I am using One Year Bible Online for my daily Bible study. For today, One Year Bible Online links here. I have found that by writing this daily blog of what I see when I read these scriptures, I get more out of them. I hope that by posting these ruminations others may get some benefit as well. In order to make that possible I read the passages and write my thoughts a day in advance. If you have any thoughts or comments regarding these verses or what I have written about them, please post them.

Isaiah 48:12-50:11

     The prophet tells us that God, and God alone, predicted that Cyrus would rise and overthrow the Babylonians. No one speaking on behalf of other gods had made such a prediction. Isaiah then goes on to report that God tells us that He gives us His commands because they are what is good for us. If we, as a people, listen to God’s commands, we will have peace. And even if we only obey God’s commands on an individual basis we will be better off than if we do not. God’s commands are for our own good, just as the rules laid down for a child by good parents are for the child’s own good. Yet even though we have disobeyed His commands, like a loving parent, God will extend His hand and rescue us from the trouble our disobedience has brought us.

***
     This passage contains an important lesson for us. God’s commands are not arbitrary rules designed to prove that we will do as He instructs.Rather they are there for our own good. God does not want us to be hurt, so He tells us not to do the things which will cause us harm. He wants us to be happy, so He tells us to do the things which will bring us true joy.
***
     Isaiah then proceeds to what has been quoted in the New Testament as a prophecy concerning Jesus. In that light, I find a statement in the middle of it interesting. Isaiah puts a statement in the mouth of the one who is prophesied to come. That statement says that His work seems so useless, that He spent His strength for nothing. God replies to this statement by telling Him that not only will He restore the people of Israel to God, He will bring God’s salvation to the ends of the earth.
***
     When those who do not know God look at the crucifixion of Christ, it looks like failure. So too does many of the things which God calls us to do. Sometimes when we do what God has called us to do, it looks like failure. But that is because we stop looking at what He is doing too soon. If we stop reading the Gospels at Jesus’ death, it looks like He failed. But that is not the end of the story. There is still the resurrection to come. That is how it is in our lives, we may seem to have failed, but God tells us that the resurrection is going to come. He will bring about victory from what appears to all as complete defeat.
***
     When conditions were right, God sent His Redeemer to redeem His people. He will free the captives and give sight to the blind. He will make level roads in the mountains and cause it to rain in the desert. He will bring the people He has chosen to Himself from the ends of the earth. God asks about rescuing captives from a tyrant and taking plunder from a warrior (the implication being that the captives will be killed and the plunder destroyed before they will be released). However, God tells us that He will free the captives and give them the plunder taken by the warriors.
     Isaiah continues with what is certainly a Messianic prophecy, but I believe it is also a guide for our instruction. He tells us that he did not turn away from God’s commands. He was willing to be beaten and tortured to do as God instructed. He refused to hide from mockery. He was not put to shame because the Lord was his help. Now will bring charges against him because God stands as his advocate, his defense attorney. If we are walking in darkness and trust the Lord, He will give us light. But those who think that their own insight will get them through without needing to turn to God will stumble and fall.

Ephesians 4:17-32

     Paul tells us that we must no longer live as unbelievers do, a lifestyle that is the product of futility and ignorance. They live for lustful pleasure, indulge in impurity, and are full of greed because they have refused to accept God’s instructions. However, this is not the life which we have learned to live since we accepted Christ and His truth. Let us throw off our old lives of deceitful desires which corrupt our entire being. Rather let us put on new selves as the Spirit transforms our minds into the likeness of the righteousness and holiness of God.
     This means that we are to give up lies, deception, and falsehoods. We cannot allow our anger, no matter how justified, to control our actions. Those who had been stealing are to stop and take up productive work so that they have to share with those in need. We need to stop using foul and abusive language. Instead everything we say should be good and helpful so that those who hear us will be encouraged. Let us not bring sorrow to the Spirit in any way by the way we live.

