Mission Faithwalk

I will shake all nations, and the desired of all nations will come, and I will fill this house with glory,’ says the LORD Almighty. (Haggai 2:7)        The Zondervan commentary for this verse says that there is some debate about "desired of all nations will come" because "the desired" is singular, and "will come" is plural. It could be a reference to the Messiah, who will come or it could be a reference to desired things that will come. It goes further to say that "fill this house with glory" tilts the interpretation toward the Messiah.            Is the Messiah desired of all nations? If that were so, wouldn't there be many times more Christians? This is one of those verses that seems to cry out for further consideration. Do the nations desire the Messiah? The answers are "no" and "yes." People don't want to be told what to do especially if it's not what they want to do. At the same time, American elections a

And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: “The deliverer will come from Zion; h e will turn godlessness away from Jacob.   (Romans 11:26)             How often do you long for a "knight in shining armor" to come and rescue you from whatever it is you wish to escape? Some people might call this immature romanticism, but I suspect there is part of each one of us that recognizes a deep-seated need for deliverance. That's why people react so strongly in politics. Candidates promise to deliver us from _________. If the wrong person is elected, those hopes and dreams are dashed. If the right person is elected, chances are those hopes and dreams are dashed because the delivery delivered doesn't turn out to be the delivery we thought we were getting. Our "happily ever after" dissolves into disillusionment.        In my own case, I can tell you that in my last job, there were many days when I felt incapable of doing more than standing with my arms fold

So then, those who suffer according to God’s will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good. (I Peter 4:19)           There are some who believe that God created the universe, then wandered off somewhere to do His "God thing" and left the universe on its own. In other words, there are some who believe that God might be a Creator, but He's not   a faithful Creator. These people are what is known as "Deists." I feel sorry for them. Their god either cannot or does not care enough to bother to be faithful. They've been abandoned, left to face life alone.           Today's passage says that God is not only Creator, but faithful Creator. He is faithful to Himself and He is faithful to His creation. That means that whatever He created you to be(come) or to do, He will see it through to the end. You might not like all that needs to be done to reach that goal. In fact, God may not like all that needs to be done, but if

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6)             I can't think of any better comment that can be made about this verse than:       Cue the music! Come worship with me!   Wonderful Counselor  (Click on the link)

Be careful not to forget the covenant of the LORD your God that he made with you; do not make for yourselves an idol in the form of anything the LORD your God has forbidden. For the LORD your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God.( Deuteronomy 4:23-24)   Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our “God is a consuming fire.” (Hebrews 12:28-29) CONSUMING FIRE         I'm listening to Isaiah during solitary car rides right now, and one of the things God keeps saying is that He will share His glory with no one . Today's passages remind me of the first commandment: "Have no gods before me." Not only are we to have no gods that we prefer to God, we're not even to have gods to "paraklete" (come alongside) Him.                   The reason for this is simple. God is God and there is no other. (Deut 4:35, Deut 4:39, I Kings 8:59-60, Isaiah 44:

Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. (Luke 2:25) CONSOLATION OF ISRAEL             Today's passage gives us another "con" word in English, and another "parakleo." Consolation comes from Latin terms meaning "with/together" and "to comfort, provide solace, encourage."   Parakleo means to come alongside, to comfort, encourage or appeal." It's the term we discussed when we looed at "Advocate."   These are more words that seem to have a "There, there, it'll be OK" meaning. Again, the etymologies suggest that the terms weren't meant so much as pats on the head as they were kicks in the butt. Comfort , as noted yesterday, is "with strength." Encourage is "to put heart or courage into."           Why is the Bible so insistent on strength, courage, heart, and en

See, I have made him a witness to the peoples, a leader and commander of the peoples. (Isaiah 55:4)   COMMANDER           If God as a "comforter" makes us uncomfortable, God as our commander is even more challenging. God commandeers   too often. Things don't go the way we want. He gives us commandments we don't like. He makes statements with which we don't agree. He doesn't make it easy. He assigns tasks that are just plain impossible. Those who say that God never gives us more than we can handle don't know God. That's precisely what He gives us because otherwise we wouldn't need Him.            So why bother with, obey or worship such a difficult God - a God who thinks it His place to command us? The most obvious reason is that He is God. Any being who does not have the ultimate right, wisdom, power, authority and knowledge to command could not be God. That is why we cannot be gods. As the Creator, He knows how things work. His wisdom

