Obadiah 1:10-21; Jonah; Micah 1-3

Nineveh was always evil and so why did God pay special attention this time to what they were doing? Sometimes I think that I can get away with some things that I do that does not honour God. At some point, like with Nineveh, God takes exception to how I treat His honour and my sin literally ends up in God’s face.

“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.” – Jonah 1:2 MSG

I only understand this when I apply the Middle East culture of honour and shame. A culture where they try and protect their honour or even try to gain more honour for their family. A culture where I try and not lose honour or to be shamed for that would be a tragedy and I might need to take steps to defend my honour or regain the honour that was lost.

So Nineveh reached a stage in its life where God’s honour was being challenged. At least God was giving them a chance as opposed to Sodom and Gomorrah. Jonah is the prophet called on to tell these people that His honour had been violated and it was Jonah’s job to defend God’s honour.

Then they grilled him: “Confess. Why this disaster? What is your work? Where do you come from? What country? What family?” – Jonah 1:8 MSG

Jonah really messed up because he missed this purpose point of God’s honour needing to be defended. Even the people on the boat knew the storm was all about him. He tried to deny it but in the end he knew he had to confess. I know I have found myself in this very same situation – when will I learn to confess right away so that loved ones are not caught in God trying to get my attention.

I continue to have stories where I am running away from God – I cannot figure out why flight is my first response. Running away is an action that people do not like and it is considered a deviant behaviour in a honour-shame culture.

Father, I am not sure why flight is my first motivation – flight away family members, from church family, from confrontation at work – help me understand that I am called to lead and to lead means I stand. Especially if You have called me to proclaim and defend Your honour. I ask that You empower me with Your Holy Spirit so I know that I do not move forward on my own, but with You.

Erwin (evanlaar1922)

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Micah 1-4; Psalm 10; Matthew 24

What a terrible place for me to be in that would cause God to show up and judge me for the evil I have done.

Look, the Lord is leaving His place
and coming down to trample
the heights^[b] of the earth.
The mountains will melt beneath Him,
and the valleys will split apart,
like wax near a fire,
like water cascading down a mountainside.
All this will happen because of Jacob’s rebellion
and the sins of the house of Israel.
What is the rebellion of Jacob?
Isn’t it Samaria?
And what is the high place of Judah?
Isn’t it Jerusalem? – Micah 1:3-5 HCSB

What is this evil I have done? I think it is as simple as loving my self and this world more than Him. I find myself contrary to His love and my stepping away from Him, I am contrary to the truth of faith.

I cannot lose sight of this fact – that justice is a fundamental part of God’s character.

But You Yourself have seen trouble and grief,
observing it in order to take the matter into Your hands.
The helpless entrusts himself to You;
You are a helper of the fatherless. – Psalm 10:14 HCSB

He steps in and promises protection and help for those who cannot protect themselves and He redeems injustice through His unfailing love – He invites me to participate with Him in making that happen.

What will happen if I choose not to and decide to remain in my selfish love?

Then many will take offense, betray one another and hate one another. Many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. Because lawlessness will multiply, the love of many will grow cold. – Matthew 24:10-12 HCSB

Jesus foretold that love and truth could one day lose their true meaning and force in this world. I pray that I am not one who be among those who have.

Father, how I trust the Holy Spirit to not leave me in a place that would be contrary to the character of God. I want to be like Jesus in every facet of my life. I do not want to see my love for You grow cold, or even lukewarm for that matter. I know I need to step out of myself and give myself to You in my community. I know You are inviting me to participate. Forgive my cowardly fear, I pray that Your love will cast that fear out of my life. Thank You.

Erwin (evanlaar1922)

2 Chronicles 1; 1 John 1; Micah 7; Luke 16

Solomon started his leadership with the right kind of prayer, a prayer I still use every day – asking for wisdom, knowledge, discernment and to remember in all things that I do to honour the name of the Lord.

God replied to Solomon, “You have made the right choice. Instead of asking for wealth or treasure or fame or the death of your enemies or even for long life for yourself, you have asked for wisdom and knowledge so that you can rule my people, over whom I have made you king. – 2 Chronicles 1:11 GNT

John reminds me not to forget to pray for other followers of Jesus, to be an encouragement to them and to ask God to keep us all walking in His light. I know that comes to a place where I can be strengthen, however wisdom is what I really want for me and others. With that gift comes fellowship, forgiveness received and given, joy and deep relationships.

But if we live in the light—just as he is in the light—then we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from every sin. – 1 John 1:7 GNT

It is my desire to watch, wait and hope in my Saviour and for others to do the same. No matter if I or others lose our way, even in darkness, the Lord is my light.

But I will watch for the Lord; I will wait confidently for God, who will save me. My God will hear me.

Our enemies have no reason to gloat over us. We have fallen, but we will rise again. We are in darkness now, but the Lord will give us light. – Micah 7:7-8 GNT

I know that everything I have is from God and I continue to pray for Him to guide me. I am reminded to continue practicing to be faithful in the little things, preparing for the moments when I will be called upon to be faithful with more important matters. I will trust my walk to God and expect Him to answer my prayers for wisdom.

