Wednesday Thought -- April 30, 2014

Good Morning Friends,

“Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: ‘Rulers and elders of the people! If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a cripple and are asked how he was healed, then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. He is “the stone you builders rejected, which has become the capstone.” Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.’” (Acts 4:8-12)

Somewhere Peter found his courage! It wasn’t so very many days earlier that he had denied even knowing Jesus. In the courtyard of the high priest’s house, while Jesus was on trial, Peter wouldn’t even tell the servant girl that he was a follower of Jesus. Now, he boldly proclaims it right in front of the “rulers, elders, and teachers of the law.” (Acts 4:5) These were the very same people who had plotted Jesus’ death and succeeded in bringing it to pass.

So, where did this newfound courage come from? There is a clue in the opening verse of this passage, “Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit.” It’s the power that Jesus had promised. Standing on the mountain, ready to ascend back to heaven, Jesus told His followers to wait in Jerusalem for “you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you.” (Acts 1:8) The Holy Spirit did come upon them on Pentecost, and Peter would never be the same after that!

Peter demonstrates a truth that we all live with: left to our own devices and our own power and courage, we will fail the Lord. But we aren’t left only with our own devices and power and courage. God provides His wisdom, His power, His courage through the Holy Spirit He gives to every believer.

There are times when I forget where the power comes from. There are times when I think I’m doing O.K. on my own. How foolish of me! It’s all from the Lord through His Spirit.

His, by Grace,

Steve

Tuesday Thought -- April 29, 2014

Good Morning Friends,

It was a great miracle that God worked in the life of the crippled beggar through Peter and John. A crowd was attracted because they were so astonished at what God had done. They wanted to find out more about the amazing power that was displayed that day. And Peter and John were very willing to talk about what happened and what it meant. They pointed people to God and offered people the opportunity to tap into that same power that healed the crippled man.

But when Peter and John offered the power to people who were attracted, it wasn’t healing that was offered. It was something better than healing -- something that would last longer and mean more than mere healing would. Listen to what was offered the crowd if they would respond to the Lord.

“Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord, and that he may send the Christ, who has been appointed for you-even Jesus. He must remain in heaven until the time comes for God to restore everything, as he promised long ago through his holy prophets. For Moses said, ‘The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own people; you must listen to everything he tells you. Anyone who does not listen to him will be completely cut off from among his people.’” (Acts 3:19-23)

To come to God required a change on the part of the crowd – they needed to repent and turn to God. The fact that they had participated in killing Jesus was a clear evidence that they were walking away from God, not toward Him. That had to change!

Repentance would bring forgiveness. Their sins would be wiped off the slate of their hearts. That’s more impressive than mere physical healing.

And even more -- times of refreshing would come upon them. Real rest, the kind that comes from a heart that is at peace with God. The kind of rest that knows that although life may be hard, God is with them and He can be trusted. That’s better than healing, too. It makes even the most difficult infirmity bearable.

And one more thing would come through the power of God -- an eternity that Jesus would usher in when He comes again.

Those same miracles are available for each one of us and every person that is around us.

His, by Grace,

Steve

Monday Thought -- April 28, 2014

Good Morning Friends,

As Peter and John were going in to the temple to pray, they walked by a lame man begging at the gate. The lame man asked for money to help support himself, but Peter and John had no money to give him. Instead, Peter gave him an even better gift, “Then Peter said, ‘Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.’” (Acts 3:6) And the lame man did walk -- immediately he began to walk and leap and give praise to God.

This man’s healing caused a stir among the people. They were amazed and filled with wonder. They stared at Peter and John, wondering who these men were and what kind of power they possessed. It was an opportunity for Peter and John. They could have drawn the attention to themselves. They could have accepted the praise of the crowd for what they had done. But Peter and John would not take for themselves what belonged only to God!

“When Peter saw this, he said to them: ‘Men of Israel, why does this surprise you? Why do you stare at us as if by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk? The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified his servant Jesus.’” (Acts 3:12-13)

Peter and John quickly shifted the focus from themselves and their power to the One who deserved all the praise and attention. They used the attention of the crowd to proclaim the message of Jesus and to exalt Him.

