Power Belongs to God

 2 Kings 1-2     Psalm 12     2 Corinthians 11

It is easy to turn to other sources to seek advice when God is right there, especially when we feel that the voice of the Lord will not tell us what we want to hear. It will not change what the Lord will do.

The transition from Elijah to Elisha is one of wisdom and power. The faithful voice of the Lord, at great cost to himself, is about to end his time on earth and both he and Elisha know it. So does everyone else clearly see that Elijah’s life is about to end. When asked what he wants from Elijah, he asks for not some possession but the power of the spirit of God to rest on him in a more powerful way even than it has on Elijah. At first glace this appears to be asking for something for himself, but clearly the cost of being the voice of God is not an easy one and more often leads to rejection and danger.

Elijah makes it clear that he is requesting something he cannot give, only God alone can grant his request. It is important to remember that all we can do is seek the will of the Lord and trust that what he provides is sufficient to our needs. It quickly become clear that Elisha understands that he can trust God’s way but they people question his faith. He allows them to look for what he knows is not there. The foolish young people mock him and make fun of him, and Elisha curses them in the name of the Lord. The cost is those young lives. It is God’s action, not Elisha’s action that costs them their life, as a result of their own actions.

The song is a call of David for the Lord to cut off the voice of those that lie to get their way or to brag about what they have done when the glory belongs to God alone. He tells us the words of the Lord are pure, they are the truth, and that sometimes the process of being made pure is going through the fire. While the wicked dance around the faithful exalting the vile, the Lord keeps the faithful and preserves them.

Paul makes clear the cost of following Jesus is great but also the only way worthy of the Lord. He outlines for the Corinthians the tremendous cost he has paid with his body and his freedom because the message he proclaimed, while received by some, was rejected by many and resulted in an attempt to destroy him. Paul’s concern remains the wellbeing of all the churches, and he is willing to become weak that the Word of the Lord can be strong.

Today we are reminded that the power belongs to God alone. We are called to reflect him to the world by serving that world with love, grace and compassion even to those that hate us. The call is to trust in God even when all seems lost and that too becomes our witness.

Do You Reflect Jesus to the World?

1 Kings 21-22     Psalm 102    2 Corinthians 10

Once again, we are reminded that when the leaders of the people turn from the ways of the Lord and do evil that not only do, they pay a price but so does the community. Notice the deception that Jezebel uses to give Ahab what he wanted, and it is the community that participated in that false claim that is held accountable for their actions. While Ahab repents and cries out as he sees himself as God sees him it will be future generations that will pay the price for his sin.

We also see again that the voice of the Lord is often a minority voice, often one, and the tendency to listen to the louder more numerous voices is the way to being misled. The voice of the Lord is spoken to the people so that when the truth unfolds it is clear who spoke on behalf of the Lord and who misled the people. The fulfillment of God’s word sometimes looks ugly because the results of sin are often brutal. Even though they have many examples and testimonies on which to put their trust in God alone, they often walk away and demand their own way.

 The song is one of those sung in the middle of a troubled time in life when we cling to the Lord for hope. It is encouragement for those times when we feel all is against us and the ways of God and that there seems so little we can hope in. It reminds us of the days yet to come when we will want to praise the Lord for what he has done.

Paul tells us that there is a difference between when we communicate with someone in person and when we do it with written communication. We tend to be bolder when writing and meeker when present. He also points out though that when we are present our boldness should be in the way we live as a reflection of Jesus.

We are quick to want to punish others for their disobedience and we can when our obedience to Jesus Christ is complete. Will that ever be? It is important to spend our time looking within ourselves and how we are reflecting the love of God, as shown through Jesus, to the world around us. We should therefor be careful about our boasting in the Lord, but rather let us boast about our reflection of Jesus to their world.

Today we are reminded that God does not look at our outward appearance but our inward, including our thought life, and judge us based on that reality. We are to put our trust in God enough that when we follow his ways, we still hold on to the faith that the struggle we face are worth the effort and will be rewarded by God. Each of us have to decide who we will follow, and it will be our life, not our word, that will be a reflection of who we choose.