***
     Some time back I realized that my non-Christian friends tend to commit the sins which they do because they are attempting to distract themselves from the darkness and depression inherent in their world view. There is a certain emptiness to every non-Christian philosophy I have examined. For one reason or another, people have chosen to reject Christianity, which leaves them with no choice but one of these empty philosophies. As a result they spend much of their time trying to find ways to avoid looking into that emptiness.
     As a Christian, we need to acknowledge the value of being productive in service to God. It is not enough to not tell lies, we must avoid being deceitful by selectively telling the truth. I cannot let anger control my actions, even when I believe that I have been wronged. Instead I need to imitate God, who forgave me even though He had much greater reason to be angry with me than I have with any person I have met. The last tow verses of today’s passage sum it all up:

Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

Psalm 69:1-18

     The psalmist cries out to God for rescue. He is exhausted from calling for God’s help. Yet, he still has faith that God will come to his aid. He admits that he is a sinner and that his sins are known to God. His first request is that his actions and troubles do not bring shame to those who trust in God. He has been mocked and ridiculed for his efforts to do God’s will. Nevertheless, he has faith that God will come to his aid.

***
     The psalmist expresses a desire that his own failings and shortcomings not reflect poorly on others who are striving to do the Lord’s will. I, also, will strive to make it clear that my failings are despite my faith, not because of it.

Proverbs 24:5-6

     Wisdom and knowledge allow one to make the best use of one’s strength. Someone who wisely deploys their forces will defeat a stronger opponent who does not do likewise. Knowledge of the circumstances surrounding the contest will give you an advantage over an uninformed opponent.

     I am using One Year Bible Online for my daily Bible study. For today, One Year Bible Online links here. I have found that by writing this daily blog of what I see when I read these scriptures, I get more out of them. I hope that by posting these ruminations others may get some benefit as well. In order to make that possible I read the passages and write my thoughts a day in advance. If you have any thoughts or comments regarding these verses or what I have written about them, please post them.

Isaiah 45:11-48:11

     Isaiah prophesied that God would raise up Cyrus to serve His purposes. He would guide his actions. This is how God works in all of history. He raises up people to serve His purposes and guides their actions, whether they will it or not. The prophet goes on to tell us that God created this world to be lived in, not to be a place of empty chaos. There is no one else like God. He does not whisper secrets to be passed on from teacher to student, God has proclaimed His words for all to hear. In due time, every knee will bow and every tongue confess that God is Lord of all.
     The people of Babylon worshiped the gods they made with their own hands and relied on the powers and wisdom of their magicians and astrologers. They had become arrogant and cocky. They were secure in their wickedness, convinced that they were the center of all existence. But now God was proclaiming that time was running out, they could turn to the answers they had always relied upon, but they would no longer save them from the coming destruction. Because we are stubborn, God has revealed some of His future plans so that when they come to pass we will see that it was God who has done these things.

***
     This world was made for people to live in it. We are to care for the environment around us, but first we are to care for the people God has put there. An ongoing temptation for humans is the desire to be on the “inside”, to know special secrets that have not been revealed to others. That is not how God works. He does not have secret knowledge that is only revealed to those who have been initiated into the inner circle. The knowledge of God’s will is there for anyone who seeks Him. When Pope Francis speaks of those who do not believe in God only needing to follow their conscience, I hear him saying that if we sincerely follow our consciences it will lead us to God and we will learn to know God. It is only those who refuse to follow their conscience when it takes them to God who will remain outside.

Ephesians 4:1-16

     Paul wrote that we should strive to live a life worthy of the call which we have received. He calls on us to be humble and gentle, making every effort to remain united in the Spirit. If we allow, the Spirit will bind us together in peace. Through Christ and the Holy Spirit, God has given us gifts of grace. These gifts are divided up among us according to the wisdom of God. Some of us are gifted to be apostles, others prophets, evangelists, teachers, and pastors (or shepherds). It is the responsibility of those with those gifts to equip God’s people to do works of service and to build up the Church. As we become more mature in our faith, we will not be tossed about by the wind of new teaching.

