The God of Second Chances

God's Urgent Call
Called to Be Strong

Deborah and Barak

Judges 2:16-23. The Message

16-17 But then God raised up judges who saved them from their plunderers. But they wouldn’t listen to their judges; they prostituted themselves to other gods—worshiped them! They lost no time leaving the road walked by their parents, the road of obedience to God’s commands. They refused to have anything to do with it.
18-19 When God was setting up judges for them, he would be right there with the judge: He would save them from their enemies’ oppression as long as the judge was alive, for God was moved to compassion when he heard their groaning because of those who afflicted and beat them. But when the judge died, the people went right back to their old ways—but even worse than their parents!—running after other gods, serving and worshiping them. Stubborn as mules, they didn’t drop a single evil practice.
20-22 And God’s anger blazed against Israel. He said, “Because these people have thrown out my covenant that I commanded their parents and haven’t listened to me, I’m not driving out one more person from the nations that Joshua left behind when he died. I’ll use them to test Israel and see whether they stay on God’s road and walk down it as their parents did.”
23 That’s why God let those nations remain. He didn’t drive them out or let Joshua get rid of them.

For Reflection

Our God is the god of infinite second chances. God intends us to be all that a human being can possibly be. God made us in God's image and wants us to act as though we are.

God is a god of freedom, preserving and protecting the freedom to choose for all people.  We are free to choose to act on the truth of our creation and we are free to reject it.  We are free to do good and free to do evil.  God calls us to do good.  When we choose to reject God's call and later regret it, God will accept us, like the prodigal son, without reservation into God's household.  That is good news.

Pray

Praise God, the creator of each of us.  Praise God for giving us a piece of Gods creative abilities.  Praise God for giving us freedom to choose to fulfill God's meaning for our lives. Praise God for offering unlimited chances to respond to God's call. Praise God who redeems all that repent and become the persons God has created them to become.

Generation Gap

God's Urgent Call
Called to Be Strong

Deborah and Barak

Judges 2:6-10. The Message

6-9 After Joshua had dismissed them, the People of Israel went off to claim their allotted territories and take possession of the land. The people worshiped God throughout the lifetime of Joshua and the time of the leaders who survived him, leaders who had been in on all of God’s great work that he had done for Israel. Then Joshua son of Nun, the servant of God, died. He was 110 years old. They buried him in his allotted inheritance at Timnath Heres in the hills of Ephraim north of Mount Gaash.
10 Eventually, that entire generation died and was buried. Then another generation grew up that didn’t know anything of God or the work he had done for Israel.

For Reflection

Do you remember listening to stories about your past?  I not only remember them, but now I have to listen to my children tell stories about me! Embarrassing sometimes and heart rendering at others, these stories remind us of how we became who we are.

The generational gap in remembering who they are will eventually lead the People of Israel into their destruction.  They will lose their sense of history and religion.  They will forsake the Lord and become devoted to the world and quickly drawn to false gods and superstitions.  They will suffer in their ignorance.

Pray

Pray that your children and your children's children will come to have a sense of who they are in the light of God.  Pray that the next generations will hear and respond in obedience to God's will.

Deborah and Barak

God's Urgent Call
Called to Be Strong

Deborah and Barak

Judges 2:1-5 The Message

2 1-2 God’s angel went up from Gilgal to Bokim and said, “I brought you out of Egypt; I led you to the land that I promised to your fathers; and I said, I’ll never break my covenant with you—never! And you’re never to make a covenant with the people who live in this land. Tear down their altars! But you haven’t obeyed me! What’s this that you’re doing?
3 “So now I’m telling you that I won’t drive them out before you. They’ll trip you up and their gods will become a trap.”
4-5 When God’s angel had spoken these words to all the People of Israel, they cried out—oh! how they wept! They named the place Bokim (Weepers). And there they sacrificed to God.

For Reflection

God is always rescuing us from our folly. In spite of God's blessings, compassion, and forgiveness, we continue to forget the salvation that is always within our grasp.  Our story is a story of freedom.  It is a story of freedom from oppression, and it is a story of freedom to worship God.  We are free to choose God or Satan.  The good news is that even if we choose Satan, God will always rescue us if we change our mind.

Pray

Pray prayers of thanksgiving and praises to our God who preserves our freedom and is willing to receive us in spite of our folly.

Nations will Bow Before the Lord

God Loves Us
God's Pervasive and Sustaining Love

God's Pervasive Love

Psalm 86:8-17 The Message

8-10 There’s no one quite like you among the gods, O Lord,
    and nothing to compare with your works.
All the nations you made are on their way,
    ready to give honor to you, O Lord,
Ready to put your beauty on display,
    parading your greatness,
And the great things you do—
    God, you’re the one, there’s no one but you!
11-17 Train me, God, to walk straight;
    then I’ll follow your true path.
Put me together, one heart and mind;
    then, undivided, I’ll worship in joyful fear.
From the bottom of my heart I thank you, dear Lord;
    I’ve never kept secret what you’re up to.
You’ve always been great toward me—what love!
    You snatched me from the brink of disaster!
God, these bullies have reared their heads!
    A gang of thugs is after me—
    and they don’t care a thing about you.
But you, O God, are both tender and kind,
    not easily angered, immense in love,
    and you never, never quit.
So look me in the eye and show kindness,
    give your servant the strength to go on,
    save your dear, dear child!
Make a show of how much you love me
    so the bullies who hate me will stand there slack-jawed,
As you, God, gently and powerfully
    put me back on my feet.

