1 Samuel 15:1-16:23; John 7:53-8:20; Psalm 110:1-7; Proverbs 15:8-10
Jesus
Our forever Priest
Himself the Sacrifice
The Pray-er for our peace,
Intercedes on our behalf
Bends His Father’s ear
“Look after him or her
Let them know that You are near.”
Christ has sworn,
His mind He will not change.
The future in His Hands
Peace forever reigns.
Thank you, Jesus, your life for mine. Amen.
Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth! Serve the Lord with gladness!
Come into his presence with singing! Know that the LORD, he is God!
It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name!
For the LORD is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations. Psalm 100
What’s the good word in this Psalm that can encourage us today? The LORD God who made us and cares for us is GOOD! There is no darkness or evil intent in Him towards us. His love for us never ceases! Even if we are unfaithful to Him He remains faithful! He keeps His promises! His Word never fails! If you doubt this look to the Cross and the Empty Tomb. Jesus, our Good Shepherd reigns and keeps watch over His flock–you and me–until He brings us safely Home.
Our response to such goodness? Worship and praise and honor and blessing —a loud shout-out to our Lord and King!
Judges 6:1-40; Luke 22:54-23:12; Psalm 95:1-96:13; Proverbs 14:5-6
In today’s New Testament selection in Luke, Peter’s three time denial of his Lord is heartbreaking to read about, especially at the moment when as the rooster crows and Jesus turns towards him, makes eye contact and looks at him.
What was Jesus saying with this look that He gave Peter?
“I told you so, Peter?”
“Why, Peter?”
“Don’t you love me Peter?”
“Even you, Peter?”
Or
“I love you Peter.”
“Remember the words I spoke to you tonight, Peter –‘I have prayed that your faith may not fail.'”
“I will not forsake you nor hold this against you.”
Or maybe all of the above?
Peter wept bitterly and his soul was in anguish as he recalled Jesus’s look and of his own despicable lack of courage to confess he knew Jesus.
Haven’t we all turned our backs on our Lord at times, just like Peter? Haven’t we denied being His followers by our silence?
Jesus sees us for who we are, often fearful and fretful and He looks at us with eyes of compassion. He turns us back to Himself, forgives us, and gives us strength to be His witnesses through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Dear Jesus, thank you for looking upon us in love even as you looked upon Peter. Thank you for turning us back to You when we wander away from You. Grant us courage to live and love as your followers that others may know You as their Savior and LORD. In Your Name we pray, Amen.
Judges 2:10-3:31; Luke 22:14-34; Psalm 92:1-93:5; Proverbs 14:1-2
Meeting in the Upper Room to celebrate Passover with their teacher, the disciples were giddy with anticipation. They were in the Big City–Jerusalem. Their teacher entered it to the accolades of the crowds who waved palm branches and shouted “Hosanna!” People were talking about their Rabbi!
Jesus eagerly awaited this moment, too, as He gathered with His beloved students. He had something special to share with them, something special to do for them “before I suffer.” That word, “suffer” bounced right off their consciousness–not a surprise to Jesus.
That evening the Passover ritual took a turn when Jesus, raising a cup of wine and giving thanks, said, “Take this, and divide it among yourselves. For I tell you that from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.” The disciples drank. Jesus said it was His blood poured out for them–“a new covenant in my blood.”
Jesus then took the bread, gave thanks and gave the broken bread to them saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” The disciples ate.
Bread and wine. Body and blood. And then–talk of betrayal. Another turn in the Passover celebration. Questions flew across the table “Is it I Lord?” Their inquiries turned into a quarrel amongst them about which of them would be considered the greatest—their eyes on glory, not on their LORD.
Ever patient, Jesus, schooled the disciples about “greatness” and taught them that to be great one must become as the youngest, “like a child”–one who receives care, not one who wields authority. They would learn, eventually.
To make His point even clearer that it’s not power and might, but humbleness and servant- hood that characterizes His Kingdom, Jesus said, “But I am among you as the one who serves.” He washed their dusty feet.
Knowing their misplaced thoughts–perhaps Simon Peter’s in particular–Jesus addressed him, “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat.” Picture sifting wheat as a beating…wooden rods striking the wheat stalks over and over again until the straw lets go of the wheat kernel, the inedible parts left to blow away. Simon, familiar with agrarian practices, may have sensed something ominous in Jesus’s words directed to him.
Then, Jesus told Simon that He has prayed for him; prayed that his faith would not fail, that He has a job for him–that when he “has turned again, strengthen your brothers.” They, too, will have wrestled with fear and doubt as they abandoned Jesus to His captors. Their faith shaken.