Cost of Disobedience is High

 2 Corinthians 9     Psalm 82     1 Kings 19-20

Paul reminds the church of it’s need to be ready at all times and places to present the good news of Jesus Christ. We will reap what we sow whether sparingly or bountifully. It is what God has put in our heart to sow and never are we under pressure to give for God loves the cheerful giver. God will glorify those that are obedient to the good news of Christ.

The song tells us God stand in the middle of the rulers and observes all they do and acts accordingly. He observes those that judge unjustly and those that judge well and uplift the one with the greatest burdens in life. It is a call for God to judge all the earth for all is His creation.

After Elijah kills the false prophets of Baal his life is threatened by the one most effected by that loss. He finds himself fearful of her and flees for his life to the mountains. While there the Lord ask him why he was there hiding. His response is that he can only see himself as the one that is left to speak for the Lord, and it is a terrifying position.

Elijah goes to the mountain to meet with God and after all the signs of the power of God pass by he recognizes the presence of God in the soft blowing wind, the breath of God. When he expresses the same fear, he is told that in fact there are 7000 that have not fallen away to evil and they are with him. He is then instructed to anoint Elisha as the voice of the Lord in his place. He does as he is told and anoints Elisha and the power to speak for God begins the transfer from one leader to the next.

We continue to see God at work through those he chooses to speak for him as he uses others to speak to Israel and test if they will trust in him or not. We see the results of blessing when they follow the instructions and ways of the Lord and when they choose their own path. Those that choose to ignore the voice of the Lord pay a tremendous cost, often the penalty that the one they were called to speak to should have received.

It is clear we will have returned to us that which we plant in the lives of others. If we plant the ways of God and encourage others we will be blessed by God. If we choose to seek our own way, we will pay the penalty of our sins. God’s way is the only way to salvation.

God's Way Provides

1 Kings 17-18     Psalm 13`    2 Corinthians 8

The story of the Bible is one of contrasts between those that follow the way of the Lord and those that reject that and demand their own way. The more that turn from the Lord the more those ways are forgotten, ignored and it becomes the nation that pays the price.

Those that bring the Word of the Lord like Elijah most often do so at the risk of their lives because it calls people to repentance, changing the direction of their lives and what the call right and wrong. The Lord cares for those that proclaim his word in the midst of adversity and often in subtle and unseen ways. Frequently it involves stepping out in faith, first for the voice of the lord and then by those that are called to obedience and trust in God. It often means risking what you have and trusting God to provide as it does here.

God has a way of providing for the needs of his people and sometimes with great blessings.  Elijah is feared and hated because he called the leaders to submit to the ways of God and when they didn’t proclaim a drought until the he called for rain. It took three years to get the attention of those same leaders that found themselves and the people they led suffering. In the midst of that is a story of giving up what little the poorest had and trusting God with it. The result was a blessing of having what they needed throughout the drought.

As often happens there are many that claim to speak for God but proclaim a false narrative to mislead the people. They appear to be the ones with power and create fear, even in the people of God. The story of Elijah calling the voices of Baal and challenging them is a powerful story that the result is the clear power of God and the destruction of those false voices.

A song simply reminds us to quiet our soul, our inner life, before the Lord like a young child rests in the arms of a mother. That sense of trust that God has our best interest in mind and cares for us.

Paul reminds the early church that often it was the poorest that put their faith in Jesus Christ and not only sacrificed to care for their own community but for the church far away. Their goal was that others would come to faith in Christ. We can be poor in the material things of life while still being rich in the power of God. When we trust God with what we have he has the ability to use it to create a harvest of others that will put their trust in God alone.

True today, as it has always been, that when we make available that we have for God’s use not only are we blessed but our communities as well. When we turn from God and demand our own satisfaction, we find ourselves on our own and most often struggling. The call is to trust God with all that we have and all that we are and trust his blessing to provide for our needs in the future.

