God, making himself vulnerable
Hosea 14: O Israel, come back! Return to your God!
In his amazing love God calls out to his wayward people. To return to him is to their benefit. Otherwise, itāll take tough love to turn them around and even as these words are spoken a ātornadoā of judgment is coming their way. Thatās a message Iām used to seeing in the prophets. Thereās another message here and even though itās seen in other places, itās especially clear in the book of Hosea. If these sinning people return to God it will be to their benefit, but it will also be to his. As Hoseaās love reached out to his unfaithful wife so does Godās love reach out to a sinning humanity. It seems impossible, but I, as insignificant as I am, have the ability to both hurt and please the Maker of the universe. The reason for that is that he loves me with a love I cannot fully understand. God has allowed himself to be vulnerable in opening his heart to me and to all humanity. Today, the person who’s rejected God; who’s lived as an enemy of his; who, in my opinion, is practically beyond redemption, remains within the reach of Godās love. The Lord wonāt force you to return but he reaches out to you in love even through the words of this little-read devotional.
Take Away: God is the God of Second Chances.
Tag: mercy
Devotional on Jonah
The grace that goes before
Jonah 1: Get rid of me and youāll get rid of the storm.
They make their living on the water but the sailors have never seen a storm like this. This storm, they fearfully conclude, has supernatural power. These sailors have no knowledge of God but when Jonah tells them that the God he serves is the Maker of the sea it scares them to death. Jonah bravely accepts his responsibility in all this and tells them to save themselves by throwing him overboard. These idol worshipping, superstitious, and desperate men wonāt do it. One has to wonder why Jonah needs to be āthrownā at all. He can abandon ship with or without their help. However, Iāll leave that for another day, and focus in on these pagan sailors. Even though Jonah tells them that tossing him into the sea will save their lives, they row all the harder, trying to escape the storm. One of John Wesleyās doctrines is called āprevenient grace.ā The āpreā part of the word is the clue to its meaning. It might be called āthe grace that goes before.ā That is, before I ever think of God heās already working in my life. Human beings are created in Godās image and, even though that image is soiled and stained, it remains. It’s prevenient grace that enables a sinner to show God-like compassion on others. It’s prevenient grace that enables us to respond to Godās love as he offers us a relationship with himself. In this case, we see prevenient grace at work in the lives of these heathen sailors who risk their own lives in an attempt to save a person who confesses that their predicament is his fault.
Take Away: Before we ever think of the Lord heās already working in our lives.
Devotional on Jonah
The God of whatever happens
Jonah 3: God…did change his mind about them.
What an interesting statement! God intends to do one thing, but then, in response to what they do, he changes his mind and does something else. This view of God challenges our thinking about who he is and how he works in this world. The Lord’s willing to be influenced by what we say and do. Of course, in this case, this is what he wanted to have happen. Had God only wanted to destroy them we’d have no story of Jonah and the big fish. Instead, we’d have another Sodom and Gomorrah story about fire and brimstone wiping out a sinful city. The reluctant prophet is sent on this mission exactly because God wants their lives to change. This is a classic Old Testament prophet situation. The prophet says, āIf you do this, God’s going to do that…if you do that, God’s going to do this.ā The Lordās message to Nineveh is that, because of their sin, destruction is coming. However, even though it’s unspoken, they’re also being given a choice. If sin is bringing destruction, repentance will bring life. When the people of Nineveh make the right choice God is happy to change his mind. This kind of thinking opens up all kinds of possibilities for us. When I pray, asking for Godās intervention in some matter, Iām not just going through a spiritual discipline. Rather, Iām actually being allowed to influence God! My standing in this world is much more than my traveling some predetermined path to some predetermined conclusion. Iām a partner with God who’s allowing me to work with him in changing the world. Hereās a view of a God who’s never at a loss; who always knows what he’ll do in response to what I do of my own free will. Such a view doesnāt make God less. Instead, it makes him more. He’s God whatever happens.
Take Away: As his people weāre partners with the Lord who allows us to work with him in changing the world.
Devotional on Jonah
Godās man isnāt much like God
Jonah 4: Jonah was furious.