For Reflection

In your devotion to God, you should become more than a player. In your life, your work, your social circles and in all that you do take a clue from David.  Be a witness, a sign of goodness, kindness, and mercy.

Pray

Make your life a living sacrifice to the Kingdom of God. Make your life a living prayer.  Honor God.

A Prayer to the Lord for Help

God Loves Us
God's Pervasive and Sustaining Love

God's Pervasive Love

Psalm 86:1-7 The Message 

A David Psalm

86 1-7 Bend an ear, God; answer me.
    I’m one miserable wretch!
Keep me safe—haven’t I lived a good life?
    Help your servant—I’m depending on you!
You’re my God; have mercy on me.
    I count on you from morning to night.
Give your servant a happy life;
    I put myself in your hands!
You’re well-known as good and forgiving,
    bighearted to all who ask for help.
Pay attention, God, to my prayer;
    bend down and listen to my cry for help.
Every time I’m in trouble I call on you,
    confident that you’ll answer.

For Reflection

When faced with adversity, call on the Lord.  The Lord will answer. The answer may be unexpected. The answer may be an opportunity to serve.  The opportunity may create a risk.  Take it!  It is God's way to rescue you.

Pray

Pray prayers of lamentation.  Pray for God's healing hand to guide your life. Respond to God's answer with unfettered action.

Bless the Lord, O My Soul

God Loves Us
God's Pervasive and Sustaining Love

God's Pervasive Love

Psalm 103:1-18 The Message

A David Psalm

103 1-2 O my soul, bless God.
    From head to toe, I’ll bless his holy name!
O my soul, bless God,
    don’t forget a single blessing!
3-5 He forgives your sins—every one.
    He heals your diseases—every one.
    He redeems you from hell—saves your life!
    He crowns you with love and mercy—a paradise crown.
    He wraps you in goodness—beauty eternal.
    He renews your youth—you’re always young in his presence.
6-18 God makes everything come out right;
    he puts victims back on their feet.
He showed Moses how he went about his work,
    opened up his plans to all Israel.
God is sheer mercy and grace;
    not easily angered, he’s rich in love.
He doesn’t endlessly nag and scold,
    nor hold grudges forever.
He doesn’t treat us as our sins deserve,
    nor pay us back in full for our wrongs.
As high as heaven is over the earth,
    so strong is his love to those who fear him.
And as far as sunrise is from sunset,
    he has separated us from our sins.
As parents feel for their children,
    God feels for those who fear him.
He knows us inside and out,
    keeps in mind that we’re made of mud.
Men and women don’t live very long;
    like wildflowers they spring up and blossom,
But a storm snuffs them out just as quickly,
    leaving nothing to show they were here.
God’s love, though, is ever and always,
    eternally present to all who fear him,
Making everything right for them and their children
    as they follow his Covenant ways
    and remember to do whatever he said.

For Reflection

The love down in your heart will fill your soul with the joy of the Lord.  God is love. Be grateful.  Be loving. Be passionate about your faith.

Pray

Sing your praises to the Lord.  Shout your gratitude for the living God. Dance to the music of the Holy Spirit because you can not help yourself.  Let your light shine!

The Lord Did Not Forsake

God Loves Us
God's Pervasive and Sustaining Love

God's Pervasive Love 

Nehemiah 9:16-23 The Message 

16-19 But they, our ancestors, were arrogant;
    bullheaded, they wouldn’t obey your commands.
They turned a deaf ear, they refused
    to remember the miracles you had done for them;
They turned stubborn, got it into their heads
    to return to their Egyptian slavery.
And you, a forgiving God,
    gracious and compassionate,
Incredibly patient, with tons of love—
    you didn’t dump them.
Yes, even when they cast a sculpted calf
    and said, “This is your god
Who brought you out of Egypt,”
    and continued from bad to worse,
You in your amazing compassion
    didn’t walk off and leave them in the desert.
The Pillar of Cloud didn’t leave them;
    daily it continued to show them their route;
The Pillar of Fire did the same by night,
    showed them the right way to go.
20-23 You gave them your good Spirit
    to teach them to live wisely.
You never stinted with your manna,
    gave them plenty of water to drink.
You supported them forty years in that desert;
    they had everything they needed;
Their clothes didn’t wear out
    and their feet never blistered.
You gave them kingdoms and peoples,
    establishing generous boundaries.
They took over the country of Sihon king of Heshbon
    and the country of Og king of Bashan.
You multiplied children for them,
    rivaling the stars in the night skies,
And you brought them into the land
    that you promised their ancestors
    they would get and own.

