Daniel is one of the few individuals in Scripture about whom nothing negative is ever written. How did he live a life of such conviction and courage? What was the secret that enabled him to please and glorify God so consistantly?
A number of answers could be given, but consider this. Time and again, Daniel is revealed to be a man who prayed faithfully. You'l find his key prayers in 2:17-23; 6:10-11; and 9:1-3.
No matter what circumstances he faced- and he faced some very treacherous ones- no matter how busy his schedule was, he found time to commune with God through prayer. As a matter of fact, the awesome revelations of chapters 10-12 were given to Daniel by God as a direct answer to his prayers (10:10-12)
We can gain much insight into the lives of the prophets of God. Certainly, they were uniquely chosen by God for a unique task. And yet their lives were set apart for that purpose through their heartfelt devotion to God- a devotion that was fueled by fervent prayer.
While the page is not quite fully set up, you may view the Prayer Group page. As this blog grows in readers, my hope is that people will pray for each other by using this page as a guide to pray for specific needs.
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Fuzzy Glasses 1 Corinthians 13:12
"For now we see indistinctly, as in a mirror, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I will know fully, as I am fully known." (1 Corinthinans 13:12)
In the imperfect polished metal mirrors of Paul's day, one could see only a fuzzy reflection. The apostle notes that, in contrast to seeing God clearly in heaven, we can see Him only indirectly while we are on earth.
But the promise remains that someday, we will know the Lord as fully as a finite human can know an infinite Being. As you talk with Him in prayer today, thank Him for this glorious promise.
In the imperfect polished metal mirrors of Paul's day, one could see only a fuzzy reflection. The apostle notes that, in contrast to seeing God clearly in heaven, we can see Him only indirectly while we are on earth.
But the promise remains that someday, we will know the Lord as fully as a finite human can know an infinite Being. As you talk with Him in prayer today, thank Him for this glorious promise.
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
Written On Their Hearts
In your reading yesterday you caught a glimpse of the new covenant in Jeremiah 31:31-34- the high point of Jeremiah's prophecies. In those verses God reveals His heart for His people Israel. And there He makes three primary declarations about His new covenant with them:
1. He will put His law in His people's minds. His law will be internal rather than external. Rather than on stones, He will write His law on their hearts so that it impacts their very lives from within. God's new covenant would give His people the inner ability to obey His standards of righteousness and thereby enjoy His blessings. The prophet Ezekiel explains that this would result from God's gift of the Holy Spirit in the lives of the believers (Ezekiel 36:24-32). So, under the new covenant, God the Holy Spirit would actually dwell within each believer (see Joel 2:28-32).
2. He said, I "will be their God, and they shall be my people." That simply continues the relationship with them that He had already established. In other words, the new covenant wasn't meant to replace the old, but to fulfill it.
3. He will forgive His people's sins. Because Israel had sinned, they received God's curse. But as a part of the new covenant, God will "forgive and forget." How can a holy God ignore sin? He can't. But it's not that the sin is overlooked, it's that it is paid for by a Substitute... whom we know to be Jesus Christ.
As He shared a final meal with His disciples, Jesus took the cup and invited them to drink from it, saying, "This is my blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins." The cup represents the blood of Jesus, which in turn represents His atoning gift, His poured-out life, His substitutionary death.
As you read Matthew 26:17-30, thank God in prayer for His commitment to you through the new covenant, and for the atoning death of Christ which made it all possible for you to enjoy eternal life with Him.
God has made an unshakable, unbreakable covenant with his people. What commitments have you made with Him?
Compose a list of life goals you want to accomplish in God's power- goals for spiritual disciplines, witnessing, Bible study, teaching, whatever they may be.
Remember, God deserves no less than your best. After all, that's what He gave you.
1. He will put His law in His people's minds. His law will be internal rather than external. Rather than on stones, He will write His law on their hearts so that it impacts their very lives from within. God's new covenant would give His people the inner ability to obey His standards of righteousness and thereby enjoy His blessings. The prophet Ezekiel explains that this would result from God's gift of the Holy Spirit in the lives of the believers (Ezekiel 36:24-32). So, under the new covenant, God the Holy Spirit would actually dwell within each believer (see Joel 2:28-32).
2. He said, I "will be their God, and they shall be my people." That simply continues the relationship with them that He had already established. In other words, the new covenant wasn't meant to replace the old, but to fulfill it.
3. He will forgive His people's sins. Because Israel had sinned, they received God's curse. But as a part of the new covenant, God will "forgive and forget." How can a holy God ignore sin? He can't. But it's not that the sin is overlooked, it's that it is paid for by a Substitute... whom we know to be Jesus Christ.
