Listening to the Word

Isaiah 65-66; Psalms 62; John 3   “’Heaven is my throne and earth is my footstool. Where is the house you will build for me? Where will my resting place be?...This is the one I esteem: he who is humble and contrite in spirit, and trembles at my word.’” Isaiah 66:1, 2 The Creator of heaven and earth has chosen to indwell those who are humble, contrite in Spirit, and tremble at his Word. Have we understood God’s ways and who he is? Or, are we trusting in a “fire insurance” prayer made when we were younger? Living with pride, stubbornly pursuing our sinful ways, and ignoring God’s Word indicate we do not possess the presence of the Living God in our lives. God’s house is not built by men; rather, it is built by the lives of those who offer themselves to the Lord as living sacrifices. Worship and mission become the purpose for our lives, not events we attend. “Lord Jesus, live, love, worship, and witness through me, for your glory.”

  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 of you;…” Isaiah 64:4, 7 God’s actions on our behalf are connected to our response to God. As God rewards faith, he also uses our circumstances to develop faith within us. As we call on the Lord and lay hold of his promises, we remind the Lord of who he is and what he has done in the past. When we wait on the Lord, we are leaning in with expectancy. This is not the passive resignation of the powerless, but the faith-building activity of faith-filled prayers and hope-filled expectancy in God’s action. Waiting tests, refines, and transforms our heart as we direct our attention off of our circumstances and onto the Lord.   “Lord Jesus, you are my hope and my eyes are on you, for your glory.”

  Isaiah 60-62; John 1 “Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you. See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the Lord rises upon you and his glory appears over you.” Isaiah 60:1, 2 “In him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood [overcome] it.” John 1:4, 5 The darkness of sin and death covers the earth like a blanket. In many places it is so thick you feel like choking! Into the darkness of this world God sent his Son, full of grace and truth. Jesus was full of the light of life and demonstrated that light always overcomes darkness. As he healed, preached the kingdom of God, and called people to repent, his light transformed many lives. Through Christ’s death and resurrection the penalty for our sin was paid and we, too, can experience the light of God’s life flooding and filling every part of our lives. We, too, become the light of the worl

Isaiah 57-59; Psalms 103; 2 Peter 3   “Praise the Lord, O my soul;…who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion,…For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him;…from everlasting to everlasting the Lord’s love is with those who fear him,…” Psalm 103:1, 3, 4, 11, 17 Why is God’s love to those who fear him to be celebrated? To fear God is to live in awe, wonder, and submission to him because of the saving power of his love for us. We celebrate God’s love because it has no limit just like the heavens above us. We celebrate God’s love because it has no end. God’s love is everlasting! We celebrate God’s love because he has graciously forgiven and forgotten our sins, healed our diseases, redeemed us from the pit of death and now his love crowns our heads. We wear the crown of love when we live under the hand of God. Have we celebrated this incredible love recently

  Isaiah 53-56; 2 Peter 2 “Give ear and come to me; hear me that your soul may live. I will make an everlasting covenant with you, my faithful love promised to David. See, I have made him a witness to the peoples, a leader, and commander of the peoples. Surely you will summon nations you know not…because of the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, for he has endowed you with splendor.” Isaiah 55:3-5 Jesus fulfilled this prophetic reference to the coming of another “David-like” leader who would witness to the nations of God’s covenant and life-giving Word. Those who receive God’s Word are also filled with the same faithful love experienced by David, Jesus, and countless others who enter an everlasting covenant with God. We, too, are called to witness to the nations of God’s goodness and gospel. We, too, are filled with God’s glory and splendor as we live in his presence We, too, are fed and satisfied as we listen to the Word and then live and proclaim the Word to the nations. Have we

  Isaiah 50-52; Psalms 92; 2 Peter 1 “For he received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory saying, ‘This is my Son, whom I love, with him I am well pleased.’” 2 Peter 1:17 Our honor and glory as sons and daughters of the Lord God Almighty is that we, too, can regularly experience the Spirit speaking in our hearts, telling us that we are God’s children, known by him, loved by him, and pleasing to him. There is no greater honor than the King of Glory opening the ears of our heart so we can learn to listen and obey his voice. The Word of God lives within us and we are transformed from glory to glory in his presence. If we are still relating to the Lord like “outer court” worshipers, we, too, need to pass through the torn veil into the holy of holies. Our Father who is in heaven and whose name is holy has invited us to know him through Christ and the indwelling Holy Spirit. He will share his honor and glory with us. “Father God, thank you f