What God gives us -- whether miraculous or not so miraculous -- is never intended for our own glory. It is never intended to draw the attention of the crowd toward us. It is always given so that we can point the attention to the One who truly deserves it.

His, by Grace,

Steve

Friday Thought -- April 25, 2014

Good Morning Friends,

“They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.” (Acts 2:42-47)

This is the account of the very first people who came to Christ after He returned to heaven. God gave power to the apostles and others who followed Jesus while He was on earth and they began to preach to the multitudes who were gathered in Jerusalem. In response to the preaching of the gospel, many were saved. These formed the first church of Jesus Christ. This first church gave themselves to four pursuits:

They pursued the knowledge of God and His will by giving themselves to the teaching of the apostles. We still have the teaching of the apostles, the Bible, preserved faithfully for us through the centuries.

They were committed to each other. That’s what fellowship means. They met with each other to draw strength and encouragement from each other. They shared with each other so that none of them was in need. They provided for each other.

They focused on the Lord. Acts says they devoted themselves to the “breaking of bread.” That refers to the Lord’s Supper, the simple memorial feast that helped them remember Jesus and what He had done for them. The simple memorial feast we still share.

They depended upon God. Prayer was a common feature of the relationships they had with each other. They knew they could not make it on their own. They knew they needed the Lord and they continually cried out to Him for help.

Those four characteristics of the church continue to be the things that God would have His people pursue. They represent God’s dream for His people, the church.  As we pursue what God desires for us, people will be drawn to the Lord and to His church.

His, by Grace,

Steve

Thursday Thought -- April 24, 2014

Good Morning Friends,

Just before He ascended back to heaven Jesus told His followers to go back to Jerusalem and wait there. They did. They waited for ten days. That’s not a long time to have to wait, but it must have seemed like a long time to those who were waiting. When the ten days were up – on the Day of Pentecost – their waiting ended miraculously. What God sent them at the end of their waiting was worth the wait!

That’s a pretty good principle to remember – when God tells us to wait for something, what we are waiting for will be worth the wait.

The wait brought a marvelous gift to the followers of Jesus. God, by His Spirit, came upon them with a miraculous manifestation of His presence. That must have been great confirmation for the followers of Jesus who had already been through so much that was difficult, and would face so much more that was difficult in the years that lay ahead.

“When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.” (Acts 2:1-4)

The sound of a violent wind blowing.

The appearance of what looked like tongues of fire.

The ability to speak in languages they did not know.

But the miracle of Pentecost wasn’t just for the followers of Jesus. The miracle of that day made an eternal impression on many others in the city of Jerusalem, too.

The apostles were empowered to preach and the response was remarkable. “When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, ‘Brothers, what shall we do?’” (Acts 2:37) “Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.” (Acts 2:41)

That day a wildfire started that would change the world – the church of Jesus Christ! It was preceded by a wait till God’s time was right. And it started with miracles that would change those who were already followers and draw many to become followers. The work of God in the church is still having that kind of impact today – 2,000 years later.

His, by Grace,

Steve

Wednesday Thought -- April 23, 2014

Good Morning Friends,

There is a prophetic word about Judas that was written by David in Psalm 109 and quoted in Acts 1. David wrote, “May his days be few; may another take his place of leadership.” (Psalm 109:8) Peter quoted the last phrase from that verse as a clear word from God that someone must be chosen to take Judas’s place as an apostle after his betrayal and death.

“‘Therefore it is necessary to choose one of the men who have been with us the whole time the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, beginning from John’s baptism to the time when Jesus was taken up from us. For one of these must become a witness with us of his resurrection.’ So they proposed two men: Joseph called Barsabbas (also known as Justus) and Matthias. Then they prayed, ‘Lord, you know everyone’s heart. Show us which of these two you have chosen to take over this apostolic ministry, which Judas left to go where he belongs.’ Then they cast lots, and the lot fell to Matthias; so he was added to the eleven apostles.” (Acts 1:21-25)

As I read that passage what struck me is the strange way through which God worked to accomplish His will in the selection of a new apostle. There were three components to the process of selection:

1.    Peter set the qualifications of those who could be selected.

2.    The whole group of Christians prayed.

3.    They cast lots to determine which of the two qualified candidates would be the one appointed to the task.

Setting qualifications seems logical and right. We do that today for almost every position for which we select someone. There are certain basic qualities that must be present based on the task to which a person is being appointed.

