Call God, "Father", "Daddy". Jeremiah 2-3; Matthew 4

May the mumbling commence!

Jesus told his followers to call God, “Father”… “Daddy”.  Could this passage from Jeremiah chapter three have been part of the inspiration for that?  Read it below:

"Return home, you wayward children," says the Lord, "for I am your husband. I will bring you again to the land of Israel – one from here and two from there, from wherever you are scattered.  And I will give you leaders after my own heart, who will guide you with knowledge and understanding. 

And when your land is once more filled with people," says the Lord, "you will no longer wish for 'the good old days' when you possessed the Ark of the Lord's covenant. Those days will not be missed or even thought about, and there will be no need to rebuild the Ark.  In that day Jerusalem will be known as The Throne of the Lord. All nations will come there to honor the Lord. They will no longer stubbornly follow their own evil desires.  In those days the people of Judah and Israel will return together from exile in the north. They will return to the land I gave their ancestors as an inheritance forever. 

I thought to myself, 'I would love to treat you as my own children!' I wanted nothing more than to give you this beautiful land – the finest inheritance in the world. I looked forward to your calling me 'Father,' and I thought you would never turn away from me again.  But you have betrayed me, you people of Israel! You have been like a faithless wife who leaves her husband," says the Lord.  Voices are heard high on the windswept mountains, the weeping and pleading of Israel's people. For they have forgotten the Lord their God and wandered far from his ways. (Verses 14-21)

So much for “Raiders of the Lost Ark”!  We no longer need that ark.  We can come to the Father in repentance and humility.  We can call God Father, Daddy.  God want to hear that on our lips.

So, why spend our time weeping and pleading for nothing.  Come to the Lord.  Stop straying.  Our Father, our Daddy, will welcome us with open arms.  Worship God alone.  That is the message we hear from Jesus during his temptations in the desert before beginning his ministry.  Read from Matthew chapter four:

Next the Devil took him to the peak of a very high mountain and showed him the nations of the world and all their glory.  "I will give it all to you," he said, "if you will only kneel down and worship me." 

"Get out of here, Satan," Jesus told him. "For the Scriptures say, 'You must worship the Lord your God; serve only him.'" (Verses 8-10)

Worship God only.  Anything else is idolatry… adultery to our one true love, the Lord God.

Enough mumbling for now…

Peace Out

No More Excuses! (Isaiah 66) Jeremiah 1; Matthew 3

May the mumbling commence!

The call of the Lord in our lives begins before we are even born.  Will we answer that call sometime in our lives, or will we find excuses to deny that call?  Read from Jeremiah chapter one:

The Lord gave me a message. He said, "I knew you before I formed you in your mother's womb. Before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as my spokesman to the world." 

"O Sovereign Lord," I said, "I can't speak for you! I'm too young!" 

"Don't say that," the Lord replied, "for you must go wherever I send you and say whatever I tell you.  And don't be afraid of the people, for I will be with you and take care of you. I, the Lord, have spoken!" 

Then the Lord touched my mouth and said, "See, I have put my words in your mouth!  Today I appoint you to stand up against nations and kingdoms. You are to uproot some and tear them down, to destroy and overthrow them. You are to build others up and plant them." (Verses 4-10)

We are representatives of the Lord.  What a huge task!  We might say we are too young or too old.  We might say that we cannot speak well in front of people.  We might say that we do not have the gifts of leadership.  But these excuses do not change the fact that the Lord has called us.  The Lord has chosen us.

Let’s go where God sends us and say what God tells us.  Let’s leave fear behind and trust in the Lord to take care of us.  When we accept this call, we can do great things… affecting nations and kingdoms… because God’s got our back.

Let’s seek to fulfill all the righteousness of the Lord, just as Jesus did before he began his earthly ministry.  Read from Matthew chapter three:

Then Jesus went from Galilee to the Jordan River to be baptized by John.  But John didn't want to baptize him. "I am the one who needs to be baptized by you," he said, "so why are you coming to me?" 

But Jesus said, "It must be done, because we must do everything that is right." So then John baptized him. 