But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. (John 14:26 KJV)   But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. (John 14:26 NIV) COMFORTER           I don't know anyone who doesn't enjoy being comfortable. I dream of a home with a fireplace and deep chairs into which I can snuggle with a fleece throw, a cup of hot chocolate, a great sound system playing instrumental music, and a good book (in such a home, neither calories nor money is a factor.) This is the sort of God we would like to have, one who makes us comfortable. Isn't that what the Twenty Third Psalm is all about: "I shall not want" and "prepares a table before me in the presence of my enemies"? (The answer is "no.")           C

So this is what the Sovereign LORD says:   “See, I lay a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone for a sure foundation; the one who trusts will never be dismayed. (Isaiah 28:16)   CORNERSTONE           According to Wikipedia, a cornerstone is important because everything else in the structure is set it reference to it. In the video series called The Truth Project , Del Tackett reminds us that we have to gaze upon the face of God as we consider the universe. Everything hinges on Him. Everything is in relation to Him.           Consider God's triune nature. He is unity in diversity, and diversity in unity. It would make sense, therefore, for the universe to be a place of both unity and diversity. That is what we find. Within the Church, we are given a diversity of gifts, but one Spirit. Marriage is unity and diversity used to illustrate the relationship between Christ and the Church.            Light presents us with another example of this. Light exhibit ch

“Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen one in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him and he will bring justice to the nations. He will not shout or cry out, or raise his voice in the streets. A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out. In faithfulness he will bring forth justice; (Isaiah 42:1-3)   CHOSEN ONE           Remember standing in a line waiting for a team captain to choose you? Remember the angst as you waited, and waited? Or were you one of those who got picked right away? I wasn't. I was one of the fat kids who was picked because they no longer had a choice. Being chosen has its benefits, and its costs.         Israel was a chosen nation. God picked them from among all other nations, not because they were wise, or good, or strong, or moral. They weren't any of those things. For a short time every once in a while, being chosen felt good and they celebrated. Most of the time, being chosen was a pain. There were

And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away. (I Peter 5:4) CHIEF SHEPHERD The first thing that come to mind this morning are Hannah Hurnard's Hind's Feet On High Places . It's an allegory in which the Chief Shepherd has a prominent role. If you haven't read it, you should. The second thing that comes to mind is the question of why the Chief Shepherd would make sheep into shepherds. I have known (or known of) some great pastors and some who weren't so great. Wouldn't it have been wiser to give us shepherds who would protect us from the wolves, lions, bears and dragons out there? Sheep just really aren't equipped for that sort of thing.           Then again, the Chief Shepherd, who was not a man, became a man. He lived a human life and according to Hebrews, that means that He can and does understand our weaknesses. His goal apparently wasn't to do for us so much as to do with us. If the s

  “ I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star.” (Revelation 22:16) BRIGHT MORNING STAR             Eventually, we'll discuss "Root And Offspring of   David," but today's name of God is "Bright Morning Star." There are times through the late fall and early winter that I am out walking while it's still dark out, but I don't think I've seen many bright morning stars this year. It seems as if Venus, Jupiter, and Mars (the three planets that are sometimes called bright morning or bright evening stars) have been evening stars or late night stars.            The three definitional facts about bright morning stars that come to mind are that they actually rise while it is still dark and they always rise shortly before the dawn. Remember the saying, "It's always darkest before the dawn"? That's when bright morning stars are visi

No longer will they call you Deserted, or name your land Desolate. But you will be called Hephzibah, and your land Beulah; for the LORD will take delight in you, and your land will be married. As a young man marries a maiden, so will your sons marry you; as a bridegroom rejoices over his bride, so will your God rejoice over you. (Isaiah 62:4-5)   BRIDEGROOM           The music begins, the doors open and you begin a long, slow walk with your father down an aisle as everyone watches you. The pews or chairs may as well be empty because your focus is on the man waiting in front of the preacher, and on the ceremony that is about to take place. Usually, weddings seem to be all about the bride. In recent years, they've become all about the entertainment, with bride, groom or volunteers singing, dancing and doing gymnastics. The reception afterward requires a party planner, a DJ, a caterer, a choreographer, at least a dozen friends willing to volunteer for a flash mob or surprise danc

