“His father and mother did not know that it was from the Lord, for he was seeking an opportunity against the Philistines. At that time the Philistines ruled over Israel.” (ESV – Read the chapter)
Certainly God can help us by working with or even through us. But did you know that He can help us and the people around us by working in spite of us? He can use our character flaws and failings to His glory. Read the rest…
“And whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to him who is seated on the throne, who lives forever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before him who is seated on the throne and worship him who lives forever and ever. They cast their crowns before the throne, saying, ‘Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.'” (ESV – Read the chapter)
This, as with much of the book, is a somewhat bewildering picture. John describes a scene that is hard to imagine (which probably just means it was equally hard to describe). He describes creatures that would be terrifying to behold. It is a picture of God in His throne room, seated on His throne. It is a picture of Him being worshiped by the heavenly host. It is a picture of continual worship of the God who is on His throne. Read the rest…
*I’m going to try something a little different starting with this post. I will begin including an audio version of each post at the end so you can listen or read, whichever you prefer and your schedule allows. I’d love your feedback on this as well. If it’s a hit, I’ll keep doing it. If it doesn’t add, I’ll take things back to normal. Thanks for your gift of time to read–and now listen. Blessing to you!
“Then the word of the Lord came to me: ‘O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter has done? declares the Lord. Behold, like the clay in the potter’s hand, so are you in my hand, O house of Israel.'” (ESV – Read the chapter)
This image is at one and the same time incredibly comforting, but also challenging. The comfort is fairly obvious. God is the master potter. He is making a beautiful piece of art out of our lives. Like any great potter, He has a goal in mind. As He works the clay, though, sometimes imperfections rise to the top. This doesn’t scare Him or somehow derail His plans. He smooths out the rough places and incorporates the imperfections so that they become unique parts of His design. And, if something happens that causes us to break, He can repair us and leave us even more beautiful than when we started. This sounds like the kind of God who is worth serving. Read the rest…
For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. (ESV – Read the chapter)
We are not God. That should be basic, but it’s not. A reversal of that fact is the fundamental deceit of the fall. We forget it all the time, in fact. We regularly are guilty of thinking we know better than God how to run His world. Things happen a certain way and we almost immediately start Monday-morning-quarterbacking the creator and sustainer of the whole cosmos. When was the last time you consciously processed a thought which began with, “Well, if I were God…”? Read the rest…
“For the sake of my servant Jacob, and Israel my chosen, I call you by your name, I name you, though you do not know me. I am the Lord, and there is no other, besides me there is no God; I equip you, though you do not know me, that people may know, from the rising of the sun and from the west, that there is none besides me; I am the Lord, and there is no other.” (ESV – Read the chapter)
These verses and the few on either side comprise God’s message from Isaiah to the Persian Emperor, Cyrus the Great. It is a remarkable bit of Scripture for two reasons. Read the rest…