For Reflection

What God has promised God will provide.  Praise God!

Pray

Pray for trust in the Lord.  Pray for confidence in God's promise. Pray.

The Lord Forgives Iniquity

God Loves Us
God's Pervasive and Sustaining Love

God's Love for Nineveh

Numbers 14:1-23 The Message

14 1-3 The whole community was in an uproar, wailing all night long. All the People of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron. The entire community was in on it: “Why didn’t we die in Egypt? Or in this wilderness? Why has God brought us to this country to kill us? Our wives and children are about to become plunder. Why don’t we just head back to Egypt? And right now!”
4 Soon they were all saying it to one another: “Let’s pick a new leader; let’s head back to Egypt.”
5 Moses and Aaron fell on their faces in front of the entire community, gathered in emergency session.
6-9 Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh, members of the scouting party, ripped their clothes and addressed the assembled People of Israel: “The land we walked through and scouted out is a very good land—very good indeed. If God is pleased with us, he will lead us into that land, a land that flows, as they say, with milk and honey. And he’ll give it to us. Just don’t rebel against God! And don’t be afraid of those people. Why, we’ll have them for lunch! They have no protection and God is on our side. Don’t be afraid of them!”
10-12 But, up in arms now, the entire community was talking of hurling stones at them.
Just then the bright Glory of God appeared at the Tent of Meeting. Every Israelite saw it. God said to Moses, “How long will these people treat me like dirt? How long refuse to trust me? And with all these signs I’ve done among them! I’ve had enough—I’m going to hit them with a plague and kill them. But I’ll make you into a nation bigger and stronger than they ever were.”
13-16 But Moses said to God, “The Egyptians are going to hear about this! You delivered this people from Egypt with a great show of strength, and now this? The Egyptians will tell everyone. They’ve already heard that you are God, that you are on the side of this people, that you are present among them, that they see you with their own eyes in your Cloud that hovers over them, in the Pillar of Cloud that leads them by day and the Pillar of Fire at night. If you kill this entire people in one stroke, all the nations that have heard what has been going on will say, ‘Since God couldn't get these people into the land which he had promised to give them, he slaughtered them out in the wilderness.’
17 “Now, please, let the power of the Master expand, enlarge itself greatly, along the lines you have laid out earlier when you said,
18 God, slow to get angry and huge in loyal love,
        forgiving iniquity and rebellion and sin;
    Still, never just whitewashing sin.
        But extending the fallout of parents’ sins
    to children into the third,
        even the fourth generation.
19 “Please forgive the wrongdoing of this people out of the extravagance of your loyal love just as all along, from the time they left Egypt, you have been forgiving this people.”
20-23 God said, “I forgive them, honoring your words. But as I live and as the Glory of God fills the whole Earth—not a single person of those who saw my Glory, saw the miracle signs I did in Egypt and the wilderness, and who have tested me over and over and over again, turning a deaf ear to me—not one of them will set eyes on the land I so solemnly promised to their ancestors. No one who has treated me with such repeated contempt will see it.

For Reflection

God's chosen people have always found ways to show their lack of trust.  God offered sign after sign and yet they needed another sign. Because God loved them, God was angered by their rejection of God's promise of salvation.  Their fear and lack of trust made them weak in the face of adversity.  The travel was hard, but the people could not have the confidence in God to overcome the pains of such an arduous journey.   Because of Moses' plea, God forgave them yet again.

God's warning is not a punishment for unrepentance.  God is simply acknowledging the consequences of their contempt. Israel is free to choose.  Some choose poorly and suffer their choice. God mourns their loss.

Pray

Pray that you will choose to accept God's offer of salvation. Pray so that you will have the courage to face adversity and the will to trust in God's promise

Gentiles Repent and Experience New Life

God Loves Us
God's Pervasive and Sustaining Love

God's Love for Nineveh

Acts 11:11-18 The Message

11-14 “Just then three men showed up at the house where I was staying, sent from Caesarea to get me. The Spirit told me to go with them, no questions asked. So I went with them, I and six friends, to the man who had sent for me. He told us how he had seen an angel right in his own house, real as his next-door neighbor, saying, ‘Send to Joppa and get Simon, the one they call Peter. He’ll tell you something that will save your life—in fact, you and everyone you care for.’
15-17 “So I started in, talking. Before I’d spoken half a dozen sentences, the Holy Spirit fell on them just as he did on us the first time. I remembered Jesus’ words: ‘John baptized with water; you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’ So I ask you: If God gave the same exact gift to them as to us when we believed in the Master Jesus Christ, how could I object to God?”
18 Hearing it all laid out like that, they quieted down. And then, as it sank in, they started praising God. “It’s really happened! God has broken through to the other nations, opened them up to Life!”

