Month: July 2024

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How to return home.

Reading Time: 3 minutes

Praise the Lord! I will thank the Lord with all my heart as I meet with his godly people. How amazing are the deeds of the Lord! All who delight in him should ponder them. Everything he does reveals his glory and majesty. His righteousness never fails. He causes us to remember his wonderful works. How gracious and merciful is our Lord! Psalms‬ ‭111‬:‭1‬-‭4‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Psalm 111 is a tribute, written by Ezra the high priest and scribe, AFTER returning from 70 years of captivity in Babylon. To be clear, everyone knew why Israel was taken into slavery. The citizens had not only walked away from God, disregarding His laws and warnings, they had given themselves wholly to other gods, foreign gods – FAKE gods! God’s prophets, His spokespersons had been warning both the leaders of Israel and the prominent families to turn their hearts back to God. Israel consistently chose to do their own thing. Now, after 70 years, their city, their temple was decimated. Their kings, dead. Their brothers and sisters in the ten tribes that had split off from the whole, lost forever. The only ones to return were the remnants, the “root of Jesse,” as they were called.

Yet, in all this loss and penitence. In their humility, they found their heart for God. In mass they repented and made the journey back to rebuild what had been destroyed. Even though their hope was a flickering flame, a smoldering wick, just barely showing light, they remembered their God. Ezra writes, “He causes us to remember his wonderful works.” In complete misery of loss they remembered God and their own hearts turned, once again, towards Him!

How does one come back from devastation? How does one return to rebuild their entire life? How does one find hope in their future? Israel recognized their sin and remembered their God! Captivity wasn’t God’s fault, it was His love and discipline, going to extremes to keep His people from complete and utter destruction. The human heart, left to its own desires, will crash and burn and destroy everyone and everything around them. We are desperately wicked and strive against God to have our own way and do our own thing. God intervened, putting the nation in timeout until they came to their senses.

Psalm 111 captures the results of them turning their hearts towards God as they make their final assent back up to the city of Jerusalem. Ezra, returning and reflecting on the years of loss, looked up the road to Jerusalem. Then his eyes continued to look up, high into the heavens and thank God. What do you do to return? You look back and see your own decisions that led to devastation. You look up the road to see the restoration of your own future. And, you look even higher, to see God and thank Him for His righteousness, grace and mercy. This is the lesson of Psalm 111. Don’t quit. Don’t wallow. Don’t wait! Come home.

Prayer

​Dad,
What awaits us when we return home? Is it judgment, shame and humiliation? No! What awaits us is exactly what awaited Ezra and Your people – righteousness, grace and mercy. You want us to win. You want us to be well. You want us to live! Thank you oh Lord, for the means of mercy to see our failures and poor decisions. Thank you for the gift of seeing our past with the ability to turn to you and see our future. Thank you for real and genuine hope in the plans you have for us, if we would just turn and return. Amen.

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The Mission offering.

Reading Time: 2 minutes

But before I come, I must go to Jerusalem to take a gift to the believers there. For you see, the believers in Macedonia and Achaia have eagerly taken up an offering for the poor among the believers in Jerusalem. They were glad to do this because they feel they owe a real debt to them. Since the Gentiles received the spiritual blessings of the Good News from the believers in Jerusalem, they feel the least they can do in return is to help them financially. ‭‭Romans‬ ‭15‬:‭25‬-‭27‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Follow the money! Paul mentions this collection of free-will offerings among the churches he started. Here in Romans, he mentions that he will be able to visit Rome and connect with the churches and believers.

Jerusalem was in horrible turmoil because of mass persecution and riots targeting Christians. As the hub of both Judaism and Christianity, it left many poor and hungry. The “mission” here was to encourage churches all over the Roman empire to give as they can to provide money for believers basic needs, namely food.

Paul has been bold in asking, and he has a real gift of encouraging people to be generous. Just the fact that he mentions these areas of Macedonia (modern-day Greece) and Achaia (southern Greece), is a way to let the believers in Rome know that some of the poorest of communities and also under persecution from their Jewish brothers, are already deeply committed to giving and have already sent their money in for the cause. This “leveraged” giving was also used to encourage believers in Corinth, a quiet wealthy city. Paul, himself a missionary, would not take money for his work, because he chose to make and repair tents to earn his personal and travel expenses. Paul did not want anyone to compare him to the common “itinerate” preachers “fleecing the flock,” just to make money.

