August 31

Ezekiel 13-15
The Lord has some very harsh words for false prophets, those who say they have received a message from the Lord when He has not given them any such message.  During my lifetime, I have witnessed many of these so-called prophets of God deceiving gullible people with their words that are meant to entice them into giving of their financial means.  These charlatans bilk people out of untold millions of dollars by prophesying lies in the name of the Lord.  I have met widows who save every spare nickel and dime they have, in order to send them to these snake-oil salesmen.  Over the years, I have become somewhat jaded toward preachers who are constantly asking for money.  We attend a lot of different churches in our travels.  Some are good, while others are not.  The people in all of them are generally friendly, loving people who love the Lord.  However, some of the leaders are highly suspect.  In some of these places the leaders never fail to take up a collection.  Yet, when it comes to those things that would offer spiritual strength to the flock, such as participation in the communion of our Lord’s body and blood, they are rarely offered.  Perhaps I’m being a little harsh, but not nearly so much as the Lord is in today’s reading!

August 30

Ezekiel 9-12
“Son of man, you are living among a rebellious people. They have eyes to see but do not see and ears to hear but do not hear, for they are a rebellious people.”  Do you ever feel like these words are for you?  Maybe I’m a little paranoid, but I often feel like these words are for me, and for every other Christian living in America.  I generally try to live my life as an optimist.  Indeed, as I consider how God has blessed me, I have nothing but good to speak and feel.  However, when I consider our nation and how far she is removed from her Christian roots, I see the Lord removing His blessings, and I despair.  Jehovah was speaking through His man, Ezekiel, to the house of Israel, God’s chosen people.  America is not Israel, however, His chosen people, Christians, has lived here in abundance, and has enjoyed the blessings of His favor on our nation for more than two millennia.  During that time, we have witnessed the ways of the world infiltrating our ranks.  Over the last several decades many churches have left the bedrock principles of the Bible, replacing it with societal mores and pseudo-scientific doctrine.  In many congregations and sects we witness the rebellious leaders rejecting Biblical injunctions in favor of current political correctness.  When these are approached by Christians proclaiming God’s word, they refuse to see and hear the truth, often discounting the words of the Bible by boldly proclaiming that it is a book that was written for another people in another time, and at another place.  With this rebellious position, one is left without Divine guidance.  These rebellious people are following their own way, stubbornly refusing to acknowledge clear Biblical doctrine.  Furthermore, when one stands for God’s truth, they are labeled as radical, right-wing, Christian extremists.  The day is fast approaching when those who speak against evil will be charged with hate speech and face fine, imprisonment, or both.  Yet, if you are one of those who stand for Biblical truth, you can know with certainty that the Lord stands with you, and that He will bless you.  Dear Lord, I lift up our nation to you, and the church that lives within her.  Open our eyes to your truth.  Unstop our ears so that we might hear, repent, and return the solid principles that can only be found in your word, the Bible.  Through Jesus, I pray.  Amen!

August 29

Ezekiel 5-8
God speaks through the prophet: “When terror comes, they will seek peace in vain.  Then they will know that I am the Lord!”  Unfortunately, it will be too late.  We like to speak of a God of love and grace, and I would much rather dwell on those aspects.  However, He is also a God of justice.  A time is coming when He will judge all who have walked the earth.  At that time, all will truly know that He is the Lord.  For those who have rejected Him, refusing to accept His Son as their Savior, it will be too late.  They will seek peace in vain, with only eternal damnation in front of them.  For this reason, I find it difficult to understand how anyone would reject God while they still have a chance.  Life in Christ is a better life in the here and now.  And, then in judgment, there is eternal life in Him.  One has nothing to lose by believing, and everything to lose by choosing not to believe.  It’s just a no-brainer!