Praying also seems right. We should rely on God’s guidance whenever we engage in a process that is to lead to the selection of someone for an assignment, especially an assignment in the church.

It’s the third part of the process that seems strange – they cast lots. It was a seemingly random choice that would determine which of the two would become an apostle. And through that random selection, God moved to put the man He wanted into the role. That reminds me again of how many ways there are that God can accomplish His will. It reminds me that God is not bound by logic and reason – the use of our minds is certainly not the only way that God can and does work.

God works through some strange methods to accomplish His will. And the most exciting truth is to remember that God works! You can count on that.

His, by Grace,

Steve

Tuesday Thought -- April 22, 2014

Good Morning Friends,

“After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight. They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. ‘Men of Galilee,’ they said, ‘why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.’” (Acts 1:9-11)

My three favorite words in all the promises about the Second Coming are in the passage above  -- in what the angels told the disciples. My favorite words are: “this same Jesus.” The angels are telling us Who is coming and what He’ll be like! The One who is coming at the end of the age is the same Jesus that we read about in the Gospels. Now that’s good news.

This same Jesus -- the One John told us created everything. He’ll be bringing His creative power with Him when He comes again.

This same Jesus -- the One who invited all the weary and burdened to come to Him and He’d give them rest.

This same Jesus -- the One who had compassion on the simple need of the bridal couple who ran out of wine at their wedding.

This same Jesus -- the One who loved people enough to heal their sicknesses -- and who had the power to do it.

This same Jesus -- whose very word could raise Lazarus from the dead.

This same Jesus -- who would give whatever it takes to save those He loved -- even if it included a cross.

This same Jesus -- wise enough to confound all of His enemies.

This same Jesus -- who could calm the storm and still the raging sea.

Think of all the things that Jesus did that are recorded in the Gospels – it is the same Jesus who did all those things who will be coming back. He’ll still be able to do all those things -- and more -- when He comes again.

Think of all the characteristics that Jesus displayed when He walked the earth -- all the love, the humility, the kindness, the patience. It’s the same Jesus who will be coming back. He’ll still have those same characteristics when He comes again.

When He was here the first time, He drew little children to Him by the kindness He displayed. He drew the needy to Him by the compassion and power He had. He drew the weary and burdened. He drew the sinners. And when He comes again He’ll still have those same characteristics that drew so many to Him then.

I’m looking forward to seeing Him. This same Jesus whose life story has already drawn me to Him!

His, by Grace,

Steve

Monday Thought -- April 21, 2014

Good Morning Friends,

Sometimes the most godly thing we can do is wait for God.

The apostles had seen the resurrected Jesus. Some of them had watched Him die. They had seen Him placed in the tomb. Then Sunday came and they knew the tomb was empty and they saw Jesus alive.

Over a period of 40 days, Jesus appeared to them several times. The last time they saw Him, they watched as He ascended back to heaven before their very eyes. What they had seen had emboldened them. They were ready to tell others about Jesus. They were ready to proclaim Him Lord to all who would hear. But, Jesus said to wait!

“After his suffering, he showed himself to these men and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: ‘Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’” (Acts 1:3-5)

Jesus told them to wait on God. They weren’t to start preaching. They were just to wait for God. And that’s what they did. They gathered together in an upper room and they waited for God and they prayed for Him to come. Of course, He did come, just as Jesus promised He would. With miraculous power, God came! And when He came, then He sent them out preaching in His strength, not in their own strength.

Sometimes waiting on God is the most godly thing we can do! Of course, when He comes and tells us to move, then it’s time to stop waiting and start moving -- but that’s another story, that’s a lesson for another day. Today’s lesson is to wait when God says wait.

His, by Grace,

Steve

Easter Sunday Thought -- April 20, 2014

Good Morning Friends,

The resurrection of Jesus is the gathering point of everything Jesus taught and everything we believe about Him. It is the main event of Christianity and everything about Christianity rises and falls on the truth of the resurrection of Jesus.

