Job 5:17 "Blessed is the man whom God corrects; so do not despise the discipline of the Almighty."
Job has been suffering and his "friends" begin to give him advice. In Job 5:17 Eliphaz refers to God as the Almighty, in the Hebrew "Shaddai." Shaddai is used as a name for God 31 times in the book of Job and 17 times elsewhere in the Bible. The name perhaps means "God, the mountain mover" and refers to God's invincible power over all.
The author of Job emphasizes the point that God is all powerful. He is bigger than all of my circumstances. That kind of power makes me fear God but also helps me trust him. This is his show. He is in control. Today I need to let God be in control of my circumstances and choices.
Dear God, remind me daily that you are God and I am not. Amen.
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
Job
Job 1:9 "Does Job fear God for nothing?"
Satan wants to mess with God one day so God decides to "show off" one of his creations. He tells Satan to take a look at Job because Job was a great man and followed him so well. Satan thinks the only reason Job is so good and faithful is simply because God has blessed him so much.
Do I fear God because of what I have? Do I fear God solely because he has blessed me? Or do I fear and love God because it is true and honest and real? Would I love God if I lost it all?
Dear Jesus, help me love you for you. Amen.
Satan wants to mess with God one day so God decides to "show off" one of his creations. He tells Satan to take a look at Job because Job was a great man and followed him so well. Satan thinks the only reason Job is so good and faithful is simply because God has blessed him so much.
Do I fear God because of what I have? Do I fear God solely because he has blessed me? Or do I fear and love God because it is true and honest and real? Would I love God if I lost it all?
Dear Jesus, help me love you for you. Amen.
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
Purim
Esther 9:23 "So the Jews agreed to continue the celebration they had begun, doing what Mordecai had written to them."
Mordecai and Esther had rescued the Jews from destruction. In order to celebrate this event, they initiate the festival of Purim to be held each year as a remembrance of their deliverance from Haman and the Persians.
It is important to remember and celebrate what God has done in our lives. Too often we don't do that. Today I am thankful for my wife and our jobs! We had to file our taxes this morning and although it wasn't fun, it was a reminder that we have incomes, and live in a great nation. And while I have no plans to celebrate tax day or throw a party on April 15, I do want to celebrate my good gifts today!
Dear Jesus, thank you for the good gifts in my life. Remind me to celebrate what you have done for me. Amen.
Mordecai and Esther had rescued the Jews from destruction. In order to celebrate this event, they initiate the festival of Purim to be held each year as a remembrance of their deliverance from Haman and the Persians.
It is important to remember and celebrate what God has done in our lives. Too often we don't do that. Today I am thankful for my wife and our jobs! We had to file our taxes this morning and although it wasn't fun, it was a reminder that we have incomes, and live in a great nation. And while I have no plans to celebrate tax day or throw a party on April 15, I do want to celebrate my good gifts today!
Dear Jesus, thank you for the good gifts in my life. Remind me to celebrate what you have done for me. Amen.
Monday, March 19, 2012
Poor Susa
Esther 3:15 "...The king and Haman sat down to drink, but the city of Susa was bewildered."
Haman has convinced King Xerxes to destroy all of the Jews in the kingdom.
I find it amazing that Xerxes and Haman sit down to have a drink while the entire city was in turmoil. It's so easy to turn a blind eye to injustice. It's too easy to ignore it and pretend it doesn't exist. How am I like Xerxes and Haman? What injustice have I turned away from? I hope to be the kind of man that does not run FROM injustice, but rather runs TOWARDS it. How can I do that today?
Dear Jesus, help me run towards injustice and fight against it. Amen.
Haman has convinced King Xerxes to destroy all of the Jews in the kingdom.
I find it amazing that Xerxes and Haman sit down to have a drink while the entire city was in turmoil. It's so easy to turn a blind eye to injustice. It's too easy to ignore it and pretend it doesn't exist. How am I like Xerxes and Haman? What injustice have I turned away from? I hope to be the kind of man that does not run FROM injustice, but rather runs TOWARDS it. How can I do that today?
Dear Jesus, help me run towards injustice and fight against it. Amen.
Friday, March 16, 2012
A Psalm at Dinner Perhaps?
Nehemiah 8:5 "Ezra opened the book. All the people could see him because he was standing above them; and as he opened it, the people all stood up."
The wall has been completed in Jerusalem so in order to dedicate the event the Israelites throw a celebration and read the law. Ezra the priest stands before the people and spends half the day reading the law.
