undermine the health of the Church. The Pharisees, who came from Jerusalem to Antioch to teach the Gentile Christians their understanding of circumcision, did so without the blessing of the apostles and elders of the Jerusalem Church. Apostles are ‘sent ones’. By definition, they are under authority. When Paul and Silas traveled throughout Asia, they delivered the decisions of the Jerusalem Council. They were sent with a message.   Sometimes Christian’s send themselves and rely on the assumed authority of their culture or traditions. This is not enough. In Christ’s mission work we must be both called and sent. “Lord Jesus, I p

Job 9-10; Acts 13-14 “In the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabus, Simeon…and Saul. While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, ‘Set apart for me Barnabus and Saul for the work to which I have called them.’” Acts 13:1, 2 When leadership teams are regularly worshiping the Lord together, fasting and listening to the Holy Spirit together, each person will be utilized by the Holy Spirit who knows our best contributions to Christ’s Church and mission. It is in fasting, worship, and prayer that our hearts are yielded to God’s will and way. When we hear from the Lord together, there is faith to support and obey what we have corporately discerned to be the Word of the Lord to us. When our leadership teams hear from the Lord together and discern together what the Lord is saying, we grow in the fear of the Lord and awareness that it is the Lord’s mission and work. The alternative are prayerless leadership teams who struggle for positions and ask

  Job 6-8; Acts 12 “So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him…Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell…the chains fell off Peter’s wrists…They passed the first and second guards and came to the iron gate leading to the city. It opened for them by itself and they went through it…” Acts 12:5, 7, 10 Herod’s arrest of Peter was meant to be a fatal blow to the early Church in Jerusalem. Instead, it strengthened the faith and prayer life of the Church and resulted in praise to God when he miraculously delivered Peter from prison and certain death. What impossible situations do we find ourselves in as we, too, live on mission with Jesus? No prison or plan of the enemy is too great for the Lord! What the enemy has planned for evil, God will use for good, perhaps not in our timing or plan, but for his glory. In the darkest of circumstances, God’s light is always present. The light that shone in Peter’s prison cell did not come f

Job 5; Psalms 108; Acts 10-11 “Then Peter began to speak: ‘I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right. You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, telling the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all…God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him.’” Acts 10:34-36, 38 What is the Gospel? It is the Good News of peace through Jesus Christ who is Lord of all. First of all, peace with God through the forgiveness of our sins is for all who repent and believe in Christ. Then, it is peace from the bondage of sins’ power and the control of the devil in our lives so that we are free to forgive others and live in peace with all people. Peace with God, peace from the power of sin and the devil, and peace with others - this is the Gospel of peace through

  Job 3-4; Acts 8-9 “Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace. It was strengthened and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it grew in numbers, living in the fear of the Lord.” Acts 9:31 The season of growth experienced by the early Church following the conversion of Saul was marked by a number of aspects. It was a time of peace after a period of intense persecution. The Disciples of Christ were strengthened and encouraged by the Holy Spirit. The daily life of these disciples was marked by their fear of the Lord.   We can probably relate to the conditions of peace and the strengthening and encouragement of the Holy Spirit, but how about the fear of the Lord? Have we lost a large measure of the fear of the Lord in the western Church? Are the lack of awareness of the presence of the Lord and of our accountability to him contributing factors to the lack of growth in much of the western Church? Are we more afraid of rejection in our community than the Lord’s

2 Corinthians 7-10   “We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves. When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are not wise. We, however, will not boast beyond proper limits, but will confine our boasting to the field God has assigned to us…” 2 Corinthians 10:12, 13 When our identity and self-worth are based on performance, we are quick to compare ourselves to others and to our prior performance. This comparison-based way of life and ministry fuels pride, fear, and insecurity. Paul viewed a comparison-based approach to life and ministry as dangerous and unwise. When our full identity comes from our relationship as sons and daughters of God, deeply loved by him, we are free and content to serve within the limits of his assignment for our lives. We are also free to celebrate and bless the faithfulness of others without comparison. In what way is the Lord inviting us to new freedom from patterns of comparison