“If Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith.” (1 Corinthians 15:14)

“If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins.” (1 Corinthians 15:17)

“If Christ has not been raised … then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost.” (1 Corinthians 15:18)

“If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men.” (1 Corinthians 15:19)

“But Christ has INDEED been raised from the dead.” (1 Corinthians 15:20)

Today is Easter and we celebrate a Living Lord, Jesus Christ. The angel proclaimed the news at the tomb of Jesus, “He is not here; he has risen, just as he said.” (Matthew 28:6)

Happy Easter,

Steve

Friday Thought -- April 18, 2014

Good Morning Friends,

Without the pain there would be no gain. Without the thorns there would be no throne. Without the cross there would be no crown. Without the death there would be no resurrection.

Today is Good Friday. It seems odd to call a day commemorating a death – Good Friday. It seems especially odd to call the day that commemorates the tortured execution of God’s Son – Good Friday. What’s GOOD about such a day?

Good Friday is GOOD because we are all cursed by sin and Jesus took the curse for us on the cross. “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us.” (Galatians 3:13)

Good Friday is GOOD because sin dominates our lives and destroys our future and Jesus became sin for us on the cross. “God made him who knew no sin to be sin for us, so that we might become the righteousness of God.” (2 Corinthians 5:21)

Good Friday is GOOD because death is our darkest fear and greatest enemy and Jesus died so that we could live. “He died for us so that we may live together with him.” (1 Thessalonians 5:10)

Good Friday is GOOD because it is not the end of the story. There had to be a Good Friday in order for there to be a Resurrection Sunday! “Jesus Christ our Lord was declared with power to be the Son of God by his resurrection from the dead.” (Romans 1:4)

Because He Lives,

Steve

Thursday Thought -- April 17, 2014

Good Morning Friends,

When the prophet Malachi finished delivering the message that God had given to him, then God fell silent. God would not speak again for over 400 years. There would not be a prophet, a messenger of God, again until John the Baptist came announcing the coming of the Messiah.

During those years of silence, the people of Israel must have wondered: Is God still there? Does He care? Is He still at work in our lives? Has He forgotten us?

When God’s silence finally did end with the coming of John it was God saying that He had not forgotten them, that He was still there, that He was still at work, that He did still care

The end of God’s silence came with the most profound revelation of Himself ever, the revelation of Himself through His Son, Jesus.

There are times in our lives when God is silent. During those times of silence, we ask the same questions that the people of Israel asked: Is God still there? Does He care? Is He still at work in our lives? Has He forgotten us?

The years of silence between Malachi and John the Baptist are a powerful testimony that we can have confidence that God is still there and still at work even when He is silent and that God will again speak when the time is right.

Those years of silence provide confidence for us that God is still there, even when He is silent!

His, by Grace,

Steve

Wednesday Thought -- April 16, 2014

Good Morning Friends,

“‘Surely the day is coming; it will burn like a furnace. All the arrogant and every evildoer will be stubble, and that day that is coming will set them on fire,’ says the LORD Almighty. ‘Not a root or a branch will be left to them. But for you who revere my name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings. And you will go out and leap like calves released from the stall.’” (Malachi 4:1-2)

The judgment day of the Lord will be a horrible day. It is a frightening prospect. His judgment will be severe. Those who face His judgment will be destroyed. On that day it will be too late to cry out for mercy.

But not all will find the day of the Lord’s judgment frightening and horrible. For those of us who love the Lord and follow Him that day will be the day of our healing.

Our land will be healed so that sin will no longer dominate the culture in which we live.

We will be healed. The sin we still carry in the weakness of our human nature will be done away with, cleansed completely from us. We will be free from all sin.

It will be our day of freedom, like calves released from the barn to run free in the pasture. That day will be the day of release from all that binds us.

There need be no fear at the prospect of the day of the Lord. In Christ, we can welcome it!

His, by Grace,

Steve

Tuesday Thought -- April 15, 2014

Good Morning Friends,

“You have said, ‘It is futile to serve God. What did we gain by carrying out his requirements and going about like mourners before the LORD Almighty? But now we call the arrogant blessed. Certainly the evildoers prosper, and even those who challenge God escape.’ Then those who feared the LORD talked with each other, and the LORD listened and heard. A scroll of remembrance was written in his presence concerning those who feared the LORD and honored his name. ‘They will be mine,’ says the LORD Almighty, ‘in the day when I make up my treasured possession. I will spare them, just as in compassion a man spares his son who serves him. And you will again see the distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between those who serve God and those who do not.’” (Malachi 3:14-18)

Sometimes it does seem futile to serve the Lord. From an earthly perspective serving the Lord does not always seem to bring blessings. In fact, sometimes serving the Lord makes life harder.