One of the jobs of trusted, early church deacons, was to carry cash to Jerusalem. Giving is one of the greatest themes of the New Testament churches. Remember in Acts 2, the proof of the Holy Spirit moving in a church community was giving – ”And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had. They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need.” They also “shared their meals with great joy and generosity” (Acts ‭2‬:‭44‬-‭46). This was the pattern that permeated the church and set a high bar of generosity for believers everywhere.

Still today, churches that are healthy and growing are generous in local causes, feeding the poor and helping the needy as well as distributing money for the gospel to be preached in all nations. And, also today, when there is an overwhelming need, either in the United States or anywhere in the world, churches come together to extravagantly give to support that cause. This is the ethos of true Christianity! We freely give because God has freely given to us. We can thank the Apostle Paul for this challenge and model of generosity.

Prayer

​Dad.
What a wonderful lesson on being generous. I believe in extravagant, radical giving because you did so for us! As you know, I did not learn this until I was in my forties, but have continued to exceed our giving each year since. I am grateful for mature believers as well as thriving churches who are generous. Thank for the encouragement and the challenge to not be able to out-give you!

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Struggling with a mixed-marriage.

Reading Time: 4 minutes

Then the Lord said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh? Why did she say, ‘Can an old woman like me have a baby?’ Is anything too hard for the Lord? I will return about this time next year, and Sarah will have a son.” Sarah was afraid, so she denied it, saying, “I didn’t laugh.” But the Lord said, “No, you did laugh.” ‭‭Genesis‬ ‭18‬:‭13‬-‭15‬ ‭NLT‬‬

It is clear that the amazing story of Abram and Sarai had deep personal struggles in their marriage because they were not equal in the one of the most important, spiritual values as a couple. They were not equal in their faith!

In the beginning of their relationship they were both lacking a general sense that God is real and wanted to lead them, and bless them. Right at the start of their marriage they discovered Sarai was barren (‭‭Genesis‬ ‭11‬:‭30‬). That will rock any couple that desires to have children.

God directly speaks to Abram and tells him to leave, but does not tell him exactly where to go. Abram’s faith grows and he obeys (Genesis‬ ‭12‬:‭1‬-‭3‬). Arriving at each new city, Abram builds an altar and dedicates it to God.

Abram’s faith wavers when it comes to his beautiful bride, Sarai. Approaching Egypt he tells Sarai, please tell them you are my sister, fearing they will kill him and take his wife and possessions ‭‭(Genesis‬ ‭12‬:‭13‬). The Pharaoh of Egypt thought she was so hot, he took her into his own concubine and gave Abram a massive amount of gifts (animals and servants). God sent plagues on Pharaoh and he figured out that Abram lied about Sarai being his wife, not his sister (Genesis‬ ‭12‬:‭17‬)!

Later, arriving in Canaan, God again speaks to Abram reassuring him of the promise to bless him (‭‭Genesis‬ ‭13‬:‭14‬-‭17‬). Abram’s faith grows again. After rescuing his nephew Lot from a kidnapping, he meets with a mysterious man named Melchizedek, a “priest unto God.” Oddly, Abram gives Melchizedek a tithe, a tenth of all Abram had captured while saving Lot (Genesis‬ ‭14‬:‭20‬). Now his generosity grows as does his faith.

Again, God visits Abram in a vision, promising him a flesh and blood heir, a son and it will NOT be an adopted servant (Genesis‬ ‭15‬:‭4‬). Abram believes God and the declares him righteous because of his faith (Genesis‬ ‭15‬:‭6‬). But Abram’s faith wavers when it comes to believing God about this promise of inheriting the land as far as his eyes could see. so God makes a permanent blood-pact, or covenant with Abram, guaranteeing God’s own life as collateral (Genesis‬ ‭15‬:‭18‬). Just think about how many times God spoke directly to Abram and how many times he repeated His promises to him! Multiple times! Abram’s faith was growing, through struggles of doubt, but also through reassurance of fulfillment. Abram’s faith was soaring, but Sarai’s was SHRINKING!