As He shared a final meal with His disciples, Jesus took the cup and invited them to drink from it, saying, "This is my blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins." The cup represents the blood of Jesus, which in turn represents His atoning gift, His poured-out life, His substitutionary death.
As you read Matthew 26:17-30, thank God in prayer for His commitment to you through the new covenant, and for the atoning death of Christ which made it all possible for you to enjoy eternal life with Him.
God has made an unshakable, unbreakable covenant with his people. What commitments have you made with Him?
Compose a list of life goals you want to accomplish in God's power- goals for spiritual disciplines, witnessing, Bible study, teaching, whatever they may be.
Remember, God deserves no less than your best. After all, that's what He gave you.
Monday, August 8, 2011
Consolation From Jeremiah (Jeremiah 30-33)
God's promise of restoration begins a section describing both the worst of horrors (the time of Jacob's trouble) and the best of blessings (God's new covenant with Israel). God Pledges to reestablish the nation after it has been purified by the discipline of exile. As a sign of His promise, He orders Jeremiah to purchase a field that would soon belong to the conquering Babylonians. As surely as day follows night, that land would one day become part of the restored nation to be ruled by the Righteous Branch, David's messianic descendant.
Imagine this: your five year old has just popped the question "Daddy, Mommy, what is God like?" Write down the first ten words that come to your mind. (Even if you don't have a five year old, the exercise will do you good!)
If you had trouble describing God in simple terms even a child could understand, today's passage might help you. Few passages of Scripture present such a complete picture of God. Here you can find the God who hates sin and judges it (30:12-15), yet loves and forgives the sinner (30:18-22). You see the God of wrath(30:23-24) and the God of love (31:1-9). Above all you find portrayed the saving God who regathers His scattered flock (31:10-22) and establishes with them a new covenant (31:23-34)- a promise that rests on the sure guarantee of His sovereign power (31:35-37; 33:19-22).
Now go back and change your initial answer to the question, "What is God like?" Using Jeremiah's thoughts to help, can you express your answer in terms both simple and scriptural? Better still, find a five year old to try your answer on!
Imagine this: your five year old has just popped the question "Daddy, Mommy, what is God like?" Write down the first ten words that come to your mind. (Even if you don't have a five year old, the exercise will do you good!)
If you had trouble describing God in simple terms even a child could understand, today's passage might help you. Few passages of Scripture present such a complete picture of God. Here you can find the God who hates sin and judges it (30:12-15), yet loves and forgives the sinner (30:18-22). You see the God of wrath(30:23-24) and the God of love (31:1-9). Above all you find portrayed the saving God who regathers His scattered flock (31:10-22) and establishes with them a new covenant (31:23-34)- a promise that rests on the sure guarantee of His sovereign power (31:35-37; 33:19-22).
Now go back and change your initial answer to the question, "What is God like?" Using Jeremiah's thoughts to help, can you express your answer in terms both simple and scriptural? Better still, find a five year old to try your answer on!
Thursday, August 4, 2011
Broken Covenant Jeremiah 11-15
God instructs Jeremiah to take a linen girdle (a tight fitting belt or sash) and bury it by the Euphrates River. Later he is told to dig it up again. The result is predictable: one ruined girdle, unit to wear any longer. And the parallel is painfully clear. Selected by God for a place of intimate fellowship (just like the girdle), Judah would now be cast away in judgement for her corruption.
Moses, the servant of God and Samuel, the first prophet in Israel. What do these two great men have in common?
The answer may shock and disturb you. God declared that their combined prayers would not be suffiecient to avert the disaster soon to come upon rebellious Judah (15:1)
There is time to pray... to repent...to come to God on your knees. But there is coming a day when it will be too late to avoid Him, to acknowledge your need or sidestep the issue. Today many people may be praying for you: your spouse, children, parents, friends, minister. And you may choose to scoff at those prayers. But the alternative to getting right with God is getting left- waking up to a day in which even Moses and Samuel could not move God in prayer on your behalf.
Isaiah 55:6 states, "Seek ... the Lord while he may be found." And when you obey that command, you'll find a wonderful promise waiting on you in Hebrews 11:6!
For Fun-
Jeremiah was known for his visual representations for prophecy. The rotten girdle was just the first in a series of ten. Can you identify all 10? I'll give the answer in the next series in Jeremiah 16-20.
Moses, the servant of God and Samuel, the first prophet in Israel. What do these two great men have in common?