Think of the persecution the early Christians were under. Life for them was not easy. The faith they had embraced made them outcasts in the world. The world turned against them and made life miserable for them. Serving God didn’t seem like a good idea from an earthly viewpoint.

There are places today around the world where Christians are still persecuted. They suffer for their faith – loss of family, loss of job, loss of prestige, and sometimes loss of life.

Even in our own culture there are a number of ways in which following Jesus makes life harder. Our faith isn’t always respected and sometimes Christians are despised for what we believe.

But there will come a day when it will be obvious that those who chose to serve the Lord made the right choice. In that day those who serve the Lord will be blessed and rewarded for our relationship with Him. In that day those who continued to turn their backs on the Lord will face judgment and punishment.

Christians are to take the long view of life, not the short view. We do not serve God for what we get out of it in this world. We serve God because it is right and because, in the end, in eternity, it will be worth it.

His, by Grace,

Steve

Monday Thought-- April 14, 2014

Good Morning Friends,

“‘Ever since the time of your forefathers you have turned away from my decrees and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you,’ says the LORD Almighty. ‘But you ask, “How are we to return?” Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me. But you ask, “How do we rob you?” In tithes and offerings. You are under a curse -- the whole nation of you -- because you are robbing me. Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,’ says the LORD Almighty, ‘and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.’” (Malachi 3:7-10)

How do you treat what belongs to the Lord?

The Jews paid no attention to what belongs to the Lord. He had commanded a tithe from them, ten percent of all their income. It belonged to the Lord. But they ignored His command and kept the tithe for themselves. In doing so, Malachi says they were robbing God. Robbing God resulted in God withholding blessings from them. It turned out that they weren’t just robbing God, they were also robbing themselves! They ignored God and kept what was His to their own hurt.

Although we are no longer bound by the Old Testament law of tithing, the same principle applies to Christians today. We have been entrusted with that which belongs to the Lord. Not just a tithe, but everything we have belongs to the Lord --- our lives, our time, our influence, our money, our possessions --- everything. He has bought it, paid for it in full and it belongs to Him! “You are not your own; you were bought at a price.  Therefore honor God with your body.” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)

So, how do you treat what belongs to the Lord?

Are you robbing God, keeping for yourself that which belongs to Him?

If you are, who are you really robbing? God --- to be sure, but also yourself. You are ignoring God to your own hurt and missing some of the blessings that He would provide.

His, by Grace,

Steve

Friday Thought -- April 11, 2014

Good Morning Friends,

“Another thing you do: You flood the LORD’s altar with tears. You weep and wail because he no longer pays attention to your offerings or accepts them with pleasure from your hands. You ask, ‘Why?’ It is because the LORD is acting as the witness between you and the wife of your youth, because you have broken faith with her, though she is your partner, the wife of your marriage covenant. Has not [the LORD] made them one? In flesh and spirit they are his. And why one? Because he was seeking godly offspring. So guard yourself in your spirit, and do not break faith with the wife of your youth. ‘I hate divorce,’ says the LORD God of Israel, ‘and I hate a man’s covering himself with violence as well as with his garment,’ says the LORD Almighty. So guard yourself in your spirit, and do not break faith.” (Malachi 2:13-16)

The people of Judah were guilty of turning their backs on their commitments. They had turned their backs on their commitment to the Lord, seeking other gods and worshiping them.

They had turned their backs on their commitments to other people, not being concerned about their needs and taking advantage of them.

They had turned their backs on their commitment to their wives, divorcing them to take new wives that pleased them more.

God was not pleased with the breaking of their commitments. God considers commitment to be a serious thing. A marriage commitment is a vow made to another human being and a vow made to God. God hates it when that commitment is cast aside. He hates divorce because of the pain it brings to people, because of the damage it brings in the culture, and because of the disregard it shows for the vow that was made.