The heart of the book of Jonah isnāt the first part with the oft-repeated big fish story. Instead, itās the last part. Itās here that we find the motor that drives the story. When the reluctant prophet gives in and goes to Nineveh he does so in fear, not that he’ll fail, but that he’ll succeed. Jonah is nationalistic to the core and heād like nothing better than for the capital city of Israelās enemy, Assyria, to be destroyed. Still, with all his failings, Jonah knows a thing or two about God. The priests and other religious leaders of his country may promote a doctrine of Israel having a corner on the Almighty, but Jonah understands that God has compassion on all people. Israel may be the chosen people but that means God wants to use them to bless all the nations on earth, not that God loves them and hates all others. When Jonah runs from God, refusing to go to Nineveh he does so because he understands these things. He understands them, but he doesnāt agree with them. Now that his mission to Nineveh is a success Jonah’s angry with the Lord, not only for sparing his enemies when they repent, but for using him to bring it to pass. In spite of his unique understanding of God, Jonah isnāt much like God at all.
Take Away: God is love.
Devotional on Jonah
Why Jonah Runs
Jonah 4: I knew you were sheer grace and mercy.
Jonah runs because he understands what God’s all about and because his heart doesnāt beat with Godās heart. He knows that in spite of the message of condemnation and destruction the Lord gives him to preach that the very reason heās sent to Nineveh is that God doesnāt want to destroy that city at all. Here are the things Jonah knows about God: his attitude toward lost people is one of grace; he delights in being merciful, he’s not easily angered; and he’s rich in love toward the lost. Jonah also knows that when it comes to judgment God always stands ready to change his mind. Since Jonah knows these things about God and since he’s so out of sync with God, heād rather be dead than be instrumental in Godās extending mercy to his enemies. Also, Jonah knows that many of his countrymen agree with him. Once people find out that Jonah went to Nineveh to warn them and that heās instrumental in Godās deciding not to destroy them his life wonāt be worth a plug nickel. Itās a miserable thing to be filled with hate and to be used as an instrument of Godās love. I see here that God loves the lost to the point that he’ll do almost anything to reach them. If he has to use a hard-hearted prophet and a big fish to do it, then thatās what heāll do. If Iām going to be a partner with God in what heās doing in this world, Iām going to have to allow him to love people with that kind of abandon through me.
Take Away: The Lord loves the lost to the point that he’ll do almost anything to reach them.
Devotional on Micah
Yes, thatās good enough for me!
Micah 7: Youāll sink our sins to the bottom of the ocean.
āGone, gone, gone, gone, yes my sins are gone…buried in the deepest sea, yes, thatās good enough for me.ā You have to have been around the church awhile to recognize the words to the childrenās chorus I sang back in the āgood old days.ā At the time, if I thought about such things at all, I got the message of the song: when God forgives my sins, they are āgone, gone, gone.ā However, the mercy being described here isnāt childlike at all. Micah talks to adults who are committing adult-level sins. The result of those sins will be not a slap on the wrist, but national destruction with pain and death everywhere. It doesnāt have to be that way. Micah tells his people that mercy is a specialty of God and that the Lord much prefers granting mercy and forgetting sins to destroying those who live in rebellion against him. Micah assures his listeners that the Lord anxiously waits to forgive and forget; to show mercy and compassion on them. I sang the chorus as a child but as an adult I realize what an amazing offer it is. Thereās hope for a new start with God in this passage: āpraise God, my sins are gone!ā
Take Away: Mercy is a specialty of the Lord.
Devotional on Nahum
The God of grace
Nahum 1: He recognizes and welcomes anyone looking for help.