In the End God Wins

 2 Chronicles 17-18    Psalm 97     2 Corinthians 7

Jehoshaphat becomes the king of Judah, and it is important to note it says he followed the example of David in his earlier days, not his later. God blessed him and they took the Word of the Lord into Judah teaching them the ways of the Lord. When the people of Judah heard the Word of the Lord, they feared the Lord. Jehoshaphat’s power continued to increase, and he built an alliance with Israel through marriage.

Ahab, king of Israel, has surrounded himself with those that speak for God in his eyes. They have been deceived into telling him what he wants to hear. Note that he knows there is one real voice of God but that it is a voice he feels is always against him and he hates him. When they call that voice before him, he too is willing to tell Ahab what he wants to hear. The demand for a true word results in Ahab not hearing what he wants to hear, and his reaction is to punish the voice of the Lord.

There is a lot to be said about what happens when they go into battle. Ahab demands the one that follows the ways of the Lord put himself at greatest risk by dressing as a king. The deception only lasts for a short period of time and then it is an arrow shot at random that takes Ahab’s life.

The song is a song of praise to the Lord and a call for all to praise him. All people have experienced his glory as even the heavens declare his righteousness. God will be exulted over all the earth and over what others worship as god. There is a light sown in the darkness and the heart of the those that seek the Lord will be glad as we give thanks to his holy name.

As Paul writes to the church at Corinth to challenge them to live as God calls the to live and turn from ways that are not of the Lord, he also brings them a word of encouragement. While Paul is still under great stress it is their faith, even in adversity, that gives him a sense of hope. He rejoices when he thinks of them because he is confident, they will continue to seek and understand the leading of the Holy Spirit and follow the commands of God.

While we often want to find a way to make ourselves or others happy by saying something that God has said is an unhealthy way of life, acceptable. Today we see that God’s way are the only way and that we cannot hide from God and escape his judgement. We are called to praise God at all times and face the tough days trusting God to be makings us a better and stronger people in his name. 

Now is the Time

 2 Chronicles 15-16     Psalm 143     2 Corinthians 6

Asa was a king of Judah that listened to the voice of the Lord as spoken through the prophet and set out to seek the Lord and found him. After a period of time where Israel had abandoned following the Lord Asa called them back because the message was that nations would be crushed, and God would allow their cities to be troubled for abandoning his ways.

When Asa responds to the Words of the Lord and removes evil things from the nation God blesses them with peace and prosperity. He led the people to make a covenant with God to follow in the Lord’s ways.

After many years of peace brought about by the power of God another king comes to challenge the nation of Judah and Asa seeks the help of another king rather than looking to God to be their salvation. The result is the loss of peace and trouble for his remaining days.

David reminds us in song that no person is righteous, does everything right in God’s eyes, for we have all be led astray from the ways of God. That takes us to dark places where we feel it overwhelms our spirit. We look back and remember the good days and the powerful works of God we have experienced. It is then we reach out to God longing for a return to that relationship with him.

It is a cry for God to continue to teach us his ways and to do his will so that the name of the Lord will be glorified. When we do things God’s way it takes our soul out of trouble as a servant of the Lord.

We have been offered forgiveness by the grace of God. Not something we did, said and prayed but God offered to take away our punishment for sin. We are reminded that now is the acceptable time to accept God’s offer of grace and salvation, being set right with God, so that we will not be an offense to others and our ministry discredited.

The challenge is not an easy one and will take those that follow Jesus on difficult paths that are filled with suffering at times. We are to concentrate on the good and right way as God has taught us. We are turn away from the ways of those that choose not to believe and put their trust in God. When we turn back to God, he will welcome us into a wonderful relationship with him and we will be his sons and daughters in the faith.

Now it the time to get right with God by seeking his will and his way of life. When we turn from trying to shape God in our image and begin to allow God to shape us in his image, as we were created to do, we find amazing blessings and joy.