The people show great reverence and respect for God's law. They stand, lift their hands, and they "listen attentively." God had brought them back to the land and helped them restore their city. They showed their gratitude. How can I show the same respect for God's word today? Do I lift up God's word enough in front of my family? I need to make God's word a much bigger influence in my family. We need to read it together much more. Maybe a psalm before dinner along with our prayer?
Dear Jesus, help me lift up your word more in my home. Amen.
The wall has been completed in Jerusalem so in order to dedicate the event the Israelites throw a celebration and read the law. Ezra the priest stands before the people and spends half the day reading the law.
The people show great reverence and respect for God's law. They stand, lift their hands, and they "listen attentively." God had brought them back to the land and helped them restore their city. They showed their gratitude. How can I show the same respect for God's word today? Do I lift up God's word enough in front of my family? I need to make God's word a much bigger influence in my family. We need to read it together much more. Maybe a psalm before dinner along with our prayer?
Dear Jesus, help me lift up your word more in my home. Amen.
Thursday, March 15, 2012
4 Lessons from Nehemiah 4
Nehemiah 4:14 "...Don't be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons and your daughters, your wives and your homes."
Nehemiah has returned to Jerusalem to rebuild the city wall. While undertaking this great task, he and his fellow Jews face opposition and danger! Nehemiah reminds them of their great God and exactly why they are rebuilding the city.
So much can be learned from Nehemiah! A few things for today....#1, God is great and awesome. #2, some things are worth fighting for. #3, anything worth doing will be difficult. #4, we will always face danger. This all leads me to believe that my faith in God is absolutely necessary for everything I ever set out to do!
Dear Jesus, help me rely on you and trust in you today. Amen.
Nehemiah has returned to Jerusalem to rebuild the city wall. While undertaking this great task, he and his fellow Jews face opposition and danger! Nehemiah reminds them of their great God and exactly why they are rebuilding the city.
So much can be learned from Nehemiah! A few things for today....#1, God is great and awesome. #2, some things are worth fighting for. #3, anything worth doing will be difficult. #4, we will always face danger. This all leads me to believe that my faith in God is absolutely necessary for everything I ever set out to do!
Dear Jesus, help me rely on you and trust in you today. Amen.
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
Just Do It
Ezra 10:4 "Rise up; this matter is in your hands. We will support you, so take courage and do it."
The exiles upon arriving back in Jerusalem have intermarried with some of the surrounding nations. They were forbidden to do this so Ezra must make a tough choice and take action. Some of the other men encourage Ezra and prompt him to "take courage and do it."
Sometimes the right thing is very hard to do. In fact, anything worth doing is usually pretty difficult. Today I am reminded that oftentimes tough choices must be made but God gives me the courage to do it. Right now, I need an extra dose of courage to make some tough calls and lead. I hope I can rise up to Ezra's example.
Dear Jesus, help me take courage and do what I need to do. Amen.
The exiles upon arriving back in Jerusalem have intermarried with some of the surrounding nations. They were forbidden to do this so Ezra must make a tough choice and take action. Some of the other men encourage Ezra and prompt him to "take courage and do it."
Sometimes the right thing is very hard to do. In fact, anything worth doing is usually pretty difficult. Today I am reminded that oftentimes tough choices must be made but God gives me the courage to do it. Right now, I need an extra dose of courage to make some tough calls and lead. I hope I can rise up to Ezra's example.
Dear Jesus, help me take courage and do what I need to do. Amen.
Monday, March 12, 2012
Ezra
Ezra 7:10 "For Ezra had devoted himself to the study and observance of the Law of the Lord, and to teaching its decrees and laws in Israel."
The people had been exiled for quite awhile and finally the Persian king Cyrus grants them the right to travel home and rebuild the temple. Ezra is chosen to help lead the people back and oversee the project. Scripture indicates that Ezra was chosen for this task because of his "observance of the Law of the Lord."
Do I follow the law of the Lord? Would I have been chosen by the king to lead the people? What kinds of things am I doing to become this type of person? Is SOAP enough? Do I pray enough? Do I serve enough? Is my heart right with God?
Dear Jesus, help me be more like Ezra. Amen.
The people had been exiled for quite awhile and finally the Persian king Cyrus grants them the right to travel home and rebuild the temple. Ezra is chosen to help lead the people back and oversee the project. Scripture indicates that Ezra was chosen for this task because of his "observance of the Law of the Lord."
Do I follow the law of the Lord? Would I have been chosen by the king to lead the people? What kinds of things am I doing to become this type of person? Is SOAP enough? Do I pray enough? Do I serve enough? Is my heart right with God?
Dear Jesus, help me be more like Ezra. Amen.