By the time we get to Genesis 16, Sarai couldn’t stand it anymore. The couple was wildly wealthy in land, animals and servants, but there was no heir to secure their future! Sarai convinces Abram to take their future into his own hands by controlling their own destiny – take their Egyptian servant named Hagar and produce and heir! “So Abram had sexual relations with Hagar, and she became pregnant. But when Hagar knew she was pregnant, she began to treat her mistress, Sarai, with contempt” (Genesis‬ ‭16‬:‭1‬-‭4‬). What a mess! Sarai in her pain and frustration blames Abram -“This is all your fault! I put my servant into your arms, but now that she’s pregnant she treats me with contempt. The Lord will show who’s wrong—you or me!” (Genesis‬ ‭16‬:‭5). Ishmael is born but he and the mother were kicked out of the family, left to wander the desert where God saves them. This created a permanent rift between the Jews and the Arabs that still exist today!

God continues to speak to Abram, changing his name to Abraham and reaffirming His promises. God introduces another physical, contractual reminder to Abraham – circumcision, the cutting of flesh of foreskin for all males (Genesis‬ ‭17‬:‭10‬-‭13‬). God also changes Sarai’s name to Sarah, preparing her to receive the promised heir as well. Just a note, when Abraham heard God tell him the promise was still valid, even though he was 100 years old, and Sarah was 90, he laughed in disbelief (Genesis‬ ‭17‬:‭17‬). A year later Ishmael was born. And God’s promise became a reality. Ishmael became the father of twelve princes, and God made him into a great nation.

The point, God met with and personally spoke with Abraham multiple times and each time his faith grew. Abraham learned faith, it did not come to him naturally! Sarah did not have any of those personal experiences with God. She only heard about the promises from her husband, Abraham. Abraham’s faith journey was deliberate, Sarah’s was difficult.

This verse above sums it up well for this mixed marriage of spirituality, Sarah laughed because she struggled in her faith, and she lied about laughing because she was afraid! She wasn’t just afraid of being caught, laughing at the Lord’s promise, she was afraid to believe, afraid to have faith because she had lived focused on her fears and her decision to take control of her own destiny – convincing Abram to have sex with their young maidservant. Sarah’s laugh was a bitter reminder of how hard it is to believe God at his word!

Prayer

​Dad,
Faith is a serious thing with you! Believing you, trusting you, is paramount and vital to our relationship with you. Abraham believed and you saw it as righteousness! When I believe it is still seen as righteousness. Faith pleases you. It is hard for us to have that unseen, often unfelt leap to trust you. Yet, you know it is what makes this whole journey possible. And, it’s not just saying we believe, it’s living in such a way that proves that we trust you. I believe, I trust you. Thank you for your Word that reminds me and challenges me to live in that faith relationship with you! Amen.

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Seeking pure pleasure.

Reading Time: 3 minutes

So I became greater than all who had lived in Jerusalem before me, and my wisdom never failed me. Anything I wanted, I would take. I denied myself no pleasure. I even found great pleasure in hard work, a reward for all my labors. But as I looked at everything I had worked so hard to accomplish, it was all so meaningless—like chasing the wind. There was nothing really worthwhile anywhere. ‭‭Ecclesiastes‬ ‭2‬:‭9‬-‭11‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Sure, why not? The wealthiest, wisest human on the planet spins the wheel of life and looks for something, anything to satisfy his craving for meaning. No wonder few wander into the book of the teacher. It’s hard to posi-spin his opening volley, “Everything is meaningless,” says the Teacher, “completely meaningless!” It is so much easier to jump to the end when Solomon discovers that God is the only one who makes sense. AFTER you’ve read the whole book, look up Ecclesiastes‬ ‭12‬:‭13‬-‭14‬.

What does the teacher seek right from the start? Pleasure. In his own words he tells us, he has everything he needs to make all his dreams come true, so why shouldn’t he just go for it? He’s the king and can make it happen. Solomon does write a positive thought before kicking off his pursuits, “Let’s look for the ‘good things’ in life.” Here’s some of the things Solomon pleasurely pursued.