We Can Trust God's Mercy

 2 Corinthians 4-5     Psalm 37     1 Kings 15-16

Paul makes sure we know that the key to understanding Jesus is based on mercy and forgiveness. Few of us think about how he says the good news of Jesus Christ is veiled to those that do not believe and often we can’t understand how those that don’t believe don’t understand what we experience. The key is for us to treat others in such a way that they want what we have because of what we are and how we treat them.

Our bodies are earthen vessels designed to reflect the image of God but the cost of that is being the target of those that do not believe. Learning to die to self and trust in Jesus is a moment by moment need. Faith is based on what no one can see but know is there and trust that God’s word is good. There is nothing that can be seen that will not perish but our faith in God, who is unseen, is eternal. We are called to walk in faith in God, as expressed in the life of Jesus, and not by anything we can see. Are life should be lived to please God.

One day we will appear before God in judgment, and it will be based on how well we worked to reflect him to the world in which we live. We are made new in Jesus Christ, who died for our sins by paying the price God demanded, so that we receive grace and forgiveness.

In the end all things will be reconciled with God, so our role now is to be God’s spokesperson in words, actions and way of life. Only one with no sin could pay the price for our sin as a perfect sacrifice.

The song today reminds us of the power of God and God’s ability to be destructive, yet he holds back. God is everywhere and active in everything. We can put our trust in God, and he will always be uplifted as the most powerful one whose expression is through love.

Each of us and each leader must decide who they are going to follow and give their life to. While David sins in his relationships with Uriah and with Beersheba he did continue to live within him the Holy Spirit touched David’s life and he was not struck down. There is then a series of Kings, most who walk away and then want everything to be normal.

We are called to honor and praise God for all that he does on our behalf. It is a decision that each person must make to believe or not in God, Jesus the Son of God and the Holy Spirit. Today we see all three manifestations of God evident through the lives of people throughout the Bible. While life is challenging the call is to trust that God knows what he is doing, place our lives under obedience to him and live in such a way that others want the same blessings we have. That doesn’t mean life is easy, often it is not, but even in the hard times our trust is anchored in God.

God's Ways Lead to Blessings

 2 Chronicles 13-14     Psalm 19     2 Corinthians 3

The story of the divided kingdom of Israel became one of those that trusted in the Lord and those that depended on their own power. God continued to show that he was able to go before those that trusted in him, and that much larger armies would fall before him.

The song of David is one of praise of being aware of the glory of God on heaven and earth. The beauty of God is poured out throughout all creation and worthy of praise.

The ways of the Lord are there for our benefit and that we should get the most out of life. God’s ways bring greater blessings than gold and abundant food. It ends with a desire that our words even our thoughts would be acceptable to God, our rock of faith and the one that gives us salvation.

Paul challenges us to trust in what God writes on our hearts rather than tablets of stone or paper. It is when we are led by the Spirit that we are adequate in God’s eyes and the Spirit gives us new life. It is a call to share our faith with boldness in all our speech. When we look only to the law it is like looking at God through a veil abut the Spirit lifts that veil when we step out in faith in Jesus Christ.

It is clear that the only way to a healthy blessed life is to live the way God calls us to live and trust that his ways are for our good and benefit. When we walk away from God, we suffer the consequences, and they are painful. God is always calling us back to himself and worthy of our praise even on the journey.

Standing Firm When One of the Few

 1 Kings 13-14     Psalm 26     2 Corinthians 1-2

The stories of conflict in Israel between people and between the prophets, the people and God clearly show the cost of disobeying God. They also show how easy it is to allow yourself to believe the rules don’t apply to you. This also shows that not only are we held accountable as individuals but as a nation.

David proclaims in song that he has walked in integrity before the Lord and put his full trust in the grace of God. He invites the Lord to examine him and test him, both mind and heart. His desire is walk in the ways of the Lord and in God’s truth. His desire is to continually voice his thanksgiving in the sanctuary of the Lord. Because his heart and mind are seeking the ways of the Lord, he experiences the forgiveness and grace of God’s salvation.