Even as the prophet prepares to deliver his sermon of condemnation on the mighty nation of Assyria he canāt help but rejoice in the grace and mercy of God. This same God who declares his judgment on those who reject his claim on their lives has nothing but good news for those who turn to him for help. In fact, the Lord is drawn to such people. I love the fact that even in these portions of the Old Testament that appear to be focused on God as Judge of the World that there are these beautiful word pictures of him as the God of Grace. Nahum declares that āno matter how desperate the troubleā that God is more than willing to ārecognize and welcomeā all who come to him. In an uncertain world I need such a Savior. Iām reminded in this passage that I donāt have to come to God and convince him that Iām worthy of his help in my life. Instead, I see that he stands ready to extend his mercy to me. In the parable of the prodigal son, the returning son expects to have to make concessions, to take a lowly role if he wants to, once again, have a place in the Fatherās household. Instead, the Father runs to him, embraces him, and immediately begins celebrating his return. Hundreds of years before Jesus ever tells this story, Nahum understands this about God, declaring, āHe recognizes and welcomes anyone looking for help.ā
Take Away: The Lord stands ready to extend his mercy to us.
Devotional on Matthew
The sweetest invitation
Matthew 11: Come to me.
Thereās no sweeter invitation than what we hear from the Lord: āCome to me.ā This invitation is directed to people who are weary and beaten down by life. Itās for people whoāve tried to find satisfaction in sometimes self-destructive ways and, in the end, realize that all they have is a handful of sand. Specifically, this invitation is for people whoāve tried religion and been hurt, maybe even abused, there. To all who are hurting, disappointed, tired, and empty Jesus says, āCome to me.ā Itās not about church rituals and rules; although such things have been found by many to be helpful. Itās not about turning over a new leaf, making a New Yearās resolution, or simply trying harder; although thereās room here for self-improvement. Beyond all that, though, is Jesus. I respond to his sweet invitation by giving up my own claims to righteousness and reordering all other relationships to something less than number one. In response to this invitation to ācomeā I turn my attention to Jesus and lay all else, including myself, at his feet. From that point on, I walk with him and learn from him, how to really live.
Take Away: Jesus is the only one who can truly make this offer, and he does make it to all who will come.
Devotional on Matthew
The way to forgiveness
Matthew 12: If Satan banishes Satan is there any Satan left?
Itās really about the Sabbath. The religious leaders have taken āRemember the Sabbath dayā and turned it into a heavy burden laid on the backs of the people. Even picking a piece of fruit to eat is considered to be a transgression. Jesus responds with examples from their own law and history proving that theyāre wrong. He goes on healing people, even on the Sabbath. When a demon-afflicted woman is set free the critics of Jesus sputter that he must be in cahoots with the devil. Our Lord responds that if they say that about him what do they say about their own exorcists? Beyond that, itās a silly contention anyway. If Satan casts out Satan there wouldnāt be anything of Satan left. He then deals with the opposite side of the same coin. If the Holy Spirit is the One who forgives sins and we cast the Holy Spirit out of lives, how can we ever expect to be forgiven our sins? Its serious business isnāt it. Weāre sinners in need of forgiveness. Thereās one who forgives. Throw him out and weāre left without hope. Stated differently, thereās one road to forgiveness, if I refuse to travel that road, thereās no way I can ever arrive at forgiveness. The way to God is abundant and grace-filled, offering hope to the worst sinner. Still, itās the only way. I can take it or leave it, but if I leave it, Iām left with nothing.
Take Away: We have, in Christ, hope abundant, but aside from Christ we have no hope at all.
Devotional on Matthew
Really, itās Godās business and not mine
Matthew 20: Canāt I do what I want with my own money?
Jesus tells the story of a man who hires day laborers. Early in the morning he hires a group, promising them a certain wage. As the day goes on, he continues to add workers with some only working the last hour of the day. When the workers are paid, all receive the amount promised the workers who first hired on and have worked all day long. Some of them complain that since they worked longer and harder that they should be paid more. The answer is that theyāre being paid exactly what was agreed when they were hired and itās no business of theirs what the boss does with his own money. This, I think, is a picture of Godās grace to us. I understand that no one is deserving of Godās blessings, but obviously, some are more deserving than others. However, the Lord wants to bless each and every one. At the Judgment there will be some who gave their lives to Jesus while they were young and then served the Lord many years. Others will be there who barely made it in, maybe due to a death bed conversion. The grace of God will be extended to all who were willing to receive it. After all, itās his grace and he can do with it whatever he wants.