August 28

Ezekiel 1-4
The Lord makes a statement to the prophet, Ezekiel, that I believe we Christians would do well to heed: “But if you do warn the wicked and they do not turn from their wickedness or from their evil ways, they will die for their sins; but you will have saved yourself.”  Why do I think this is significant?  It is my sincere conviction that we have an obligation to try and bring the lost to Jesus.  If they are living a wicked, sinful life, we are to be leading them to repentance.  When we are silent, it is like giving tacit approval for their behavior.  While it is true that if we speak out, some will label us as radicals, or out of touch with reality, it doesn’t relieve us of the responsibility.  I know that when I have spoke out against sexual immorality and abortion, I generally raise a lot of opposition.  There are certain people who are very mean-spirited in their comments toward me.  However, the treatment I receive is nothing compared to what the prophets of old went through.  There is a time for silence, but it is not in the face of evil!

August 27

Lamentations 3-5
Jeremiah makes another prophecy concerning Judah being returned to God’s favor through a coming Messiah.  In the midst of his mourning over their destruction, he is able to see how God is able to deliver in the long run.  Again, in looking at this as I did my own brother’s death, I am able to see the ultimate victory Gene has gained through death.  Because of the same coming Messiah that Jeremiah spoke of, he is able to enjoy eternity with Jesus!  This is the same hope that anyone can have who has chosen to put their trust in the Lord.  True, Judah had sinned grievously, just as we all have.  None of us are free from sin.  However, Jesus paid the price for those sins, and has provided a path of salvation leading us to a home in heaven where we will be with the Lord forever!  Praise God for His indescribable gift of grace through Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior!

August 26

Lamentations 1-2
Just as one holds out hope for their terminal loved one, Jeremiah held out hope for Judah’s repentance, a stay of execution by the Lord.  And, just as one grieves when the inevitable happens, and their loved one dies, so Jeremiah grieves when God’s promised judgment comes upon Judah.  He knew the day would come just as he had prophesied, but he didn’t relish the fulfilment of that prophecy.  I think I understand how he felt.  When my brother was dying with leukemia I held out hope until the bitter end that some miracle would heal him, all the while knowing in my heart of hearts that a day would come when his body would give up the fight and he would go to live with the Lord.  So, when that day arrived, I was heartbroken, just as Jeremiah was sorrowing over the day that had arrived for his people.

August 25

Jeremiah 51-52
Lately there has been a lot of talk about the wind in our area of Montana.  The inability to accurately predict the weather often reminds me of who is in control.  Of Him, Jeremiah writes, “He made the earth by his power; he founded the world by his wisdom and stretched out the heavens by his understanding.  When he thunders, the waters in the heavens roar; he makes clouds rise from the ends of the earth.  He sends lightning with the rain and brings out the wind from his storehouses.”  As I witness His power through the weather, it is with great wonder that I also witness so many who refuse to believe in Him.  God is, and will always be!  It is foolish to think otherwise.  The ancients discovered this fact, often to their own peril.

August 24

Jeremiah 49-50
The prophet decries judgment upon Babylon as a nation at ease, arrogant in what they have accomplished and what they are.  Although I am extremely patriotic, I can’t help but draw some analogies between the United States and Babylon.  I often hear people say that there is no better place to live than the US.  I have made the statement myself.  Have we become so arrogant that we don’t believe God can or will take us down?  As I witness our society moving further away from the Lord, I am somewhat fearful of His judgment coming upon us as it did on Babylon and other empires that rebelled against God.  Have we become so complacent and arrogant that we refuse to repent and turn back to the One who made our nation great?  We would do well to remember that it was the Lord who made Babylon a great empire, just as it was the Lord who also took her down.

August 23

Jeremiah 46-48
God pronounces judgment on Moab because she trusted in her deeds and her riches.  As Christians, we have no problem understanding the Lord’s disgust in those who trust in their riches.  On the other hand, we are often guilty of trusting in our deeds.  For all our talk about grace, we often judge others based upon what they have done or not done, pridefully taking comfort in our own righteousness, the good deeds we have accomplished.  If this were not so, there would not be so many different sects.  Our divisions are primarily caused by pride.  Each group believes they are doing what the Lord requires, while those who don’t agree with them are not doing what God wants.  In so doing, we are as guilty as Moab.  In essence, we are trusting in our deeds.  God has always desired our complete trust in Him.  It is His deeds that accomplish our righteousness.  It is His deeds that bring about our salvation.  He is the one responsible for any good thing we enjoy.  The Lord is the only judge.  If we would remember this important fact, and trust in the work He has accomplished, instead of our own works, we just might see a more unified church, and we would certainly be better able to fulfill that most important of all commands, loving God and loving each other!