For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” (John 6:33)             Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty. But as I told you, you have seen me and still you do not believe. All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away. For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me . (John 6:35-38) BREAD OF GOD, BREAD OF LIFE           Bread. Carbohydrates. They're absolutely essential to life, but there's bread and then there's bread. You can have healthy grains, some water, some herbs, and some yeast, or you can have bleached, processed flour, milk, yeast, sugar, more sugar, and whatever else tickles your taste buds. It can look like bread or it can look like cookies, cake, or even ice cream. You can eat it because it's what gives you the fuel your

In that day the Branch of the LORD will be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the land will be the pride and glory of the survivors in Israel (Isaiah 4:2)   “The days are coming,” declares the LORD , “when I will raise up to David a righteous Branch, a King who will reign wisely and do what is just and right in the land. (Jeremiah 23:5)   “ ‘In those days and at that time I will make a righteous Branch sprout from David’s line; he will do what is just and right in the land." (Jeremiah 33:15) Branch            What does your family tree look like? Mine is impressive not because the people were well-known, rich, or powerful (though there are some who fit that description.) It's impressive because it's been well-researched. It's a big, old chestnut that is admittedly a little lopsided in one direction. The family tree of Israel had some of the same problem. Ten of the twelve branches had been broken off. One of the remaining big branches (Judah) had a bra

  which God will bring about in his own time—God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords, (I Timothy 6:15) BLESSED & HOLY RULER         Blessed? Yes, I can understand God being the Holy Ruler, but blessed? Blessed means "happy." How can God be happy when everything has gone so wrong? How can He be happy and holy at the same time?          One possibility is the difference between big picture and the details. A couple may argue and be angry with each other about something, but still be happy to be married to the other. Parents may be angry about something their child has done, but still be happy with their lives and roles as parents. God may be angry about sin in my life, but He knows what He is doing, and knows that ultimately, it will work out.          Another possible reason why God can be happy and angry at the same time is that while God hates sin, none of what happens requires God to be other than who and what He is. I enjoy myself;

  “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To him who is thirsty I will give to drink without cost from the spring of the water of life. (Revelation 21:6)   BEGINNING           Let's start with the very beginning. It the beginning, God....Before the beginning, God. It all begins with God. In a sense, God had to get out of the way or to restrict Himself in order to allow anything else to be. God as the beginning is something we can't quite grasp. Everything we know comes from somewhere or is caused by something. How could something actually be the beginning?            By definition that which is the beginning must be God since it all comes from that being. It is also logical that there must be such a beginning because otherwise, one is left with an infinite regression of causes or the idea that something "just happened" without being caused. Believing either of those requires more faith than believing God caused it because neithe

  You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead. We are witnesses of this.   (Acts 3:15) Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God .(Hebrews 12:2) AUTHOR OF LIFE, AUTHOR OF OUR FAITH           Some people say that there is no meta-narrative, no over-arching story tying everything together. There's no main character. There are no plots or plot twists. Above all else there is on "happily ever after" ending. My writing coach's basic instruction on writing a story (adopted from Dean Koontz) is to get the character(s) in terrible trouble as quickly as possible and have everything done to fix the problem make it worse. Require that the characters solve the problem; no cavalry, no deux ex machina, no last minute rescue by the Enterprise. This is what I see as I read Scripture, with God as the main ch

Who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed? He grew up before him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground. He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not . (Isaiah 53:1-2)   Therefore, say to the Israelites: ‘I am the LORD , and I will bring you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians. I will free you from being slaves to them, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with mighty acts of judgment." (Exodus 6:6) ARM OF THE LORD           According to my reference books, the "arm" was representative of someone's personal, active power. The arm is what gets things done. It was by God's arm that the Israelites were brought out of Egypt. When we're going to get something d