Take Away: The very definition of grace includes the concept that itās given to the undeserving.
Devotional on Matthew
Letting the Pharisees have it
Matthew 23: They talk a good line, but they donāt live it.
This is the chapter in which Jesus nails the Pharisees. In line after line he pronounces judgment on them. They, who know more about the Laws of the Old Testament than anyone else, have strained all the grace and mercy out of it, leaving only a brittle, unyielding, damning crust. They load people down with all that while stripping away the very essence of God. Rather than pointing the way to a living relationship with a good, loving, and gracious God they point to rules and regulations and assured failure and doom. To say it gently, Jesus thinks these rule-making, burden-loading, grace-denying individuals are bad people. We Christians need to pay careful attention to this. We understand that living in the Lord means that we abstain from some things and pursue others. However, if that approach becomes the dominant one; if keeping all the rules becomes the definition of who we are in God; if we come to believe that āknowing aboutā God is our primary calling, then weāve taken a dangerous step toward the religion of the Pharisees. In contrast to that brittle religion our Lord pictures Godās desire for people as being like that of the mother hen who extends her embrace to her chicks. If we lose sight of that and make the āhard sideā the main element of our relationship with the Lord we have more in common with the Pharisees than we might want to think.
Take Away: Christianity is more about love and grace and mercy than it is about knowing all the right things and keeping a list of rules.
Devotional on Acts
My appeal
Acts 25: I appeal to Caesar
Paul has been confined in Caesarea for two years as Governor Felix ignores his innocence and hopes for some kind of bribe that never comes. It isnāt that Paul is chained in a dungeon; in fact, heās invited to chat with Felix several times. Then, a new Governor is appointed. Festus is immediately approached by Paulās enemies who want him moved to Jerusalem, supposedly to stand trial in their courts, but actually that he might be removed from Roman protection and murdered. The new Governor knows the kind of people heās dealing with and, instead, invites them to come to Caesarea and make their case there. In less than two weeks, Paul finds himself being wildly accused once again, this time before Festus. When this new Governor wavers and asks Paul if heās willing to face these people (who obviously canāt wait to get their hands on him) he surprises everyone by playing the trump card available to a Roman citizen: he requests that his case be heard by Caesar, himself. This takes the Jews of Jerusalem out of play and places Paul under the scrutiny of the Emperor. In this case, Caesar isnāt an especially nice guy and he certainly isnāt known for his mercy. From Paulās point of view, though, itās better to take his chances with Caesar than face certain death from the Jewish leadership. Iām glad today that when I face the accusations of my failure, guilt, and sin that, rather than face the consequences, that I can appeal to a Higher Court. This Court is known for its grace and mercy. This is a place where love and forgiveness abounds. As my life is on the line and my sin moves to condemn me, I appeal to God, not for justice, but for mercy.
Take Away: Its mercy I need from God and its mercy I receive.
Devotional on Titus
Life in the middle
Titus 3: Stay away from mindless, pointless quarreling over genealogies and fine print about the law code.
Since Paul’s somewhat critical of the average resident of Crete I assume that his warning to Titus here isnāt based on some natural tendency of Titus to get caught up in trivial matters. It seems to me that Paul thinks that the people of that island do share this tendency and if he isnāt careful Titus will get bound up in it too. Paul wants Titus, and all believers, to focus on the big picture. The Lord has graciously and in mercy reached out to us in our sinful state to establish us in a new relationship with him. He stepped into this world and knowing full well that we donāt deserve it, loved us anyway and went to work transforming our lives. Now, weāre made new, cleaned up by Jesus, recipients of Godās gift of himself to us. These are the things weāre to think and tell about. Weāre to let others, outsiders, have the corner on worrying about the minutia of the law. Theyāre welcome to it. After all, if such things provide salvation, the Pharisees and Sadducees would have been Jesusā best friends. Paul tells Titus to āput his foot downā and insist that the business of the Church is declaring Jesus and to provide evidence of what he does in peopleās lives by being ābighearted and courteous,ā law-abiding citizens. On one side of us are those who are āordered every which way by their glands.ā On the other side are those who focus on debating the finer points of the Law. Here in the middle, we just live for Jesus, telling our story to all who will listen.
