Running from God

Today: Obadiah-Jonah

I'm not a rocket scientist, but I think it would be pretty crazy to try an outrun a cheetah. Or a Ferrari. Or an Olympic athlete.

Yet, there are some people who try to run from God.

In today's passage, we met one of them: Jonah. God told Jonah to go to the city of Ninevah--and Jonah didn't want to go, so he ran. In the process, he put lives at risks--the lives of other passengers on a ship to Tarshish, his own life and the lives of the people from Ninevah. Plus, he had to go through the drama of being thrown into a wild storm, swallowed by a fish, and living in the belly of a fish (eww...can't imagine how that smelled!) for three days.

Running from God? Not a good idea. Not even possible!

It's interesting to see how Jonah--and how many people (probably me, too, at times!) try to run from God. God sees everything! Throughout this story, it was clear God saw Jonah, but God also saw the people on the ship. He saw the people of Ninevah, even though their hearts were far from Him.

God LOVED all of these people, despite their failures. God saved Jonah with the big fish. God protected the people on the ship with Jonah. And God cared enough about the people of Ninevah to send Jonah to help them--and to make sure that Jonah delivered His message!

With all of these truths in mind, I'm going to end this post with a question: Why do we try to run from God, especially when God is the One always running toward us--with love?

Tomorrow: Micah

What NOT to do

Today: Amos 6-9

There's a show on TLC (The Learning Channel) called "What Not To Wear." The show selects someone who needs serious fashion help. Typically, they show embarrassing footage. They critique their subjects' wardrobe choices--pointing out what NOT to wear (naturally, of course).

Today's passage reminded me of that show...but with some substance. God gave the prophet Amos some words about what NOT to do. I thought His words were as poignant then as they are today. Take a look:

Woe to those who live only for today,

indifferent to the fate of others!

Woe to the playboys,

the playgirls,

who think life is a party held just for them!

Woe to those addicted to feeling good—life without pain!

those obsessed with looking good—life without wrinkles!

They could not care less

about their country going to ruin.

Ouch!

It's amazing how much we can choose to focus on things that make us feel good, things that are temporary or superficial. It's not wrong to have fun--but when self-centered or temporary things supersede the eternal things that REALLY matter, there's a problem. We can learn from others' mistakes and from this excerpt--what NOT to do can help us focus on the things that really matter--which aren't things at all.

Tomorrow: Obadiah-Jonah

Things, people and God

Today: Amos 1-5

"There's a person behind the hand on the other side of your coffee cup. A person! Do you see them?"

This past weekend, I heard these words from Pastor Paul Scanlon. He was talking about the importance of truly caring for people. (Check out his book "The 15 Revolution" via the link above for more on that.)

When I read today's passage, Pastor Paul's message came to mind. Through the prophet Amos, God describes His disappointment in nations that have disregarded Him. Here's how He described His own people--the people of Israel and their view of people:

People for them are only things—
ways of making money.
They'd sell a poor man for a pair of shoes.

They'd sell their own grandmother!

They grind the penniless into the dirt,

shove the luckless into the ditch.

Everyone and his brother sleeps with the 'sacred whore'—

a sacrilege against my Holy Name.

Stuff they've extorted from the poor is piled up at the shrine of their god,

While they sit around drinking wine they've conned from their victims.
"In contrast, I was always on your side..."

It's interesting in this passage to see how Israel's treatment of people--particularly the vulnerable and less fortunate of society--was a reflection of their treatment toward God. They dismissed God and they totally dismissed the people He created. They were selfish and sacrilegious--giving idols items stolen from people--real people--God's people.

It doesn't seem to make any sense! However, I think this passage illustrates that when our views of God are off track, our views of people and things are warped, too. If we love God, we love the people He made and died for. Money and things can't top human lives created in God's image. When we really love God, we stop allowing idols to drive our actions. We live to love God and people more than ourselves or our things.

Tomorrow: Amos 6-9

Change your life

Today: Joel

If you ask people about their life goals or New Year's resolutions, often you'll hear answers like this:

"I want to lose weight."

"I'm hoping to pay off my credit card debt."

"I want to travel more."

Those goals are all good. But have you ever noticed that most people (myself included at times!) try to change external factors without changing root issues that cause their external problems?

For example, the people in the examples above could potentially be more successful if their goals sounded more like this:

"I want to change my perspective on this body God's given me--to take better care of it because God made it and has entrusted it to my care."