Therefore, holy brothers, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, the apostle and high priest whom we confess. (Hebrews 3:1) APOSTLE         Jesus, the apostle? We usually think of the eleven disciples as being promoted to apostleship, and Matthew added to maintain the parallel with the twelve tribes. Paul was added as an apostle. Did you know there were others described as apostles? James, the brother of the Lord Jesus (Gal 1:19; 2:9); Barnabas (Acts 14:4, 14); Andronicus and Junias (Rom 16:7); and Silas (1 Thess 2:6). The term "apostle" means "sent out one, ambassador, envoy, representative, so it is entirely appropriate to refer to Jesus as the apostle of God.          When ambassadors visit another land, they act as a liaison with the leadership of that land. Each of us is being treated as a monarch of our lives. As God's Ambassador, Jesus delivers a treaty being offered to each of us by the King of the universe. The conditions are

7 F ebruary, 2017   The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together against the LORD and against his Anointed One. (Psalm 2:2) ANOINTED ONE           When people suggested to David that he take advantage of the opportunity to kill Saul (who was, after all, trying to kill him) David rejected the idea, saying that Saul was the Lord's anointed. In fact, when someone who didn't kill King Saul told David that he had, David had him executed for his crime. The kings of Israel and later Judah were called "anointed." This royal psalm is one the texts of the Old Testament that is most often quoted in the New, including this passage being used in Acts 4 as Peter explained to the Jews about Jesus. The kings of the earth were considered to be Rome and Herod, and the rulers, the priests, Pharisees and Sadducees.           It should be no surprise that passage is still true today. The kings and rulers, the nations and people rise up against the A

“As I looked, “thrones were set in place, and the Ancient of Days took his seat. His clothing was as white as snow; the hair of his head was white like wool. His throne was flaming with fire, and its wheels were all ablaze. (Daniel 7:9) ANCIENT OF DAYS              As every generation reaches its teens and young-adult stages, it decides that it knows better than the previous generation(s). I'm sure you've heard the complaints about the Millennials. If you haven't seen this video, you might enjoy it: MIL-LEN-IAL-S!            Some people insist that the Bible may have been good for people who lived back when it was written or even up through the Middle Ages, but it's outdated now. We've grown up as a people, we've evolved. We have science now, so we understand all this stuff. We need to learn to move with the times, be open to change because "change is good." The words for this are ignorance, folly and arrogance.           It's time for a

To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: "These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation." (Revelation 3:14)           Oh, I have to laugh. This morning (Sunday), I took one of those tests on Face Book: "Can we guess which word from the Bible describes you best?" The word they came up with was "Amen." When I shared it, I said that I keep praying that it will be true. Then I opened up my devotional document to see what name of God to discuss for tomorrow's Mission: Faithwalk entry, and "lo and behold...." Amen! This isn't my first encounter with the idea this season here. Several times  over the past couple months, I have found myself praying, "I bend the knee."            In the King James Version, when Jesus said "Verily, verily I say to you" or in the NIV when Jesus said, "I tell you the truth," the words translated from the Greek were "Amen, ame

I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.                                                                                        (Revelation 22:13) Alpha, Omega, First, Last, Beginning and End           Have you ever been involved in something, and had someone who was there at the beginning of the project walk out? Give up? Have you ever been involved in something and had someone show up half way through and take control without having any idea what had happened before? Sometimes those departures or arrivals are for the better, but in today's passage we find Someone who started it all out, and will see it through to the end. In fact, He has seen it through to the end, because He's outside of time and we are   with Him then as now, even though our current self doesn't experience that reality yet.          Because of recent shifts in meaning, "Alpha" tends to have a negative connotation. It's a hard-driving, ruthles

My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous (1 John 2:1 KJV) Paraclete "ADVOCATE"           Most of the names of God we've explored have been associated with God, the Father. Paraclete is associated with Jesus and with the Holy Spirit. It means "one who comes along side," and is also translated "counselor, advisor, and helper." In a way, a spouse is a paraclete. [1]           In today's passage, we are brought into the heavenly court, guilty of the crimes with which we've been charged. To make matters worse, our coconspirator and mentor in those crimes is also in that heavenly court, not as our   fellow defendant, but as the prosecuting attorney! Even if he can't serve as a witness to our specific crimes, he has a whole gallery of loyal henchmen, at least one of whom was probably nearby.            Our Paraclete doesn&#