▪️“Laughter, then wine,” clutching at foolishness. Nope, he finds no meaning.
▪️“Building huge homes, planting beautiful vineyards, making gardens and parks, filling them with all kinds of fruit trees. Building reservoirs to collect the water to irrigate my many flourishing groves.” Great idea. Did it work? No.
▪️Buying people – ”Buying slaves, both men and women, and others were born into my household. Acquiring large herds and flocks.” Still no meaning.
▪️ “Making great sums of silver and gold, the treasure of many kings and provinces?” No.
▪️ “Hiring wonderful singers, both men and women.” No.
▪️ “Acquiring many beautiful concubines.” No.

Solomon admitted he had everything a man could desire. But did he find what he was looking for? Was he happy, was he satisfied, was his life fulfilling and full of meaning? No! Anyone reading this list might think, “well it didn’t work for Solomon, but it might work for me?” That would be foolishness upon foolishness to not learn from the wisest person in ancient days.

The teacher’s conclusion is that although there were rewards for his labors (building things), it still left him empty. Like he had just chased the wind. His search, his pursuits did not yield what he suspected he would find. Honestly, I think deep down he knew he was looking in the wrong place. The teacher’s search continues for the next ten chapters. It’s all kind of depressing until you get to the end. Still it’s a good read. Isn’t it interesting that Solomon chose to pursue pleasure first? Is that what you would seek if you had all the money, time and power you needed to make it happen? It left him empty. It would leave us empty as well. It is not a worthy pursuit and all who have gained it will tell you, it DID NOT WORK.

Prayer

​Dad,
Before I even had a chance to think about how I would build my own life, you were there to offer me real life and real meaning. For the longest time, money scared me. I saw what little my parents had and how easily my Dad would drink it away. I never wanted the allure of what money could provide, nor did I want the responsibility of understanding how it worked. At forty years old you began to teach me about generosity rather than gain and I’ve been happily allowing you to guide our finances ever since. Thank you! Amen.

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Seeing through eyes of mercy.

Reading Time: 3 minutes

Then Jesus left Galilee and went north to the region of Tyre. He didn’t want anyone to know which house he was staying in, but he couldn’t keep it a secret. Right away a woman who had heard about him came and fell at his feet. Her little girl was possessed by an evil spirit, and she begged him to cast out the demon from her daughter. Since she was a Gentile, born in Syrian Phoenicia, Jesus told her, “First I should feed the children—my own family, the Jews. It isn’t right to take food from the children and throw it to the dogs. Mark‬ ‭7‬:‭24‬-‭27‬ ‭NLT‬‬

In Mark’s gospel, written from Peter’s firsthand, eyewitness accounts, he wants to show the reader the power of Christ. As Jesus reveals more and more about who he is, he also progressively shows more authority. Jesus doesn’t hoard or self consume the power and authority given him. As son of man/son of God, he freely disperses it among the broken, the outlier. And in this case, to a Syrian (Gentile) Woman and her demon possessed little girl.

Jesus breaks through racial and cultural barriers to bring mercy and freedom. Jesus, raised in a typical, but poor family, would have learned all about God’s Laws and God’s ways. But if we look at the common cultural understanding of how young Jewish men and women were instructed, it was very much a separatist mentality. Gentiles (non Jews) are not good people and they should not have any interaction with them. A Jewish male would not culturally be allowed to have any contact with a woman, let alone with one who was a long historical enemy with Assyrian heritage. So either Joseph and Mary instructed Jesus differently (which is completely possible), or Father God had been teaching His own true intentions of rescuing the entire human race – not just the Jews (Isaiah 56:6-7). Either way, Jesus continued to baffle his followers and invite hostile criticism for this kind of cultural faux pas.

If Jesus was so religiously and socially counter-cultural, why do we struggle with being like Him today? I think our heart is desperately wicked (Jeremiah 17:9), but we forget there is both religious (legalism) AND humanistic wickedness. The religious have always despised Jesus’ counterculture ways. And, equally the self-serving humanist despises him as well. Normal, common people, who know they are broken and have need of being saved, have always loved Jesus’ ways. Why? Because they reflect exactly how God sees us. Religion and/or humanism both make us arrogant.

Jesus explains to this Syrian woman that his first priority is to the Jews, the people of God. Jesus, not so subtlety referring to her own people as dogs, wasn’t offensive to her at all. She knew the comparison was true. Folks have tried to soft-pedal this “dog reference” as a beloved pet in the household. That’s nonsense. The enemies of the Jews knew they were like wild dogs and were possibly proud of it! The feelings were mutual between the ethnicities.

