Wednesday, August 6, 2014

Receiving and responding to God's Vision

S HAB 2:1-3 NASB
I will stand on my guard post And station myself on the rampart; And I will keep watch to see what He will speak to me, And how I may reply when I am reproved. Then the Lord answered me and said, "Record the vision And inscribe it on tablets, That the one who reads it may run. "For the vision is yet for the appointed time; It hastens toward the goal and it will not fail. Though it tarries, wait for it; For it will certainly come, it will not delay.

O - Habakkuk was a prophet , who was just before Israel was to be exiled to Babylon and during this time he began seeing who God was and what his intent was for the people.  Here in this passage he waits for the Lord to speak to him about this vision he has had of Israel being exiled and the Lord tells him a few profound things.   1.  Record the vision - for the one who is willing to read it may run.  2.  Wait for the appointed time -  there is no reason to preemptively cause it to occur, just let it run the course and timing God has designed.    Though this somewhat an ominous vision with large consequences to people's lives,  I think there is an more universal truth about God given us visions and his expected response from us.  God often gives us vision but not so that we may take control and make the vision happen.  He is God and is in control, we are not to worry how God will make it happen, just wait for it, and be ready to respond when it does occur.

A - The application for me is different this time.     In the past I have loved this passage because it says write down and vision so that a person may run (which I interpreted as run with the vision).   Today I understand that when God gives me a vision it is not so I can take control of it.  I think the real purpose God gives us vision like Habakkuk got was because he loves us and doesn't want us to worry or be in the wrong place in the vision.   His future is not necessarily for our benefit but always for His glory.  So I must not get caught up in how to benefit from God's vision,  but rather take action to be were God wants me to be in His vision, and all else will be well with my soul.

P - Dear heavenly Father, thank you for you guidance, love, and vision through your spirit and through your word.  I so treasure these daily times in your word, and repent for any slothfulness  that has kept me from doing so.  I pray that you would help me see more of your vision for your Glory in and around my life and help me Lord to take part but not try and take over.  I pray all this in Jesus name, Amen.

Tuesday, August 5, 2014

Receive teaching from God

S JHN 7:16-18 NASB
So Jesus answered them and said, "My teaching is not Mine, but His who sent Me.  If anyone is willing to do His will, he will know of the teaching, whether it is of God or whether I speak from Myself.  He who speaks from himself seeks his own glory; but He who is seeking the glory of the One who sent Him, He is true, and there is no unrighteousness in Him.

O - This statement by Jesus came after the people whom Jesus was teaching at the temple where questioning him on where he got his education from, because they knew he didn't grow up a pharisee.  His response was unique to the people but likely resonated as true in that he simply that his teaching came from  God, the inspiration of all scripture and the One whom the learned teachers were supposed to be studying.  Then He revealed a second truth that those willing to do God's will are able to to receive the truth from Him.

A -  The application for me is to understand that God is speaking to me through His son and through his word.   Man is still fallible, even pastors and teachers in the church, so I am to discern and receive God's truth from God, from Jesus, from the Holy Spirit, and from those who are willing to do God's will.  

P - Dear heavenly father, thank you for today's lesson, may it be sealed to my heart.  I pray all this in Jesus name, Amen.

Monday, August 4, 2014

Correction and Restoration back to God

S  - 2 Chron 34:31-32 (NASB)
31Then the king stood in his place and made a covenant before the Lord to walk after the Lord, and to keep His commandments and His testimonies and His statutes with all his heart and with all his soul, to perform the words of the covenant written in this book. 32Moreover, he made all who were present in Jerusalem and Benjamin to stand with him.







John 6:28 (NASB)
28Therefore they said to Him, "What shall we do, so that we may work the works of God?" 29Jesus answered and said to them, "This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent." 

O -  The passage from Chronicles share the history of King Josiah who had after many disappointing Kings done right in the sight of the Lord.  He rid the region of all of the false God's and began restoring the temple.  During the restoration his priests found the book of the Law and Josiah was convicted by it and truly began leading the people of Israel as God had laid out to Moses.   He recognized God's truth when he saw it, repented and began walking and leading in God's ways.   In the second passage Jesus is speaking to his followers who were just really beginning to understand that He was the son of God and had eternal life for all that followed Him.   For Josiah he had the Law to follow to try and be right with God.   The people now wanted to know what work was left for them, and Jesus reveals the powerful message - to do the work of God is all they need, and the work of God is faith - in Jesus being their Lord and Savior.

A -  The application for me is one being reminded that I am no different than the people of Israel who can wander from God's ways and need periodic course corrections. I choose to be like Josiah, and upon recognition that I have wandered to quickly repent and come back to God.   The second recognition is that come back to God is no work at all it means to simply come back to Christ, to be led by, to follow , to be restored through Jesus whom God has sent on my behalf to restore this broken relationship.

P - Dear heavenly Father, thank you for this wonderful morning reminder who you are.  I pray that the lessons of it would be sealed to my heart.  I pray this in Jesus Christ name, Amen.