Day 306: Somebodies

1 Peter 2; Jeremiah 33-34; Psalm 135

This chapter in Peter is like a self-esteem booster. First it talks about how we are God's chosen people, a holy nation, royal priests, his people. We were once a nobody, not capable of making a big difference anywhere, trapped by our sins, tripping and falling over our own mistakes. But when Christ came and saved us and we believed, God's Holy Spirit made us somebodies. So what does this mean? It means that we need to live and act like somebodies, chosen people, a holy nation. He says that we should always try to the the right thing, even when it is hard or we suffer for it. We are to follow in Christ's footsteps because that is what it means to be God's people and royal priests. We may suffer for it, but we know that God will bless us for doing what we know is right, and so we hang on to that hope.

In these passages in Jeremiah, God reveals his plan to have a king from the family of David sit on the throne and rule forever--Jesus. He goes on to say that "there will be more descendants of David and of the priests from the Levi tribe than start in the sky or grains of sand on the beach." After reading the passage from 1 Peter, I wonder if WE are those people he is referring to. Sure, over in Israel and throughout the world, there are probably blood descendants of that family, but it makes me think that God means us, followers of his ultimate King.

Day 305: Hope

1 Peter 1; Jeremiah 31-32; Psalm 134

Peter talks a lot about hope. We get our hope from Jesus, because he was raised to life and has something glorious for us when he returns. We are to put all our hope in "how kind God will be" when Christ appears. Despite our sufferings we have hope because what awaits us and our faith is so much more valuable than gold. I truly believe that real hope, steadfast hope, unshakable hope, is what sets apart followers of The Lord from those that do not. Besides being washed clean and saved by God's grace, an attitude of all-conquering hope is available to believers that non-believers cannot imagine. It is this hope and faith that cause them to think we are crazy, but of course they do, how do you explain it to someone who has not been transformed by it?

A lot of what Jeremiah is, is a promise that one day God will restore his people, give them land, prosperity, and joy. It's about hope. God tells them not to lose hope even though he is punishing them now, even though they are captives at this time, even though they have been so disobedient as to be taken prisoners. The Lord doesn't abandon them or leave them hanging; he gives them hope that he will one day rescue and restore them.

Day 304: Make the Best

James 5; Jeremiah 29-30; Psalm 133

Life doesn't always go smoothly. James tells his readers to be patient, even in suffering. He says to pray if you are having trouble. He reminds us that God listens to the prayers of those that have faith. Even physical sicknesses will be healed and sins forgiven if innocent and believing people ask The Lord. On the flip side of this, he gives a small reminder that if things are going well, we should sing praises. It's easy to see that when disaster strikes, the masses turn back to faith. But when things are going to smoothly, people tend to forget about God or don't feel the need for faith. James reveals that no matter what, even in prosperous times, we need to remember God and praise him.

God promises the people of Judah that they are going to be carried off to Babylonia. What are they supposed to do there and how long will they have to suffer at the hands of their enemies? God tells them to build homes, plant gardens, have children, and make Babylonia prosper. What?! They are supposed to make the best of their situation, despite the fact that they are struggling in the hands of their enemies. The Lord tells them to "Pray for peace in Babylonia and work hard to make it prosperous. The more successful that nation is, the better off you will be." In the next chapter, he promises to save them, even though it make take more than 70 years. Their struggles will last a long time, they will face their enemies for several generations, but they are to make the best of it and God promises he will rescue them when the time is right and then help them to prosper again in their own land. God may do the same with us: he may lead us to a place that is difficult, where we struggle for a long time. Are we to lie down and be a victim? Not according to this story. We are to make the best of it, spending time in prayer, and trusting in God to save us. Why? Because God will show us his power and save us when the time is right.

This psalm says that "it is truly wonderful when relatives live together in peace." It's hard, sometimes our relatives are the people that are toughest to get along with. It doesn't mean that we can't do things to show God's love to them. It also doesn't say anything about overlooking faults or trusting completely, simply that it is awesome when families get along. I've been blessed with a wonderful family, but I can see why this psalm takes the time to point this out. If you struggle with your relatives and those relationships, I pray that God will make a way for healing and goodness.

Day 303: Come Near

James 4; Jeremiah 27-28; Psalm 132

This chapter in James continues talking about how we use our words. It talks about not condemning others or saying cruel things about them. It points out the dangers of bragging and planning out our lives before God. And it reveals how dangerous it is to argue and fight for things. All this stuff I've been guilty of time and time again. How do we overcome these things that seem to easy to fall into? James offers a solution to that too: "Surrender to God! Resist the devil, and he will run from you. Come near to God, and he will come near to you." The closer and more surrendered to The Lord we are, the less room our selfish nature and Satan have to work. If we can learn to let life, love, grace, beauty, and faith flow from our lips, then we have learned to do one of the most difficult acts of following Jesus there is.