The answer may shock and disturb you. God declared that their combined prayers would not be suffiecient to avert the disaster soon to come upon rebellious Judah (15:1)
There is time to pray... to repent...to come to God on your knees. But there is coming a day when it will be too late to avoid Him, to acknowledge your need or sidestep the issue. Today many people may be praying for you: your spouse, children, parents, friends, minister. And you may choose to scoff at those prayers. But the alternative to getting right with God is getting left- waking up to a day in which even Moses and Samuel could not move God in prayer on your behalf.
Isaiah 55:6 states, "Seek ... the Lord while he may be found." And when you obey that command, you'll find a wonderful promise waiting on you in Hebrews 11:6!
For Fun-
Jeremiah was known for his visual representations for prophecy. The rotten girdle was just the first in a series of ten. Can you identify all 10? I'll give the answer in the next series in Jeremiah 16-20.
Monday, August 1, 2011
Tolerance and Idolatry
Today's Passage: Jeremiah 1-3
Key Focus: 1; 2:13-19
When I study the Prophets I usually think of these passages as warnings that are applicable to us in the present. God always sent a prophet or messenger to His people when they were being disobedient. Are we being disobediant today?
In this passage Jeremiah was called to announce Judah's condemnation. They were about to be given over to the Babylonians for being "Indifferent" and for their "Idolatrous" ways. I'm sure that many of you took a science course in your life at one time or another. Remember when the teacher poured water on a pile of sand? What happened? Right! The sand began to crumble. It was a study in weathering and erosion. Weathering is the process of breaking down rock. Erosion is the carrying away of these particles. These are a great lesson in the Christian walk. When we look at something that we know dishonors God it begins to weather our hearts and eventually it begins to erode and we are carried away. In other words, we become tolerant. Ever hear this word being used today? I think people have weathered and eroded hearts as I see bumper stickers that read "COEXIST" using different religious symbols. In the news you hear of "hate crimes" against different religions. Or, people that say "How dare they push Christianity on us!"
This passage can even be applied to our personal lives. How are we tolerant in our relationships? Our business practices? Although erosion is slow and we can ignore it for a while, we can't escape its destructive power. Here in Texas, every homeowner MUST water the foundation. Especially during the hot summer months. If ignored the foundation will crack and slide and cause more damage to the rest of the house. A simple regular watering prevents this from happening.
Jeremiah's warning to Judah was simply this; Get ready for Judgement (Chapt. 1), Remember where you came from (Chapt. 2), and Return to the Lord (Chapt. 3)
Are you toying with defection or defilement in your Christian life, confident that God's patience will last? Then hear what God says by reading the penetrating reminder in Exodus 34:6-7.
To err is human, but when the eraser wears out ahead of the pencil, you're overdoing it.
For more reading on Jeremiah
Key Focus: 1; 2:13-19
When I study the Prophets I usually think of these passages as warnings that are applicable to us in the present. God always sent a prophet or messenger to His people when they were being disobedient. Are we being disobediant today?
In this passage Jeremiah was called to announce Judah's condemnation. They were about to be given over to the Babylonians for being "Indifferent" and for their "Idolatrous" ways. I'm sure that many of you took a science course in your life at one time or another. Remember when the teacher poured water on a pile of sand? What happened? Right! The sand began to crumble. It was a study in weathering and erosion. Weathering is the process of breaking down rock. Erosion is the carrying away of these particles. These are a great lesson in the Christian walk. When we look at something that we know dishonors God it begins to weather our hearts and eventually it begins to erode and we are carried away. In other words, we become tolerant. Ever hear this word being used today? I think people have weathered and eroded hearts as I see bumper stickers that read "COEXIST" using different religious symbols. In the news you hear of "hate crimes" against different religions. Or, people that say "How dare they push Christianity on us!"
This passage can even be applied to our personal lives. How are we tolerant in our relationships? Our business practices? Although erosion is slow and we can ignore it for a while, we can't escape its destructive power. Here in Texas, every homeowner MUST water the foundation. Especially during the hot summer months. If ignored the foundation will crack and slide and cause more damage to the rest of the house. A simple regular watering prevents this from happening.
Jeremiah's warning to Judah was simply this; Get ready for Judgement (Chapt. 1), Remember where you came from (Chapt. 2), and Return to the Lord (Chapt. 3)
Are you toying with defection or defilement in your Christian life, confident that God's patience will last? Then hear what God says by reading the penetrating reminder in Exodus 34:6-7.
To err is human, but when the eraser wears out ahead of the pencil, you're overdoing it.
For more reading on Jeremiah
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