Isaiah 46-49; 1 Peter 5 “…All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, ‘God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.’ Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” 1 Peter 5:5-7 There are few more important principles in God’s Word than “humility attracts the grace of God”. When we humble ourselves under God’s mighty hand we take our focus off of ourselves and we fix our eyes on the Lord. We release, or cast, all our anxiety and worry about people, projects, and circumstances on the Lord. This surrender of our worries and anxieties to God is a practical demonstration of humility. Holding on to worry and anxiety says we think we can do a better job resolving the issues than God can. We desperately need the grace of God in every area of our lives. When we realize that simple truth, we will humble ourselves before God, each other, and we will pursue the

Isaiah 43-45; 1 Peter 4 “If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.” 1 Peter 4:14 When we avoid giving witness to Christ, we miss the Spirit of glory and of God resting upon us. When we yield to fear rather than the Spirit of God, we not only miss the opportunity to point people to Christ, we also miss out on the blessing of the Spirit of glory resting on us. When the Spirit of glory rested on Jesus, he came as a dove. In gentleness and humility, God draws near to those who suffer for his name. In the west, where freedom of speech and religion are defended as hall marks of democracy, we are often less willing to share the gospel than in high cost gospel contexts. Why is that so? Interestingly, it is often through suffering that we cry out to God for his empowerment, courage, and the Spirit’s infilling which leads to bold witness, which can lead to more suffering. This suffering/ empowerment/suffering cycle was no

Isaiah 40-42; 1 Peter 3 “’I am the Lord; that is my name! I will not give my glory to another or my praise to idols. See, the former things have taken place, and new things I declare; before they spring into being I announce them to you.’” Isaiah 42:8, 9 One of the ways God brings glory to himself is by speaking prophetically and preparing his people for what is to come. John the Baptist was a voice calling, “In the desert, prepare the way for the Lord;…” (Isaiah 40:3) John’s life and ministry fulfilled prophesy. Similarly, Jesus’ life, ministry, suffering, death, and resurrection were prophesied. The former things took place because God spoke them into being. None of the disciples understood that the Messiah would suffer and die for the sins of the world before he would usher in the fulfillment of God’s kingdom reign on earth. However, we live in anticipation of Christ’s return despite the cataclysmic world events that precede his return. We believe God’s Word stands forever (Isaiah 4

2 Kings 20; Isaiah 38,39; Psalms 75; 1 Peter 2 “As you come to him, the living Stone – rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to him – you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” 1 Peter 2:4, 5 Peter users the metaphor of masonry to describe God as a master mason, constructing a temple. Jesus was chosen as the capstone, or cornerstone, for the building. The capstone holds the weight of both sides of an archway, while the cornerstone sets the course of the whole building and its structural integrity. The Church is formed of many living stones placed in the hands of the “Master Mason”, and then fitted together to be a temple God indwells by his Spirit. The stone the builders rejected was usually because of the shape of the grain of the stone. We, too, as “aliens and strangers” in this world are rejected by men, yet chosen by God. This collective expression of t

  Isaiah 36,37; Psalms 76; 1 Peter 1   “You alone are to be feared. Who can stand before you when you are angry? From heaven you pronounced judgment, and the land feared and was quiet - when you, O God, rose up to judge, to save all the afflicted of the land. Surely your wrath against men brings you praise, and the survivors of your wrath are restrained.” Psalm 76:7-10 The story of God prophesying the rise of Assyria as his instrument of judgment against Samaria and then God humbling and destroying Assyria’s army and king because of insolence and pride is an incredible story! It is one of two stories in the Bible that is repeated three times in three different places (Kings, Chronicles, and Isaiah).   Does God still judge and humble nations? John’s revelation reminds us that God does and he will rise up to judge the earth and save his afflicted ones. Peter reminds us that God’s call to be holy sets us apart in this world. We are to live our lives “as strangers here in reverent fear” (1

