365 Reflections

So many of us know about Jeremiah's first visit the the Potter's house in Jeremiah 18. It's a picture of God's ability to restart and renew our lives. Although in context the image spelled disaster for the nation and after that, they would be renewed. But Jeremiah 19 also contains a visit to the potter's house. This time Jeremiah is a customer and he shares a very strong message with those he brings along.  Jeremiah 19:1–2 (ESV) Thus says the LORD, “Go, buy a potter’s earthenware flask, and take some of the elders of the people and some of the elders of the priests, 2 and go out to the Valley of the Son of Hinnom at the entry of the Potsherd Gate, and proclaim there the words that I tell you. The location of this moment is important. The Valley of the Son of Hinnom was the trash heap of ancient Israel. This will become the place Jesus refers to as Gehenna in the New Testament. It contained trash residing in a smoldering fire that never went out.   Matthew 18:9 (ESV)...

The first event after Jeremiah's commission is a conversation about visions given to him by God. The Lord asks him two questions. Here is the first.  Jeremiah 1:11–12 (ESV) And the word of the LORD came to me, saying, “Jeremiah, what do you see?” And I said, “I see an almond branch.” 12 Then the LORD said to me, “You have seen well, for I am watching over my word to perform it.” A note in my Bible over the word, "almond" stipulates a wordplay at work here. The Hebrew word for almond (saqed) sounds like "watching" (saqad). God wanted Jeremiah to SEE God's word at work. God will always see that His Word goes to work as God declared it to work.  This is the fundamental requirement if one should venture to speak for God. That person must be confident that God's Word will come to pass no matter what others SAY. Those who reject such confidence will find themselves swaying in the wind of public opinion, current trends, and even age-old deceptions. God makes p...

We have discussed that Esther may have taken the long way to gain the proper audience with the King, but we see that God works through it both to deliver the Jews and grow her in boldness and faith. Esther 7:2–3 (ESV) And on the second day, as they were drinking wine after the feast, the king again said to Esther, “What is your wish, Queen Esther? It shall be granted you. And what is your request? Even to the half of my kingdom, it shall be fulfilled.” 3 Then Queen Esther answered, “If I have found favor in your sight, O king, and if it please the king, let my life be granted me for my wish, and my people for my request. Let us not miss that wine and feasting were involved here. There are three ways to a man's heart and this verse involves two of them. But Esther's grace always wins the day. At every moment the king sees her he is pleased with her and welcomes her in to his presence and offers to answer whatever request she has. We have already mentioned that this is a picture...

Hey readers! My book is finally out! Get a copy and tell me what you think! There's a little-known king in Judah of David's line that gets far too little recognition for his contribution to the nation's well-being. His name is Jehosaphat, the son of Asa. 2 Chronicles 17:3–6 (ESV) The LORD was with Jehoshaphat, because he walked in the earlier ways of his father David. He did not seek the Baals, 4 but sought the God of his father and walked in his commandments, and not according to the practices of Israel. 5 Therefore the LORD established the kingdom in his hand. And all Judah brought tribute to Jehoshaphat, and he had great riches and honor. 6 His heart was courageous in the ways of the LORD. And furthermore, he took the high places and the Asherim out of Judah. Look at the description of Jehoshaphat's rule. He made it a point to walk in the ways of David. He rejected all other gods and worshipped Yahweh alone. He didn't take the bait of false worship according to ...

1 Samuel 17:32–34 (ESV) And David said to Saul, “Let no man’s heart fail because of him. Your servant will go and fight with this Philistine.” 33 And Saul said to David, “You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him, for you are but a youth, and he has been a man of war from his youth.” 34 But David said to Saul, “Your servant used to keep sheep for his father... For forty days Israel has failed the test of Goliath. They have hid from the uncircumcised giant and lost courage in the face of his incessant verbal opposition. This is the same army that experienced great victories over the Philistines previously. It wasn't long before in 1 Samuel that Saul's reign is described as follows: 1 Samuel 14:52 (ESV) There was hard fighting against the Philistines all the days of Saul. And when Saul saw any strong man, or any valiant man, he attached him to himself. Under Saul, the army has gone from fighting hard to weary hiding. David's words are poigna...

1 Samuel 16:18 (ESV)   One of the young men answered, “Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite, who is skillful in playing, a man of valor, a man of war, prudent in speech, and a man of good presence, and the Lord is with him.” Where do we get the idea that a safe and conflict-free environment is the best arena in which to raise a child or grow ourselves? This is not how the Lord grows His children. Why do we kick against God's repeated manner of training in hopes that we can spare our loved ones and/or ourselves the hardship of conflict when we KNOW it will ultimately come our way? What does the servant of Saul say about David? Mind you, Saul is looking for someone to play the harp so he can get through wicked fits brought upon him for his rebellion. And you would have it in your mind (as I do I) that a harp player is someone who has not exactly had a rough and tumble upbringing. Surely the harp player in YOUR mind is someone with no callouses and smooth skin....