Take Away: Itās easy to major on the minors ā but to do so is to fail to live the life to which the Lord calls us.
Devotional on Hebrews
A different kind of āstreet serviceā
Hebrews 13: God takes particular pleasure in acts of worshipā¦that take place in kitchen and workplace and on the streets.
Weāre not sure who is the writer of Hebrews, but this chapter (and not just the Timothy, Italy, and prison references) feels a whole lot like Paulās writings. As he closes the letter, as Paul does, the writer tosses in a lot of one line instructions. As a reader, what I get out of a chapter like this depends a lot on whatās happening in my life right now. Tomorrow I might read it again and have a different āone-linerā jump out at me. Anyway, the instruction to take our faith out of the church and into the streets stands out to me. Christians are to be generous people who not only respond to needs when weāre confronted with them, but who actively go out and seek those in need that we might minister to them in Christās name. I tend to think of āworshipā as what takes place on Sunday mornings inside the church building. In this passage Iām reminded that God really likes it when I make my āsacrificesā (an Old Testament style of worship) outside the church building and into my everyday life; at home, at work, and out in the general public. In-church worship is important, a vital part of living in Christ. Out-of-church worship is just as important as I take Jesus in practical ways to those āout there.ā
Take Away: Worship inside the church and service outside the church are both vital parts of Christianity.
Devotional on Genesis
Mercyās Mark
Genesis 3: God put a mark on Cain to protect him.
The murderer has been confronted and has confessed. The sentence is banishment to a hostile world. From now on heāll be an outsider, apart from the family (itās not a nation yet) God claims as his own. Cain is crushed by this sentence and already feels the icy grip of loneliness on his life. Not only that, but he knows heās getting off with a sentence lighter than he deserves. He senses that the proper penalty for murder is death. In addition, he realizes that other people know it too. God may be banishing him, but he imagines other men hunting him down and taking his life that justice might be done. What the Lord does in response is, at the same time, one of the great mysteries of the Bible and also one of many great acts of mercy. Cain’s marked in some way that says to all he encounters āThis man is under Godās protection, leave him alone.ā I have no idea of what that mark is, in fact, I canāt imagine how it works. However, I do know it’s a mark of mercy and I have a very good idea of what mercy looks like. It looks like the Lord forgiving me of my sins rather than condemning me as I deserve. It looks like hope instead of fear. It looks like Jesus on the cross of Calvary.
Take away: Thank God for the āmark of mercy!ā
Devotional on Genesis
Godās promise
Genesis 8: I’ll never again kill off everything living as I’ve just done.
The flood abates and Noah, his family, and the animals depart the ark. Life on earth gets a fresh start. Godās promise that this will never be repeated is intended to be a source of comfort to us when disasters come our way. God caused the flood with the express purpose of purging the earth. The deaths are his doing, according to his plan. Now, the Giver of Life certainly has the authority to be the Taker of Life, so I have no argument at this point. However, the Almighty knows that unless he assures us otherwise every major disaster will cause people to fearfully look to heaven, wondering if this is the beginning of another purge. After all, itās not as though we donāt deserve whatever God sends our way. In mercy the Lord promises that the Flood is a once-in-history event that will never be repeated. Because of this promise, we understand that other big disasters are simply the result of living in a world where bad things sometimes happen. The Lord doesnāt want human beings fearing that this is āanother end of the worldā in the face of every hurricane or volcano eruption or earthquake. Instead, he wants us to live in fellowship with him, trusting him to be with us even in the disasters of life.
Take away: Donāt treat every unwelcome event with a fresh round of self-doubt.
Devotional on Leviticus
The Day of Atonement
Leviticus 16: In the presence of God you will be made clean of all your sins.