God tells the people of Israel that if they want to live, they will obey the Babylonians, but if they refuse to trust God and obey them, they will die of war, disease, and famine. What is weird about this is that the Babylonians were "wicked" or "evil" and were not God's people. So why would he tell Israel to obey them? Well, Israel had been extremely disobedient to God, they had served other gods, worshiped idols, and refused to surrender to God alone. So God decided he was tired of it, and I guess because he loved them enough, he wanted to (still) give them an opportunity to make things right and live. So he gives them the option to completely humble themselves and trust in a command of God that seems so contradictory, or to continue to be blind and stubborn and suffer the consequences for their disobedience. It would be a hard decision for sure because it seems so backwards. Nonetheless, this was God's command. Other prophets wanted to spread peace and prosperity messages instead, and while that would be a more welcome message, it isn't necessarily true. I pray that we learn to accept the truth of The Lord, and not shy away from something that sounds good.

Day 302: God's Patience

James 3; Jeremiah 25-26; Psalm 131

"But if you are able to control your tongue, you are mature and able to control your whole body." The implications of what this passage says are incredible. Our words can be the most life-giving thing we have, and they can also be the most deadly. Watching what we say is harder to do than taming all sorts of animals, than steering a giant ship, than saving a forest from a fire. It's serious business what we say. I may not use curse words, but I know that I am guilty of gossip, belittling, and selfishness with my words. I think sometimes we forget just how powerful what we say can be. People have destroyed themselves, their lives, and others' lives because of what someone has said. People have crossed oceans, gone into space, and conquered nations because of something someone said. I pray we become more aware of what we are saying and how we are saying it, so that our words build up and not tear down, heal and not harm, give life instead of death.

God has some serious patience. He had warned the people over and over and over again, sent them prophet after prophet and they weren't changing their ways. And even in all of that, he still tells them that there is a way out, despite their complete disregard for him and his messangers. Why would God give them so many chances? I suppose, it's for the same reason he gives us so many chances--he loves us.

This psalm has an interesting line: "But I have learned to feel safe and satisfied." What this line is referring to is that he doesn't seek selfish gain or desire impossible circumstances. People have always wanted more and better. So many aren't happy with their lot in life, and while it is ok to want something better, people spend their time chasing things that either aren't important or aren't possible. For instance, I'm never going to have flawless skin, so to spend hundreds of dollars on products or procedures is pointless (not really something I care that much about anyway). Instead, I should be thankful that I have a body that carries me around where I need to go. With our focus on God, and not on ourselves, I think it is possible to learn to be safe and satisfied with what God has given us and not be searching for more stuff that won't last.

Day 301: Spiritual Leaders

James 2; Jeremiah 23-24; Psalm 130

James points out how powerful our actions are. He says that to treat one person a certain way and another a different way, shows favoritism. This goes against God's love for all people. If we keep our faith to ourselves and do nothing to help others, we have not really been transformed by Jesus. If our faith is real, it should move us to act. It wouldn't have meant anything if Abraham had been told by God to sacrifice his son and Abraham responded, "God, do I really need to do that? I have faith in you, but can't I just tell you about it?" He became an example of active faith, obedience, and his example is still powerful today. I feel more alive, more in love with God, deeper in my faith now that I am doing things for others through a youth ministry and teaching. Because God's heart is for rescuing people, we do that through our actions, not just our words.

In Jeremiah, it's a big deal to God that his priests and prophets mislead the people. These leaders should be like shepherds, guiding the flock in the right direction, towards God and doing right. Instead, God is furious because they allow people to go on sinning, as if it is no big deal, they preach a message that is not from God, and they lead people away from The Lord. I think it is so important to have leaders, mentors, counselors in our lives who teach us about The Lord. But it is so important that we choose carefully those that we listen to. Just because a message sounds good or sounds holy, doesn't mean it is. God goes on to say that we need to check with others if the message we are hearing is truth or not, not just assume that it is. May we all be willing to examine the teachings of our spiritual leaders, to get input from others, to ensure that they are indeed preaching a message of The Lord.

The psalmist cries out from a sea of troubles and believes in the power and mercy of God to save him. May we learn to trust in The Lord and lean on him for our rescue. He is good and will not abandon us!

Day 300: True Religion

James 1; Jeremiah 21-22; Psalm 129

A lot of what James talks about in this first chapter is facing trials and experiencing the testing of our faith. He says that this testing helps us to learn to endure, it develops maturity, it earns us a crown of glory. God may test our faith but it is important, according to James, that we understand the difference between that and being tempted. Temptations come from our own human nature, testing is meant for good and comes from God.

The other thing that really stands out to me in this chapter is how we should pray. I was always taught to pray what was on my heart and finish with, "your will be done." Jesus said it. Here James says that we are to pray without doubt. I sometimes wonder if the phrase "your will be done," gives room for God to not answer or at least not answer according to what I want. But is that a cop out? It is interesting to hear people pray, some pray the way I was raised, and others pray with conviction that God WILL heal or do or provide whatever they are asking. Which is right? I'm not even going to pretend I know. I think if we pray in truth and with honest hearts, God will hear us.

And finally, because this verse truly opened my eyes a long time ago about what I was supposed to be doing: "Religion that pleases God the Father must be pure and spotless. You must help needy orphans and widows and not let this world make you evil." Religion isn't really about rituals, rules, personal gain. It's actually about God and others.