Divorce is not the unforgivable sin and those who have already divorced can find mercy and grace in the Lord. But even better than finding mercy and grace would be to find strength to repair a marriage before it ends. God’s advice – “guard yourself in your spirit.” Divorce is caused by a spiritual problem, a heart not guarded, a spirit not surrendered to the Lord.

Spiritual health and growth is the best protection from divorce, and any other breaking of faith.

His, by Grace,

Steve

Thursday Thought -- April 10, 2014

Good Morning Friends,

“‘A son honors his father, and a servant his master. If I am a father, where is the honor due me? If I am a master, where is the respect due me?’ says the LORD Almighty. It is you, O priests, who show contempt for my name. But you ask, ‘How have we shown contempt for your name?’ You place defiled food on my altar. But you ask, ‘How have we defiled you?’ By saying that the LORD’s table is contemptible. ‘When you bring blind animals for sacrifice, is that not wrong? When you sacrifice crippled or diseased animals, is that not wrong? Try offering them to your governor! Would he be pleased with you? Would he accept you?’ says the LORD Almighty.” (Malachi 1:6-8)

Father -- Master -- Ruler -- God compares Himself to all three of these earthly roles. He speaks through the prophet Malachi to ask His people if they have treated Him even as well as they would treat an earthly father, master, or ruler.

An earthly father receives honor. That was especially true in the culture of the Middle East. They gave honor to their elders and especially to their fathers. They listened to his words. They did what he asked. They provided for him. But God points out that, though He is their heavenly Father, they do not even treat Him with the kind of honor an earthly father receives.

An earthly master receives respect. The culture to which Malachi wrote was a culture of slavery. The servants were required to treat their masters with respect. Any disrespect would be punished severely. They gave quick obedience to any demand of their master. But God points out that, though He is their almighty Master, they do not even treat Him with the kind of respect and obedience that an earthly servant receives.

An earthly ruler receives good gifts. When they brought taxes or gifts to the ruler, they made sure they brought things which were good enough for him -- animals without handicap, garments without flaw. They did so out of respect and out of fear. But God points out that, though He is their eternal Ruler, they bring Him handicapped animals and sacrifices that are flawed. They do not even treat Him with the respect they do their earthly rulers.

The question is -- does the way you treat God demonstrate the honor, respect, and worth that He deserves?

His, by Grace,

Steve

Wednesday Thought -- April 9, 2014

Good Morning Friends,

“On that day I will set out to destroy all the nations that attack Jerusalem. And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplication. They will look on me, the one they have pierced, and they will mourn for him as one mourns for an only child, and grieve bitterly for him as one grieves for a firstborn son. On that day the weeping in Jerusalem will be great, like the weeping of Hadad Rimmon in the plain of Megiddo. The land will mourn, each clan by itself, with their wives by themselves.” (Zechariah 12:9-12)

This must be a prophecy that is yet to be fulfilled. Jerusalem has not yet looked at the One they pierced and mourned deeply for Him. The weeping of Jerusalem over the crucifixion of Jesus has not yet arrived. In fact, it was quite the opposite when Jesus was killed. The people of the city of Jerusalem turned against Him. They were the ones who were calling out for His blood. They wanted Him dead.

A day is coming when the Jewish nation will see what they have done. They will understand that they did not recognize the Messiah and that they had Him crucified. And on that day, God will forgive them. He has always been ready to forgive them and open His arms to welcome them into His presence. He has been patiently waiting for their repentance. The word of Zechariah is that it will not be a wait that will be useless. Israel, at least much of it, will repent and turn back to the Lord.

The Apostle Paul spoke of that coming day, too. “And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: ‘The deliverer will come from Zion; he will turn godlessness away from Jacob. And this is my covenant with them when I take away their sins.’” (Romans 11:26-27)

God will pour His Spirit on the people of Israel. They will experience His grace. Their hearts will become soft toward the rest of their own people and toward the other people of the world. They will develop a heart of prayer, a heart of supplication for other people.

God is not yet finished with the people of Israel. “God is patient, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9) That’s even true of Israel! That’s especially true of them.