The woman, similar to the Samaritan woman at the well, had some comments in response to Jesus’ words. She said, “but even the dogs…”

She calmly kept her cool.
She was smart.
She knew who she was, but she also knew who Jesus was!

She was telling Jesus, “I know our story,” “I know God’s intention is for His own first,” “But I don’t need the full on life of blessing and favor as given to the Jews,” “I just need the scraps, the leftovers.” Her faith saw that even the scraps of mercy from God would be powerful enough to free her daughter. Jesus commented about her faith, saying “your faith is great” (Matthew 15:28). You know the gospels record Jesus being amazed just a couple of times. One, he was amazed at his hometown folk’s “lack of faith” (Mark 6:6). Two, he was amazed at the Roman centurion’s extraordinary understanding of authority and faith (Luke 7:8).

Here in this story, the woman got what she wanted. Jesus complimented her retort, “Good answer!” She received what she came asking for. Jesus told her, “Now go home, for the demon has left your daughter.” Jesus was clearly impressed.

Do we want to know how Jesus really feels about the non-religious, even enemies of God? He shows mercy to whomever he chooses, “I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy” (Exodus 33:19). I believe we can be just as culturally contrarian in how we see people today. Folks can know how we feel about them simply looking at our facial expression! Following the ways of Jesus means we see with eyes of mercy. If we see with eyes of mercy our face will follow!

Prayer

​Dad,
I absolutely know this is how you saw me, and how you see me still – through eyes of mercy. I absolutely love to wake up each morning with fresh, new mercy in my account for the day! “The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness”(Lamentations 3:22-23). I am ever in amazement of your enduring patience and grace. Thank you. Amen.

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Praises in life’s highs and lows.

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Shout with joy to the Lord, all the earth! Worship the Lord with gladness. Come before him, singing with joy. Acknowledge that the Lord is God! He made us, and we are his. We are his people, the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving; go into his courts with praise. Give thanks to him and praise his name. For the Lord is good. His unfailing love continues forever, and his faithfulness continues to each generation. ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭100‬:‭1‬-‭5‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Dedication day, both of the brand new temple and moving the ark of the covenant to its new home, was THE height of everything the nation of Israel wanted. They had the king they comparibly imagined. They had wealth and were winning in their personal lives as well as a high GNP (gross national income). Nations were sending envoys and gifts because they had heard of the wise king Solomon. They were at the pinnacle of success. At this high mark and season in Solomon’s own life he rightly declares just how good God is to them!

Solomon’s words are dripping with praise, ever grateful to God. These moments were absolutely true, real, and genuine. Amidst all their dreams and desires being fulfilled, God was central. May I offer this: It’s rather easy to have high praise for God when everything is going well.

I am not going to turn a very amazing moment of true praise to God into a negative reflection. However, I will point out that those peak, mountaintop experiences cannot last. Psalm 100 is true in the epitomes of fulfillment. And, Psalm 100 is also true in the shadowy depths of disappointment, even disaster. God is God in both and above both experiences.

We ride the waves of emotions and experiences filled with highs and lows – this is the reality, even the wonder and beauty of life as humans! Apparently we love the high heights, the feel-goods and epiphanies of fulfillment so much that we try to stay there, LIVE there. And, although we can experience plenty of those moments, even seasons, we cannot exist solely, permanently, at that spiritual elevation here on earth.

Life is the great adjudication of highs and lows! Yet, surprisingly, thankfully, God exists in, above and beyond this life. And, as God’s creation, we get to find him and praise him in ALL situations. Psalm 100 is the psalm reminding us that it is not only grand moments that should elicit our praise, it is also the lowly ones. God is good in both.

Isaiah captures the height, depth, and width of God’s spectacular perspective. “The high and lofty one who lives in eternity, the Holy One, says this: “I live in the high and holy place with those whose spirits are contrite and humble. I restore the crushed spirit of the humble and revive the courage of those with repentant hearts.” Isaiah 57:15.