One of the reasons God is mad in Jeremiah is that the people are unjust. They don't care about the poor, the needy, those treated unfairly. Several times in these two chapters, God commands that justice be done, and to rescue those who suffer. He even talks about king Josiah, who did this and God says "That's what it means to truly know me." Wow, to fight for justice and rescue those suffering from injustice, that's what it means to know God. That's a pretty powerful statement. When we serve others, thinking of their needs above our own, we experience who God is, he cares about his children with an incredible love, greater than we can understand.

Day 299: Gentle Friendship

Philemon; Jeremiah 19-20; Psalm 128

This letter to Philemon seems very personal, like Paul and him were very close. Paul emphasizes that though he is telling Philemon what he should do, Paul doesn't want him to do it because he's been asked, but out of the love and goodness in his heart. Because he knows it is the right thing. Paul, though in jail, removes any obstacles for Philemon's kindness, and though he is telling him something he doesn't want to hear, Paul does it in a way that is gentle and respectful. What a wonderful example of friendship and love.

Jeremiah struggles. He hurts because of the burden he carries for God. He has to deliver messages of destruction, pain, and death and he receives all kinds of insults and threats because of it. This chapter reveals that he is human, that he doesn't like not being liked. That despite the power of God within him, he still experiences weakness. And yet, despite God's calling on his life, he says, "But you, Lord, are a mighty soldier, standing at my side. Those troublemakers wil fall down and fall--terribly embarrassed, forever ashamed." He trusts God to stand by his side and that his enemies will not overcome him. He praises God despite the dire circumstances. This reminds me of Paul, and how in prison he would still be praising God. That's a powerful concept.

This psalm talks about blessings from God if we respect him and obey his laws. We don't live under the Old Testament laws anymore, but our obedience to God is just as important. I think we need to read this psalm carefully, however, because it talks about blessings of prosperity. I think this might be the case too, but to say that by simply respecting God our lives will be filled with good things and money is dangerous. Maybe blessings will come in the form of peace and hope. However, God chooses to bless us in this life, it does not compare to what awaits us in heaven with him.

Day 298: Don't Wear Yourself Out

Titus 3; Jeremiah 17-18; Psalm 127

It's an interesting contrast: God didn't save us because of our good works, but we must always be ready to do good things and be helpful. God loved us before we were saved, before we did helpful things, before we avoided evil. And once we become believers, followers of Jesus, we must learn to "always be ready to do something helpful" and "all who have faith in God will be sure to do good deeds." Our actions before our new life do nothing to help us, but our actions after we've been given that new life, demonstrate that we indeed have been washed clean. I know I often miss opportunities to be helpful and do good things because I'm more focused on my needs and wants. I need to work harder at being selfish and eager to help others.

One thing that is interesting is the picture God paints of those that trust him and those that don't. Those that don't will "dry up like a bush in salty desert soil." Those that trust in The Lord "will be like trees growing beside a stream--trees with roots that reach down to the water, and with leaves that are always green. They bear fruit every year and are never worried by a lack of rain." What a simple, yet powerful picture. If we trust in Jesus, our roots go deep, we are solid and nothing will be able to uproot us. If we trust in Jesus, our lives will always be healthy and produce good things. If we trust in Jesus, we don't have to worry about droughts of circumstances because we always have access to the life-giving water.

Then, God warns the people to keep the Sabbath day sacred. Why is that such a big deal? I think I've written about this before, but it is an important concept that we Americans often don't follow. He basically is saying don't be greedy or wear yourself out by working on the Sabbath. Trust that God will provide, spend time honoring The Lord, don't seek more stuff or wealth, and take time to rest. All very valuable things (and hard to do in our go go go, crazy busy world).

This psalm also talks about working: "it is useless to get up early and stay up late in order to earn a living. God takes care of his own, even while they sleep." This doesn't mean we can just sit around and do nothing and expect God to give us everything we need. But it does mean that we don't have to wear ourselves out trying to earn more money. God will provide for our needs, maybe not our wants, but he definitely will not leave us high and dry. He's at work even when we are not, and we can trust him to do good things.

Day 297: Be Eager

Titus 2; Jeremiah 15-16; Psalm 126

Titus 2 is awesome. I love when scripture is so clear on how to live and why we should live that way. It talks about always being a good example, sincere and not criticizing. Why? So that our "enemies will be too ashamed to say anything against" us. Then, there is this dynamite passage all about how kind God is and why he did what he did:
God has shown us how kind he is by coming to save all people. He taught us to give up our wicked ways and our worldly desires and to live decent and honest lives in this world. We are filled with hope as we wait for the glorious return of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ. He gave himself to rescue us from everything that is evil and to make our hearts pure. He wanted us to be his own people and to be eager to do right.
This passage touches my heart because I cannot deny that God wants to save us all. Not just the people I like, or can stand. Everyone. It also explains what we are to do as a result of his great kindness: live decent and honest lives, remaining pure and doing right. Jesus died to rescue us from "everything that is evil." We need to live our lives away from the evil that can be so tempting, not wasting the incredible gift we have been given.

Jeremiah is having a rough time. He feels worthless, broken, and depressed because God is too mad to change his mind and enemies are swarming him. He makes an interesting comment thought: "When you spoke to me, I was glad to obey, because I belong to you, The Lord All-Powerful." What if I, if we, took this perspective when hearing from God? If I heard his prompting in my heart, and simply obeyed because I knew I belonged to him. So often, I wonder if it's really something I should do, if I can actually do it because of time, skills, money, etc. I wonder what the consequences might be, what people might think...the excuses go on and on. Instead, I need to trust that when God guides me, he has an incredible purpose, and I can trust his judgment. So, just do it. Obey. God is good and following his direction is the best thing we can do, not only for ourselves, but for others.