"I'd like to be a better care-taker over the resources I've been given. I want to be a responsible saver and a generous giver."

"I want to be passionate about my life again."

When I read today's passage, I noticed an excerpt where God was challenging people to change their hearts instead of just changing their exteriors. Take a look:

Change your life, not just your clothes.

Come back to God, your God.

And here's why: God is kind and merciful.

He takes a deep breath, puts up with a lot,

This most patient God,

extravagant in love,

always ready to cancel catastrophe.

Who knows?

Maybe he'll do it now,

maybe he'll turn around and show pity.

Maybe, when all's said and done,

there'll be blessings full and robust for your God!

I really like this excerpt because it's another stunning picture of God's character. At a moment when His people are distant and deep in sin, these verses highlight His patient and extravagant love. When we genuinely approach Him and ask for forgiveness, He grants it--not begrudgingly, but instantaneously. So amazing!

Tomorrow: Amos 1-5

Just Word

Today: Hosea 8-14

Sow righteousness,

reap love.

It's time to till the ready earth,

it's time to dig in with God,

Until he arrives...

Tomorrow: Joel

We are Hosea's wife...

Today: Hosea 1-7



As I read today's passage, I couldn't help but hear the words of one of my favorite singer/songwriters--Brooke Fraser. Brooke has a song based on this book of the Bible. It's a song called "Hosea's wife" and here are a few of the lyrics:

I see the scars of searches everywhere I go

From hearts to wars to literature to radio

There's a question like a shame no one will show

"What do I live for?"

We are Hosea's wife

We are squandering this life

Using people like ladders and words like knives

If we've eyes to see

If we've ears to hear

To find it in our hearts and mouths

The word that saves is near

Shed that shallow skin

Come and live again

Leave all you were before

To believe is to begin...

When I read today's passage, the dramatic story of Hosea and his wife was striking. God called Hosea to basically become a living illustrated message--Hosea's love for his wife, a former prostitute, paralleled the love of God for His people. When Hosea's wife rejected him and their children to go back to her life of whoring, Hosea pursued her with love and care. He bought her back--He paid a great price to redeem the woman who discarded Him. That's the kind of love that God has for us!

I really loved this part of the passage:

And now, here's what I'm going to do:

I'm going to start all over again.

I'm taking her back out into the wilderness

where we had our first date,

and I'll court her.

I'll give her bouquets of roses.

I'll turn Heartbreak Valley into Acres of Hope...

God loves us despite our own stupidity, selfishness and missteps, He loves us. And in the words of Brooke (that paraphrase this excerpt)--to believe is to begin.

Tomorrow: Hosea 8-14

Grapes (and grace) under pressure

Today: Daniel 10-12

This afternoon I was watching a Travel Channel show set in the beautiful region of Provence. The host (Samantha Brown) toured a very unique vineyard. The owner showed her vines with beautiful grapes...and then discussed something unexpected...the very rocky soil where the grapes grew. The rocks below the vines were as big as my fist!

He said something like this, "The ground is full of stones. It's rocky. But that makes the grapes stronger."

I think that sometimes our lives are like that--we can be like the grapes under pressure and choose to walk in grace despite the obstacles of our lives.

In today's passage, Daniel receives a prophetic vision of end times...times far ahead from his present. In part of these chapters, the angel describes some people who faced some serious pressure. Check it out:

The king of the north will play up to those who betray the holy covenant,

corrupting them even further with his seductive talk,

but those who stay courageously loyal to their God will take a strong stand.
"'Those who keep their heads on straight

will teach the crowds right from wrong by their example.

They'll be put to severe testing for a season:

some killed, some burned, some exiled, some robbed.

When the testing is intense,

they'll get some help,

but not much.

Many of the helpers will be halfhearted at best.

The testing will refine, cleanse, and purify

those who keep their heads on straight and stay true...

I think it's interesting that this passage doesn't describe a rescue. God doesn't come down on a white horse and pick up the people severely tested (and even killed!) for doing the right thing under pressure. Perhaps that seemed strange to you. It may feel heartless, uncaring, unjust. However, pressure can make people better (or lead to rewards in heaven).

If you ever doubt God while under fire, keep this in mind: Pressure has a purpose. And God has a purpose, too.

Tomorrow: Hosea 1-7