Prayer

Dad,
Being above and beyond what I can even imagine from my perspective, gives me a stable, anchored tether within the vast experiences of life. Whether I am living the grand and glorious high of fulfillment, peace of hope or the sad and shadowed low of disappointment, fear or failure. You are my unchanging reality, my rock. And, in both those ultra-wide dispersions of emotion, you are here, with me. You speak joy when I celebrate and peace when I am perplexed. It is my utmost challenge to bring you praise in both my highs and lows. Amen.

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When you know you know.

Reading Time: 3 minutes

And now I am bound by the Spirit to go to Jerusalem. I don’t know what awaits me, except that the Holy Spirit tells me in city after city that jail and suffering lie ahead. But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus—the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God. ‭‭Acts ‭20‬:‭22‬-‭24‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Remember Paul received a very specific call from God to go to Jerusalem (Acts‬ ‭23‬:‭11). But remember that Paul had earlier received a general call to the Gentiles (Acts ‭22‬:‭21). Also, remember that Paul received both general and specific callings under extreme circumstances! His words started a religious riot among the warring religious gangs of the Pharisees and Sadducees.

In these verses above, Paul says he doesn’t exactly know what it will look like. Except he knows there will be prison and suffering involved. All he knows is that he must go and is determined to finish what God had assigned him. What part does pure GRIT play in pursing God’s calling? We know it takes faith! Maybe grit is a synonym for faith?

Speaking of grit, Paul shares with the very wild and talented people in the churches of Corinth his most transparent expression of exasperation! The churches had been listening to fake preachers brag about their pedigrees and their “burden” to spread the manure of a false gospel! Paul writes of his own riotous, quite miraculous journey to fulfill the calling of God. Because, when you know, you know.

Paul writes about prison-time, beatings and left for dead. Five times he received the famous thirty-nine lashing (believing that 40 would kill a man, it was merciful to do 39) from religious leaders behaving as thugs. Three more beatings with rods. He lived after being stoned. He survived three shipwrecks, including a night and day drifting in the open sea. He faced dangers from rivers and from robbers, deserts and seas. He worked tirelessly, hard and long, enduring many sleepless nights. He had been hungry and thirsty and often gone without food. He had shivered in the cold, without enough clothing to keep warm. Then, besides all that, he carried the daily burden of concern for all the churches (‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭11‬:‭23‬-‭28‬).

Doesn’t this sound like a great prep-talk or sermon about the wonderful “calling of the Lord?” Paul wasn’t complaining to the Corinthian community, he was bragging about God’s power, seen through one human life. Paul knew what he knew and with that grit, he did far more than just survive this life on a dark planet – he thrived and flourished! Paul made it to Jerusalem to share the gospel with Caesar himself. God’s blessing, His grace, mercy and protection would not be found in Paul’s fame, money or power. It would be found in a spectacular resilience and strength to accomplish His will.

What is your calling? Don’t be afraid to ask. And don’t be afraid to hear the answer. I am no Paul, but thankfully God has called me. I am called to the broken. I am called to restore hope in those who have been told they are worthless because of what they have done or what others have done to them. I desire to be a hopebroker to the very end!

Prayer

​Dad,
A full third of my life was a struggle! A struggle of value, identity and purpose. You gave me a life that I could not ever of dreamed. It has been above and beyond adventurous along with some adversity. I was and still am determined to fulfill the calling you have given. With the grit of your grace I will be faithful. I know that I know. Thank you. Amen.

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The suburbs of Babylon.

Reading Time: 3 minutes

The Lord gave Jeremiah the prophet this message concerning Babylon and the land of the Babylonians. This is what the Lord says: “Tell the whole world, and keep nothing back. Raise a signal flag to tell everyone that Babylon will fall! Her images and idols will be shattered. Her gods Bel and Marduk will be utterly disgraced. For a nation will attack her from the north and bring such destruction that no one will live there again. Everything will be gone; both people and animals will flee. ‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭50‬:‭1‬-‭3‬ ‭NLT‬‬

God finally tells Jeremiah, God’s spokesperson, it was time to start announcing the end of the 70 year captivity in Babylon. Cheers erupt that Babylon will fall! God tells Jeremiah that the destruction will be so great that “no one will live there again.” Which was true, and oddly it is still true. The ancient city and the attempts at resurrecting a modern city by Saddam Hussein, have both fallen. But mysteriously and spiritually disturbing, the spirit of the city lives on until the end of all things. Babylon shows up in Revelation 😱!