For Reflection

Who would have thought that separated from society and imprisoned, Paul would continue to have opportunities to witness to the Holy Spirit?  In my youth, I heard one visiting Scottish preacher say " Ye can trample down the heather but ye canna' trample the wind." The word of God and the witnessing of Christ's followers scatters on the winds of truth.

Pray

Pray that the meaning of your existence lies in your witness to the truth of God manifesting in human goodness.

Proclaiming Repentance, Faith Lives

God Loves Us
God's Pervasive and Sustaining Love

God's Love for Nineveh

Acts 20:18-24 The Message

On to Jerusalem

17-21 From Miletus he sent to Ephesus for the leaders of the congregation. When they arrived, he said, “You know that from day one of my arrival in Asia I was with you totally—laying my life on the line, serving the Master no matter what, putting up with no end of scheming by Jews who wanted to do me in. I didn’t skimp or trim in any way. Every truth and encouragement that could have made a difference to you, you got. I taught you out in public and I taught you in your homes, urging Jews and Greeks alike to a radical life-change before God and an equally radical trust in our Master Jesus.
22-24 “But there is another urgency before me now. I feel compelled to go to Jerusalem. I’m completely in the dark about what will happen when I get there. I do know that it won’t be any picnic, for the Holy Spirit has let me know repeatedly and clearly that there are hard times and imprisonment ahead. But that matters little. What matters most to me is to finish what God started: the job the Master Jesus gave me of letting everyone I meet know all about this incredibly extravagant generosity of God.

For Reflection

To what extent are you willing to sacrifice your life for the establishment of God's Kingdom as Paul has done?  No, you don't necessarily need to go to jail for your beliefs.  However, you may be asked to swim upstream against the current of conventional wisdom. Sometimes those who swim upstream get eaten by bears!  In your social circles, in your work lives, family lives and personal lives your faith will be challenged in many obvious and not so obvious ways.  Are you prepared to be obedient to the way?

Pray

Pray that you will armor yourself with the cloak of Christ. Pray that you will remain steadfast in the practice of your faith.  Pray and let the Holy Spirit guide your every thought and action.

The Unformed Rhythms of Grace

God Loves Us
God's Pervasive and Sustaining Love

God's Love for Nineveh

Matthew 11:20-24 The Message

The Unforced Rhythms of Grace

20 Next Jesus let fly on the cities where he had worked the hardest but whose people had responded the least, shrugging their shoulders and going their own way.
21-24 “Doom to you, Chorazin! Doom, Bethsaida! If Tyre and Sidon had seen half of the powerful miracles you have seen, they would have been on their knees in a minute. At Judgment Day they’ll get off easy compared to you. And Capernaum! With all your peacock strutting, you are going to end up in the abyss. If the people of Sodom had had your chances, the city would still be around. At Judgment Day they’ll get off easy compared to you.”

For Reflection

Jesus performed half of his miracles in Capernaum.  And yet, the people had not responded.  They had rejected the signs of Christ's divinity.  The word "doom" is translated "woe" in other Bible translations. While doom is a legitimate translation, it perhaps does not carry the incumbent meanings of pity and sorrow.  Christ warned the people of the consequences of their rejection, but the sophisticates of that day were too proud of their personal success to recognize that their success was short lived. This is a tragic story of rejection.

Christ then turns to the ordinary people and says, "Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” you recognize the value of living in God's Household. '

Pray

Pray that you will "Learn the unforced rhythms of grace." Pray so that you will keep company with God.

"Return to Me" Says the Lord

God Loves Us
God's Pervasive and Sustaining Love

God's Love for Nineveh

Zechariah 1:1-6 The Message

1 1-4 In the eighth month of the second year in the reign of Darius, God’s Message came to the prophet Zechariah, son of Berechiah, son of Iddo: “God was very angry with your ancestors. So give to the people this Message from God-of-the-Angel-Armies: ‘Come back to me and I’ll come back to you. Don’t be like your parents. The old-time prophets called out to them, “A Message from God-of-the-Angel-Armies: Leave your evil life. Quit your evil practices.” But they ignored everything I said to them, stubbornly refused to listen.’
5-6 “And where are your ancestors now? Dead and buried. And the prophets who preached to them? Also dead and buried. But the Message that my servants the prophets spoke, that isn’t dead and buried. That Message did its work on your ancestors, did it not? It woke them up and they came back, saying, ‘He did what he said he would do, sure enough. We didn’t get by with a thing.’”

For Reflection

God's anger does not turn to revenge, nor does it result in vengeance. God's anger is tied up in God's suffering. When God's human creation turns away from God, God laments, God grieves for God's lost sheep. God honors the freedom of God's people to choose and they suffer the pain of their choices. God responds with a plea for reconciliation and accepts Gods people, without question, without conditions, those who choose to return to the household of God.  God is driven by God's unconditional love of God's creation.