Peter’s proclamation of loyalty to his Rabbi–to follow him even if it led to prison or death–was the beginning of Peter’s trial that would shake his faith to its core by night’s end–his confidence destroyed, his sin exposed–when the cock gave his morning call.
LORD Jesus, I too, like the disciples, have taken my eyes off of You. The world’s enticements and promises of the “good life” have led me to deny you as the Source of all goodness and life. Forgive me for turning away from you, for my wayward devotion to earthly things. Thank You for not abandoning me or giving up on me. Thank for praying to the Father that the gift of faith be not wasted on me. Thank You for serving me with your very life that You gave willingly in my place on the Cross. Thank you for Your great love and tender mercies that I receive each time I eat the Bread and drink the Wine–Your very Body and Blood–given for me for the forgiveness of all my sin. To You be all glory and honor and praise! In Your name I pray, Amen.
Joshua 24:1-33; Luke 21:1-28; Psalm 89:38-52; Proverbs 13:20-23
Today’s Old Testament reading from Joshua impressed me with the picture of GRACE, of God’s gracious acts on behalf of His people who didn’t deserve any of them. Joshua recounts God’s acts: “Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, I took your father Abraham from beyond the River and led him through all the land of Canaan, and made his offspring many…I gave him Isaac…And of Isaac I gave Jacob and Esau…and I sent Moses and Aaron…I plagued Egypt with what I did in the midst of it…and I brought you out. I brought you to the land of the Amorites…I gave them into your hand…I delivered you…I sent the hornet…I gave you a land on which you had not labored and cities that you had not built…you eat the fruit of vineyards and olive orchards that you did not plant.”
Joshua spoke to people gifted with deliverance and sustenance and asked (my paraphrase) “Who are you going to be faithful to? To the LORD? To the gods of your surrounding neighbors? Who are you going to trust going forward?”
Joshua goaded them, “You are not able to serve the LORD, for He is a holy God. He is a jealous God; He will not forgive your transgressions or your sins. If you forsake the LORD and serve foreign gods, then He will turn and do you harm and consume you, after having done you good.”
And the people responded, “NO, but we will serve the LORD.”
We, too, make our bold confession, “We will be faithful to the LORD our God. We will look only to Jesus, our redeemer and deliverer!” We confess, “He is our King who defeated sin, death and Satan with one blow-His death on the Cross. We will serve our resurrected LORD and Him only!”
Yet, the truth is we are still sinful human beings who pay homage to this world’s gods of pleasure, comfort, security, fame, power, and control, to name a few. These worldly means hold onto our heels and refuse to let us go.
God’s wooing words, “Come unto me all you who are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest,” bid us to turn in repentance away from those false gods, and His forgiveness allows our feet to slip out the world’s grasp to follow God’s way.
Jesus does this for us. He forgives and grants rest. Thanks be to God!
Genesis 5:1-7:24; Matthew 3:7-4:11; Psalm 3:1-8; Proverbs 1:10-19
New Year
New Focus
Better yet…Refocused
“Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.” Jesus, quoting Deuteronomy 8:3 when he was being tempted by Satan.
“You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.” Jesus, quoting Deuteronomy 6:16 when he was being tempted by Satan.
“You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.” Jesus, quoting Deuteronomy 6:13 when he was being tempted by Satan.
God’s Word.
Acceptance of God’s will.
Worship God–Father, Son and Holy Ghost–alone.
Lord God, grant that in this New Year we daily feast on Your Word, humbly accept Your will for our lives, and worship You alone. May we greet each day as a gift to love you and one another; to serve and not look to be served; to listen to Your voice and heed Your call. For Jesus’ sake, Amen.
Malachi 1:1-2:17; Revelation 21:1-27; Psalm 149:1-9; Proverbs 31: 10-24
“I have loved you,” says the LORD. But you say, “How have you loved us?” Malachi 1:2
“My covenant with him [Levi] was one of life and peace, and I gave them to him. It was a
covenant of fear, and he feared me. He stood in awe of my name. True instruction
was in his mouth, and no wrong was found on his lips. He walked with me in peace
and uprightness, and he turned many from iniquity. For the lips of a priest should
guard knowledge, and people should seek instruction from his mouth, for he is the
messenger of the Lord of hosts.” Malachi 2:5-7
As the end of the year nears
 and I recall God’s walk with me
 I am tempted to ask,
  ”where were you, God?
And where will you be in the
 days to come?”