Babylon is the city of the antichrist that has existed since the first anti-God city in history (Gen 11:1–9). God used the world leaders of Babylon to discipline Israel (2 Chronicles 36). And, it will continue to exist until Jesus returns and destroys it (Rev 17:1–19:5). So although the city was sacked and rebuilt several times in ancient times, it is common knowledge that the city is an archetype of evil. Evil that is perverted and pervasive through the entire human experience on the planet! Babylon’s great object lesson is its self-will to BE God.

A place where every leader, every resident has one common unquenchable desire – to be and do whatever they want! Babylon is the personification, the epitome of sin itself. The idols of Babylon are all spiritual, dark, demonic forces all providing “alternatives” to God, but also promising things that only God can provide – fake gods of weather, wealth, power, sex, and even eternal life! So whether they are stone or wooden poles or statues, shiny golden facsimiles of ancestors or enlightened humans – they are all lifeless objects that can do nothing, nor fulfill nothing. These are physical idols that humans worship because their own disorder desires are drawn to anything other than the real God, creator of all things.

So as a representative of all that is fake, unforgiving, dead and worthless – idols play a role in substitutionary fakery still today! And will do so until the very end, when Babylon the great, the “mother of prostitutes and of earth’s abominations,” will find its finality in fire 🔥. You can read about her ending and all who desire to follow after her in Revelation 18.

Ripping off the mask, subterfuge and subtlety of Babylon the “great,” we find the essence of sin and disobedience to God. It is not to difficult for me to look inside my own heart and see glimpses of the cursed city. At times, I see myself and others secretly wishing to live in the suburbs of Babylon. Oh, not the center, nor downtown Babylon, but rather the short drive to the outskirts and edges of the city where fake promises seem to be within reach. Where will I live? The city of self, or the city of God?

Prayer

Dad,
It doesn’t take much to realize that Babylon is far too accessible and alluring even for those who love you and want to be obedient to your will and not our own. It seems that the fancy bright lights, exhilarating sounds and delightful smells of Babylon are seductively powerful. But it is with your grace, mercy and power that is also calling, begging me to come away and be centered on the city of God, the Kingdom of Heaven. I pray that I will resist the suburbia of the fake city and focus on the city designed for me to live abundantly within it. Thank you for your warnings and your Word! Amen.

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Symbols of God’s presence.

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Sing to the one who rides across the ancient heavens, his mighty voice thundering from the sky. Tell everyone about God’s power. His majesty shines down on Israel; his strength is mighty in the heavens. God is awesome in his sanctuary. The God of Israel gives power and strength to his people. Praise be to God! ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭68‬:‭33‬-‭35‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Psalm 68 is a response of celebration for the return of the ark of the covenant. The ark of God, carrying the memory items of miracles long ago: containing the gold jar of manna, Aaron’s staff that had budded, and the stone tablets of the covenant.

The ark of the covenant had a circuitous journey through the years. The Philistines were bold enough to capture the ark but suffered because of it for seven months! 1 Sam. 6:1. It then goes to the house of Abinadab, where it stays for 20 years. This all took place under the leadership of the judges, before Israel had a king. Then king Saul commands Ahijah to bring the ark to the war camp and it secures their victory. David is the next king to move the ark from Abinadab’s house, but in his exuberance, does not instruct those carrying the ark, that God prescribed a very specific way of transporting it. A man named Uzzah, quickly found out that the ark was a normal cargo load and paid for his mistake with his life! Uzzah put out his hand to the ark of God and took hold of it, for the oxen stumbled. The anger of the LORD was kindled against Uzzah, and God struck him down there because of his error, and he died there beside the ark of God. David was angry with God but he was also scared to death to mishandle the ark again. He had it taken to house of Obededom the Gittite, where it stayed for three months. In a complete over-the-top display of careful respect, David had the ark moved to Jerusalem. But he did it with a grand style and exuberant gestures! “When those who bore the ark of the LORD had gone six steps, he sacrificed an ox and a fattened animal – every SIX STEPS! That is extravagant and expensive. Then David danced before the LORD with all his might. And David was wearing a linen ephod. So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the LORD with shouting and with the sound of the horn.”