Paul encourages the followers of Jesus to see suffering for the cause of Christ to be reason to rejoice because we are then comforted by Jesus. When our beliefs are built on the foundation of the teaching of Jesus, we can trust God to fulfill his word and watch over us. God’s promises are good and will be fulfilled, in his time. The more we know Jesus the easier it is to believe and put our trust in him. We are to share the Word of God and speak of the love of Jesus that the Holy Spirit can move in the people around us.

We are to make sure we don’t allow the people that surround us to overwhelm us with their words and power. We are to put our trust in God and when we follow his commandments, statutes and directions we will be blessed and when we choose not to, we can expect to experience the curses of God as well.

God's Path Worthy of Following

 2 John     3 John     2 Thessalonians 1-3     Psalm 33     Proverbs 19     Chronicles 10-12     1 Kings 11-12

The personal letters of John are examples of addressing the needs of individuals in a way that helps far more understand the value of walking in God’s ways. Watching our children reflect love in the way Jesus did because they learned it from us is powerful encouragement.

Paul and the other leaders of the early church send a word of encouragement to those that feel the affliction of persecution for standing apart and teaching the ways of God as taught by Jesus Christ. He says that those that bring the affliction will reap what they have sown, and God will repay them.

We should never forget that there will be many that will try and deceive us and that it is easy to get carried away by those that make a sinful life seem right. When we turn from seeking out God’s ways and turn to our own desires God allows us to be fooled because the wicked ways bring temporary pleasure.  

When we pray for God to reveal to us his way of life in our current situation, we need to be prepared to follow his instruction even though they will bring us into conflict with many. When we seek out God and his ways we will be rescued from this evil generation. God will direct our hearts and life into that steady way of Jesus.

We must walk away from those that choose evil even though they know it is contrary to God’s way of life. It is not about being perfect but being willing to do the hard work of living as God calls us to live and when we choose not to, we should not be surprised by the lack of God’s blessing. At the same time, we are to continue to reach out to those that have lost their way and offer them a way back to the Lord through the grace, forgiveness and goodness of God through Jesus Christ.

Today we are reminded in song that the Lord is always worthy of our praise and thanksgiving. All the work of the Lord is done with faithfulness to the fulfillment of his promises. God loves to look upon those that seek right ways and justice for all.

When we stand back and look at God, we should be fearful of the awe that he inspires in all of us. By his word when he spoke it was done and that creation stood fast. God will frustrate the plans of those that seek to glorify themselves rather than point to the one worthy of our praise. God does look out over all the people of his creation, not just those that look, or act like us. No nation or person is powerful enough to overcome the Lord our God.

The Lord does look carefully at those who choose to follow in his ways and to wait upon God’s blessings.

It is better to be poor and have your integrity than wealthy and a fool. Foolishness, failing to listen to the counsel of the voice of the Lord, will end up in ruin. The false witness will not go unpunished and those that tell lies will perish in the end. The person who is slow to anger and willing to overlook a transgression can bring glory to God.

We can be a blessing to our spouse by keeping the commandments of God and not being lazy and idle.  We are called to be a blessing to those that are less fortunate than us as God has been gracious to us. People make many plans but when we follow the Lord’s instructions what we accomplish will stand. A healthy fear of the Lord will lead to an abundant life and God will judge the scoffers and fools.

While God allowed Solomon to become great and build magnificent structures so that Solomon and God became great in the eyes of the people. But as he grew old, Solomon turned away from the ways of the Lord and allowed his wives to lead him away from the Lord. God’s anger would burn against Solomon, but it would be his son, Rehoboam that would find the kingdom divided because of his disobedience. Part of that was his failure to listen to the wisdom and advice of the elders and allow his young advisors to mislead him leading to the division once again of the kingdom. The people that kept him in power were scattered and kingdom would be torn from his hands.