***
     Paul here emphasizes the importance of being humble and gentle with one another in the Church in order to maintain the unity of the Church. Yet, he also emphasizes the importance of not following every new teaching that comes along. Part of the way that we can resist the lure of clever lies which sound like the truth is by speaking the truth in love. It is not enough to speak the truth, we must do so in love. This is a difficult task to accomplish. Just as difficult is maintaining the focus on unity while staying faithful to God’s truth.

Psalm 68:19-35

     “Our God is a God who saves.” What a powerful truth that is! God’s power is on display for all to see. In the meantime, let us tell everyone about God’s great power. The time will come when God will crush those who fight against Him by oppressing the people of this earth.

Proverbs 24:3-4

     A united group requires wisdom to come into being. Such a group becomes strong when those who lead it exhibit good sense. Knowledge of human behavior make the group rich in those things that are truly valuable.

     I am using One Year Bible Online for my daily Bible study. For today, One Year Bible Online links here. I have found that by writing this daily blog of what I see when I read these scriptures, I get more out of them. I hope that by posting these ruminations others may get some benefit as well. In order to make that possible I read the passages and write my thoughts a day in advance. If you have any thoughts or comments regarding these verses or what I have written about them, please post them.

Isaiah 43:14-45:10

     Through the prophet Isaiah God said that he was going to force the Babylonians to flee in much the same manner which he had brought the Israelites out of Egypt on dry land through the sea. The Babylonian forces would be destroyed just as the Egyptian forces were. However, these acts are as nothing compared to what God was going to do for His people. He prophesied that, despite the fact that they refused to call on Him for help, He would blot out their sins and pour out His Spirit on their descendants.

***
     There is no other God like our God. He is the first and He will be the last. There were none before Him and there will be none after Him. There is none other like Him. There are people who think that the works of their own hands are worthy of worship and can be relied on to rescue them when things go bad. They can never admit that they are relying on what they have made to rescue them from problems that they cannot overcome. If you dig down deep enough into the thinking of those who refuse to worship God, you will discover that it is because they are worshiping themselves.

Ephesians 3:1-21

     God has a plan for the salvation of all people, bringing all who are willing into unity as one body. By His power and grace we have been given the privilege of explaining His plan to those who have not yet heard it. We are not worthy of this privilege, yet God has chosen us for this mission. We were chosen in order to display God’s wisdom, love, and power. It is because of Christ that we can enter into God’s presence with freedom and confidence. Let us fall before God in prayer, requesting that He give us inner strength through His Spirit. If we root and establish ourselves in the love of God we will have the power to grasp the extent of Christ’s love and thus be able filled with the fullness of God.
     As we grasp the extent of Christ’s love and are filled with the power of God’s Spirit we will extend that love to those around us, forgiving those who we feel have done us wrong. How could we do otherwise when we grasp what God has done for us? Let us remember that God is able to do immeasurably more than we can ask or imagine, and that power resides within us. That is an amazing thought, God has put the power to do more than we can ask or imagine within us. Every now and again someone will make the comment, “I don’t know about that, I can imagine an awful lot.” But I do know about that, we have within us the power of the God who created the entire universe, and yet just imagining the scale of our solar system is beyond the capability of everyone I have ever met.

Psalm 68:1-18

     God will rise up and scatter His enemies. He is the father to the fatherless and the defender of widows. He gives the lonely a family. He causes armies to flee so that non-combatant may gather the plunder. Even the lowliest and weakest gather wealth beyond measure. Those who have rebelled against Him will be forced to sing His praises.

Proverbs 24:1-2

     There is nothing to be gained by envying those who are evil or desiring to be their companion. They are constantly stirring up trouble, they will even bring trouble and violence on those they call friends.

     Thirteen years ago today my wife and I got married. So far, God has given us thirteen years together. Not all of that time has been great, but I would not trade any of it. I continue to thank God every morning for the wife He has given me and I am grateful to her for marrying me.
     I am using One Year Bible Online for my daily Bible study. For today, One Year Bible Online links here. I have found that by writing this daily blog of what I see when I read these scriptures, I get more out of them. I hope that by posting these ruminations others may get some benefit as well. In order to make that possible I read the passages and write my thoughts a day in advance. If you have any thoughts or comments regarding these verses or what I have written about them, please post them.