August 22

Jeremiah 41-45
One cannot help but be amazed as the flagrant rebellion toward the Lord that the people of Judah commit in Egypt.  To boldly tell His prophet that they will not listen to the word of God, but will instead, offer up incense to the Queen of Heaven!  Were they confused?  Had they not paid attention to all that God had already done?  As I read about these wayward people, I can’t help but think about many today who attempt to mold God into their own image or ideals.  I have often heard rebellious people refer to God as “she” when the Lord is never referenced in anything but the male gender.  A fairly recent book that made the best seller list and was recommended by many Christians, The Shack, offered various images of God.  Although an enjoyable read, I found it quite disturbing that the author was promoting the idea that God is found in all the world religions.  In other words, it doesn’t make any difference what religion you follow, just so long as you have a faith.  This is what the people of Judah were telling Jeremiah, and the Lord flatly condemned them for this view.  We must always beware popular thought that conflicts with God’s clear word.

August 21

Habakkuk 1-3
The prophet says, “I will stand at my watch and station myself on the ramparts; I will look to see what he will say to me, and what answer I am to give to this complaint.”  Later on, he says that, “The Lord is in His holy temple, let all the earth keep silent before Him.”  I wonder how often we practice silence, watching, and waiting on the Lord?  When we follow Habakkuk’s example, wonderful things can happen!  Shutting out the noise of our busy lives allows us to hear what God wants us to hear.  He provides the answers we need, and the words we need to speak.  It is God who reads our hearts, understanding those things we cannot express with mere words.  So, what do you think?  Are you ready to stand watch?

August 20

2 Kings 24-25; 2 Chronicles 36
We’re told that Zedekiah became stiff-necked and hardened his heart and would not turn to the Lord.  What we are not told is why?  Don’t you often wonder why people will not turn to the Lord?  I mean, life in Christ is so very wonderful!  Why would anyone reject it?  I would love to find a large sampling of non-Christians to survey.  It would be enlightening to find out their reasons for rejecting God’s gracious offer of a life filled with blessings, free from the bondage of sin, filled with His forgiveness and the removal of guilt, only to be followed up with eternal life in a place that defies our imagination.  How could any logical, right-thinking individual turn this down?!  What causes people to reject the greatest gift that could possibly be offered?  Is it a lack of understanding?  Perhaps it is misinformation?  I’ve heard the expression that we may be the only Bible some will ever read.  If that’s true, and I suspect that it is, are we presenting an accurate rendition?  Is our life demonstrating the fantastic gift God has given in all its glory?  Or, are we presenting a picture of legalistic bondage?  Grace or bondage, which will it be?

August 19

Jeremiah 38-40; Psalm 74, 79
As God delivers His people to the Babylonians, Jeremiah experiences ups and downs. Throughout it all, however, he knows who is in control and he continues to follow the Lord. We need to recognize that life will often hand us calamity and turmoil. If we will put our trust in the Lord, He will see us through and exalt us in the end!

August 16

Jeremiah 36-38
The prophet is thrown into jail as an innocent man.  It is difficult to imagine how he must have felt.  When given the chance, he pleads his case before the king and is given a modicum of freedom.  There have been many headline stories of people who have been imprisoned for crimes they didn’t commit; many of them released through DNA evidence.  It is heart-rending to read of people who have been robbed of years of their life.  Unfortunately, there are those who, even with the evidence, still believe the innocent person is guilty of the crime.  Therefore, they continue to live with the stigma, their lives being changed forever.  The primary difference with Jeremiah is that his stigma is his devotion to the Lord.  This stigma is still alive and well.  If we stand for truth, in our modern world where truth is grossly distorted, you will be stigmatized.  However, Jesus encourages us to rejoice and be glad, because when we suffer we are in good company.  We should feel honored to be included with Jeremiah and the rest of the prophets.