Putting our trust in God and his ways will lead to blessings and deciding to put our trust in ourselves or others that will mislead us results in the blessings being removed and possibly a curse taking its place. God will be faithful to those that seek his ways in all things and not allow themselves to be led away by the temporary pleasures of this world. He will also allow the destruction of anything that will distract the people from learning about him and his instructions for our lives.

Blessed by God

 1 Kings 9-10     2 Chronicles 9     Psalm 72     1 Thessalonians 5

The Lord fulfilled his word to Solomon and blessed him and gave him the knowledge and wisdom he requested and then blessed him with vast wealth and power as he had promised. The other rulers of the world came to him to see all that he had and to hear his wisdom and to submit to his leadership. God had fulfilled his promises.

Solomon writes a song of praise to God for the blessing he and the people of Israel have experienced and the work of the Lord among their enemies. There is recognition that God delivers his promises and rewards those that follow his way and punishes those who choose to walk away from him.

In the last chapter of the letter to the Thessalonians Paul challenges the churches in that area by telling them the Lord will return to claim his church like a thief in the night and they need to always be ready. They need to walk in the light of day where their actions and words can be seen.

He tells them to put on the armor of God and the hope of salvation, being made right with God. They are to encourage and build one another up and to reward those that work diligently among them to teach them the ways of God. A call to live in peace with one another and to call the unruly to account for their actions. The challenge to not repay evil with evil, but to seek to show and teach the right way of living should be their goal, not only in words but action.

Paul calls us to rejoice always and not reject the word of the Lord and to abstain, give up, all our evil ways. When we do God will make us right with him and preserve our spirit, soul and body. God is faithful and will bring all this to pass.

We see that God fulfills his promises and is worth of our praise. When we live as God calls us to live we will be blessed and we can trust he will bring his word to completion.

God's Kingdom Involves Obedience

 2 Chronicles 6-8     Psalm 66     1 Thessalonians 3-4

I love the opening of 2 Chronicles 7 when it talks about when Solomon finished praying fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices. That is powerful prayer and the house of the Lord was filled with God’s glory. Solomon began by focusing on giving glory and honor to God and amazing blessings resulted.

This leads to an interesting interaction between Solomon and God in a dream where God once again tells him that if the people that are called by his name humble themselves and seek his face while turning away from their wicked ways he will hear, forgive and bring healing. God’s eyes and ears will be open to what the people have to offer. He also points out that while the mountain will always be a place associated with his name the house is temporary.

God points out to Solomon that as long as he and the people follow his commandments and his ways they will prosper. If they choose to turn away and forsake his leadership, all they have will be removed from them. He will remove it all from his sight. Solomon would expand the territory under his control and receive the bounty from the surrounding kingdoms.

The choir director wrote the song to give praise to God and call on all the earth to praise God. It is an invitation to come and see the awesome works of God. There is a call to tell his story in other nations because of the great things he has done. God in fact refines us in those difficult times and shapes who he wants us to be.

Are we prepared to come as the song writer challenges to invite others to come and see what great things God has done in our lives? God does not tune away when we pray to him even when he doesn’t respond in the way we ask.

Paul offers a reminder that they had told them the hardships they were facing would come and should not be unexpected. He offered a word of encouragement that they were holding strong to the word of the Lord even in affliction.

Challenging them to follow the instructions they had been given so that they might live in a way that pleases God. He pushes them not to fall to sexual immorality so that they would bring sanctification and honor to God. God calls us to purity and to be set apart from those that do not follow God’s ways. He tells them to lead a quiet faithful life taking care of their own business so that outsiders will see their behavior.

Declaring that Jesus died and rose again and that one day we who believe in him will be taken up with him. This hope is worthy of sharing and bringing comfort to one another.

We clearly see that God calls his people to be set apart and to show their part of the kingdom of God by they way they live and treat others. We cannot and will not receive the blessings of God unless we follow his ways.