Job 1-2; Acts 6-7 “’Skin for skin!’ Satan replied. ‘A man will give all he has for his own life. But stretch out your hand and strike his flesh and bones, and he will curse you to your face.’” Job 2:4, 5 Is this accusation against Job true? Could this accusation of Satan be true if we were the ones accused? Would we give all we have to preserve our life? If we were to have cancer, a debilitating accident, or any other life threatening event, would we willingly turn away from God and bargain for our lives? Faith and worship of God in the face of personal loss and even death is our greatest witness to the reality of God in our lives and the life he offers. ‘Transactional religion’ is where we do something for God, so he in turn will do something for us; this is what Satan is betting on in this wager with God. Those who overcome by loving not their lives unto death will prove Satan wrong. “Lord Jesus, fill me with your Spirit and grace today to live and love for you and for your glory reg

  Malachi 3-4; Psalms 148; Acts 5   “’You have said harsh against me,’ says the Lord. ‘Yet you ask, ‘What have we said against you?’ ‘You have said, ‘It is futile to serve God. What did we gain by carrying out his requirements and going about like mourners before the Lord Almighty? But now we call the arrogant blessed. Certainly evildoers prosper, and even those who challenge God escape.’” Malachi 3:13-15 Do we sometimes question whether living for God is worth it? Or, perhaps question why God allows arrogant, self-centered lifestyles to go unpunished? In the west, arrogance, narcissism, and personal ambition are often rewarded with political, educational, or business success and leadership. Today, who values humility before God and man? Malachi rebukes those of us asking this question! The ultimate accounting for our character and choices will happen when we stand before God. Outward symbols of prosperity are not the standard of fullness of life. God draws near to the humble; he pours

Nehemiah 13; Malachi 1, 2; Acts 4   “…It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed..Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:10, 12 What happens when we are publicly baptized ‘into’ the name of the Lord Jesus Christ? We publicly identify with Christ’s death and resurrection, and our life is now in him. He has given his name to those who belong to him, to proclaim his Gospel of salvation and demonstrate the power of his resurrection through healing and delivering those in need, in his mighty name. Do we fully appreciate the gift we’ve been given in the name of Jesus Christ? The seven sons of Sceva were using the name of Jesus to caste out demons, despite not knowing Christ personally. It worked for some time, but then a demon challenged them to express Christ’s presence in the Spirit’s power and they were unable

  Nehemiah 11-12; Psalms 1; Acts 3 “You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead. We are witnesses of this. By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through him that has given this complete healing to him, as you can all see.” Acts 3:15, 16 How are we expressing our faith in Jesus and his name? Peter and John responded to a man’s plea for money with a faith-filled prayer for his healing in Jesus’ name. Their prayer was authoritative, not intercessory: “In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk” (Acts 3:6b). They weren’t praying for faith, they were full of faith in Christ’s power to heal, deliver, and save. This complete healing is what so many are crying out to God for today. Peter and John were full of faith in the person of Jesus to heal this crippled man, much more than the man himself was. They spoke to the man, anticipating what God desired to do. When we, too, know the author

Nehemiah 9-10; Acts 2   “Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear…Peter replied, ‘Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off – for all whom the Lord our God will call.” Acts 2:33, 38, 39 Have we experienced both the baptism of repentance and the gift of the Holy Spirit in our lives? Just as the baptism of repentance is a deliberate choice with public testimony, so also receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit is a deliberate choice with a public witness. The empowerment to share the Gospel, sell possessions and give generously, hunger for God’s Word, pray and fellowship with others - these and other signs are evidence that we have received the gift of the Holy Spirit. No one is unclear on whether they have been baptize

  Nehemiah 7-8; Acts 1 “The following came up from the towns of Tel Melah, Tel Harsha, Kerub, Addon and Immer, but they could not show that their families were descended from Israel: the descendants of Delaiah, Tobiah, and Nekoda: 642.” Nehemiah 7:61, 62 It could have been during Xerxes’ edict, allowing the Jews to attack their enemies, that Tobiah and his family intermarried with Jews. Mordecai joined Nehemiah’s group in returning to Jerusalem from the Persian city of Susa. The fear of the Jews, which Mordecai’s actions produced, meant there was a mixture in the group of returning exiles. The only way to define Jewish identity was to prove Jewish lineage. Tobiah, who married into a Jewish family, opposed and ridiculed the rebuilding efforts of Nehemiah because he was less concerned with the welfare of the Jews than he was about his own welfare.   In the new covenant community of the Church, Paul also warned of a mixture. There are those who are focused on their own interests, not thos