2 Kings 18,19; 2 Chronicles 32; James 5 “After all that Hezekiah had so faithfully done, Sennacherib king of Assyria came and invaded Judah. He laid siege to the fortified cities, thinking to conquer them for himself…’Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or discouraged because of the king of Assyria and the vast army with him, for there is a greater power with us than with him.’” 2 Chronicles 32:1, 7 Our faithfulness to the Lord is no guarantee we won’t be spiritually attacked and faced with great temptation to turn away from the Lord. However, those who know the Lord know there is a greater power within them than in the world. Hezekiah testified to this greater power before he had experienced it or been delivered from evil. Hezekiah even called those he was leading to be strong and courageous rather than fearful in the face of the vast attacking army. His demonstration of faith won the day. What tests are we facing that require a bold faith-response? In the face of our challenge

2 Chronicles 29-31; James 4   “Hezekiah was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem twenty-nine years. His mother’s name was Abijah daughter of Zechariah. He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, just as his father David had done. In the first month of the first year of his reign, he opened the doors of the temple of the Lord and repaired them.” 2 Chronicles 29:1-3 Who shaped Hezekiah’s life and character so that the very first initiatives of his reign as king were focused on a revival of worship in covenant with God?   His father Ahaz was an idolater, even sacrificing his sons in the fire to Molech! Perhaps his mother Abijah was a secret believer. When her husband locked the doors of the temple and cut off public worship, perhaps Abijah was a secret worshiper in the palace. We don’t know the answer. What we do know is that the son of a wicked king became one of the most faithful, God-honoring kings in Israel’s history. God is still transforming fam

2 Kings 17; 2 Chronicles 28; Psalms 46; James 3   “Come and see the works of the Lord, the desolations he has brought on the earth. He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth; he breaks the bow and shatters the spear, he burns the shields with fire. Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” Psalm 46:8-10 Few verses in the Bible are as familiar or taken out of context more than the Psalmist’s prophetic words, “Be still, and know that I am God.” The context is global judgments and desolations which humble the nations and cause God’s people to fear the Lord, to ‘be still and know that I am God’. This is more than a call to meditation in our quiet time with God. This call to be still is a call to stop serving the god’s of nationalism, war, and materialism. It is a call to fully surrender our lives, families, and nation to the Lord, recognizing that he alone holds the nations in his hand. This is a call to fear the Lord who is

Isaiah 32-35; James 2   “The fruit of righteousness will be peace; the effect of righteousness will be quietness and confidence forever. My people will live in peaceful dwelling places, in secure homes, in undisturbed places of rest.” Isaiah 32:17, 18 The gift of Christ’s righteousness brings peace with God within our lives and with others in our families and community. Peace with a quiet spirit and inner confidence, regardless of the circumstances, is the testimony of those who walk with God and are filled with the Spirit. The angels of God surround the lives of those who walk with the Lord. Our homes and places of rest are important to the Lord. Dedicating our homes and properties to the Lord sets them apart for his protection, peace, and presence, as we enjoy them and share them with others. The testimony of a peace-filled property and home is significant and supports the ministry of hospitality we are all to live. Offering our lives and homes to the Lord sets them apart with righte

  Isaiah 29-31; James 1   “My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man’s anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires.” James 1:19, 20 This very practical counsel will transform relationships, families, and even communities of Christ-followers. Listen first and listen well. Think before speaking. When we become angry, we must stop, take time out, and ask God for self-control. Destructive words spoken in anger have damaged many lives including children, spouses, leadership teams, and churches. Our speech, when anointed by the Holy Spirit, can become a source of healing, reconciliation, faith, hope, and love. Where is the Lord inviting us to take note of our speech today? Are there relationships that need our attention? Will we offer our tongue to God as an instrument of life? “Lord Jesus, I offer my tongue to you and pray for Spirit-led words today which glorify you.”

