The One - Ez. 14:14; Rev. 5:2, 5

"Even if Noah, Daniel and Job were there, their righteousness would save no one but themselves..." Ez. 14:14

"...but no one in heaven and earth was able to open the scroll and read it... Stop weeping! Look, the Lion of Judah, the heir to David's throne, has conquered. He is worthy to open the scroll and break its seven seals." Rev. 5:2, 5

In the movie "The Matrix," Neo is "The One." The only one who can save the world from being dominated by the machines. In the Bible, between Ezekiel and Revelation, God could not be any more clear in his message: Jesus is The One. NO ONE else "in heaven and earth" has the power to save us other than Jesus. Revelation 5 is a monumental and climactic chapter for me. This is THE moment all of history has been waiting for. This is God revealing his ultimate victory over Satan with all of heaven rejoicing -- what a picture! He came to do what no one else could, he is truly THE ONE.

God, thank you for your perfect plan. Thank you for letting us participate in your ultimate victory.

Today's reading: Ez. 12-14; Rev. 5

A Loving Father - Jer. 31:1-2

From yesterday's reading:

"'In that day,' says the Lord, 'I will be the God of all the families of Israel, and they will be my people. I will care for the survivors as they travel through the wilderness. I will again come to give rest to the people of Israel.'" Jer. 31:1-2

"'Is not Israel still my son, my darling child?' asks the Lord. I had to punish him, but I still love him. I long for him and surely will have mercy on him.'" Jer. 31:20

What a refreshing chapter! After all the destruction and punishment that God promises earlier in the book, we see the love of a father being expressed by God. Even though it is hard to digest his anger, it is equally as hard to comprehend his love.

Lord, thank you for your unfailing love and mercy.

Today's reading: Jer. 31-32: 1Jn. 4

Who's The Boss? - Jer., 1Jn.

"By my great power I have made the earth and all its people and every animal. I can give these things of mine to anyone I choose(1)... I myself will fight against you with great power, for I am very angry. You have made me furious!(2)... I will hand them over to King Nebuchadnezzar of babylon. He will slaughter them all without mercy, pity, or compassion(3)...So you must remain faithful to what you have been taught from the beginning. If you do, you will continue to live in fellowship with the Son and with the Father. And in this fellowship, we enjoy the eternal life he promised us(4)" (1)Jer. 27:5; (2)Jer. 21:5; (3)Jer. 21:7; (4)1Jn. 2:24, 25

God has been emphasizing to me that what we think is not what matters. Regardless of what WE may believe is right, wrong, just or unjust, he alone is God and can do whatever he wants with his creation (see 8/6/07 entry). That man has always attempted to impose his own will and desire over that of God's, to their own peril. And that through out time his message of love has NEVER changed: Return to God and he will be our God and we will be his people. Like a parent whose heart is broken when his children disobey and stray, it is the same with God; what joy and mercy overflows when they return!

Lord, I repent of my sinfulness. I am sorry that like a child I can be SO disobedient; I praise you for your love and mercy. Thank you for being my Father.

Today's reading: Jer. 21, 24, 27; Ps. 118; 1Jn. 2

Blessed - Jn. 20:29

"You believe because you have seen me. Blessed are those who haven't seen me and believe anyway." Jn. 20:29

This is us! We are called blessed because we haven't seen but believe anyway. No matter what I may think of myself, no matter how often I fail and fall, no matter that I AM A SINNER, Jesus knew all this and still called me blessed! Who am I that I deserve this pardon and honor? I am nobody, yet God chose me out of his grace and mercy. For this, God, I will forever give you praise and honor. What a contrast this attitude is from that displayed by King Jehoiakim in Jeremiah. With no fear of God, he burns Jeremiah's scroll and ignores all that God is plainly telling him. Frightening, yet this is what much of the world continues to do right up until today. God's patience is amazing, but one day EVERY knee will bow.

Lord, thank you for sending your Son, thank you for choosing me.

Today's reading: Jer. 26, 35, 36; Jn. 20

Faith and Confidence - Jer. 17:7-8

"But blessed are those who trust in the Lord and make the Lord their hope and confidence. They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water. Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought. Their leaves stay green, and they go right on producing delicious fruit." Jer. 17:7-8

We serve a faithful God, a loving Father. Like any parent, he will point out areas in our lives that require renewed focus, and at the same time shower his kids hope and encouragement to build their faith and confidence. What awesome promises this verse carries! That even though there may be times of "heat and drought," we will continue to be well-watered from unseen sources, and remain productive, "producing delicious fruit."

Thank you Lord that you are the water we draw from. We trust you in all things, and have complete faith that you work all things for good...

Today's reading: Jer. 16-17; Ps. 96; Jn. 16

Focus - Jn. 12:7

From 8/10/07 reading:

"Jesus replied, 'Leave her alone. She did it in preparation for my burial. You will always have the poor among you, but I will not be with you much longer.'" Jn. 12:7

As I was fasting and praying today, I asked God to focus my mind. He directed me to this verse. My sense was that he was calling us to have a renewed focus on worship. That EVERYTHING flows from this point. Bill often talks about the idea of yieldedness--the call for every Christian, yet an attitude that takes a lot of practice to attain. It does not come naturally to me, in fact just the opposite attitude does! What better way to practice yieldedness than through worship? The very definition of yieldedness! What Mary did in this verse was an act of PURE worship, in Judas' eyes it made no logical sense. But God said that this was OK, that her focus on worshiping him was right. Sometimes the answer is to stop thinking so much and just start worshiping God!

"I love you Lord, and I lift my voice, to worship you, oh my soul rejoice. Take joy my King in what you hear, let it be a sweet, sweet song in your ears..."

Today's reading: Jer. 5-6; Jn. 12

Where Is God? - Hab 1:6

From yesterday's reading:

"I am raising up the Babylonians to be a new power on the world scene. They are a cruel and violent nation who will march across the world and conquer it. They are notorious for their cruelty." Hab. 1:6, 7

When bad things happen we often hear people say, "Where was God?" What would they think if they found out that God was actually the very CAUSE of their anguish? This I am sure is what the Jews of the O.T. had to face over and over again. As they went through absolutely horrific trials, they had to, at times, believe that God had abandoned them; only to then hear the prophets tell them that not only were THEY the ones at fault, but that GOD was the one who had brought the trials that they were enduring! This is tough to swallow! We want to believe that God is good--that means that bad things come from the devil, and good things come from God. We now know that this is simply not true. God IS good, but like a parent does not withhold punishment when he thinks it is necessary for correction. And while in our human eyes we just cannot believe that a loving God would be the author of some of these events, he has only one ultimate goal in mind: To cause his people to stop sinning and to come back into relationship with him. Here is a scary thought: How are the Babylonians any different from Hitler and the Third Reich? Only God knows.

God, while I do not always understand your ways, I do trust you as a loving, sovereign and just God. You are the one who sees the WHOLE picture, while I see only a fragment. Thank you for being my God, for dying for me and creating an eternal home where I will forever have perfect relationship with you. Keep me humble Lord, focused on only what you want me to see.

Today's reading: Hab. 1-3; Jn. 8