After his baptism, as Jesus came up out of the water, the heavens were opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and settling on him.  And a voice from heaven said, "This is my beloved Son, and I am fully pleased with him." (Verses 13-17)

Yes, this is the way to fully please God.

Let’s do it.

Enough mumbling for now…

Peace Out

Eradicate Selective Memory. Isaiah 61-65

May the mumbling commence!

We are infected… infected with sin.  Sin means death.  What is the cure?  No better:  Who is the cure?  The Lord is the cure for our ailment.  Mold us, O Holy One.  Read from Isaiah chapter sixty-four:

But we are not godly.

We are constant sinners,

so your anger is heavy on us.

How can people like us be saved? 

We are all infected and impure with sin.

When we proudly display our righteous deeds,

we find they are but filthy rags.

Like autumn leaves, we wither and fall.

And our sins, like the wind, sweep us away. 

Yet no one calls on your name

or pleads with you for mercy.

Therefore, you have turned away from us

and turned us over to our sins. 

And yet, Lord, you are our Father.

We are the clay, and you are the potter.

We are all formed by your hand. 

Oh, don't be so angry with us, Lord.

Please don't remember our sins forever.

Look at us, we pray,

and see that we are all your people. (Verses 5b-9)

Yes, we have selective memory.  We remember the righteous deeds that we do, but we conveniently forget when we neglect to do the right thing… or much worse when we choose to do the wrong thing.

Indeed, how can we be saved?  We are infected, impure, rotting from the inside out because of our sins.  We are filthy, and we often do not realize it.  We wither and fall.  We are swept away.

Help us to see our true condition.  Help us to see that You are still working on us. 

Grant us that mercy. 

We are the clay.  You are the Potter.  Form us, we pray.  Form us into the shape that makes us Your people.

Grant us that grace.

God’s still working on me.  How about you?

Enough mumbling for now…

Peace Out

Sin, A Daily Battle. Isaiah 59-60; Matthew 2

May the mumbling commence!

God waits.  God encourages us to help the oppressed and to seek justice.  It disappoints God when we fail to do so.  But the Lord is there ready to take up the cause of the poor and oppressed… even at our expense.  Read from the end of Isaiah chapter fifty-nine:

The Lord looked and was displeased to find that there was no justice.  He was amazed to see that no one intervened to help the oppressed. So he himself stepped in to save them with his mighty power and justice.  He put on righteousness as his body armor and placed the helmet of salvation on his head. He clothed himself with the robes of vengeance and godly fury.  He will repay his enemies for their evil deeds. His fury will fall on his foes in distant lands.  Then at last they will respect and glorify the name of the Lord throughout the world. For he will come like a flood tide driven by the breath of the Lord. 

"The Redeemer will come to Jerusalem," says the Lord, "to buy back those in Israel who have turned from their sins.  And this is my covenant with them," says the Lord. "My Spirit will not leave them, and neither will these words I have given you. They will be on your lips and on the lips of your children and your children's children forever. I, the Lord, have spoken!” (Verses 15b-21)

God is displeased with injustice.  It amazes God that His people do nothing to correct it.  In fact, God’s people help injustices along!

So the Lord comes clothed in righteousness and salvation.  Vengeance and fury will be the lot of those who oppose the Lord.

It can be easy to see only the vengeance and fury being spent on our enemies in distant lands.  That’s what the Scripture says.  But we must read further.

The Redeemer will buy back those in Israel who have turned from their sins.  God will redeem His people who turn away from their sins… THEIR SINS.  Israel, the church, is not without sin.  And we must fight daily to turn away from our sins.

To turn away from sins is part of the process of redemption.  Let’s never forget that fact so that we might claim the promise of the Lord.  God will never leave us.  God’s Word will be on our hearts and on our lips, from generation to generation.  Amen.  May it be so!

Let’s give God the glory.  Let’s give God our very best, just as the wise men did before the child Jesus.  Read from Matthew chapter two:

After this interview the wise men went their way. Once again the star appeared to them, guiding them to Bethlehem. It went ahead of them and stopped over the place where the child was.  When they saw the star, they were filled with joy!  They entered the house where the child and his mother, Mary, were, and they fell down before him and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasure chests and gave him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.  But when it was time to leave, they went home another way, because God had warned them in a dream not to return to Herod. (Verses 9-12)

It’s a joy to worship the Lord.  Let’s open our treasure chests and share with Jesus our best treasures.  And where will we find Jesus?  We will find him with the lonely, the vulnerable and the oppressed.  Let’s find joy in the giving.