Pray

Pray that all those who have turned their backs on God recognize the results of their action and return to God.  Pray that those who are frustrated with the quality of their lives respond to the joy in your witness to the love of God.

Destined to Prophesy

God Loves Us
God's Pervasive and Sustaining Love

God's Love for Nineveh

Jeremiah 1:4-10 The Message

Demolish, and Then Start Over

1 1-4 The Message of Jeremiah, son of Hilkiah of the family of priests who lived in Anathoth in the country of Benjamin. God’s Message began to come to him during the thirteenth year that Josiah son of Amos reigned over Judah. It continued to come to him during the time Jehoiakim son of Josiah reigned over Judah. And it continued to come to him clear down to the fifth month of the eleventh year of the reign of Zedekiah son of Josiah over Judah, the year that Jerusalem was taken into exile. This is what God said:
5 “Before I shaped you in the womb,
    I knew all about you.
Before you saw the light of day,
    I had holy plans for you:
A prophet to the nations—
    that’s what I had in mind for you.”
6 But I said, “Hold it, Master God! Look at me.
    I don’t know anything. I’m only a boy!”
7-8 God told me, “Don’t say, ‘I’m only a boy.’
    I’ll tell you where to go and you’ll go there.
I’ll tell you what to say and you’ll say it.
    Don’t be afraid of a soul.
I’ll be right there, looking after you.”
    God’s Decree.
9-10 God reached out, touched my mouth, and said,
    “Look! I’ve just put my words in your mouth—hand-delivered!
See what I’ve done? I’ve given you a job to do
    among nations and governments—a red-letter day!
Your job is to pull up and tear down,
    take apart and demolish,
And then start over,
    building and planting.”

For Reflection

Many who receive God's call are relucent to obey. God's call to Jeremiah elicited a similar response. Jeremiah was invited into risky business.  After all, if some wise guy, a kid, came to tear down the business you have built, and upon which your household depends for its survival, what do you think your response would be?

God wipes Jeremiah's fear and reticence away by revealing God's intimate knowledge of him and God's special place for him in God's plan.  God not only assures Jeremiah of his competence, but God also vows to protect him and embeds the prophetic script into Jeremiah's soul. The old must die before the new begins. Jeremiah's task is to see that the new life in the promise of God arises out of the ashes of old ways which were rendered infertile. 

With God, the fear of destruction is displaced by the hope of renewal. The promise of life replaces the fear of death.

Pray

Pray that when you are besieged by turmoil, at your wit's end, your life is collapsing around you, and that which defines you is erased, you will look for God to bless you with a new life. Pray that you will be ready to accept that blessing.

Make Disciples of All Nations

God Loves Us
God's Pervasive and Sustaining Love

God's Love Preserved Jonah

Matthew 28:16-20 The Message

16-17 Meanwhile, the eleven disciples were on their way to Galilee, headed for the mountain Jesus had set for their reunion. The moment they saw him they worshiped him. Some, though, held back, not sure about worship, about risking themselves totally.
18-20 Jesus, undeterred, went right ahead and gave his charge: “God authorized and commanded me to commission you: Go out and train everyone you meet, far and near, in this way of life, marking them by baptism in the threefold name: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Then instruct them in the practice of all I have commanded you. I’ll be with you as you do this, day after day after day, right up to the end of the age.”

For Reflection

All of us have had (and may still have) reservations about the risks associated with practicing the Christian faith.  The disciples also had concerns.  Christ understood their reticence but with confidence in the disciple's faith, sent them forth knowing that with the help of the Holy Spirit they would succeed.  We, also, have the confidence of Christ and the support of the Holy Spirit.  Mark your life with the commitment to serve God as a faithful witness to the resurrection.

Pray

That you will hallow God as a witness to God's love, compassion, forgiveness, and grace.

Something Greater than Johah Is Here

God Loves Us
God's Pervasive and Sustaining Love

God's Love Preserved Jonah

Luke 11:29-32  The Message

Keep Your Eyes Open

29-30 As the crowd swelled, he took a fresh tack: “The mood of this age is all wrong. Everybody’s looking for proof, but you’re looking for the wrong kind. All you’re looking for is something to titillate your curiosity, satisfy your lust for miracles. But the only proof you’re going to get is the Jonah-proof given to the Ninevites, which looks like no proof at all. What Jonah was to Nineveh, the Son of Man is to this age.
32,31 “On Judgment Day the Ninevites will stand up and give evidence that will condemn this generation, because when Jonah preached to them they changed their lives. A far greater preacher than Jonah is here, and you squabble about ‘proofs.’ On Judgment Day the Queen of Sheba will come forward and bring evidence that condemns this generation, because she traveled from a far corner of the earth to listen to wise Solomon. Wisdom far greater than Solomon’s is right in front of you, and you quibble over ‘evidence.’

