today's meditation (Zech.2) Knowing

(Dear Lord Jesus, guide me and give me insight as I read and study Your word, and let it be the meditation of my heart...)

(Zechariah 2:1-13) Then I raised my eyes and looked, and behold, there was a man with a measuring line in his hand. 2 So I said, “Where are you going?” And he said to me, “To measure Jerusalem, to see how wide it is and how long it is.” 3 And behold, the angel who had been speaking with me was going out, and another angel was going out to meet him. 4 And he said to him, “Run, speak to that young man there, saying, ‘Jerusalem will be inhabited as open country because of the multitude of people and cattle within it. 5 But I,’ declares the Lord, ‘will be a wall of fire to her on all sides, and I will be the glory in her midst.’”

6 “You there! Flee from the land of the north,” declares the Lord, “because I have spread you out like the four winds of the heavens,” declares the Lord. 7 “You, Zion! Escape, you who are living with the daughter of Babylon.” 8 For the Lord of armies says this: “After glory He has sent me against the nations that plunder you, for the one who touches you, touches the apple of His eye. 9 For behold, I am going to wave My hand over them so that they will be plunder for their slaves. Then you will know that the Lord of armies has sent Me. 10 Shout for joy and rejoice, daughter of Zion; for behold I am coming and I will dwell in your midst,” declares the Lord. 11 “And many nations will join themselves to the Lord on that day and will become My people. Then I will dwell in your midst, and you will know that the Lord of armies has sent Me to you. 12 And the Lord will possess Judah as His portion in the holy land, and will again choose Jerusalem.

13 “Be silent, all mankind, before the Lord; for He has roused Himself from His holy dwelling.”

TODAY'S THOUGHTS AND MEDITATION:

The first time the Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah) came to dwell in Israel's midst, they rejected and crucified Him.  God knew this was to happen, and He allowed it to happen in order to pay the price for sin.  Jesus rose again to have victory over death so that anyone who believers in Him, accepting His free gift of salvation, will be saved from the Tribulation and eternal death.

The second time Jesus comes to earth will be when Israel as a nation sees the signs (the judgements of the Tribulation) and realizes that He was and is their Messiah.  Other people will also become believers during those seven years, realizing and knowing that Jesus is Christ the Lord.

As verses 9 and 11 say, we can KNOW that Jesus is from God and is God, Himself, because we can witness and know His truth.  Here is another portion of scripture from the New Testament to support this.  Read the entire chapter for more context, but I will give you the two key verses which put this very plainly...

(John 1, 14)  

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God...

And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us; and we saw His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

As well, we can KNOW that we are saved, and that God hears us...

(1 John 5:13-15)

These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life. This is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.  And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests which we have asked from Him.

today's meditation (Amos 7) Feelings as a Result of Perceptions

(Dear Lord Jesus, guide me and give me insight as I read and study Your word, and let it be the meditation of my heart...)

(Amos 7:1-17) This is what the Lord God showed me, and behold, He was forming a swarm of locusts when the spring crop began to sprout. And behold, the spring crop was after the king’s mowing. 2 And it came about, when it had finished eating the vegetation of the land, that I said,

     “Lord God, please pardon!
     How can Jacob stand?
     For he is small.”
3   The Lord relented of this.
     “It shall not be,” said the Lord.

4 So the Lord God showed me, and behold, the Lord God was calling to contend with them by fire, and it consumed the great deep and began to consume the farmland. 5 Then I said,

     “Lord God, please stop!
     How can Jacob stand?
     For he is small.”
6   The Lord relented of this.
     “This too shall not be,” said the Lord God.

7 So He showed me, and behold, the Lord was standing by a vertical wall with a plumb line in His hand. 8 And the Lord said to me, “What do you see, Amos?” And I said, “A plumb line.” Then the Lord said,

     “Behold I am about to put a plumb line 
     In the midst of My people Israel.
     I will not spare them any longer.
9   The high places of Isaac will become deserted,
     And the sanctuaries of Israel will be in ruins.
     Then I will rise up against the house of Jeroboam with the sword.”