August 15

Jeremiah 32-35
God is always looking to restoration for His people and freedom for slaves.  That’s the kind of God we serve.  If one doesn’t understand how patient God is, they need only look at the many times Israel failed Him, while He continues to stand ready to forgive and restore them to their former glory.  This, of course, culminates in His sending His only Son to bring restoration to a fallen world.  We can all take advantage of this gift, while He patiently lifts us each time we fall, and sets us on higher ground, establishing hope in those who, through faith, love and seek to be loved by Him.  Anything less than full reconciliation, walking in faith, is bondage.  And, our loving God wants to free us from the slavery of sin.

August 14

Jeremiah 30-31 One can sense God's excitement at the prospect of His forgiveness and restoration for His people. These prophetic words foreseeing a leader like none other are filled with hope and glory for those who would choose to walk with the Lord. And, even if the people find no joy, God is almost giddy with anticipation! Max Lucado, Christian author and minister, wrote a book entitled The Applause of Heaven, in which he pictures God standing at the gates of Heaven applauding the saved as they are entering. This is the kind of God we find being pictured by the prophet, Jeremiah.

August 13

   
Jeremiah 26-29
God continues to deal with the false prophets who are deceiving the people in His name. When we will only listen to those who tell us what we want to hear, we are leaving ourselves open to deception, and we will be led away from the Lord. If our toes are not stepped on sometimes, then we should be examining the preacher and/or our hearts. If the preacher is promising good things in this life for those who follow Christ, he should be suspect. Because, Jesus said that His followers will face trials because of Him. If we never share in His sufferings, we may need to reflect on how well we are doing in our spiritual walk. That isn't to say that we cannot have joy in our lives. Quite the contrary! We should be finding joy, even in the midst of our trials.

August 12

Jeremiah 22-25

Today's reading deals with false prophets.  Jeremiah 23:32 "Indeed, I am against those who prophesy false dreams,” declares the Lord. “They tell them and lead my people astray with their reckless lies, yet I did not send or appoint them. They do not benefit these people in the least,” declares the Lord."  Much hasn't changed.  We still have those who influence others with lies and half-truths, leading God's people astray.  Fortunately, we own the real deal.  The Bible, God's word, is the complete will of God available to anyone who cares to read it.  Unfortunately, there are many who would rather have someone else tell them what to believe.

August 11

Jeremiah 18-22

After Jeremiah had been released from prison for proclaiming God's word, he makes the following statement: 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.  (20:9)  Even though I am not in the same position as the prophet, I can strongly relate to these words.  As I witness the moral decline of our nation, I feel compelled to speak out against the evil that is being constantly flouted.  Although I am blessed to live in a nation that allows freedom of religion, it is beginning to recognize spoken truth against sin as hate speech.  We are very close to becoming a nation that forbids Christian views. 

August 10

Jeremiah 14-17

The words of the prophet bring judgment on those who gain their wealth through unjust means.  I know this is old news, but I would like to draw something else from this.  Notice that it isn't the wealthy who are condemned.  There are those who would say it is wrong to accumulate riches.  Nothing could be further from the truth.  It is not in the accumulation that people go wrong, rather, it is in the manner and then the use what was gained.  If we achieve wealth through unscrupulous ways, and/or become tight-fisted with that which the Lord has blessed us, we stand in danger of the judgment.  On the other hand, if we are blessed with riches through honest endeavors, and then use our gain generously, there is no need to fear condemnation.

August 9

Jeremiah 10-13
Jeremiah asks, “You are always righteous, Lord, when I bring a case before you.  Yet I would speak with you about your justice: Why does the way of the wicked prosper?  Why do all the faithless live at ease?”  Can you relate?  I know I can.  However, the Lord gives an answer.  It just isn’t the answer we want.  Even though we know that He will judge the wicked, we want Him to do it now.  It is important to understand that His timing is not the same as ours.  There will be a time of accounting for everyone.  It is then that the wicked will be punished for their wickedness.  Jesus says that the prosperity of the wicked is their complete allotment.  In other words, they have no part in the eternal joys we have set before us.  The brief time they have on earth is no more than a blink of an eye compared to eternity.  Therefore, when He prophesies His judgment, understand that it is done in His own time, and that His time is much different than ours.