For Reflection

In our age, as in theirs, proofs are demanded.  But what do you do when observation fails you?  Do you cling to false hope or do you find new avenues of inquiry?  In a world that prefers scientific proofs, today's fact may become tomorrow's fiction.  Tomorrow's fiction may become today's fact.
In our age, as in theirs, proofs are demanded.  But what do you do when observation fails you?  Do you cling to false hope or do you find new avenues of inquiry?  In a world that prefers scientific proofs, today's fact may become tomorrow's fiction.  Tomorrow's fiction may become today's fact.

The power to discern between right and wrong, truth and falsehood in human affairs demands a different kind of proof.  Adherence to Christian principles results in goodness and truth is found in that which is uplifting, kind, compassionate, and merciful.  All else is evil and false. Deliverance from untoward human affairs lies beyond retribution and blame.  It rests in reconciliation.

Pray

Pray for the triumph of God's overtures of reconciliation.

Answer Me, O Lord.

God Loves Us
God's Pervasive and Sustaining Love

God's Love Preserved Jonah

Psalm 69:13-18. The Message

13 And me? I pray.
God, it’s time for a break!
God, answer in love!
Answer with your sure salvation!
14 Rescue me from the swamp,
Don’t let me go under for good,
Pull me out of the clutch of the enemy;
This whirlpool is sucking me down.
15 Don’t let the swamp be my grave, the Black Hole
Swallow me, its jaws clenched around me.
16 Now answer me, God, because you love me;
Let me see your great mercy full-face.
17 Don’t look the other way; your servant can’t take it.
I’m in trouble. Answer right now!
18 Come close, God; get me out of here.
Rescue me from this deathtrap.

For Reflection

David is under attack, so he prays to God for deliverance.  David calls upon God.  He is desperate.  A campaign against David is a campaign against God.  So, David prays for deliverance so that others do not suffer because of David's allegiance to God. David prays to God because David is confident in God's abiding compassion, kindness, and love.  David prays to God because David knows nothing is accomplished without God.

Pray

Pray that you recognize as David did, the awesome power of God. Pray that in the time of desperate need, God's love, kindness, compassion, and mercy is the only way to rescue.

The Lord Will Strike, Then Heal

God Loves Us
God's Pervasive and Sustaining Love

God's Love Preserved Jonah

Isaiah 19:19-22. The Message

19-22 On that Day, there will be a place of worship to God in the center of Egypt and a monument to God at its border. It will show how the God-of-the-Angel-Armies has helped the Egyptians. When they cry out in prayer to God because of oppressors, he’ll send them help, a savior who will keep them safe and take care of them. God will openly show himself to the Egyptians and they’ll get to know him on that Day. They’ll worship him seriously with sacrifices and burnt offerings. They’ll make vows and keep them. God will wound Egypt, first hit and then heal. Egypt will come back to God, and God will listen to their prayers and heal them, heal them from head to toe

For Reflection

Even the house of bondage, Egypt, will not escape God's attempt to reconcile humanity to the Lord of all creation.  Likewise, we who have turned away from God and then returned in repentance will fall under God's protection.  We are the work of God's hands.  We, who fear the Lord, receive God's inheritance, sharing the blessings with all who honor God.

God never allows us to face the folly of our invention without also offering a path to escape the consequences. When trouble calls, look for God's escape door.  Knock, and God will welcome you into the grace of God's mercy.

Pray

Pray to God to deliver you from human error.  Pray to God to deliver you from torment. Pray for forgiveness and reconciliation.  Pray to strengthen your repentance,

Who Can Be Safe with the Leviathan?

God Loves Us
God's Pervasive and Sustaining Love

God's Love Preserved Jonah

Job 41:1-11. The Message 

I [God] Run This Universe

41 1-11 “Or can you pull in the sea beast, Leviathan, with a fly rod
    and stuff him in your creel?
Can you lasso him with a rope,
    or snag him with an anchor?
Will he beg you over and over for mercy,
    or flatter you with flowery speech?
Will he apply for a job with you
    to run errands and serve you the rest of your life?
Will you play with him as if he were a pet goldfish?
    Will you make him the mascot of the neighborhood children?
Will you put him on display in the market
    and have shoppers haggle over the price?
Could you shoot him full of arrows like a pin cushion,
    or drive harpoons into his huge head?
If you so much as lay a hand on him,
    you won’t live to tell the story.
What hope would you have with such a creature?
    Why, one look at him would do you in!
If you can’t hold your own against his glowering visage,
    how, then, do you expect to stand up to me?
Who could confront me and get by with it?
    I’m in charge of all this—I run this universe!

For Reflection

What Leviathan are you trying to corral?  If you are successful, what do you expect to gain in return?  To what extent do you seek God and expect a grand return for your effort?

Like Job, you cannot master God! God is not to be caged, defined and displayed as an admired possession or an oddity.  You cannot justify God by remaking God in your self-image.  God does not surrender to you.  You surrender to God and in doing so achieve salvation, freedom from the failure of self-determination.

