Judges 10:15-16 3/28/2023*

“But the Israelites said to the Lord, “We have sinned. Do with us whatever you think best, but please rescue us now.”  Then they got rid of the foreign gods among them and served the Lord. And he could bear Israel’s misery no longer.”

What an amazing concept that “God could bear Israel’s misery no longer”. God had every right to be disgusted with Israel's’ adulterous betrayal. Who could blame Him if He let them suffer for rejecting Him? Yet their misery moved Him. 

I am astonished at this aspect of God. The amazing grace of a holy God who suffers for the misery I bring upon myself – just because He loves me.  

God loves you too. The things He has done to prove that are mind boggling.  He did them, because it breaks His heart to see you in misery.… His plan for you is peace in the arms of your Father. You were never intended to fight your battles alone.

Aren’t you tired of your rebellion?  Has it ever produced what you wanted it to?  

God’s not some cosmic killjoy looking to punish you… He’s a loving Father patiently waiting to rescue you. He has already been wounded for your transgressions and bruised for your iniquities… your pain is His pain. Stop fighting battles that have already been won.

There’s only one place in scripture that describes the Father running… and that was when His prodigal Son returned … He ran to greet him. He will do the same for you, if you will just turn around. Don’t waste another day resisting the God who loves you. 

Easter means we never have to ask God the question Jesus asked on the cross…” why has thou forsaken me?”... The answer to that question was your name and mine…Christ was forsaken for us… He has already borne the punishment for our wickedness so we will never have to. 

The Crucifixion happened because God loves you and could bear your misery no longer … the resurrection proved Jesus was qualified to pay the debt that separated you from God and you never have to be separated again.

 “We should be astonished at the goodness of God, stunned that He should bother to call us by name, our mouths wide open at His love, bewildered that at this very moment we are standing on holy ground.” ~ Brennan Manning

2 Peter 1:3 3/21/2023*

“His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness.”

This verse is clear about what it takes to live a godly life. The requirement is the “Full Knowledge of him who called us”… There are no self-improvement techniques, no self-empowerment tools… In fact, “self” is not part of the equation.

Full knowledge of Jesus gives us everything we need to live godly lives. Peter uses words like  “All” and  “Everything ” to make the point emphatic - Nothing we need is lacking, and nothing we need comes from us - it is all a gift from God.

What does it look like to live a godly life?

“Godliness” is behavior produced by the constant realization of His abiding Spirit. The recognition of God, and the acknowledgement of His omnipresence produces a godly life.  That may sound oversimplified but understanding that God is near, changes everything.  Godliness means you put every thought, word, and action through that filter and that modifies your life. You don’t act differently SO you will be saved… but because you have BEEN saved you act differently… Your knowledge of Him produces a transformation that is unmistakable. 

The knowledge of Christ opens your eyes to see the world as God created it – instead of as man has attempted to re-create it.  It produces a God centered worldview that guides your path.

If you want godliness – don’t believe the lies that make it complicated as though God has hidden His will.  Get in the Word daily, attain knowledge, and God will change your perspective. 

This letter was written toward the end of Peter’s life. At this point he had traveled with Jesus, walked on water, cut off a soldier’s ear, denied Christ and been restored, witnessed Pentecost…and more. But when the question of what it takes to live a godly life is asked, Peter’s answer is “get to know Jesus”.  

God saved you through His Glory and Goodness, sending His Son to redeem you… Your transformation is all about knowing Him. It not only has nothing to do with self-help – it’s the renunciation of any effort to do so. We are saved by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone.

“You contribute nothing to your salvation except the sin that made it necessary.”

― Jonathan Edwards

Jeremiah 20:9 3/14/2023*

 “But if I say, “I will not mention his word or speak anymore in his name, his word is in my heart like a fire, a fire shut up in my bones. I am weary of holding it in; indeed, I cannot.” 

Jeremiah has been beaten and left in the stocks overnight by the Priest. He is angry and depressed that God has given him a message that causes others to attack him… Yet upon his release, he doubles down on the predictions and warns those who would resist God.

Jeremiah doesn’t like being the bearer of unpopular news but admits that he has no choice… The truth is the truth, and it burns like a fire in his heart.
Am I as motivated as Jeremiah to speak the Word of God when it is unpopular?  Does it burn within me? Am I like Paul in 1 Corinthians, “compelled” to preach the gospel?  

Jeremiah and Paul share that trait… and anyone who genuinely embraces the gospel, shares that trait as well.

The power of the gospel is uncontainable. Understanding that I have been freely delivered from eternal punishment should compel me to tell others. The joy of my salvation ought to produce an internal pressure that demands release. Can you really love someone, and not tell them what Jesus did for them at Calvary?

We are told to be wise, but that cannot diminish our boldness for Christ. We should use strategy and insight when sharing truth, but we cannot water it down …  And like Jeremiah we may suffer for it.

Scripture says that when you speak the truth, you may be hard pressed, perplexed, persecuted, and struck down, but you will not be defeated.  Being a messenger of God requires stamina. Expect the battle and be prepared to endure it.

No matter what we face, the gospel was not given to us to be hoarded and contained. We are commanded to tell others. Boldly preach His name.  It may be unpopular, but it is the cure for the disease that has infected us all.  

It is possible to preach the gospel without loving others …But it is impossible to truly love others and not preach the gospel.

“Only he is fit to preach who cannot avoid preaching, who feels that woe is upon him unless he preach the gospel” - Charles Spurgeon

2 Samuel 6:16 3/7/2023*

“Michal the daughter of Saul looked down through the window and saw King David leaping and dancing before the Lord; and she was contemptuous of him in her heart.”

David and his wife Michal had a disagreement about how David should worship God in public. Michal took a condescending tone, that I sometimes hear in myself.  Am I at times contemptuous of those who worship differently than I do? 

Worship must focus on the Lord, not the worshiper. There are “ministers” who teach self-empowerment instead of worship, and those are non-scriptural, false teachers who must be resisted.

The Bible contains clear guidelines for approaching God. But there are areas of worship that the Bible does not specifically address, and it seems today, that we look for reasons to divide instead of reasons to come together. 

Some people raise their hands, and some don’t… some dress differently than others… some say “amen” during the church service, while others sit quietly …  Shouldn’t my default reaction to all of these be to see sincerity?   Shouldn’t I remember that they didn’t come to church seeking my approval, and that God clearly sees their heart…and mine? 

When I see someone who worships more enthusiastically than I do …do I doubt their motive?  Do I delve into my self-perceived spiritual knowledge and judge them?  

As the chapter ends, we learn that Michal’s punishment for her arrogance was that she had no children – she could not reproduce. … Am I in danger of the same punishment? Does my exclusiveness and egotism deter me from loving others and creating disciples? 

If my child were to give me a rudimentary drawing as a gift, and you mocked them for what you perceived as their lack of artistic ability…Your problem would be with me, not my child.  I think God sees my judgement of those who worship differently than I do in much the same way.  

On Sunday morning, I need to concentrate on my own offering…I must keep my own worship pure.  Scripture says,  “love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.”…If I worship like that  - It sounds to me like there shouldn’t be much energy left over after church for me to judge my neighbor.  

“When you judge someone, it doesn't define them. It defines you.”
– Anonymous.