This psalm talks about how they cried on the way to plant the crops, but celebrated at the harvest. We sometimes go kicking and screaming into situations God has called us to, thinking things won't work out, or they are too hard, etc. But without the effort of planting the crops, we would never get to experience a harvest. Without putting in some hard work up front, we would never get to celebrate the miracles and works of God.

Day 296: Thinking of God

Titus 1;  Jeremiah 13-14; Psalm 125

Paul compares and contrasts the type of people that should be leaders of the church and those that shouldn't. Part of what he talks about is their belief the truth and adherence to teaching it. He says that they must stick to the true message so they can correct and instruct. Paul says that some people are spreading a different message, something they made up, because they want money. Could this be similar to the "prosperity gospel" that is spreading so rampantly in our nation? Perhaps. But nonetheless, may we be careful to choose and follow leaders that stick to the truth.

Jeremiah paints a picture of what it would look like for God's rejection. It's devastating, so complete. I cannot imagine living in a world where there is no hope, where I know that God is angry, and where war, disease, and starvation rule. I think we catch glimpses of this here on earth once in a while, and it's very sad, but I still have hope that there are followers of Christ willing to do good and that God is still present. It concludes with this verse: "Only you control the rain, so we put our trust in you, The Lord our God." Only God can provide us with what is necessary to grow and prosper, whether that is material or even better, spiritual. We can look to him for all our needs because he is in control, even if it doesn't seem like it. I know this from my own experiences. God doesn't want to destroy or abandon, people choose to reject him and leave him; instead, he wants to pour out his great love on us.

The psalm continues with this thought: that God protects those who obey him. Obviously obedience is the key. Obedience unlocks blessings. And I will be careful to point out, not material blessings. God is more concerned about giving us spiritual blessings because those things last into eternity and that's what we are being prepared for.

Day 295: Winning

2 Timothy 4; Jeremiah 11-12; Psalm 124

Paul's perspective is incredible. He knows he will die soon and isn't afraid, isn't sad. It's just simply a fact. He talks about how he believes he has lived well, fought the good fight, and been faithful. He has struggled, but still preached the good news. I want to be able to look back on my life and say that I lived well and faithful and that I know God will give me a crown of glory. It almost seems crazy, to be ok with dying and look forward to going "home," but that is what faith is about. That's what trustin g in God is about. It may seem ridiculous, people are going to scoff, but we must trust in the words and promises of The Lord.

God says in these passages in Jeremiah that he is really mad. He just wants to destroy stuff. But at the very end he talks about other nations, not his chosen people. He says that if they say he is the only true God and turn from their evil, he will make them his people. God doesn't seem selective. If you obey God and worship only him--welcome to the family. If you worship other gods and don't pay attention to The Lord--see ya later. God wants obedience from his people. Why? Because he created us to live prosperously and through obedience to him, that's the only way we truly have access to real prosperity. And I'm not talking prosperity like a lot of money, but blessings of peace and love and security.

This psalm starts by saying "The Lord was on our side!" I love thinking of it like this. I'm a competitive person, so having "teams" of sorts makes sense to me. If I have the most awesome player and athlete on my team, I don't need to worry. If I know that we are guaranteed to win because of this person, I have no reason to fear a loss. It's that way with God. In him, through him, because of him, with him, we will have victory--guaranteed.

Day 294: God Blesses

2 Timothy 3; Jeremiah 9-10; Psalm 123

There are a couple of things Paul writes that stick out to me. First, he talks about end times and how people will make a show of religion but it will all be fake. He goes on to say that scriptures are supposed to be useful in teaching people how to live. Even though these verses are not next to each other, I have come to believe that these concepts are related. If people read scripture with a pure heart, with the intention of getting to know God, and improving themselves, they truly will learn to do "all kinds of good deeds." But those that do not read the Bible, or read it only with selfish motives, will learn, have, and demonstrate a fake religion.

Paul also writes, "Yet The Lord rescued me from all those terrible troubles. Anyone who belongs to Christ Jesus and wants to live right will have trouble from others." Paul warns us and also gives us hope: we are going to be mocked, ridiculed, judged, etc., but God will save us. It doesn't say that we will avoid being mocked, ridiculed, and judged; simply, that it will happen but we are not on our own and there is hope that comes from the Almighty God.

Maybe what God wants for our lives, our purpose, is not such a mystery after all. What does God want from us? "The Lord says: don't brag about your wisdom or strength or wealth. If you feel you must brag, then have enough sense to brag about worshiping me, The Lord. What I like best is serving kindness, justice, and mercy to everyone on earth." Hm, so we are to talk more about God than we are ourselves and serve everyone with kindness, justice, and mercy. What's amazing, is that I thought these concepts were "Jesus-concepts," as in, the Old Testament was a bunch of harsh stuff and until Jesus came along, there was no love. But the more I read the Old Testament, it's clear that God says so much about loving others in the Old Testament, that Jesus just came to demonstrate what it really looked like.

