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.

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.

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.

Good works with the good news

S James 1:22-25 NLT

But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. For if you listen to the word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like. But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it.

O   -   I find it only interesting the book of James follows the book of Hebrews in the Bible.  This is because Paul, in Hebrews, spent a good amount of time , reminding the Jewish converts that they are under a new covenant and things are now much different now that we have a perfect priest in Christ, interceding for us at the right hand of God.  However,  James comes in and says don't depart from the perfect things that God has  already written in His word.  Instead listen to the word, and let it reflect in you and on you, not forgetting what it has shown you.

A -  I know the book of James can cause some to be confused as if it is the Gospel of works , instead of the Gospel of Grace.  I believe James just realized that after receiving God's grace we are to grow in relationship to him.  Who God is , is written in God's word, old and new testament.    We must choose to allow His word to change our heart and mind, so that one day we will be able to share with others who God is, and speak truth by what we know and how we live.

P - Dear heavenly father, thank you for Designing me, and your kingdom perfectly.  I pray that I would have continued opportunities to display what I have learned and cemented to my heart.  I pray all this in Jesus name, Amen.

Be holy and righteous - running the race to win

S Hebrews 12:1 NLT

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.

Hebrews 12:14-15 NLT

Work at living in peace with everyone, and work at living a holy life, for those who are not holy will not see the Lord. Look after each other so that none of you fails to receive the grace of God. Watch out that no poisonous root of bitterness grows up to trouble you, corrupting many.

O -  Paul continues to build his exhortation and edification to the Hebrews as he builds a strong case for firm faith, grounded in the truth of Jesus Christ.   He recognizes that the New Covenant is both a promise fulfilled but also for all a new paradigm for loving and following God.  In verse one we see explaining to just look around you in your community of faith and see the transformed lives that have been unburdened by their sin and now live a new life (this is likely more apparent for new believers).  But a reminder is needed to us that we are to continue to unload the weight of the consequences of our past sin, and to be sure not to re-clothe ourselves with the sins of the past and yoke ourselves to the Gospel of Good works.      Verses 14-15 go more to our hearts and minds, to remind us that when we live holy and pleasing life unto God, a peace is  granted to us, despite surrounding circumstances.

A-  The application for me is to recognize that I am to surround myself with believers who can witness to me the life that faith in Christ brings.   I am reminded to not let my past thoughts and sins weigh me down but look forward through the eyes of Christ.  I am also reminded that I need to live in peace with everyone.  I am on journey in this area, and need to see those around me not as challengers to my thoughts and way of life, but as God's creation, working out their own salvation, day to day.  

P - Dear heavenly Father, thank you for today's lesson, may it be sealed to my heart.   I pray Lord that you would transform my heart and mind each day to become more of the man you created me to be.  I pray all this in Jesus name, Amen.

A growing faith

S Hebrews 11:13 NLT

All these people died still believing what God had promised them. They did not receive what was promised, but they saw it all from a distance and welcomed it. They agreed that they were foreigners and nomads here on earth.

Hebrews 11:24-25 NLT

It was by faith that Moses, when he grew up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. He chose to share the oppression of God’s people instead of enjoying the fleeting pleasures of sin.

Hebrews 11:39-40 NLT

All these people earned a good reputation because of their faith, yet none of them received all that God had promised. For God had something better in mind for us, so that they would not reach perfection without us.

O - This chapter , often called the hall of faith, speaks to a key character trait without which following God is nearly impossible (o.k. all things are possible through God).   Paul uses bible figures of the past to encourage the new church (made up of old testament  believers) to focus on what faith is in following God, and now walking in the finished work of Christ. 

A - The application for me is simply one of being mentored by faithful men and women who have followed God.  These have been captured in the bible in a way that year after year I can be mentored to have a growing faith that is modeled after heroes from the bible.  Three elements of faith are highlighted in this scripture that I want to apply to my life today:

1.  Belief in his promises beyond my lifetime

2.  Constant identity as a follower of Christ

3.  A growing but not perfect faith

P - Dear heavnely Father, thank you for today's lesson, may it be sealed to my heart. I am blessed by the promises you have given me, and the prompting to keep pressing forward, in faith.  I pray for courage to continue to press forward in faith toward your promises.  I pray all this in Jesus name, Amen.

God's perfect strategy - today's plan

S Hebrews 10:12-13 NLT

But our High Priest offered himself to God as a single sacrifice for sins, good for all time. Then he sat down in the place of honor at God’s right hand. There he waits until his enemies are humbled and made a footstool under his feet.

O - This explanation of the Christ the one, for all, forever sacrifice is essential to the the new covenant.  We have a High Priest who has completed the sacrifice and now sits interceding on our behalf for God.  All that remains is for all his enemies to be humbled and put under his reign.   

A -  The application for me is that I am to continue to focus on my part of the spreading the Gospel, without distraction or concern for who is in charge.  Jesus has once and for all been made Lord of my life and now reigns in heaven with God the Father.   Jesus is given us all a chance to let all those called to him, come to him.  His enemies are being humbled and those who will not be in his reign are being made a footstool.  

P - Dear heavenly Father, thank  you for today's lesson, may it be sealed to my heart.  I pray Lord that daily I would syn up with your tactical plan, for your strategy for all has been layed out.  I pray this in Jesus name, Amen.