Friday, March 09, 2012
Wholehearted
2 Chronicles 31:21 "In everything that he undertook in the service of God's temple and in obedience to the law and the commands, he sought his God and worked wholeheartedly. And so he prospered."
Hezekiah was a good king. Finally, there was a good king! And Hezekiah set out to point the nation back to the Lord. This verse tells us that he sought the Lord and worked for him wholeheartedly. And because of Hezekiah's determination and faithfulness to the Lord, he prospered.
How often do I wholeheartedly seek to work for the Lord? Not enough. I work hard no doubt, but many times it's for me, my boss, my students or for my volunteers. I do it for them. And I know what I do for them, is doing it for the Lord, but I need to place God #1 on my priority list. How often do I do something JUST for the Lord? Today I need to do things that please him and not for any other purpose.
Dear Jesus, help me please you and help me be wholehearted in my work. Amen.
Hezekiah was a good king. Finally, there was a good king! And Hezekiah set out to point the nation back to the Lord. This verse tells us that he sought the Lord and worked for him wholeheartedly. And because of Hezekiah's determination and faithfulness to the Lord, he prospered.
How often do I wholeheartedly seek to work for the Lord? Not enough. I work hard no doubt, but many times it's for me, my boss, my students or for my volunteers. I do it for them. And I know what I do for them, is doing it for the Lord, but I need to place God #1 on my priority list. How often do I do something JUST for the Lord? Today I need to do things that please him and not for any other purpose.
Dear Jesus, help me please you and help me be wholehearted in my work. Amen.
Wednesday, March 07, 2012
Lonely Proud Leper
2 Chronicles 26:16 "But after Uzziah became powerful, his pride led to his downfall..."
Uzziah is crowned King of Judah and quickly becomes very powerful. At the height of his power, he becomes prideful and begins burning incense in the temple to the Lord. Because of his disobedience, God strikes him with leprosy, which never heals and he dies a leper all alone.
Pride is a dangerous thing. If I ever get to a point where I think I am in control and I am responsible for what I have accomplished I better watch out. God is in control, he is the king and everything I have comes from him. It's not about me. It never has been and it never will be. I need to be reminded of that on a daily basis. I don't want to end up as a lonely proud leper.
Dear Jesus, squash my pride today. Amen.
Uzziah is crowned King of Judah and quickly becomes very powerful. At the height of his power, he becomes prideful and begins burning incense in the temple to the Lord. Because of his disobedience, God strikes him with leprosy, which never heals and he dies a leper all alone.
Pride is a dangerous thing. If I ever get to a point where I think I am in control and I am responsible for what I have accomplished I better watch out. God is in control, he is the king and everything I have comes from him. It's not about me. It never has been and it never will be. I need to be reminded of that on a daily basis. I don't want to end up as a lonely proud leper.
Dear Jesus, squash my pride today. Amen.
Friday, March 02, 2012
No One at the Funeral
2 Chronicles 21:20 "Jehoram was thirty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem eight years. No one was sorry when he died..."
Jehoram of Judah was a bad king. His dad Jehoshaphat was a pretty good king but Jehoram did not follow his father's ways. He killed his brothers, married wicked Ahab's daughter Athaliah (who proved to be a pretty bad apple herself) and led the people away from God. So when he died at age 40 when his "bowels fell out", no one cared.
What a sad legacy for Jehoram! But his actions warranted this sad legacy. Jehoram will forever be known as a bad king who lost his bowels, died, and no one showed up for the funeral. His actions and choices led to his demise. It wasn't as if life was unfair and Jehoram had been dealt a bad hand. He had a very blessed beginning but screwed it all up. What choices am I making? How does what I do today, affect what happens tomorrow. I pray I do not end like Jehoram.
Dear Jesus, help me be wise and to always choose you. Amen.
Jehoram of Judah was a bad king. His dad Jehoshaphat was a pretty good king but Jehoram did not follow his father's ways. He killed his brothers, married wicked Ahab's daughter Athaliah (who proved to be a pretty bad apple herself) and led the people away from God. So when he died at age 40 when his "bowels fell out", no one cared.
What a sad legacy for Jehoram! But his actions warranted this sad legacy. Jehoram will forever be known as a bad king who lost his bowels, died, and no one showed up for the funeral. His actions and choices led to his demise. It wasn't as if life was unfair and Jehoram had been dealt a bad hand. He had a very blessed beginning but screwed it all up. What choices am I making? How does what I do today, affect what happens tomorrow. I pray I do not end like Jehoram.
Dear Jesus, help me be wise and to always choose you. Amen.
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