This psalm says that they will look to God for mercy until he gives it. May we learn to fix our eyes on God, not anything else, believing that he will care for us in the way we need. With as much as God talks about how much he wants to bless his people and give us good things (not stuff, but "things"), we have to believe that looking to God for help is the best thing we can do.

Day 293: Metaphors

2 Timothy 2; Jeremiah 7-8; Psalm 122

Paul is amazing at metaphors. He says that a follower of Christ is like a soldier, an athlete, a farmer, a plate. Soldiers have to endure hardships and are devoted to their commander. Athletes compete and win, not by breaking the rules, but by following them. Farmers who work hard are blessed because they get to enjoy the bounty of their hard work first. And houses have special plates and regular plates, some used on important occasions with fancy meals and significant guests; while the others do ordinary things. All of these are metaphors for the Christian believer. We must be devoted to our commander Jesus Christ, even in the suffering. We must obey God's teachings so that we can win the riches of God. If we work hard, we will get to enjoy the goodness of that hard work. And if we stop doing evil and do good, God will have special work for us to do. Love it.

Another metaphor in Jeremiah: "when you stumble and fall, you get back up, and if you take a wrong road, you turn around and go back." It goes on to say, "without second thought, you run down the wrong road, like cavalry troops charging into battle." God is making the point that just like we travel down a road, we have a certain destination, a purpose, a direction, a way to get somewhere that is right. If we are headed west, it's not the best idea to go east (unless you have a lot of extra time)! God is telling the people if you find you are going the wrong way you turn around, but instead, the people. are not. Just as they are abandoning everything that is right and yet they continue doing wrong even with the warnings. Love this metaphor, too.

Day 292: Refined by Fire

2 Timothy 1; Jeremiah 5-6; Psalm 121

Paul talks about two things in this first chapter of 2nd Timothy: not being ashamed and making full use of the faith and gifts that God has given. Wow, imagine if we followers of Christ lived a truly unashamed life and we made full used of our God-given gifts! It's hard to be completely motivated since Paul is speaking from jail, though, right? But Paul's perspective has always been that a little momentary suffering in this life is worth an eternity in heaven with Jesus. I pray that I, that we, live unashamed lives for Jesus, preaching the good news without hesitation or fear.

It may have been obvious, but what I realized is that Jeremiah is not talking to foreign nations who do not know God--he is talking to God's people. In today's language we could say Christians, followers of Christ, believers. All this wickedness and evil is being done by the people who belong to God. Basically, they should know better than to act like they are and because God had given them everything and they rejected it, he is going to let their traps trap them. I pray that believers around the world would live for The Lord, live in purity and holiness, serving God only. God doesn't want church attendance, or "good people." He wants faithful people who love each other. He goes on to say that "silver can be purified in a fiery furnace, but my people are too wicked to be made pure." Let's be like silver, that when we go through the fires of life, it purifies us, makes us more like Jesus.

What a great verse: "The Lord will protect you and keep you safe from all dangers. The Lord will protect you now and always wherever you go." God is so good. This doesn't mean life is easy, but it means our God loves us and doesn't want to harm his people. Thank you Lord!

Day 291: Name It, Claim It Lies

1 Timothy 5:31-6:21; Jeremiah 3-4; Psalm 120

Religion and riches. Wealth, money, prosperity. Just the other day I watched a video and read a blog about this very thing. Did you know that there are preachers and evangelists who preach that if they believe in Jesus enough and do enough good, they will be wealthy? It's amazing that scripture addresses such people 2000 years later. Paul tells Timothy, religion does make you rich--rich in contentment and peace; it has nothing to do with material wealth. Jesus never taught that we would be financially prosperous if we follow him. In fact, he taught the opposite: camels and rich men and needles, foxes have holes but he doensn't have a place to lay his head, big storage barns and dying the next day...Paul continues by saying that the love of money causes all kinds of problems including losing faith in God. People are so hasty to trade the (most valuable) invisible things for (worthless) visible things. Having money isn't bad, but wanting money is. Having money isn't bad, but not using it for The Lord is. Beware of preachers who preach a "name it and claim it," prosperity gospel. Be content with what you have and serve God with it.

It's true, God does bring warning of disaster for his people, but at the same time, the way he talks about the people and what he wants is so loving. He calls his unfaithful children home, he says he will forgive them, all God has ever wanted was to call them his children, give them the best land, be called Father. What loving language! But instead, followers of God, his chosen, decide to live in sin, and what is amazing is that they don't try to hide their sin. They have no shame. I think about today's world. People do all sorts of wicked things, and do they try to hide them? Often not! Jeremiah's words are eerily familiar and ring too true for comfort. God's mercy abounds, but so does God's justice. May we learn to be faithful children and call on God, our loving Father.

This psalm is short and seems a little pointless, but I think there must be a point. This psalmist is talking about a time when they live among liars and those who want violence. We live in a world that is often in complete opposition to the things of God. We want to live with love, peace, and faithfulness; the world thrives on hate, violence, and unfaithfulness. So what do we do? We do what the psalmist does at the beginning of the psalm: we cry out to God for help. We beg him to resuce us and to do a powerful work.