10 Then Amaziah, the priest of Bethel, sent word to Jeroboam king of Israel, saying, “Amos has conspired against you in the midst of the house of Israel; the land is unable to endure all his words. 11 For this is what Amos says: ‘Jeroboam will die by the sword, and Israel will certainly go from its land into exile.’” 12 Then Amaziah said to Amos, “Go, you seer, flee to the land of Judah; and eat bread there and do your prophesying there! 13 But do not prophesy at Bethel any longer, for it is a sanctuary of the king and a royal residence.”

14 Then Amos replied to Amaziah, “I am not a prophet, nor am I the son of a prophet; for I am a herdsman and a grower of sycamore figs. 15 But the Lord took me from following the flock, and the Lord said to me, ‘Go prophesy to My people Israel.’ 16 So now hear the word of the Lord: you are saying, ‘You shall not prophesy against Israel nor shall you prophesy against the house of Isaac.’ 17 Therefore, this is what the Lord says: ‘Your wife will become a prostitute in the city, your sons and your daughters will fall by the sword, your land will be parceled up by a measuring line, and you yourself will die upon unclean soil. Furthermore Israel will certainly go from its land into exile.’”

TODAY'S THOUGHTS AND MEDITATION:

It is important to note that our feelings do not lead us to truth.  Our feelings do not help us get closer to God.  We all will have different feelings attached to our various perceptions, depending on what we decide to hear, see and believe.  

Initially, Amos begged God to not harshly judge the people.  It's easy to become defensive and compromisingly sympathetic when we only consider our side of things.  To see things from God's side is humbling, as we see how far we fall short of God's glory and perfection.  So then, like Amos, when others go up against us because we are doing God's will, we can understand God's wrath and anger towards sin.  

Sadly, most people are like Amaziah.  It's our sinful nature that prefers to hear and believe lies - to hear what we want to hear - which only feeds our misguided feelings of pride, arrogance and greed.  So then, when anyone opposes what we think we want to believe, we will become indignant, frustrated, afraid and angry.  

Meanwhile, it is only through hearing, knowing and believing in God's truth that saves us and leads us to feelings of joy, contentment and peace. And in moving forward with God's wisdom and strength, daily trusting the Lord to manage everything for us, we will then experience courage, confidence and a steadfast certain hope.  

today's meditation (Ez.11) Sharing Our Testimony

(Dear Lord Jesus, guide me and give me insight as I read and study Your word, and let it be the meditation of my heart...)

(Ezekiel 11:1-25)  Now the Spirit lifted me up and brought me to the east gate of the Lord’s house which faced eastward. And behold, there were twenty-five men at the entrance of the gate, and among them I saw Jaazaniah son of Azzur and Pelatiah son of Benaiah, leaders of the people. 2 Then He said to me, “Son of man, these are the men who devise wrongdoing and give evil advice in this city, 3 who say, ‘The time is not near to build houses. This city is the pot and we are the meat.’ 4 Therefore, prophesy against them, prophesy, son of man!”

5 Then the Spirit of the Lord fell upon me, and He said to me, “Say, ‘This is what the Lord says: “This is how you think, house of Israel, for I know your thoughts. 6 You have multiplied your slain in this city, and filled its streets with them.” 7 Therefore, this is what the Lord God says: “Your slain whom you have laid in the midst of the city are the meat and this city is the pot; but I will bring you out of it. 8 You have feared a sword; so I will bring a sword upon you,” the Lord God declares. 9 “And I will bring you out of the midst of the city, and hand you over to strangers, and execute judgments against you. 10 You will fall by the sword. I will judge you to the border of Israel; so you shall know that I am the Lord. 11 This city will not be a pot for you, nor will you be meat in the midst of it; I will judge you to the border of Israel. 12 So you will know that I am the Lord; for you have not walked in My statutes, nor have you executed My ordinances, but you have acted in accordance with the ordinances of the nations around you.”’”