You will be where you said you’d be
in your Word and gifts of body and blood
and water
  and in the midst of all who
   call upon your name.
For Jesus is my true Levi
 who alone faithfully escorts me
  on life’s journey.
He came in the flesh–Immanuel.
He is my priest who speaks God’s truth
 and guides me in His way to life
  everlasting.
He is God’s messenger who teaches
 God’s ways.
Jesus, the way, the truth, the life. John 14:6
Let us “sing to the Lord a new song, his praises
in the assembly of the godly!
 Let them praise his name with dancing,
 making melody to him with tambourine and lyre!
For the Lord takes pleasure in his people;
 He adorns the humble with salvation.” Psalm 149:1,2-4
Jesus, our Levi priest who walks with us, thank you
for humbling yourself to become one of us
for leaving the glory of heaven for a time
to ensure that we might live with you
for all time in eternity.
Be with us in the year to come,
May we lean on you as we
live out our days so that we may
confidently answer the question
“How have you loved us?”
You gave your life for us!
We give you thanks and praise!
Amen and amen.
Zechariah 14:1-21; Revelation 20:1-15; Psalm 148:1-14; Proverbs 31:8-9
Fear and anxiety
Everything everywhere all at once
disorients
throws us into super hero mode
or else sends us running
deep into false light,
makes us “put up our dukes”
or scoots us out the door
away, away.
Either way
God is with us
our Immanuel
come-in-the-flesh God
Jesus.
He gently lays His hand upon our raised fists
and says “Peace be with you,
I have already fought and won.”
or
He keeps pace with us stride for stride
as we escape until
we run ourselves spent.
He never leaves us or forsakes us
He is always with us.
“Be still and know that I am God.”
Thank you, Jesus, for fighting our fight,
for stilling our restless,
fearful heart. 
To You be all glory now and forever!
Amen.
Jingle bells, candy canes, and gifts galore abound
  to the detriment of stretched thin checkbooks
    and longing, empty souls.
Christmas cheer meant to generate
  peace, good will to men falls
   short of a world in great need
  of peace.
For war rages,
  evil abounds.
and yet…
“We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty
  who is and who was,
for you have taken your great power
  and begun to reign.
The nations raged,
  but your wrath came,
and the time for the dead to be judged,
and for rewarding your servants, the prophets
  and saints, and those who
   fear your name,
both small and great,
and for destroying the destroyer of the earth.”
Revelations 11:17-18
And when the fight is fierce,
 the warfare long,
steals on the ear the distant triumph song.
And hearts are brave again,
And arms are strong. 
Allelulia! Alleluia!
The golden evening
 brightens in the west;
Soon, soon to faithful warriors cometh rest;
Sweet is the calm of paradise the blest.
Alleluia! Alleluia!   William W. How 1823-1897
LORD, you have begun your reign on high and in our hearts. Though we face warfare-struggles of mind, body, and spirit we are not defeated. For you, O Lord, have defeated and triumphed over this world’s ruler by your death on the Cross. Your victory over sin, death and the evil one ushers into our hearts and minds peace that passes all understanding. Thank you for our Advent King who now rules at your right hand and will come again with final judgment and victory shouts! To Him be all glory, honor, and praise! In Jesus’ Name, Amen!
  
Micah 5:1-7:20; Revelation 7:1-17; Psalm 135-1-26; Proverbs 30:5-6
O God, You wrap Yourself around me in Your Old Testament word
  where law and gospel point to Your righteous ways.
Your finger of condemnation points to lurid idols, subtle false gods,
  perverse practices pitting man against pure love.
Death and destruction mercifully turn hearts still beating away
  from the false to You, the only living, only true God
    Maker of Heaven and Earth.
Turn around. Repent.
The gospel comes in words of comfort–words declaring
  iniquities forgiven, tossed into the sea, thrown up higher than the heavens.
You, God, don’t hold sin against us, because of Your beloved Son promised
  in prophets’ words.
O God, You wrap Yourself around me in New Testament words.
  The law words remind me that the wages of sin is death.
“He called with a loud voice to the four angels who had been given the power
  to harm earth and sea saying ‘do not harm the earth or the sea or the trees
    until we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads.'”
Gospel words, Your words, O God, “For the Lamb in the midst of the throne
  will be their Shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of living water,
    and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.” 
Wrapped in truth! Thanks be to You, O God, now and forever! Amen.
“Every word of God proves true; he is a shield to those who take refuge in Him.” Proverbs 30:5
What's The Good Word? 