Day 290: How to Treat Family

1 Timothy 5:1-20; Jeremiah 1-2; Psalm 119:145-176  

Paul instructs Timothy about caring for family. He says, "People who don't take care of their relatives, and especially their own families, have given up their faith. They are worse than someone who doesn't have faith in The Lord." What this makes me think of are the times when I and other people get mad at family or treat them poorly (teenager rebellion, anyone?) and then we turn around and are kind and generous with a complete stranger or someone we hardly know. I try to keep myself on track with Paul's teaching by reminding myself that if I am going to be loving to anyone, it better first be my husband, followed by my family. If I can't be kind to them, why should I bother being kind to strangers? Our family, because God has given us our family for a reason, deserves love and kindness. May we learn to treat our families with grace and compassion and set a good example for our children and for others.

At the beginning of Jeremiah, we see this cool moment between him and God. The Lord tells him that he will be a messenger to the people. Jeremiah at first feels very unqualified, he's too young, not experienced, etc. God tells him, if I choose you, I will provide for you. Jeremiah doesn't have to, nor should he, rely on his own strength and abilities that he thinks he possesses. God is going to give him exactly what he needs to do the work God has sent him to do. What is also cool is that God tells Jeremiah that there will be people who reject him, who want to harm him. God's like, "hey, I'm sending you to these people, and by the way, they will want to kill you." Oh. But, God also gives him the promise of protection and encourages Jeremiah to be bold and brave. If God is going to send us, he will equip us. That doesn't mean our life will be easy with no setbacks, but that God will come through for us.

God also points out in Jeremiah that the nation of Israel  has done something that no other nation has ever done: abandon its gods. God points out that other nations who worship false gods remain faithful to them, even to death. But the Israelites, for some crazy reason, are willing to abandon THE God who created them. How amazing and sad is that. The one God who can actually do something, the one God who is actually worthy of worship, the one God who is alive and real, they (and people today) reject and trade for lies. So sad and crazy. And that's why God tells them that all their suffering is their own fault. They chose to stop following God and replace him with something worthless. As he tells them, "Your own sins will punish you." God offers so much more than any idols could ever hope to provide.

What is interesting about this psalm is that in the midst of troubles, when he staring his enemies in the eyes, when he feels broken and worthless, he turns to God's word. There is complete dependence on God's teachings. It's not just an "oh, that's nice. I'll use it when it's convenient." Instead, he trusts, depends, leans on the words of The Lord for safety, healing, strength.

Day 289: Being Young

1 Timothy 4; Isaiah 38-39; Psalm 119:121-144

Just because Timothy is young, doesn't mean he should be an insignificant part of God's plan to spread the gospel. Paul makes it clear that Timothy is valuable and can do so much good for the kingdom even with his young age. How does he do this? Well, it won't just happen, especially in a culture that values age and the wisdom that comes with many years. Timothy is instructed to set an example in love and faith and purity, to not be fooled by false teaching, and to continue reading scriptures and preaching. That is what excites me about being a part of a youth ministry. Some of these kids are daily reading scripture, opening their hearts in worship, and living with love and purity. I'm also encouraged by this because I'm not really that old, and yet, Paul's words challenge me to not discount my role in God's kingdom, but to set an example with my life and not let others look down on me.

Hezekiah's song of praise includes an interesting statement: "It was for my own good that I had such hard times. But your love protected me..." Perhaps Hezekiah realized that his sickness was to give him the opportunity to have greater faith in God, to challenge him to trust more completely. Later he makes a statement about how the negative message about the future from Isaiah is actually good. I'm a little confused by his statement, he sounds loopy. But maybe it was a sign of his trust in God. I know that I want to have the kind of faith that can see troubles coming and doesn't freak out; instead, I want to learn to simply be at peace, trusting in God's power and provisions to get through tough times.

The psalmist, it sounds like, is in the midst of troubles. And yet, he hangs on to God's promises and God's word to give him hope and assurance. He tells God that he believes God always does right, so just because of rough circumstances, he isn't going to abandon his faith. May we, too, have faith even through hard times and not just give up because we think believe in God makes us immune to troubles.

Day 288: Family

1 Timothy 3; Isaiah 36-37; Psalm 119:97-120

What is interesting about these passages about church leaders are some of the requirements. In particular, being in control of their family with respectful children. Something that the leaders of Soulfire (a youth ministry we help out with) have talked about is taking back the family. Man, imagine if fathers were present and provided love and discipline for their children; if mothers were encouraging and supportive; if children were respectful to their parents; if dinners, game nights, movie nights, were the norm; and if God was the center of it all. Paul isn't saying that church leaders and their families need to be perfect, but they need to lead by example with their families.

In these chapters in Isaiah, doubt is planted by an outsider: they question the people's faith in God and God's power to save. People are going to do that even today. We should not be surprised by their insults. Instead, we should go to God, trusting in what he has done in our lives, the promises of scripture, and our faith.

The psalm continues to give ways in which God's word is good for us. It provides us with wisdom that is beyond what others can figure out on their own. It is a guide for our lives. The psalmist doesn't just obey God's teachings when it is convenient, but instead he has "made up [his] mind" to follow God's commands, even when enemies attack and life is tough. God's word should be our sustenance.