  Isaiah 25-28; Hebrews 13   “You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast because, he trusts in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord, the Lord, is the Rock eternal…Lord, you establish peace for us; all that we have accomplished you have done for us.” Isaiah 26:3, 4, 12 Inner peace comes from God and is the result of putting our full trust in the Lord, surrendering all our fears, pride, control, and lusts to him. In exchange for our inner “noise”, God fills us with the peace of his presence. He is the Rock eternal that will not change. “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, and today, and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8) The consequence of sin is death; yet, Jesus has defeated sin in all its expressions through his sacrifice for us. Peace with God has been established through Christ. Are we experiencing and living with this peace? “Lord Jesus, you are my peace, for your glory.”

Isaiah 22-24; Hebrews 12 “…And you looked in that day to the weapons in the Palace of the Forest; you saw that the city of David had many breaches in its defenses; you stored up water in the Lower Pool. You counted the buildings in Jerusalem and tore down houses to strengthen the wall. You built the reservoir…but you did not look to the One who made it, or have regard for the One who planned it long ago.” Isaiah 22:8-11 In times of crisis, when God’s people are under siege in their lives because of the idolatry and self-indulgence of our lives and culture, what are leaders to do? The leaders of Jerusalem made practical preparations to withstand the siege, but they did not humble themselves before God, the One who brought the siege in the first place. The consequences of pride, greed, fear, and lust are painful. Will we, too, manage our sin-strongholds and consequences, or will we humble ourselves before God and repent? Leaders have a responsibility before God to be the first to repent

  Isaiah 19-21; Hebrews 11   “These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised. God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.” Hebrews 11:39, 40 It is a humbling thought that we will share heaven with the giants of faith listed in Hebrews 11. However, the kind of faith that is rewarded by God includes delayed gratification and perseverance in the will of God, not the self-improvement gospel of consumer religion. The Hebrews 11 kind of faith is costly, it is commended by God, and it is communal in that we join a community of faith which stretches through the ages and who will receive the reward together. Are we living this kind of faith-journey with God and others? Are we experiencing and living the promises of God expressed in the Gospel? “Lord Jesus, my faith is in you and you are my reward.”

Isaiah 15-18; Hebrews 10   “For in just a very little while, ‘He who is coming will come and will not delay. But my righteous one will live by faith. And if he shrinks back, I will not be pleased with him.’ But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who believe and are saved.” Hebrews 10:37-39 Are we persevering in the will and love of God while we await his return? Faith requires choices to believe that God is our Creator, Sustainer, and Savior. When we pay a price for those choices, our faith can either grow stronger, or we can step back in fear. Which direction will we choose to go today? For those who live by faith, God promises salvation. Not salvation from suffering, insults, or even loss, but salvation from the power of sin and eternal separation from him. Let’s step forward in faith this day! It’s worth it. “Lord Jesus, you are worth whatever price, for your glory.”

  Isaiah 11-14; Hebrews 9   “Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The Lord, the Lord, is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation…’…make known among the nations what he has done, and proclaim that his name is exalted.’” Isaiah 12:2, 4 God’s promise to save the people of Judah from the four corners of the earth and return them to their land will result in a song of praise for God’s salvation. Similarly, those who experience God’s saving power from sin and death through Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, the Branch from the stump of Jesse, will sing the song of salvation praise among the nations. What God did for his first covenant people, he will do for his second covenant people. Every tribe, culture, and people group will sing their salvation song, testifying to God’s saving power. The wells of salvation in every nation are opening through intercession and prayer, and all nations are finding living water. This is God’s salvation story we sing to the world

  Isaiah 8-10; Hebrews 8   “The Lord spoke to me with his strong hand upon me, warning me not to follow the way of this people. He said: ‘Do not call conspiracy everything that these people call conspiracy; do not fear what they fear, and do not dread it. For the Lord Almighty is the one you are to regard as holy, he is the one you are to fear, he is the one you are to dread…’” Isaiah 8:11-13 When was the last time the strong hand of the Lord was upon us and we sensed he was speaking to us? In the uncertainty of our times we are tempted to fear economic downturns or even collapse, wars, the loss of rights and freedoms, and our personal security and safety. Fear has become our greatest enemy and the media feeds off our vulnerability. When we seek the presence of the Lord, we are reminded that he is the Almighty. He gives us life and one day we will stand before his throne in eternity. Living in the awesome awareness that God is holy and almighty fills us with reverence and a healthy fea