Pray

Pray that you will give yourself wholly to God.  Pray for the freedom from want. Pray to become a fearless disciple of Christ.  Pray so that you can love more completely.

A Stormy Confession

God Loves Us
God's Pervasive and Sustaining Love

God's Sustaining Love

Jonah 1:6-12 The Message

4-6 But God sent a huge storm at sea, the waves towering.
The ship was about to break into pieces. The sailors were terrified. They called out in desperation to their gods. They threw everything they were carrying overboard to lighten the ship. Meanwhile, Jonah had gone down into the hold of the ship to take a nap. He was sound asleep. The captain came to him and said, “What’s this? Sleeping! Get up! Pray to your god! Maybe your god will see we’re in trouble and rescue us.”
7 Then the sailors said to one another, “Let’s get to the bottom of this. Let’s draw straws to identify the culprit on this ship who’s responsible for this disaster.”
So they drew straws. Jonah got the short straw.
8 Then they grilled him: “Confess. Why this disaster? What is your work? Where do you come from? What country? What family?”
9 He told them, “I’m a Hebrew. I worship God, the God of heaven who made sea and land.”
10 At that, the men were frightened, really frightened, and said, “What on earth have you done!” As Jonah talked, the sailors realized that he was running away from God.
11 They said to him, “What are we going to do with you—to get rid of this storm?” By this time the sea was wild, totally out of control.
12 Jonah said, “Throw me overboard, into the sea. Then the storm will stop. It’s all my fault. I’m the cause of the storm. Get rid of me and you’ll get rid of the storm.”

For Reflection

Yes, Jonah had a weak spot when it came to Nineveh.  But Jonah was willing to sacrifice himself to save the sailors.  Perhaps that is why God decided to call Jonah.  Jonah was a good man and worthy of God's call, worthy enough to be lead into a more complete understanding of his relationship to God.

God was not punishing Jonah, God was offering Jonah an opportunity to grow in grace, to have a more complete spiritual life.  God does that with us too.

Pray

Pray that you will heed the call of God.  Pray for the courage to tackle the most difficult job God hands to you.  Pray for confidence and trust God's judgment.

Fleeing from God's Call

God Loves Us
God's Pervasive and Sustaining Love

God's Sustaining Love

Jonah 1:1-6 The Message

Running Away from God

1 1-2 One day long ago, God’s Word came to Jonah, Amittai’s son: “Up on your feet and on your way to the big city of Nineveh! Preach to them. They’re in a bad way and I can’t ignore it any longer.”
3 But Jonah got up and went the other direction to Tarshish, running away from God. He went down to the port of Joppa and found a ship headed for Tarshish. He paid the fare and went on board, joining those going to Tarshish—as far away from God as he could get.
4-6 But God sent a huge storm at sea, the waves towering.
The ship was about to break into pieces. The sailors were terrified. They called out in desperation to their gods. They threw everything they were carrying overboard to lighten the ship. Meanwhile, Jonah had gone down into the hold of the ship to take a nap. He was sound asleep. The captain came to him and said, “What’s this? Sleeping! Get up! Pray to your god! Maybe your god will see we’re in trouble and rescue us.”

For Reflection

Was God punishing Jonah or did God have something more in mind? Certainly, Jonah suffered. However, God knew the hate in Jonah's heart. In the service to God, Jonah would grow in grace.  For his help, Jonah would be blessed. Reluctant Jonah would become a sign to the people of Nineveh because he had escaped death in the belly of a fish and that gave Jonah the credibility he needed to persuade Nineveh to repent.

How many of us reject God's call and need a similar experience?

Pray

Pray for the opportunity to serve God.  Pray that you will not avoid obedience and welcome the chance to grow into the grace God intends you to possess.

God's Wrath against Nineveh

God Loves Us
God's Pervasive and Sustaining Love

God's Sustaining Love

Nahum 1:1-10 The Message

God Is Serious Business

1 A report on the problem of Nineveh, the way God gave Nahum of Elkosh to see it:
2-6 God is serious business.
    He won’t be trifled with.
He avenges his foes.
    He stands up against his enemies, fierce and raging.
But God doesn’t lose his temper.
    He’s powerful, but it’s a patient power.
Still, no one gets by with anything.
    Sooner or later, everyone pays.
Tornadoes and hurricanes
    are the wake of his passage,
Storm clouds are the dust
    he shakes off his feet.
He yells at the sea: It dries up.
    All the rivers run dry.
The Bashan and Carmel mountains shrivel,
    the Lebanon orchards shrivel.
Mountains quake in their roots,
    hills dissolve into mud flats.
Earth shakes in fear of God.
    The whole world’s in a panic.
Who can face such towering anger?
    Who can stand up to this fierce rage?
His anger spills out like a river of lava,
    his fury shatters boulders.
7-10 God is good,
    a hiding place in tough times.
He recognizes and welcomes
    anyone looking for help,
No matter how desperate the trouble.
    But cozy islands of escape
He wipes right off the map.
    No one gets away from God.
Why waste time conniving against God?
    He’s putting an end to all such scheming.
For troublemakers, no second chances.
    Like a pile of dry brush,
Soaked in oil,
    they’ll go up in flames.