Enough mumbling for now…

Peace Out

Fasting - the Real Deal. Isaiah 57-58; Matthew 1

(Note: I am done with a complete New Testament reading before I finished with the Old Testament, so I chose to read Matthew for a second time.)

May the mumbling commence!

Fasting – it’s a spiritual discipline that is misunderstood by the most mature of Christians.  It’s about more than not eating… or not doing something.  It’s more than wearing the clothes of mourning… that black suit or dress.

Through fasting, God calls us to clear ourselves so that we might live the lives that the Lord originally intended.  This is the message of Isaiah in chapter fifty-eight.  Read a passage from it below:

“'We have fasted before you!' they say.  'Why aren't you impressed? We have done much penance, and you don't even notice it!'

I will tell you why! It's because you are living for yourselves even while you are fasting. You keep right on oppressing your workers.  What good is fasting when you keep on fighting and quarreling? This kind of fasting will never get you anywhere with me.  You humble yourselves by going through the motions of penance, bowing your heads like a blade of grass in the wind. You dress in sackcloth and cover yourselves with ashes. Is this what you call fasting? Do you really think this will please the Lord? 

No, the kind of fasting I want calls you to free those who are wrongly imprisoned and to stop oppressing those who work for you. Treat them fairly and give them what they earn.  I want you to share your food with the hungry and to welcome poor wanderers into your homes. Give clothes to those who need them, and do not hide from relatives who need your help.” (Verses 3-7)

Fasting is not about us.  It never truly has been.  Fasting is about increasing our awareness of what God is calling us to do.

And what is God calling us to do?  Fight oppression.  Stop fighting and quarreling.  Don’t just go through the motions.

Find out who is wrongfully imprisoned and free them.  Stop your part in oppression.  Pay people who work for you fairly.  Share your food with the hungry and your clothes with the naked.  Welcome the homeless into your home.  Give help to your relatives.

These are the things that God is calling us to through fasting.  These are the things that fasting is really about.  May we practice this type of fasting!

May we welcome into the fold those who are seeking the Lord – regardless of their background.  Read from the genealogy of Jesus as recorded in Matthew chapter one:

Salmon was the father of Boaz (his mother was Rahab).

Boaz was the father of Obed (his mother was Ruth).

Obed was the father of Jesse. 

Jesse was the father of King David.

David was the father of Solomon (his mother was Bathsheba, the widow of Uriah). (Verses 5-6)

It’s unusual to see women in a genealogy of this time and culture.  And these women had checkered pasts.  Rahab was a prostitute from Jericho.  Ruth was a Moabite.  Bathsheba was brought into the house of David as a victim of rape.  This rape led to the death… the murder of Uriah the Hittite.  Yet each of these women are an integral part of the genealogy of Jesus.  Who are we to exclude anyone who seeks out the Lord Jesus?

Enough mumbling for now…

Peace Out  

Soul Food! Isaiah 55-56; Revelation 22

May the mumbling commence!

Are you hankering for some soul food?  Then come on y’all!  God’s got it.  Read from the beginning of Isaiah chapter fifty-five:

"Is anyone thirsty? Come and drink – even if you have no money! Come, take your choice of wine or milk – it's all free!  Why spend your money on food that does not give you strength? Why pay for food that does you no good? Listen, and I will tell you where to get food that is good for the soul! 

Come to me with your ears wide open. Listen, for the life of your soul is at stake. I am ready to make an everlasting covenant with you. I will give you all the mercies and unfailing love that I promised to David.  He displayed my power by being my witness and a leader among the nations.  You also will command the nations, and they will come running to obey, because I, the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, have made you glorious." 

Seek the Lord while you can find him. Call on him now while he is near.  Let the people turn from their wicked deeds. Let them banish from their minds the very thought of doing wrong! Let them turn to the Lord that he may have mercy on them. Yes, turn to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. (Verses 1-7)

What is soul food?  It’s not just southern comfort cooking.  I remember that well from my years in the southeastern United States.  Soul food is nothing less than the Word of God.