Micah 5-7; Hebrews 7   “’My people, remember what Balak king of Moab counseled and what Balaam son of Beor answered. Remember your journey from Shittim to Gilgal, that you may know the righteous acts of the Lord.’” Micah 6:5 Remembering our discipleship and salvation-journey reminds us, both of our need for God’s grace and saving power, and of God’s faithfulness. Shittim represented Israel’s sexual sin and vulnerability to the schemes of the enemy. Gilgal was a place of new beginnings, consecration to God, and possession of the Promised Land. In between Shittim and Gilgal was the swollen Jordan River. God parted the river and made a way for Israel to cross over, just as he has made a way for us, in Christ, to leave behind the bondage of sin and cross over into the life of the Spirit. Take time to remember the righteous acts of the Lord in your stories and give him glory. “Lord God, you are my deliverer, my healer, my leader, my king. I offer myself to you, for your glory.”

  Micah 1-4; Hebrews 6 “Many nations will come and say, ‘Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob. He will teach us his ways, so that we may walk in his paths.”…They will beat their swords into ploughshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore.” Micah 4:2, 3 This vision of the last days speaks of the kingdom of God as it influenced every nation on earth with God’s ways. Jesus’ call to love our enemies was and is radically different than the ways of this world. Do we understand how God’s ways are to be expressed, not just in personal ethics, but in the behavior of nations? If the Church does not understand how to live in God’s ways, how will we live as a prophetic community of salt and light among the nations? The Church is the living expression of the house, or temple, of the Lord. We must live in God’s way and under Christ’s authority so we can make disciples of al

Hosea 13,14; Psalms 100,102; Hebrews 5 “Take words with you and return to the Lord. Say to him: ‘Forgive all our sins and receive us graciously, that we may offer the fruit of our lips…in you the fatherless find compassion…I will heal their waywardness and love them freely, for my anger has turned away from them.” Hosea 14:2-4 Repentance is the road back to our Father’s house. Like the prodigal son, Israel’s only hope was by returning to the Lord. When our words and our heart-attitude are congruent in godly sorrow for our sins and we are determined to turn and go the other way, we find the compassion of our heavenly Father has been reaching out to us all the time. The consequences of sin and wayward living are painful and all of us need the healing love of our Father. When God’s compassion is “aroused” (Hosea11:8) for his children, it is irresistible. What words are we being prompted to take to the Lord? Where do we need the Father’s love to heal our waywardness? Will we humble ourselv

  Hosea 10-12; Psalms 73; Hebrews 4   “Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory. Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” Psalm 73:23-26 There is no greater gift or treasure than the reality of God’s presence with us, filling us with peace, love, joy, faith, and hope. What is the strength of our heart? What is our confidence placed in? – Our bank account? The housing market? Our paycheck? Our family? The Psalmist chose to lift his eyes off of the prosperity of the wicked and focus on the Lord. When we consider eternity, we understand that nothing of this world goes with us. Our treasures in this world are temporal. The joy that comes with a new purchase or gadget or relationship is temporary. With the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, this Psalmist’s understanding of the prese

  Hosea 6-9; Hebrews 3   “But Christ is faithful as a son over God’s house. And we are his house, if we hold on to our courage and the hope of which we boast. So, as the Holy Spirit says: ‘Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts…’” Hebrews 3:6-8 Listening to the Word, the Living Word of God in Christ is essential if we are to live with hope and courage as God’s house or temple in which he dwells by his Spirit. This house is more than the individual lives who have made covenant with God. Collectively, we are a temple in which God dwells. The Hebrews to whom this letter was addressed were the Jewish diaspora who had received the gospel but were now being drawn back into the familiar rituals and laws of Judaism. As evangelicals, we, too, can think our rituals, services, and understanding of theology are enough to walk with God. However, we, too, must respond to the living presence of Jesus Christ in our midst and listen to his voice. What is the Word of Christ to us today?