For Reflection

Herein is described a god who will punish evil, but will protect those who trust in Him. Here is a god who is slow to anger but willing to judge. One is right to fear God.  However, God also protects those who fear God and are obedient to God.  God, the father protects God's children. But, for those who do not accept or follow the law of love, seal their own fate.

Pray

Pray to deepen your faith.  Pray and sit quietly.  Wait for God to lead the way.  Pray so that you can be ready when the Lord asks you to act.  Pray for the courage to follow the paths upon which the Lord directs you.

Compassion after Rejection

God Loves Us
God's Pervasive and Sustaining Love

God's Sustaining Love

Isaiah 54:1-10. The Message

Spread Out! Think Big!

54 1-6 “Sing, barren woman, who has never had a baby.
    Fill the air with song, you who’ve never experienced childbirth!
You’re ending up with far more children
    than all those childbearing women.” God says so!
“Clear lots of ground for your tents!
    Make your tents large. Spread out! Think big!
Use plenty of rope,
    drive the tent pegs deep.
You’re going to need lots of elbow room
    for your growing family.
You’re going to take over whole nations;
    you’re going to resettle abandoned cities.
Don’t be afraid—you’re not going to be embarrassed.
    Don’t hold back—you’re not going to come up short.
You’ll forget all about the humiliations of your youth,
    and the indignities of being a widow will fade from memory.
For your Maker is your bridegroom,
    his name, God-of-the-Angel-Armies!
Your Redeemer is The Holy of Israel,
    known as God of the whole earth.
You were like an abandoned wife, devastated with grief,
    and God welcomed you back,
Like a woman married young
    and then left,” says your God.
7-8 Your Redeemer God says:
“I left you, but only for a moment.
    Now, with enormous compassion, I’m bringing you back.
In an outburst of anger, I turned my back on you—
    but only for a moment.
It’s with lasting love
    that I’m tenderly caring for you.
9-10 “This exile is just like the days of Noah for me:
    I promised then that the waters of Noah
    would never again flood the earth.
I’m promising now no more anger,
    no more dressing you down.
For even if the mountains walk away
    and the hills fall to pieces,
My love won’t walk away from you,
    my covenant commitment of peace won’t fall apart.”
    The God who has compassion on you says so.

For Reflection

The woman about whom the Psalmist is singing is a reference to the Hebrew return from captivity.  The passages prophesied the expansion of God's kingdom and God's commitment to abide with you in peace. Centuries have passed, and Christ has shown us that God's commitment has extended beyond the Jews to all humankind. Rather than merit, the new covenant is built on the compassion and mercy of God, inviolable and everlasting.


Pray

Praise God in shouts of Joy and singing to the top of your voice.  Dance with God.  Speak with God, Walk in partnership with God.  This is your hallowing moment. Thank God for your freedom to love  as God loves.

Can I Flee From God's Presence?

God Loves Us
God's Pervasive and Sustaining Love

God's Sustaining Love

Psalm 139:7-12 The Message

7-12 Is there anyplace I can go to avoid your Spirit?
    to be out of your sight?
If I climb to the sky, you’re there!
    If I go underground, you’re there!
If I flew on morning’s wings
    to the far western horizon,
You’d find me in a minute—
    you’re already there waiting!
Then I said to myself, “Oh, he even sees me in the dark!
    At night I’m immersed in the light!”
It’s a fact: darkness isn’t dark to you;
    night and day, darkness and light, they’re all the same to you.

For Reflection

The fact that God is everywhere is both comforting and disturbing. No matter where we are, physically or psychologically, God's comforting presence heals, Likewise, God knows our every thought and move.  The latter is a bit disturbing, We all have secrets we keep from others, but nothing we think, say or do is hidden from God.  Amazingly, God knows, and yet, abides.

As Barbara Brown Taylor points out, "Even when you cannot see where you are going and no one answers when you call, this is not sufficient proof that you are alone. There is a divine presence that transcends all your ideas about it, along with all your language for calling it to your aid, which is not above using darkness as the wrecking ball that brings all your false gods down— but whether you decide to trust the witness of those who have gone before you, or you decide to do whatever it takes to become a witness yourself, here is the testimony of faith: darkness is not dark to God; the night is as bright as the day."

Taylor, Barbara Brown. Learning to Walk in the Dark (p. 16). HarperCollins. Kindle Edition. 


Pray

Pray so that no matter what happens you keep on keepin' on with the confidence that at the end of this trial as at the end of all other trials God will make it right.  Pray to drive your darkness into the light of God's glory and grace.  Pray for patience and wait on the Lord.