Come and drink.  The Word of God makes our hearts glad like wine.  The Word of God nourishes us like milk.

And that means listen.  Open wide your ears to the spoken Word of God.  Receive the covenant.  It outlasts the Energizer Bunny.  It’s packed with mercies and unfailing love.

Through God’s Spirit, we will command the nations.  Through God’s Spirit we will be made glorious.

So seek the Lord.  Call on your living God.  Turn from your own desires and agendas.  Turn to the Lord, and receive mercy and abundant pardon.  That, my brothers and sisters, is amazing grace.  Would that all humanity would accept it!

Even at the end of Revelation the call to come and drink is before us.  Won’t we come?  You ‘all come.  Read from Revelation chapter twenty-two.

Blessed are those who wash their robes so they can enter through the gates of the city and eat the fruit from the tree of life.  Outside the city are the dogs – the sorcerers, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idol worshipers, and all who love to live a lie. 

"I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this message for the churches. I am both the source of David and the heir to his throne. I am the bright morning star." 

The Spirit and the bride say, "Come." Let each one who hears them say, "Come." Let the thirsty ones come – anyone who wants to. Let them come and drink the water of life without charge. (Verses 14-17)

Come.  Get a taste of the original soul food.  It’s an all-you-can-eat buffet.  And it’s free!  Bon appetite!

Enough mumbling for now…

Peace Out 

I Cannot Tell It All. Isaiah 53-54; Revelation 21

May the mumbling commence!

I am thankful.  I am thankful for what Jesus has done for me… for you… for us.  It was prophesied hundreds of years earlier by Isaiah.  Read most of Isaiah chapter fifty-three:

My servant grew up in the Lord's presence like a tender green shoot, sprouting from a root in dry and sterile ground. There was nothing beautiful or majestic about his appearance, nothing to attract us to him.  He was despised and rejected – a man of sorrows, acquainted with bitterest grief. We turned our backs on him and looked the other way when he went by. He was despised, and we did not care. 

Yet it was our weaknesses he carried; it was our sorrows that weighed him down. And we thought his troubles were a punishment from God for his own sins!  But he was wounded and crushed for our sins. He was beaten that we might have peace. He was whipped, and we were healed!  All of us have strayed away like sheep. We have left God's paths to follow our own. Yet the Lord laid on him the guilt and sins of us all. 

He was oppressed and treated harshly, yet he never said a word. He was led as a lamb to the slaughter. And as a sheep is silent before the shearers, he did not open his mouth.  From prison and trial they led him away to his death. But who among the people realized that he was dying for their sins – that he was suffering their punishment?  He had done no wrong, and he never deceived anyone. But he was buried like a criminal; he was put in a rich man's grave. 

But it was the Lord's good plan to crush him and fill him with grief. Yet when his life is made an offering for sin, he will have a multitude of children, many heirs. He will enjoy a long life, and the Lord's plan will prosper in his hands.  When he sees all that is accomplished by his anguish, he will be satisfied. And because of what he has experienced, my righteous servant will make it possible for many to be counted righteous, for he will bear all their sins.  I will give him the honors of one who is mighty and great, because he exposed himself to death. He was counted among those who were sinners. He bore the sins of many and interceded for sinners. (Verses 2-12)

It’s difficult not to see the life of Jesus in this passage.  Jesus was despised because he did not bring the redemption that was desired – a political and military Messiah.  God had bigger fish to fry than the Romans.  God was defeating our sins.  God was taking our punishment. 

Because of this, death is dead.  Because of this, we have peace.  Because of this, we are healed.  Alleluia!  Praise the Lord.  Read from Revelation chapter twenty-one:

I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, "Look, the home of God is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them.  He will remove all of their sorrows, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. For the old world and its evils are gone forever." (Verses 3-4)

Rest in peace, old life.  Rest in peace, old ways.  Celebrate new life without sorrow or pain or tears.  Kiss evil good bye.

Now that’s Good News!

Enough mumbling for now…

Peace Out