It is one of cinema’s great quotes. From William Wallace played by Mel Gibson to the rightful albeit hesitant king Robert the Bruce of Scotland. While contemplating his next move for strategic political maneuvers, Robert is challenged by William with the following words, “Men do not follow titles, they follow courage.” The quote proves to be a game changer for Robert the Bruce and Scotland after the death of William Wallace according to the fictional recounting of the movie Braveheart. It is nonetheless true in the scriptures and true today. We are meant to be courageous but everything within and without us seeks to stop it. In 1 Samuel 14, while Saul is watching his army dwindle down to next to nothing, Jonathan poses a question to his armor bearer that brings about a sea-change for the nation of Israel. Instead of hiding and whimpering in the caves with the rest of the nation, Jonathan does what we all need to learn how to do. He challenges the status quo, he steps out from the s...

Exodus 15:1 (ESV)  Then Moses and the people of Israel sang this song to the LORD, saying, “I will sing to the LORD, for he has triumphed gloriously; the horse and his rider he has thrown into the sea. The enemy is defeated, Israel is finally and fully saved from Egypt FOREVER. And the first thing they do is SING. Saved people sing. We are drawn to song when our lives are redeemed from hopelessness to hope, from emptiness to fulness. If there's a strength in the people of God during the Old Testament it is their commitment to song. Consider that the Old Testament's longest book is a book of Psalms - the hymnbook of the Jewish people. Of all the things they could have collected, they made sure to collect their songs.  Songs have an emotional effect. How often does a song just hit us at the right time and lift our spirits to something we previously weren't experiencing. How many songs express our common emotions both good and bad. Many popular singers make million...

God is a guiding Lord. Psalm 25:8 (ESV) Good and upright is the LORD; therefore he instructs sinners in the way. Psalm 25:12 (ESV) Who is the man who fears the Lord ? Him will he instruct in the way that he should choose. The Lord doesn't just lead you to Christ from sinner to saint. He leads you on to the things of life you should choose. How does that happen? Most of us, (almost all) will not hear an audible voice. But His Word will always be our guide. I was having a conversation today with a Pastor friend who shared how often we fret over the small decisions with the Lord...  What house should we buy? What city should we live in? Who should we marry? He said the Lord isn't concerned with the details of what as long as the result is the Glory of God. God is for His glory. Living in and for the glory of God is what our main objective in life is about. Everything else, whatever we choose, where we live, what house we buy or rent - these all should simply bri...

Sometimes it's hard to do what God called you to do. The reason is we often forget Jesus Christ and the Father are there.  Timothy needed this reminder in the mist of a wicked and immoral city as he pastored this church. Paul reminds Timothy: I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching . (2 Timothy 4:1, 2 ESV) It's not what you have Timothy, it's who is with you.  The power to live Gods way if found in acknowledging Gods immanence and involvement in our lives. To linger in the presence of Jesus.  There's only one way a preacher will be prepared to preach no matter what.... By spending time in the presence of Jesus. There will be conflict. Paul tells Timothy that men will not put up with sound teaching very soon. You're going to have to learn how to preach wh...

I remember my third or fourth week into vocational ministry.  I was overwhelmed with the reality of my responsibilities. I didn't feel confident enough to lead anyone having just graduated from college 4 weeks prior and landing in a growing church with the position of youth director and worship leader. It was scary.  I doubted myself.  I doubted my place. Right before a Sunday evening service at which I was to lead worship, I remember going to my desk and pulling out my Bible.  It was a moment in which I felt God speak right to me from His Word.  I wish it always happened this way, but I think my openess and my intense need had something to do with what I received that night. Where did I happen to turn? Galatians 1 The first verse was all I needed: Galatians 1:1 (ESV) Paul, an apostle—not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead. Paul is writing to a group of churches that have n...

Mark 4:35 (ESV)  On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side (of the sea).” Mark 5:1 (ESV) They came to the other side of the sea, to the country of the Gerasenes. Mark 5:21 (ESV) And when Jesus had crossed again in the boat to the other side, a great crowd gathered about him, and he was beside the sea. There is something I learned recently.  The Sea of Galilee makes its first appearance in the New Testament.  Before Jesus, there is not one singe mention of this body of water.  Yet in the Synoptic Gospels, its mention is constant and central to the geographical movement of Christ with His disciples. Why? In the 1st Century, Israelites avoided traveling by sea.  You didn't do it unless you absolutely had to.  Israel was a nomadic land-loving people.  They were defined by the "Promised Land" of ages past.  They still felt a sense of belonging to the land.  Yes, four disciples w...