Isaiah 41:17-43:13

     The poor and needy will search for their basic needs and not be able to find them. However, God knows of their need and will provide for them. Those who see what God has done will praise His name for His miraculous love. I am not going to try and summarize this passage as I often do, there is just too much in it. Rather I am going to pull out segments that speak to me today. I will. however, strongly encourage anyone reading this to go and read the entire passage, because there are more beautiful portions to it than I am going to touch on.
     The prophet tells us that God’s chosen one will not shout or raise His voice in public. However, He will bring justice to all who have been wronged. I think this is a model we should attempt to emulate. I want to strive to remain calm and explain what I believe in a quiet, rational voice. When I disagree with others, I do not want to shout them down, rather I want to calmly explain why I disagree. I believe that this is part of my calling from God, to be a calming and steadying influence. I do not always succeed. Sometimes I allow my passions to overcome me, but I have observed that I am at my most effective when I remain calm. It is my ambition to leave the forceful overwhelming of opposition to God.
     I do not want to be one of those who sees, but does not pay attention, or hears, but does not listen. When God speaks to me, I want to pay attention. I do not want God to get out the “two by four” to get my attention by smacking me upside the head. I will not be afraid for I know that God is with me.

“From eternity to eternity I am God.
No one can snatch anyone out of my hand.
No one can undo what I have done.”

***

Ephesians 2:1-22

     We all used to be dead in our sins, obeying Satan as his servants. We, like everyone else, was deserving of God’s anger. But God, because of His great love, gave us life through Christ’s death and resurrection. Our salvation from death and despair came about by God’s gift and had nothing to do with anything we ourselves had done, or will do. We have been saved from sin and transformed by God’s grace so that we can now do the good and holy things which He planned for us. We are not save because we do good things. We do good things because we are saved.

***
     We as humans have a tendency to divide ourselves into groups. We attempt to make ourselves part of a group where some people are on the inside and are the “good” people while others are on the outside and are “bad” people. Christ came into the world to destroy those divisions. Christ came to break down the walls between us and make us all one people by reconciling us to God. If we wish to be part of God’s Temple, we must allow Him to put our hostility others to death on the cross with Christ. That is the hostility towards others because they are part of “that” group and the hostility towards others because they cut us off in traffic. God loved us when we were hostile to Him and acted to reconcile us with Him. We are called to act in a similar manner.

Psalm 67:1-7

     There is a phrase in this psalm that I wish to make my prayer:

May your ways be known throughout the earth,
your saving power among people everywhere.
I desire that everyone on earth praise God. The more people who turn to God to serve and worship Him, the less poverty and misfortune there will be in the world.

Proverbs 23:29-35

     Those who drink to excess will find many troubles.

***

     I am using One Year Bible Online for my daily Bible study. For today, One Year Bible Online links here. I have found that by writing this daily blog of what I see when I read these scriptures, I get more out of them. I hope that by posting these ruminations others may get some benefit as well. In order to make that possible I read the passages and write my thoughts a day in advance. If you have any thoughts or comments regarding these verses or what I have written about them, please post them.

Isaiah 39-41:16

     When Hezekiah recovered from his illness, the king of Babylon sent emissaries with a gift to wish him well. In his pleasure at the kind gesture, Hezekiah proudly showed the emissaries all the treasures of Jerusalem. Isaiah came to Hezekiah after they left and prophesied that all of the treasures in Hezekiah’s palace would be carried off by the Babylonians and Hezekiah’s own sons would be taken into captivity there. Hezekiah responded that this prophecy was good because it said that he would have peace for the rest of his life.
     Next is a transition from an historical account back to purely prophetic writings. Here is the passage that John the Baptist said spoke of his coming, but in a way it is also instruction for us. We are to clear the way for God, getting rid of the rubble and debris in our lives that obstruct Him acting through us. We are to be messengers for God, telling the people around us that God is coming. Indeed, He is already here among us.
     What, or who, can we compare God to? He is so much greater than all we can see, that there is nothing that can possibly be an adequate representation of what God is like. The entire world and everything in it is insignificant compared to God and His magnificence. Even if we were capable of gifting the entire Earth to God, it would amount to nothing compared to what He is and has. God will strengthen the weak and powerless. Then at the end of chapter 40 is the basis of one of my favorite hymns.

