Jesus Speaks----- Even If No One Listens

"Therefore prophesy concerning the land of Israel and say to the mountains and hills, to the ravines and valleys: 'This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I speak in my jealous wrath because you have suffered the scorn of the nations....You...will produce branches and fruit for my people Israel, for they will soon come home....I will cause many people to live on you--- yes, all of Israel.  The towns will be inhabited and the ruins rebuilt.'"  (Ezekiel 36 NIV)

If one is allowed to have "favorite" passages, this has to be one of them.  Today I had the sense of Jesus standing on the shores of the Galilee and declaring these words to what we call inanimate objects, "mountains and hills,..ravines and valleys."  Here Jesus is reminding humanity of the ages that His purposes still stand, His will, "will be done in Earth as it is in Heaven."  Nothing you nor I do, or don't do can change that.  History, "His Story," just keeps unfolding.

I saw a "lonely creature" on those shores, abandoned by those whom He loves, those for whom He shed His Blood.  The vast majority have rejected Him, grown cold towards Him, indifferent.  Yet no matter what humanity does, Jesus has His Church.  One old gentleman in a congregation I pastored use to say, "Jesus will have a church.  The question is, Will I be a part of it?"------ the question of the ages.  Yes, there is always that promised, "remnant."  But again, who will be a part of it/Him?

Does our Lord Jesus have to talk to those around us, even the land of our birth, inanimate objects because we are not listening, obeying?  This is the scenario of our text.  Nations which surrounded Israel and many of the Jews themselves had long since ignored, "The Word of God."  Such a life style is only to one's own hurt.  But God says, "Okay, no one is listening?  I will tell the Land what I am going to do."  He then prophesied, "to the mountains and hills, to the ravines and valleys."

"The Word of God," is Eternal, indeed, "The Eternal One."  It is not a cold nor indifferent statement to say that no matter what you or I do or do not do, Jesus is moving through history in His purposes for Planet Earth.  He invites all, "Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely."  Yet is the "whoevers" are few, still Jesus speaks, Jesus moves, Jesus reigns.  He could also be saying, "Whoever desires, let him be a part of My Church, live your life in My Kingdom and live by the laws of My Kingdom.  I have spoken to lands.   Hear My Words as I speak to you."

Father, in Jesus' Name, I thank You that no matter who is listening or who is not, You still speak.  Help me to "latch on" to Your Words.  Amen.
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You probably think sometimes that you receive more prayer requests than you need, but, "whosoever will," please remember my sister, Kate.  She has been in the hospital with respiratory problems, and is now going into an isolation room because of infection.

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

"Looking unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2

The Cross Is Not A Remedy For Disobedience

"But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet to warn the people and the sword comes and takes someone's life, that person's life will be taken because of their sin, but I will hold the watchman ACCOUNTABLE for their blood."  (Ezekiel 33:6, NIV)

The word, "accountable," is written is large caps in the online translation I used.  Maybe it is more than the translators or editors.  Maybe it is Our Father, Son Jesus, and Holy Spirit Himself.  Accountability is something which most people and nations feel will by pass them.  In last evening's debate, Carly Fiorina had a mantle of Ezekiel upon her when she spoke passionately about "the character of our nation" in regard to the murder of the unborn.  I have never heard anyone put it that way; she was prophetic.  Maybe we can say of her what one pastor once said of women in his congregation, "Some of my best men are women."

After a great conference in the Fall of 1972, Jesus spoke to my heart to "get into Ezekiel."  Every time I read in Ezekiel I think of that.  Ezekiel was commanded to be, "a watchman."  He was told that if he warned the nation of their disobedience to the Lord God, he would be judged faithful; hence, not accountable for what happened to the nation.  If he did not warn the people, he would be judged unfaithful, and held, "accountable."  If the prophet warned the nation and the nation received the,"word of the Lord," and repented, the nation would be spared judgment.  If they did not, they would be judged.  If, however, the prophet did not warn the nation and the nation suffered the consequences of disobedience, then Jesus would hold the prophet, "accountable for their blood."  There is a very sobering Biblical life principle here.

We know that Jesus Christ is "at work" in the earth, always has been and always will be until the close of the present age, then continue His work eternally.  His judgment and blessings on the nations are based on their obedience to Him and His Law/Word, e.g., see Matthew 25.  The same is true with individuals.  Jesus, "Himself took our sin in His own Body on the tree," the Bible tells us.  We are forgiven and delivered in Jesus' Blood from the power of sin to destroy.  But men and nations which reject Jesus and His Words are still vulnerable to our text.  The cross is not a "remedy" for disobedience.  "God loved the world this way: He gave His one and only Son....Whoever believes in (obeys) Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe (obey) stands condemned already because they have not believed in (obeyed) the Name of God's one and only Son."