Nehemiah 5-6; Psalms 146; Luke 24 “Remember Tobiah and Sanballat, O my God, because of what they have done; remember also the prophetess Noadiah and the rest of the prophets who have been trying to intimidate me. So the wall was completed…in fifty-two days.” Nehemiah 6:14, 15 “’About Jesus of Nazareth,’ they replied, ‘He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people….Beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.” Luke 24:19, 27 Nehemiah’s mission to rebuild the wall was opposed by prophets who had been hired to intimidate him. They were the equivalent of modern lawyers or lobbyists but with a religious angle. They claimed to speak on behalf of God, and in a large, illiterate culture, they had significant influence. What are the spiritual gifts in our lives worth? Can we, too, be co-opted to use our spiritual gifts of leadership, teaching, or discernment, for personal gain? Jesus was a pro

  Nehemiah 3-4; Luke 23   “When Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall, he became angry and was greatly incensed. He ridiculed the Jews, and in the presence of his associates and the army of Samaria, he said, ‘What are those feeble Jews doing? Will they restore the wall? Will they offer sacrifices? Will they finish in a day? Can they bring stones back to life…?’” Nehemiah 4:1, 2 Why were Sanballat and Tobiah so angry at the Jews? This was more than a regional power struggle. The promises of God to “rebuild…raise up…Repair…Restore…” (Isaiah 58:12), were at stake. The restoration of sacrifices meant the renewal of covenant with God. Behind the rebuilding of the wall was the restoration of relationship with God. We see the wrath of the enemy against God’s covenant people in Revelation 12. He was filled with fury because he knew his time was short. When we give ourselves to the mission of God to restore (sanctify) our lives and the lives of those around us, we, too, will face opp

Nehemiah 1-2; Psalms 133; Luke 22   “The king said to me, ‘what is it you want?’…’let him send me to the city in Judah where my fathers are buried so that I can rebuild it.…And because the gracious hand of my God was upon me, the king granted my requests.’” Nehemiah 2:4, 5, 8 It’s not enough to have vision; we also require the gracious hand of God on our lives to accomplish the vision. Nehemiah’s God-given vision to rebuild Jerusalem was incubated in prayer and grew in clarity as he considered the many steps required. When God opened the king’s heart to ask Nehemiah what he wanted, Nehemiah was ready to communicate the vision with clarity. Have we taken the time in the presence of the Lord to wait on him for the vision clarity he desires to give to us? Are we aware of the gracious hand of God on our lives that can accomplish his purposes? The favor of God on our lives as we connect with those in authority is often confirmation that God’s vision timing is ready. Without the blessing of

  Ezra 9-10; Psalms 131; Luke 21   “He replied, ‘Watch out that you are not deceived…But make up your mind not to worry beforehand how you will defend yourselves…By standing firm you will gain life…Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with dissipation, drunkenness, and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you unexpectedly like a trap…Be always on the watch and pray…” Luke 21:8, 14, 19, 34, 36 Jesus’ preparation of his disciples to overcome the tests of their day also helps us to overcome the tests in our day. Attitudes of watchfulness, a mindset against worry, a determination to stand firm, care for the health of our heart or soul, and a watchful expectation of Christ’s return all contribute to overcoming temptation so that we can stand before Christ when he returns. In a self-indulgent, wealthy, and often fearful western culture, these are challenging and practical admonitions. In what areas of our life is Christ inviting us to new levels of surrender or discip

Ezra 7- 8; Luke 20 “…The king had granted him everything he asked, for the hand of the Lord his God was on him…Deliver to the God of Jerusalem all the articles entrusted to you for worship in the temple of your God. And anything else needed for the temple of your God that you may have occasion to supply, you may provide from the royal treasury.” Ezra 7:6, 19, 20 Why did God use Persian treasure to restore the worship in the temple in Jerusalem? God’s promise to Abraham was he would “bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you” (Genesis 12:3). King Artaxerxes was married to the Jewish Queen Esther. His actions to deliver the Jews from a holocaust had turned favor toward the Jews throughout the Persian Empire. His action to bless Ezra, and the restoration of worship in Jerusalem, moved the hand of God to bless the Persian king and kingdom.   The prophet Isaiah describes the kings of the earth bringing their treasure