13 Now it came about, as I prophesied, that Pelatiah son of Benaiah died. Then I fell on my face and cried out with a loud voice, and said, “Oh, Lord God! Will You bring the remnant of Israel to a complete destruction?”

14 Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 15 “Son of man, your brothers, your relatives, your fellow exiles, and the entire house of Israel, all of them, are those to whom the inhabitants of Jerusalem have said, ‘Keep far from the Lord; this land has been given to us as a possession.’ 16 Therefore say, ‘This is what the Lord God says: “Though I had removed them far away among the nations, and though I had scattered them among the countries, yet I was a sanctuary for them for a little while in the countries where they had gone.”’ 17 Therefore say, ‘This is what the Lord God says: “I will gather you from the peoples and assemble you from the countries among which you have been scattered, and I will give you the land of Israel.”’ 18 When they come there, they will remove all its detestable things and all its abominations from it. 19 And I will give them one heart, and put a new spirit within them. And I will remove the heart of stone from their flesh and give them a heart of flesh, 20 so that they may walk in My statutes, and keep My ordinances and do them. Then they will be My people, and I shall be their God. 21 But as for those whose hearts go after their detestable things and abominations, I will bring their conduct down on their heads,” declares the Lord God.

22 Then the cherubim lifted up their wings with the wheels beside them, and the glory of the God of Israel hovered over them. 23 The glory of the Lord went up from the midst of the city and stood over the mountain which is east of the city. 24 And the Spirit lifted me up and brought me in a vision by the Spirit of God to Chaldea, to the exiles. Then the vision that I had seen left me. 25 And I told the exiles all the things that the Lord had shown me.

TODAY'S THOUGHTS AND MEDITATION:

As believers, when we have an opportunity, we are to share with others the good news, and our testimony about how God has been working in our lives.  It doesn't matter whether they accept or reject what we say.  It is not up to us to try to move them or change their hearts, that is up to the Holy Spirit.  We just have to be willing to share.  And it may surprise us where and when we will meet people who are most receptive to God's truth, because the Lord can work in anyone, anywhere, in any circumstance.

today's meditation (Jer.27) Continuing as We Should

(Dear Lord Jesus, guide me and give me insight as I read and study Your word, and let it be the meditation of my heart...)

(Jeremiah 27:1-22) In the beginning of the reign of Zedekiah the son of Josiah, king of Judah, this word came to Jeremiah from the Lord, saying— 2 this is what the Lord has said to me: “Make for yourself restraints and yokes and put them on your neck, 3 and send word to the king of Edom, the king of Moab, the king of the sons of Ammon, the king of Tyre, and to the king of Sidon by the messengers who come to Jerusalem to Zedekiah king of Judah. 4 Order them to go to their masters, saying, ‘This is what the Lord of armies, the God of Israel says: “This is what you shall say to your masters: 5 ‘I have made the earth, mankind, and the animals which are on the face of the earth by My great power and by My outstretched arm, and I will give it to the one who is pleasing in My sight. 6 And now I have handed all these lands over to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, My servant, and I have also given him the animals of the field to serve him. 7 All the nations shall serve him and his son and his grandson until the time of his own land comes; then many nations and great kings will make him their servant.

8 ‘And it will be that the nation or the kingdom which will not serve him, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and will not put its neck under the yoke of the king of Babylon, I will punish that nation with the sword, with famine, and with plague,’ declares the Lord, ‘until I have eliminated it by his hand. 9 And as for you, do not listen to your prophets, your diviners, your dreamers, your soothsayers, or your sorcerers who talk to you, saying, “You will not serve the king of Babylon.” 10 For they are prophesying a lie to you in order to remove you far from your land; and I will drive you away and you will perish. 11 But the nation that will bring its neck under the yoke of the king of Babylon and serve him, I will let remain on its land,’ declares the Lord, ‘and they will cultivate it and live in it.’”’”