Day 287: Women's Role

1 Timothy 2; Isaiah 34-35; Psalm 119:65-96

In this chapter in Timothy there are three powerful topics. First, how to pray and who to pray for. He encourages us to pray for "everyone." This means that we need to lift up others, not just ourselves, including people we don't necessarily like very much. My prayers for a while were always "God help me" or "I need this, God." It was selfish. Paul reminds Timothy and us that we need to pray for others.

The second thing he talks about is the TRUTH. What is the Truth (with a capital T)? That: "There is only one God, and Christ Jesus is the only one who can bring us to God. Jesus was truly human and he gave himself to rescue all of us." There's obviously a lot more doctrine people can argue about, but the essence of this verse is that there is one God and one way to heaven. Period.

Finally, this chapter talks about women. Lots of ladies get ticked off by these verses, I'm guessing, because it says we should be silent and not tell men what to do. In some ways, I very much agree with the things in this passage. First, Eve was the one that was mislead; she overstepped her bounds in the relationship and sinned. (Adam didn't do a good job of stepping up and being a leader, so I'm not saying he's perfect either.) Then it talks about women not wearing scandalous clothing or expensive stuff. Why? Because our money shouldn't be spent on worthless material things--it should be spent on furthering God's kingdom or be given to those in need (orphans and widows and the like). But what about the silent part and not being allowed to teach? I think part of this was cultural. At that time, women had very few rights. Paul might have simply been making sure that Christians wouldn't cause an unnecessary ruckus. However, I also think that women can be strong, but still be submissive, supportive, and encouraging. Our husbands should be our leaders, not that we follow stupidly or blindly, but because that is the role God created for them. We are a team, of course, that's why God made both Adam and Eve, but women should encourage men to be bold, loving, honest leaders in our homes and churches. I think one of the biggest epidemics in America is the absent father. Emotionally or physically, dads are gone. It's like that movie Courageous, men need to step up and be men, and if we women are doing the job of men, then what are men going to do? Check out, wimp out, peace out, just like Adam. Women, let's not dominate, but support and encourage.

There is a heading in Isaiah 35 that says "God Changes Everything." And the description that follows is indeed inspiring. The blind see, deaf hear, lame walk, mute speak, desert turns to lakes, and there will be only happiness and celebration. Wow, that's pretty amazing. This should give us hope, that no matter what our circumstances are like now, God will change everything and we do not need to fear.

How valuable is the word of God? The psalmist "would rather obey you than to have a thousand pieces of silver and gold." What's the point of obeying God's teachings? The psalmist writes, "If I had not found happiness in obeying your Law, I would have died in misery. I won't every forget your teachings, because you give me new life by following them." Happiness, life, more precious than gold. In my life, I have found that to be true. God's word is not a burden like sometimes human rules and laws are. Even the laws in Leviticus that go on and on are meant to bring health and life and goodness to a person. They are meant to save and protect us from unnecessary pain. God's word brings life and I pray that people are realizing that to read it is to open up the door to God's goodness and joy.

Day 286: Careful, Close, Instant

1 Timothy 1; Isaiah 31-33; Psalm 119:33-64

Paul tells Timothy to remind the people how to live and I think several things are very relevant to some religious movements and people today. One is to not get caught up in genealogies because people must be saved by faith not by who their relatives are. Another is the people need to have "genuine love, as well as a good conscience and true faith," not empty talk. And another is to remember God's mercy and Christ's patience that can save even the worst of sinners. What I get from this chapter is that people were getting caught up in stuff surrounding religion and faith, rather than getting caught up in their faith in Jesus itself. Genealogies and teaching about the Law are not a bad thing, unless they get in the way of grace and truth. The same is true for my life: hobbies, work, friendships, plans, etc., are not bad things, but if they get in the way of my faith in Jesus, if they "oppose God" and his teaching in some way, then they are bad.

Continued from the previous reading and again here in chapter 31, Isaiah's message from God is clear: depend on him and follow him and no one else. It talks about how the people flee to Egypt for help and safety. We are reminded that "Egyptians are mere humans. They aren't God." To depend on anything less than God is foolish because who or what can stand if God decides to act? This just encourages me to put more and more trust in God, to rest my faith and my future on him, because everything else is less secure, less stable, less powerful than The Lord.

Man, I love this psalm! A couple of verses stand out to me: "I pay careful attention as you lead me, and I follow closely. As soon as you command, I do what you say." Wow, cool. How close of attention? Careful. How closely should we follow? Closely. How soon should we obey God's command? Instantly. In my heart I want to follow God's teachings closely, but sometimes I get sidetracked by my own agenda or by wanting to stay in my comfort zone. But we should seek to follow God as intimately as we can and as immediately as we can.

Another scripture that stands out to me: "I choose as my friends everyone who worships you and follows your teachings." This is something that we talk a lot about at the youth ministry where we help out. Kids get excited about God at a revival, a camp, or service, but then they think they can live a devoted Christian life walking with people who want nothing to do with God. It isn't that we should avoid non-believers, but we need to surround ourselves with people who encourage us, share our faith, and help us to learn and be strong. Great psalm!