Psalm 68 captures the words and thoughts of David as he brings the ark to Jerusalem, its last known home before Nebuchadnezzar raided the temple, then later burned it to the ground. After that, the ark disappeared into history. It won’t be seen again until the end of all things where it is mentioned in Revelation 11:19!

Prayer

​Dad,
So much mystery, so much drama and intrigue over the ark of the covenant. I read in Hebrews that these symbols and reminders are simply copies of the real thing store in heaven. That is so cool! There are so many powerful illustrations and object lessons in the Bible. I love it. What a paradox of life itself – some things are hidden to be discovered and some things are plain to be revealed for your purposes. All of it is to tell your story. Thank you for not just allowing us to participate in the human story of redemption, but specifically including us to have a purpose and a role. Amen.

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The timing of when God speaks.

Reading Time: 3 minutes

That night the Lord appeared to Paul and said, “Be encouraged, Paul. Just as you have been a witness to me here in Jerusalem, you must preach the Good News in Rome as well. ‭‭Acts‬ ‭23‬:‭11‬ ‭NLT‬‬

There’s a story in the Old Testament of Elijah waiting to hear from God. The LORD said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the LORD, for the LORD is about to pass by.” 1 Kings 19:11. There was a thrashing wind, an earthquake and a fire, but the Lord was not in any of those. Then came a gentle whisper. It was in this manner God spoke to Elijah. Yet, God doesn’t always speak in whispers either.

Here in Acts, Paul is giving his story, his testimony, to an agitated group of Jewish religious leaders. The crowd, hearing Paul speaking in Aramaic, quietly hung on every word. They listened intently that is until Paul said, But the Lord said to me, ‘Go, for I will send you far away to the Gentiles!’ Acts ‭22‬:‭21. Within moments the crowd turned on him and began rioting. Jews would show their disdain by tossing off their robes and throwing dirt into air – both signs of rejection. Maybe the “dust-bombing” was connected to “shake the dust from your feet,” dismissing Gentiles or Jesus telling his followers to do similar when Jewish towns would reject the message of him being the Messiah. Riots triggered quick responses from the Roman guards because of “pax romana,” or Roman peace. The Roman watch commander dragged Paul away and ordered him whipped for causing the ruckus. Paul smartly asked the officer, ready to beat him, “Is it legal for you to whip a Roman citizen who hasn’t even been tried?” Paul had a legal, natural born Roman citizenship and knew his rights! Even the commander had to “buy” his own “Roman rights.” The next day, the commander called in the religious leaders to get to the real cause of the disturbance.

Within moments the high priest has someone walk up and slap Paul’s face for being sassy, and immediately declaring his innocence, when he said, “I have always lived before God with a clear conscience!” Paul quickly retorted back, “God will slap you, you corrupt whitewashed wall!” He didn’t realize that Ananias was the high priest and apologized for his harsh words.

Paul knew the situation was not good for him, so he brilliantly declared the “real” reason he was on trial, saying, “I am on trial because my hope is in the resurrection of the dead!” He knew the council was filled with both Pharisees and Sadducees. His own tribe believed in the resurrection, the opponents, the Sadducees did not. This started yet another riot! The Roman commander, once again had to pull Paul out of the place lest the religious leaders tear him apart.

That night, back in the Roman holding cell, Paul hears from God. God speaks to Paul amidst the craziness of chaos, debates and riots! God tells Paul his assignment is to get to Rome! Paul would eventually, rightfully and legally plead his case to Caesar himself! The book of acts, written by Luke is likely the notes Paul used to share his testimony to the emperor himself. Paul’s closest companions begged him not to go. And, as we read the 13 letters from Paul to the churches throughout the Roman empire, he was imprisoned almost the entire time. What a story! You never know how, when or where God might speak to you and call you to purpose that He has designed just for you! Be ready, that’s all I advise.

Prayer

​Dad,
We use a popular phrase to help us deal with the extraordinary ways you place a calling on our lives. “You equip those you call.” I believe it. I have lived it and seen it come true in so many lives. It is an honor to hear and obey your voice, your calling. May we continue to recognize that calling in others and encourage each other along the way. Amen.