August 8

Jeremiah 7-9
One can almost feel the Lord’s tears as he laments over the people who have turned against Him.  He sees the lip service and the external forms of worship, and it saddens Him that there is nothing internal.  He looks for the circumcision of the heart and doesn’t find it.  It’s interesting that in this section God extends the borders beyond Israel and Judah to include all nations.  Even at this time, God is recognizing all people of all nations as His very own.  It has always been His desire to have a relationship with everyone.  To share in His fellowship through the acceptance of His terms is nothing short of fantastic!  His will and way is not grievous.  Rather, it is just an extension of the joy He has planned from the beginning.  Many refuse to follow the Lord because they believe it will be difficult, that they will be giving up the finer things of life.  Nothing could be further from the truth.  From the very beginning, any law or command that God has established will only make our lives better if we follow them.  His commands are for our benefit, to improve our quality of life.  To live in Christ is to enjoy freedom from the bondage of sin and Satan, to have life and have it more abundantly!

August 7

Jeremiah 4-6
I find the words in chapter six, verse ten to be very appropriate for our modern times: “To whom can I speak and give warning?  Who will listen to me?  Their ears are closed so they cannot hear. The word of the Lord is offensive to them; they find no pleasure in it.”  When a society gets so caught up in sin that they justify it, saying that it is just natural because we are created that way, they will go to any extreme to continue on in that sinful way of life.  I find this to be particularly true when one speaks against homosexuality.  Very few people will listen to you.  They find such things as the story of Sodom and Gomorrah to be offensive.  They want nothing to do with the warnings found in Romans, the first chapter, or the convicting words found in 1 Timothy 1:8-11.  These reject God’s word, choosing instead to justify a sinful way of life because they are in rebellion and have given themselves over to sin.  Instead of resisting their evil inclinations, they have given in to them.  This is true for the murderer, as well as the sexual offender, to the slanderer, as well as the thief.  None of these want to hear the truth.  I read a saying the other day that is very applicable: For those caught up in sin, the truth becomes hate speech.

August 6

Jeremiah 1-3
When God says,  “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations,” was He using hyperbole, or was it the righteous truth?  There are those on both sides of that discussion who feel completely right in their opinion.  For the hyperbole group, this passage and others, with a similar thought has nothing to do with the sanctity of life, while those on the other side would argue strenuously that these words speak loudly in support of their pro-life position.  Whichever position you take, logic must tell you that with or without God’s knowledge, we cannot possibly know the potential of the unborn child.  History has shown that people who are born into every economic strata have the same potential for greatness.  Thus, when we practice abortion, we have no idea if we have just removed a person who would have been a prophet, a research scientist, or even a murderer or rapist.  We just don’t know.  What we do know is that the fetus that has been destroyed will never be able to reveal his or her potential.  If the cure for cancer would have come through this aborted fetus, she or he will no longer.  If a mass murderer would have come through a live birth, she or he will no longer.  The point is, that since we don’t have that knowledge, why do we even consider doing God’s job in deciding who can or cannot live?

August 5

 
Zephaniah 1-3
God promises good things for the humble and meek, while pronouncing harsh judgment on the haughty. It's interesting that we too share similar feelings for people with these attributes. I know of no one who enjoys the company of someone who is stuck on themselves, while the humble are pleasant friends with whom we derive much pleasure. Since God has created us in His image, in order to enjoy our companionship, it should come as no surprise that He sorts out those who are obnoxious. After all, He plans on spending eternity with His chosen ones, and He wants it to be pleasant for all who are there. Keeping this mind, one can understand the judgment just a little better.