  Esther 9-10; Luke 19 “…If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace – but now it is hidden from your eyes…you did not recognize the time of God’s coming to you.” Luke 19:42, 44 Peace is not the absence of conflict. Rather, peace is the presence of Jesus as Lord. Jerusalem welcomed Jesus as their liberator from the Romans, but not as their suffering servant and resurrected Lord. Peace is found in receiving both Christ’s death for our sin, and knowing our resurrection to new life. There are ‘kairos’ seasons in our life when God is making his appeal to us, just as he was to Jerusalem. Recognizing the time of God’s coming, and responding to him, brings understanding of the difference between life and death. As we pray for our family, city, and nation(s), let us pray for the kind of peace with God that transforms lives. Let us pray for eyes to be opened to see who Christ is and to know the time of God’s coming to us. Jesus still weeps over lives and cities that

  Esther 3-8; Luke 18 “…Do not think that because you are in the king’s house you alone of all the Jews will escape. For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?” Esther 4:13-14 We see a glimpse of Satan’s rage against the Jews and the followers of Jesus in John’s vision in Revelation 12. The dragon is at war with any people who covenant with God. Men like Haman, Herod, and Hitler were examples of the human channels through which this rage was and is expressed. Esther and Mordecai were overcomers who were willing to risk their lives and their positions of authority to intercede for their people.   As we consider the death sentence of sin that is upon everyone who is confident of their own righteousness and good works-based religion, what is God calling us to do? Are we silent instead of bold? Are we mo

Esther 1-2; Psalms 150; Luke 17 “As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy met him. They stood at a distance and called out in a loud voice, ‘Jesus, Master, have pity on us!’ When he saw them, he said, ‘Go, show yourselves to the priests.’ And as they went, they were cleansed: One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him – and he was a Samaritan.” Luke 17:12-16 To be a leper in Jewish law was to be unclean. To be a Samaritan leper was to be doubly unclean. Those who were unclean had to separate themselves from those who were clean. Jesus honored the Law of Moses by sending the ten lepers to the priest to examine their skin disease, but then he fulfilled the law by healing them, even as they went. Sin separates us from God and from others. We might feel unclean and wonder where we can turn to become clean. Jesus invites us to call out to him in faith and find cleansing. He is our healer, de

  Ezra 5-6; Psalms 138; Luke 16   “I will bow down…and will praise your name for your love and your faithfulness, for you have exalted above all things your name and your word. When I called, you answered me, you made me bold and stouthearted…Though the Lord is on high, he looks upon the lowly, but the proud he knows from afar.” Psalm 138:2, 3, 6 David’s strength came from the Lord. When David called on the Lord, God answered him and strengthened David’s heart.   What does a strong heart, or a “stouthearted” person do to keep their heart (the sanctuary of our inner being) strong? David testifies that they humble themselves before God in worship, they bow down, and they praise God. They value God’s name and his Word. Stouthearted servants of God call on the Lord; they are bold in their prayers. The stouthearted walk with humility before God and men; they understand that their strength comes from God’s grace and presence in their lives. In our weakness, God makes us strong. “Lord Jesus,

  Zechariah 13-14; Psalms 147; Luke 15 “The Lord builds up Jerusalem; he gathers the exiles of Israel. He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. He determines the number of the stars and calls them each by name.” Psalm 147:2-4 God is involved in each individual life and story of restoration. He is also the Creator and sustainer of the universe. He names and numbers stars. Stars far greater than our sun depend on God’s Word for their existence. These two extremes of God’s interest and care are amazing and cause us to join the Psalmist in worship. We don’t need metaphoric language to stand amazed at God’s restoring, rebuilding, and healing power today. In our day, Jerusalem is experiencing a building revival. The exiles of Israel are returning as God gathers them. The ever expanding universe continues to point to a Creator and a point of creation. We serve an amazing God who is faithful to his promises and faithful to all he has made. Will we trust God with our broken hearts,

Zechariah 10-12; Psalms 126; Luke 14   “…the owner of the house became angry and ordered his servant, ‘Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame…Go out to the roads and country lanes and make them come in, so that my house will be full…In the same way, any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple.” Luke 14:21, 23, 33 The Gospel of the kingdom of heaven includes an invitation to all to enter Christ’s banquet. However, the cost of entering is giving up everything we have. In Christ’s parable, the invitation to the banquet was ignored by those consumed by business or personal interests. Those with disabilities and with little to lose gladly accepted the banquet host’s invitation. We see the same phenomena today in the growing urban Churches of the global south, and the declining Churches of the west. When our security in this life is based on money or status, we are handicapped in our capac