His, by Grace,

Steve

Tuesday Thought – April 8, 2014

Good Morning Friends,

“I told them, ‘If you think it best, give me my pay; but if not, keep it.’ So they paid me thirty pieces of silver. And the LORD said to me, ‘Throw it to the potter’ -- the handsome price at which they priced me! So I took the thirty pieces of silver and threw them into the house of the LORD to the potter.” (Zechariah 11:12-13)

500 years before the birth of Jesus, Zechariah prophesied about the price of His betrayal and what would happen to the money. This passage is clearly a prophesy that was fulfilled in the actions of Judas. He betrayed Jesus and the Jewish leaders paid him the price they thought his betrayal was worth: 30 pieces of silver. (Matthew 26:15)

When Jesus was condemned, Judas felt deep sorrow for what he had done. Some think that Judas believed he was forcing Jesus to reveal Himself as King. But that wasn’t the outcome of his betrayal! Well, actually it was, but not in the way that Judas thought it would happen. It was through death and resurrection that Jesus was revealed as King, not through ascending an earthly throne by military might or miraculous power.

Judas brought the money back to the priests, letting them know that what he had done was wrong, probably hoping they would stop the condemnation of Jesus. (Matthew 27:3) But the priests had already received what they wanted and would have nothing to do with Judas. So he threw the money into the temple. (Matthew 27:5) The priests took the money and bought a potter’s field that would be used to bury strangers. (Matthew 27:7)

And so, even Judas and the priests fulfilled the prophetic word of the Lord. They didn’t scheme to fulfill it, but God used them, even against their own knowledge to demonstrate that He knows the future.

His, by Grace,

Steve

Monday Thought -- April 7, 2014

Good Morning Friends,

“Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion! Shout, Daughter of Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and having salvation, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. I will take away the chariots from Ephraim and the war-horses from Jerusalem, and the battle bow will be broken. He will proclaim peace to the nations. His rule will extend from sea to sea and from the River to the ends of the earth.” (Zechariah 9:9-10)

The people of Judah were coming back to their land after their captivity in Babylon. They were rebuilding the city of Jerusalem, rebuilding the temple, and reestablishing their nation. God was giving their nation and their land back to them after a period of discipline. But in the midst of the joy of their restoration, God looks beyond it to another day in the future when even greater blessings would come to those who were faithful to Him.

This passage in Zechariah may have had fulfillment in Zechariah’s day, but it was also a prophetic word that would be fulfilled by the coming of the Messiah. Matthew reached back into the words of Zechariah to quote this passage and say it was fulfilled with the coming of Jesus into Jerusalem on the Sunday before His death. (Matthew 21:4) We commemorate that event with Palm Sunday.

The coming of Jesus is something to rejoice about -- to shout about! It is good news. He Himself is righteous, perfect before God and He brings salvation for us, too. He offers the gift of peace to those who will hear Him -- peace with God and peace with the people around them.

The people of Judah in Zechariah's day were entering into a time of peace. But it would be a short-lived time of peace and conflict would again come upon them. But Zechariah looked into the future and spoke of a peace that was coming. It would be a peace that would never be taken away, not for eternity.

That’s the peace that Jesus brought into the world. That’s the peace that we know through Jesus!

His, by Grace,

Steve

Friday Thought -- April 4, 2014

Good Morning Friends,

“‘These are the things you are to do: Speak the truth to each other, and render true and sound judgment in your courts; do not plot evil against your neighbor, and do not love to swear falsely. I hate all this,’ declares the LORD.” (Zechariah 8:16-17)

God loves the truth and He wants His children to be known as people of the truth.

The Psalmist called Him the “God of truth.” (Psalm 31:5) Truth is an unchanging characteristic of God. He can tell nothing but the truth. In fact, all three Persons of the Trinity are known for truth. Jesus declared of Himself, “I am the truth.” (John 14:6) John called the Holy Spirit the “Spirit of truth.” (1 John 4:6) There is nothing false in God and He cannot lie.

The devil is the source of lying and lying is one of his most commonly used tools. He is called the “father of lies.” “When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.” (John 8:44)

Therefore, when we tell a lie we are following the example of the devil and rejecting the character of God. God hates lies and calls His children to be people of truth.