August 4

2 Kings 22-23, 2 Chronicles 34-35
I have heard people judge others’ child rearing because their children turn out to be evil.  They misapply the words of Proverbs 22:6, proclaiming that it is a promise that if we train up our children in the way of the Lord, they will not depart.  However, we are told in today’s reading that Josiah was the most righteous of all of the kings of Israel and Judah.  Yet, his sons who were placed on the throne after his death were both evil.  While it is true that when we bring our children up in the Lord they stand a better chance of leading a righteous life than if we don’t bring them up in the Lord, there is no guarantee on way or the other.  The words of the proverb are words of wisdom, not a promise.  We have many such passages in the Bible that are wise words to help guide us as we traverse this short span on earth.  The ground is shaky when we take these words and apply them as the letter of the law.  Rather, we must live by the Spirit of the word.  God has given everyone free-will to choose the path they desire, regardless of their upbringing.  It is, indeed, heartbreaking when we have lived a righteous life and taught our children to do the same, only to have them go astray.  We can pray and hope that they will turn back before it is everlastingly too late, but it is still their choice.  I am sure that had Josiah lived to witness his sons wickedness that he would have grieved, just as any parent who has done the best they know how.

August 3

Nahum 1-3
This book of prophecy begins by reminding us that the Lord is a jealous and avenging God.  Why do you suppose that is?  A rebellious eighteen-year-old was telling me recently that God is narcissistic.  In his youthful ignorance he sees God as some horrible myth because He demands love and acceptance from His people.  In order for one to understand God’s jealousy and vengeance, one needs to understand His relationship toward us.  He created us for His very own.  We have been given the gift of life through Him.  Without Him we are nothing, we don’t even exist!  There is no greater gift that can be given, and He does this because of His desire to have a loving relationship with us.  He is our Father and our Husband, showering us with His love, mercy, and grace.  He is eternally faithful toward us, even when we aren’t.  Considering all that He has given, is it so much to ask that we love Him in return?  Because we are His very own children – His bride – He expects us to be faithful.  For the same reasons, He gets upset when others lead us astray.  Being both a father and husband, I can understand the Lord’s jealousy and vengeance.  Woe to anyone who would hurt or lead my loved one’s astray!  If that happens, it is good for me to remind myself that vengeance belongs to the Lord.  However, that doesn’t stop me from being jealous and desirous of the proper vengeance.

August 2

2 Chronicles 32-33
Sennacherib king of Assyria mocked the Lord to his own peril.  He ended up being murdered by some of the people who were closest to him.  It is a serious matter to mock God, or to mess with His anointed people.  There are a lot of people who use the Lord’s name in vain, many without even considering what they are doing.  Using God’s name in a deleterious manner is not only wrong, but it is extremely offensive, not only to Him but to His followers.  I try and have a positive influence, letting my light shine, on those who do not yet know my Savior.  In doing so, I must spend time among those who are in the world.  This opens me up to language that is offensive and derogatory.  Even though I understand that those using this kind of language are often ignorant of just how bad it is, it still hurts me to hear it, especially when they are using the Lord’s name in vain.  I often find myself asking those who do so, if they really want God to damn whatever it is they are applying the phrase toward.  Or when they are simply using the name of Jesus in an inappropriate manner, I will sometimes ask them if they know Him.  These questions will either spark a conversation, cause them to stop doing it, or offend them.  If they are offended, it is common for them to continue using these words just to needle me.  When that happens I simply back away and ask the Spirit to soften their hard hearts.  There will be an accounting some day, and God will not look kindly on those who have abused His name.

August 1

2 Kings 20-21
When one looks at the evil Manasseh did in his long reign it is difficult to understand how the people stood for it.  However, they not only allowed it to happen, but they joined in, following his wicked ways.  The people God had chosen for His very own were now worshiping the gods of the surrounding nations.  Manasseh actually placed idols in the temple.  What causes people who have been so openly blessed to turn their backs on the one who provided those blessings?  I believe that I am witnessing the same thing in America.  We are a nation that has enjoyed the bounty of God’s richest blessings for more than two centuries.  Yet, as a nation, we have turned from God to worship of man and his knowledge.  Like a spoiled teenager, we no longer listen to our Father because we believe that we have all the answers.  Perhaps that’s the key.  The blessings have been so great that we take them for granted and, in our human weakness, we begin to think that we have somehow earned the right to possess that which we’ve received.  Maybe not.  These are simply the ramblings of an old man who has become disillusioned with our nation.  If you have a more plausible answer, I would sure love to hear it!