Day 285: Mooching

2 Thessalonians 3; Isaiah 29-30; Psalm 119:1-32

Paul's message in this chapter is primarily about laziness and mooching. He encourages the followers to be an example and work hard. Why would such a thing matter? Lazy people are often selfish, have a sense of entitlement, and do not care for the needs of others. So while its ok to have a "lazy day" once in a while where we relax, take some time for ourselves, and do nothing, that is not the kind of lifestyle that Christ demonstrated. Even when he wanted to rest, spend time alone, he would see the crowds, have pity, and go to work healing them.

Israel's story is one of sin, disobedience, rejection, and weeping. God gets angry and brings them through tough times, suffering, and captivity, but he never leaves them there. Despite the fact that they use religiousness to make themselves feel better rather than humble and worshipful hearts; despite the fact they turn to human powers and nations for help rather than The Lord; God still is going to rescue them from their enemies and give them prosperity beyond what they need. God has the potential to be angry, jealous, destructive, just, but he also loves his people beyond what we can comprehend. There is a beautiful passage in chapter 30 that talks about how God will be close to his people, guiding them, giving them abundance, and healing their injuries. So despite the pain and punishment of those people (and sometimes what we feel), there is hope for the future. No matter how disobedient these people were, God still promised to rescue them if they were in need or decided to obey his teachings.

This psalm is all about loving God's word, working hard to obey his teachings, because they bring life, happiness, and answers to prayer. I love this because I have found that the more time I spend reading the word of God, the more I am able to live my life avoid sin and loving others. The whole point of this blog is not about my thoughts, but it is supposed to be an encouragement for readers to read God's word daily. If no one ever read another word I wrote, but spent the time reading the scriptures at the top of each post, that would be awesome! Why? Because my words are worth nothing, God's are worth everything. His words are life, they are goodness, they are joy.

Day 284: No Backup Plan

2 Thessalonians 2; Isaiah 27-28; Psalm 118

Paul tells the Thessalonians "not to be easily upset or disturbed by people who claim that The Lord has already come." I would say he is talking about a specific group that the Thessalonians were struggling with, and perhaps the same philosophy could be applied to anyone who says anything contrary to scripture about the Lord's coming today. Regardless, Paul doesn't want them to get caught up in or focus on the liars and misleaders. The last part of this chapter is all about being faithful--to God, to his message, to living the way they have been instructed.

Then Paul reveals, subtly, a truth about how God plans to spread the gospel: "God used our preaching as his way of inviting you to share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ." I've read elsewhere (Radical by Platt) that we are God's plan for spreading the message of Christ. Believers, Christians, Christ followers speaking of the gospel is IT, there is no back up plan. I think we should feel a desire, a responsibility, and an urgency to tell people about Jesus.

While most of this reading from Isaiah is about God destroying the disobedient and worthless leaders and nations, there is part of this that is really cool. God gives a metaphor for his people: He planted a vineyard, will keep it watered, and guard it day and night. He loves the vineyard. But if it produces thorns instead of beautiful grapes, he will no longer protect it and burn it to the ground. The point of this is that he has planted his people as a nation, cared for and protected them. The vineyard should have produced an abundant crop under such conditions, but instead, it grew up with weeds and nastiness. God can't use thorns and so he destroys it. God has given us the opportunity in our lives to produce good fruit. It's our choice what we do with the water, protection, and care that God offers.

A beautiful passage of scripture from this psalm: "When I was really hurting, I prayed to The Lord. He answered my prayer and took my worries away. The Lord is on my side and I am not afraid of what others can do to me. With The Lord on my side, I will defeat all of my hateful enemies. It is better to trust The Lord for protection than to trust anyone else, including strong leaders...My power and my strength come from The Lord, and he has saved me." May we lean on and trust in God for our answers, our protection, our strength.

Day 283: Tangible Faith

2 Thessalonians 1; Isaiah 25-26; Psalm 117

This letter from Paul shows how pleased he is with this church because of their faith. He talked about it in his last letter and continues it in this letter. He brags about the Thessolonian church because despite their troubles and suffering, they have faith. Paul points out the difference between God's treatment of these people of faith and those who choose not to obey his message: "eternal destruction" and being "kept far from the presence of our Lord," versus, Jesus bringing them "honor" and "relief from your troubles." It's pretty crazy that something that itself can't be seen can have so much power, meaning our faith. I can't say "ahhh" and look down my throat to see if I have faith, you can't tell by examining my eyes or my hands. It's not visible. And yet its presence allows for salvation and grace to cover the person. So while faith itself isn't tangible, the effects of it are definitely visible and even tangible in a person's life. That's how Paul knew that these people were doing so awesome. Faith in Jesus shows itself in obvious ways in a person's life. Paul says a little later, "We pray for God's power to help you do all the good things that you hope to do and that your faith makes you want to do." Bam. Faith should make us want to do good things, and God's power should help us to accomplish those things.

"The Lord gives perfect peace to those whose faith is firm. So always trust The Lord because he is forever our mighty rock." I was going to try and say something profound or explanatory about these two verses, but what can I say? They are perfect. Here's another one that is so awesome: "You will give us peace, Lord, because everything we have done was by your power." The message of these are clear: God gives peace to those who trust in God completely. Amen.

From the psalm: "His love for us is wonderful; his faithfulness never ends." Amen!