In our homes, at our job sites, in the classroom at school, in the neighborhood market, in our emails, on Facebook and everywhere else life takes us should be a place of truth-speaking for us. Others may choose a different path, but God has called us to the path of truth.

His, by Grace,

Steve

Thursday Thought -- April 3, 2014

Good Morning Friends,

“But they refused to pay attention; stubbornly they turned their backs and stopped up their ears. They made their hearts as hard as flint and would not listen to the law or to the words that the LORD Almighty had sent by his Spirit through the earlier prophets. So the LORD Almighty was very angry. ‘When I called, they did not listen; so when they called, I would not listen,’ says the LORD Almighty.” (Zechariah 7:11-13)

They prayed. They asked for God's help, but it was as if God was deaf. God did not respond to their cry to Him for help. Their prayers went unanswered.

There are a number of reasons for unanswered prayer. Sometimes what we are asking for is not good for us and God, who is a loving Father, will not give us gifts that will hurt us.

Sometimes the timing is wrong, God waits to answer until it is the right time.

Sometimes there are lessons to be learned from a “no” or a “wait” and God will not give us what we ask for because He wants us to learn those lessons.

Sometimes God’s answer is not about us at all, it’s about what God wants to accomplish through us.

And there are times when God does not answer our cries because we have not listened to Him.

The last reason was the case in Zechariah’s day. The people of Judah had ignored God and turned a deaf ear toward what He asked them to do. So, when they cried for help, God turned a deaf ear to them. They were still not of a mind to listen to God, they just wanted Him to listen to them. God was not willing to be their servant, heeding their cry when they ignored His.

God isn’t willing to be our servant, either. His desire is that we listen to His voice and His direction. At times, when we refuse to listen to Him, He refuses to listen to us.

His, by Grace,

Steve

Wednesday Thought -- April 2, 2014

Good Morning Friends,

“This is what the LORD Almighty says: ‘Administer true justice; show mercy and compassion to one another. Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the alien or the poor. In your hearts do not think evil of each other.’” (Zechariah 7:9-10)

God wants our relationship with Him to make a difference in how we respond to the people around us.

That principle has been true since the beginning of His interactions with men and remains true today. The problem in Zechariah’s day wasn’t just that the people had forgotten God, but that they also were not treating others in a way that reflected God’s work in their lives.

It doesn’t please God for us to go through religious ceremonies and actions and then cheat the people around us. He wants to see us treat people with justice.

It doesn’t please God for us to sing praise to Him and treat other people with harshness and an uncaring attitude. He wants to see mercy and compassion from us toward others.

It doesn’t please God for us to give to Him and withhold from those in need around us. Hearts changed by God should respond to the needs of those around us.

When God spoke through James about the kind of response to Him that pleases Him, He made the same point as He did through Zechariah: “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.” (James 1:27)

Does the way you treat the people around you reflect the work of God in your life?

If it doesn’t, there is something wrong in the way you are responding to God!!

His, by Grace,

Steve

Tuesday Thought -- April 1, 2014

Good Morning Friends,

“Ask all the people of the land and the priests, ‘When you fasted and mourned in the fifth and seventh months for the past seventy years, was it really for me that you fasted? And when you were eating and drinking, were you not just feasting for yourselves?’” (Zechariah 7:5-6)

Right things can be done for the wrong reasons.

In this passage in Zechariah, the Lord challenged His people to examine the motives behind their religious actions. They fasted regularly and feasted according to what the Law commanded. The question the Lord asked was whether they doing those things with the right heart and thought. Were they fasting and feasting for the Lord – or for themselves?

We can ask yourself the same question about the “religious” things we do.

We go to church. We pray. We read the Bible. We attend small Bible study groups. All of those are good things. All of those are things that please the Lord and that He wants us to do. All of those things can be done for right reasons and with right motives. They can be done for the Lord and express hearts of love and gratitude toward Him. All of those things can also be done for wrong reasons and with the wrong thoughts and motives behind them. They can all be done simply out of duty or out of the hope of reward that will come because we do them or out of some other motive that doesn’t reflect a true heart devotion to the Lord.

God’s challenge to all of us is to examine our hearts. He encourages us to evaluate our thoughts and motives.  Even good things are meaningless when done for wrong reasons.

His, by Grace,

Steve