12 I spoke words like all these to Zedekiah king of Judah, saying, “Bring your necks under the yoke of the king of Babylon and serve him and his people, and live! 13 Why should you die, you and your people, by the sword, famine, and plague, as the Lord has spoken to the nation that will not serve the king of Babylon? 14 So do not listen to the words of the prophets who talk to you, saying, ‘You will not serve the king of Babylon,’ for they are prophesying a lie to you; 15 for I have not sent them,” declares the Lord, “but they are prophesying falsely in My name, so that I will drive you away and that you will perish, you and the prophets who prophesy to you.”

16 Then I spoke to the priests and to all this people, saying: “This is what the Lord says: ‘Do not listen to the words of your prophets who prophesy to you, saying, “Behold, the vessels of the Lord’s house will now shortly be brought back from Babylon”; for they are prophesying a lie to you. 17 Do not listen to them; serve the king of Babylon, and live! Why should this city become a place of ruins? 18 But if they are prophets, and if the word of the Lord is with them, have them now plead with the Lord of armies that the vessels which are left in the house of the Lord and the house of the king of Judah and in Jerusalem do not go to Babylon. 19 For this is what the Lord of armies says concerning the pillars, concerning the sea, concerning the kettle stands, and concerning the rest of the vessels that are left in this city, 20 which Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon did not take when he led into exile Jeconiah the son of Jehoiakim, king of Judah, from Jerusalem to Babylon, and all the nobles of Judah and Jerusalem— 21 Yes, this is what the Lord of armies, the God of Israel, says concerning the vessels that are left in the house of the Lord and in the house of the king of Judah and in Jerusalem: 22 “They will be brought to Babylon and will be there until the day I visit them,” declares the Lord. “Then I will bring them back and restore them to this place.”’”

TODAY'S THOUGHTS AND MEDITATION:

'You're fine.  What you are doing is not a sin.  God won't punish you for that.  He will still bless you."

These are words we can hear in our society today.  But God does not say one thing, then say another.  When we hear any kind of doctrinal proclamation, we do need to see if it aligns with the Bible, which is God's word and is Truth.  And the truth found in this passage is that God will not bless sin.  

If there is sin in a person's life, there will be punishment, unless a person turns to God and becomes a Christian.  As for Christians, when we sin, there can be consequences (here on earth).  God will discipline us to get our attention to turn back to Him.

God will also allow us to go through hardships in order to test us.  How can we say, "The Lord is always there for us and works things out for us" if we never go through anything?  A great testimony of God's faithfulness is when - as we do go through things, we continue to trust in Him and continue to live as we should.  In doing so, we will see, and others will see, how the Lord provides for us and works in us, through us, and for us. 

today's meditation (Ps.111) Delighting in God's Word

(Dear Lord Jesus, guide me and give me insight as I read and study Your word, and let it be the meditation of my heart...)

(Psalm 111:1-10) 

1   Praise the Lord!
     I will give thanks to the Lord with all my heart,
     In the company of the upright and in the assembly.
2   Great are the works of the Lord;
     They are studied by all who delight in them.
3   Splendid and majestic is His work,
     And His righteousness endures forever.
4   He has caused His wonders to be remembered;
     The Lord is gracious and compassionate.
5   He has given food to those who fear Him;
     He will remember His covenant forever.
6   He has made known to His people the power of His works,
     In giving them the inheritance of the nations.

7   The works of His hands are truth and justice;
     All His precepts are trustworthy.
8   They are upheld forever and ever;
     They are performed in truth and uprightness.
9   He has sent redemption to His people;
     He has ordained His covenant forever;
     Holy and awesome is His name.
10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom;
     All those who follow His commandments have a good understanding;
     His praise endures forever.

TODAY'S THOUGHTS AND MEDITATION:

God has given us so much evidence of Himself and His character.  He has given us His word, the Bible, in order to study and see that it is true and trustworthy.  In it contains examples of evidence from history.  And as we trust in Him and live obediently according to His word, we will see evidence in our own lives.  The more we know and understand, the more we will fear and trust the Lord!  The more we fear and trust the Lord, the more blessings we receive!  How can one not delight in His word and in His works!?