Whoever is faithful in small matters will be faithful in large ones; whoever is dishonest in small matters will be dishonest in large ones. – Luke 16:10 GNT

Father, I need wisdom. To be the leader You have called me to be, and to be attractive in the sense that those around me know that I walk in Your light, it is important that You walk with me. I know there are days I will fail to that end, but again, I know that all is not lost – You will be there to pick me up. Help me take each step, enjoying the moments of faithfulness, but understanding without You and without Your wisdom, I could fall just the same. Thank You for Your mercy and grace.

Erwin (evanlaar1922)

1 Chron. 29; 2 Pet. 3; Micah 6; Luke 15

“Then David praised the Lord in the presence of the whole assembly: “Yours, O Lord, is the greatness, the power, the glory, the victory, and the majesty. Everything in the heavens and on earth is yours, O Lord, and this is your kingdom. We adore you as the one who is over all things. Wealth and honor come from you alone, for you rule over everything. Power and might are in your hand, and at your discretion people are made great and given strength. “O our God, we thank you and praise your glorious name! But who am I, and who are my people, that we could give anything to you? Everything we have has come from you, and we give you only what you first gave us! ” 1 Chronicles 29:10-14 NLT

David used his wealth to help build the temple. He was praising God for giving him everything that he had (1 Chron. 29:2). He wanted to see his son Solomon have the same trust in God that he did. “Give my son Solomon the wholehearted desire to obey all your commands, laws, and decrees, and to do everything necessary to build this Temple, for which I have made these preparations.” 1 Chron. 29:19.

Like David, the Father of the prodigal son was generous with his money. He cared more more about his son’s lost soul, than about demanding his rights. He gave freely, not only of his money, but his life. He loved extravagantly.

“A man had two sons. The younger son told his father, ‘I want my share of your estate now before I die.’ So his father agreed to divide his wealth between his sons. “A few days later this younger son packed all his belongings and moved to a distant land, and there he wasted all his money in wild living…So he returned home to his father. And while he was still a long way off, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him” Luke 15:11-21 NLT

Both Fathers were leaving a legacy for their sons. They knew that their life was temporary. They wanted to use it to glorify God. Am I?

“What can we bring to the Lord? Should we bring him burnt offerings? Should we bow before God Most High with offerings of yearling calves? Should we offer him thousands of rams and ten thousand rivers of olive oil? Should we sacrifice our firstborn children to pay for our sins? No, O people, the Lord has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you; to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God,” Micah 6:6-8 NLT

Dear Father, I pray that I would live with open hands. Help me not to forget that everything I have is yours. “They deliberately forget that God made the heavens long ago by the word of his command, and he brought the earth out from the water and surrounded it by water.” 2 Peter 3:5 NLT. You have given me so many gifts that I don’t deserve. Thank you most of all for Jesus. Amen.

Amy(amyctanner)

Micah 1-4; Psalm 10; Matthew 24

That very first sin, in the garden, they were faced with a choice. At first, it kinda looked like a choice between disobedience and obedience. Or maybe it was doubt over trust. Or maybe it was power over relationship. Maybe it was all of those things, but as I’ve thought on that this week, it was (insert the sin or desire) over relationship (in that case, with God).

I’ve watched that same thing play itself out in a variety of ways throughout my life. Popularity vs. relationship. Lust vs. relationship. Pride vs. relationship. Greed vs. relationship. Addiction vs. relationship.

Micah 1-4 is a list of accusation against a nation and their wickedness. Because they chose evil, unbelief, disobedience over relationship. Psalm 10 takes a look at a heart.

For they brag about their evil desires;
    they praise the greedy and curse the Lord.

⁴ The wicked are too proud to seek God.
    They seem to think that God is dead.
⁵ Yet they succeed in everything they do.
    They do not see your punishment awaiting them.
    They sneer at all their enemies.
⁶ They think, “Nothing bad will ever happen to us!
    We will be free of trouble forever!”

⁷ Their mouths are full of cursing, lies, and threats.
Trouble and evil are on the tips of their tongues. (Psalm 10:3-7, NLT)

If you’ve ever been on the relationship side of being ditched, you know the sting of sin. But when it’s man vs. God, it’s man choosing an idol over God, and that idol goes by many names. It is temporary, powerless, empty.

Those choices can be defining, life altering, eternal.

 

⁵ Though the nations around us follow their idols,
    we will follow the Lord our God forever and ever. (Micah 4:5, NLT)

Every day, a choice.

As Jesus was leaving the Temple grounds, his disciples pointed out to him the various Temple buildings. ² But he responded, “Do you see all these buildings? I tell you the truth, they will be completely demolished. Not one stone will be left on top of another!” (Matthew 24:1-2, NLT)

This life, this world, they are so very temporary.

Live kingdom focused.

⁴⁵ “A faithful, sensible servant is one to whom the master can give the responsibility of managing his other household servants and feeding them. ⁴⁶ If the master returns and finds that the servant has done a good job, there will be a reward. ⁴⁷ I tell you the truth, the master will put that servant in charge of all he owns. ⁴⁸ But what if the servant is evil and thinks, ‘My master won’t be back for a while,’ ⁴⁹ and he begins beating the other servants, partying, and getting drunk? ⁵⁰ The master will return unannounced and unexpected, ⁵¹ and he will cut the servant to pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth (Matthew 24:45-51, NLT).

Lord, the choices I make, the words I say, the actions I take, they tell a story, and whether intended or not, the story they tell will show my heart. But truly, importantly, I hope those choices show you–my strength in weakness, my hope in grief, my faith in what seems futile. You are just. You are sovereign.

Courtney (66books365)