Built into the Law given in Leviticus is a special annual event called the Day of Atonement. Both priests and people are to prepare themselves for this event by fasting. The High Priest is to follow a precise ritual and on this day only he is to enter the most sacred part of the Tabernacle, the Holy of Holies. Here, in the Presence of the Lord his, and the sins of the whole nation, will be cleansed. Once this is done a great celebration of thanksgiving takes place. I find it interesting that after all the sin offerings with all the shed blood that there remains the need for a specific encounter with the Almighty for their sins to be wiped out. In this I see that, in the end, these ancient Israelites rely, as I do, on the grace and mercy of God. As this High Priest in his colorful and strange garb prepares to enter the most holy place on the face of the earth, I think of my own approach to the Throne of God. When the Priest comes in humility the result is cleansing from sin. Itās also that way for you and me. We approach the throne humbly but in expectation of receiving grace, mercy, forgiveness, and cleansing. Itās only in the presence of God that we are made clean of all our sins.
Take Away: When all else is said and done, we rely on Godās grace and mercy.
Devotional on Leviticus
The God of Second Chances
Leviticus 26: On the other hand, if they confess their sinsā¦Iāll remember my covenantā¦.
I canāt imagine anyone enjoying the middle portion of Leviticus 26. Itās the ācurseā part of the chapter in which God lists all that will happen if they break their promises to God. Like anyone else, I enjoy the āblessingā section and can happily skip the ācursingā part. However, thereās more to the chapter than those two elements. The final section is about Godās faithfulness. You might say that itās the best part of all. God says that even if they utterly fail and if the entire ācurseā comes to passā¦even then, heāll be just a prayer away. These words are all about grace and mercy and faithfulness. In this the Lord opens his heart to us. When it all falls apart because of sin the Lord waits to reestablish the covenant relationship with them. Hereās a clear view of the Lord as the God of Second Chances. Thereās unbelievable power in the words, āIāll remember.ā In spite of failure, in spite of the feeling of a people being utterly rejected ā in spite of it all, God remembers. Iām thankful, so thankful, that I serve the God of Second Chances.
Take Away: We all need this God of Second Chances in our lives.
Devotional on Deuteronomy
Thereās a remedy
Deuteronomy 4: If you seek Godā¦you’ll be able to find him if you’re serious, looking for him with your whole heart and soul.
Again, Moses is no stranger to spiritual failure. As the leader of this people heās seen repeated failure. Even as he warns them against trifling with God, even as he cautions them about having wandering hearts — even then, he knows that they’ll mess up again. The thing is, not only is Moses familiar with spiritual failure, heās also familiar with God’s grace. Time after time heās seen God reach out to these people in mercy, love, and forgiveness. In this, Moses has learned some important things about the God who called to him from the burning bush decades earlier. He tells them, “Before anything else, God is a compassionate God.” Even if his warnings to these people go unheeded, God’s character will be unchanged. People, even people who have miserably failed, who seek God whole-heartedly, find God. Thereās so much hope here that it takes our breath away. Thereās a remedy for spiritual failure. Thereās hope for the fallen. Thereās a God of Second Chances and if we seek him with all our hearts weāll find himā¦and in finding him weāll find hope and restoration.
Take Away: God is the God of Second Chances.
Devotional on Deuteronomy
Live long and prosper
Deuteronomy 4: Obediently live by his rules and commands which I’m giving you today so that you’ll live well and your children after you.
So how does it work? Is it that God has given me these rules and regulations and will pay me back with blessings if I keep them? I don’t think so. God doesn’t lay down arbitrary rules just for the purpose of keeping me in line and he doesnāt treat me like a little child whoās rewarded with a stick of candy if Iām good. His purposes for me are filled with grace and mercy. If God says, “Don’t” I can be sure that itās for my benefit and not his. My Creator, who knows me better than I know myself says, “When I created you I hardwired some very specific things about you. If you want your life to function at its best, hereās how youāre to live.” Following these guidelines doesn’t mean life will be trouble free (after all, thereās that ugly business of the fall in the opening pages of my Bible) but it does mean that Iāll live the best, most satisfying and fulfilled life possible. Not only that, but by living according to God’s plan, Iāll be teaching my children the best way to live. The result will be that my kids will be more likely to adopt my approach to living in a relationship with God and their lives will also be better lived.
Take Away: When I live Godās way, not only is my life better, but I also influence my children to live for God, resulting in their lives also being better.