they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.(KJV)

Unfortunately the song is still under copyright or I would post the lyrics here. It was written by Stuart Hamblen and I will echo a piece from the refrain: Teach me, Lord to wait
Down on my knees
Till in your own good time
You will answer my pleas.
If we learn to do this, God will say to us, “You are my servant. I have called you from the ends of the earth. Do no be afraid for I am with you.” I will wait.

***

Ephesians 1:1-23

     In today’s passage Paul gives a primer on the Christian faith. Paul wrote that God has blessed us with every spiritual blessing because we are united with Christ. God loved and chose us to be holy and blameless in his eyes even before He created the universe. At that time He determined to adopt us as heirs through Jesus Christ. He did this because it was what He desired and it gave Him pleasure to do so. We are redeemed, and our sins are forgiven, through the blood of Christ. God made known to us His plan by giving us the wisdom and understanding to comprehend it. This plan is to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ in due time.
     God’s purpose was that those who first came to know His message through Christ would bring praise and glory to God. Now that we who were not there at the start have heard the Gospel message, we have been included in those same blessings and purpose. When we believed we were marked with the seal that is the Holy Spirit. God did all of this so that we could and would praise and glorify Him.
     From the first moment that he heard about the Ephesian believers faith and love for God’s people, Paul had been praying for them. He asked that God give them wisdom and revelation through the Holy Spirit so that they might fully know the hope to which God has called us and His great power.

***
     There are some wonderful things in Paul’s teachings here. He tells us that God chose us to follow Him before He even created the universe. The universe was designed to bring us into a relationship with Him. We did not end up where we are by accident or chance. Every detail was planned to bring us to where we are today. He knew the bad choices we would make and designed the universe to give us every opportunity to love and surrender to Him. This same plan will, in due time, bring all aspects of this universe into unity in submission to Christ. When we accept God’s grace, He gives us the Holy Spirit as a seal to mark us as His. I just realized that this is like a king’s seal which he gives to favored individuals to allow them to speak on his behalf. That is a great and frightening honor, to know that with the Holy Spirit within me, I speak on God’s behalf. Does what I say bring honor to God?
     I am challenged by what Paul writes about praying for the Ephesian believers. In several of his letters, Paul speaks of praying constantly for those he is writing to. When I think about that, I realize how much time Paul must have spent in prayer. I do not come close to that. I struggle to spend even a few moments each day, let alone the hours which Paul must have spent. Lord God, please help me to spend more time praying to you. There are so many in my life that I need to be praying for: my friends who do not, yet, know Christ, my co-workers (both those who know Christ and those who do not. Which reminds me that I want to bring praise for the co-worker whose faith has recently been revealed to me), my friends who do know Christ, and others.

Psalm 66:1-20

     I will call on all the earth to praise God. He has done wonderful things. I cannot begin to summarize this psalm, but reading it brings me great joy. I confessed my sins and God listened to my prayers and answered my cry. He has done wonderful things for me. He will do wonderful things to you, if you turn from your sins and go to Him.

Proverbs 23:25-28

     Yesterday’s proverb stated that a godly child gives his father joy and a wise child is a source of pleasure. Today’s proverbs start by telling us that that we should make our parents happy by being godly and wise. Then the writer tells us that a promiscuous woman promises pleasure but delivers only danger. The same is true in the other direction as well (a promiscuous man promises pleasure, but delivers danger). The short term pleasure is less than the long term harm being involved with such people brings.