I read this yesterday from Psalm 78 in the NLT, "When God began killing them, they finally sought Him.  They repented and took God seriously."  Victory in our sojourn here depends upon a life style of, "They repented and took God seriously." 

Father, in Jesus' Name, I confess that there have been "seasons" in my life when I did not take you seriously.  I covered it up, and would have rationalized it.  Thank You for Your Words which keep me in You.  Amen.
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If you want insight as to what is going on with the so-called "refugee crisis" in Europe, go to:
jhs58.blogsot.com

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

"Looking unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2

"Seldom Reflect On The Days...."

"Whoever loves money never has enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with their income....They seldom reflect on the days of their life, because God keeps them occupied with gladness of heart." (Ecclesiastes 5:20, NIV)

Nothing like Ecclesiastes to deal with fundamental human concerns.  I value its quarterly "word."  The NASB translates our text, "For he will not often consider the years of his life, because God keeps him occupied with the gladness of his heart." 

Someone once asked me if I have a copy write on my devotionals.  The thought had never occurred to me.  I then thought, "What would anyone do with what I write?"  Then I thought, "Who would pay for what I write?"  When people have subtly asked what I do, with the implication that I am either retired or am doing nothing, I reply with "intercession" and "writing a daily devotional."  Maybe if I used the word "blogging," it would impress more, and hence, justify "support" or salary, etc.  I have thought, however, that if Charles Schulz could make a "living" by posting a four block cartoon, what is the difference between what he did and what I am doing?   Yada, yada, yada.

Our text is a good advice on life, "....seldom reflect on the days of their life...."  Our text is for everyone, the person of great wealth or of little wealth, the person who receives a consistent pay check every two weeks, or is living on savings and Social Security, or the so-called "faith minister."  It is reported that giving in Christendom, especially in the United States dropped significantly after the "collapse" of 2008.  And you know the statistic which I have shared before that each generation from the WW 2 generation to the "millennials" and "generation y," has been giving less to the Church than the previous generation.  All of this is addressed in our text, "....seldom reflect on the days of their life, because God keeps them...." 

"They seldom reflect on the days of their life, because God keeps them occupied with gladness of heart."  This is a theme of the Followers of Jesus.  If my heart is, "occupied with gladness of heart," and I am convinced such, "gladness of heart," can only come with, "Looking unto Jesus," and not, "reflect[ing] on the days of their life," then no matter what my state in life, no matter the state of my country or the world in general, our Lord Jesus Christ, "keeps [me] occupied with gladness of heart."  Good word, Solomon.

Father, in Jesus' Name, help me to keep my heart thus occupied.  Amen.

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

"Looking unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2

"Whom Have I...But You?"

"Nevertheless I am continually with You; You hold me by my right hand.  You will guide me with Your counsel, and afterward receive me to glory.  Whom have I in heaven but You?  And there is none upon earth that I desire besides you.  My flesh and my heart fail; but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever."  (Psalm 73:23-26) The NIV says in 25b, "And earth has nothing I desire besides You."

Most devotionals use less "introductory" Scripture.  For me, my devotionals are the "introductory" to Scripture.

My sister went into the hospital this morning with complications from asthma.  I was praying for her earlier and prayed something like, "Lord Jesus, send in the right doctors" (pause).  Then in sort of frustration/helplessness, I said, "Send in Yourself."  Today's text says it perfectly, "Whom have I in heaven but You?"  In reality, we can pray the next passage something like, "'And there is none upon earth,' "who can do what only You can do."

There is no doubt that throughout history most of mankind's struggle has been beyond him to do anything.  We could not prevent the "Dark Ages."  We could not prevent the overrunning of the Church in the Middle East and North Africa by Muslim butchers.  The Jews could not prevent their ousting from Jerusalem in 70 A. D.  The "League of Nations" could not unify nations.  The World could not prevent Germany and Japan from nearly looting the entire Earth, and in the process causing the death of, what some sources place as high as, 85,000,000 people.  No one will every know the exact toll.

There will be more answers to prayer, victory in the battle "for the hearts and minds of men," and the Church rising up in these "Last Days" as the victorious Church we can be, when those who claim to, "follow the Lamb wherever He goes," adopt, live, and desperately cling to Jesus Christ, and saying and living to Jesus alone, "Whom have I in but You?  And earth has nothing I desire besides You."

Father, in Jesus' Name, I want, "....earth has nothing I desire besides You," to be my life style.  Amen.

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

"Looking unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2

I Cal This: "A Prophetic Word"

"If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved-- even though only as one escaping through flames." (1 Corinthians 3:15, NIV)

I don't want this for myself, nor for you, nor for the Church in general.  Yet an honest assessment of "things as they are" reveals this is where we may be headed.  I know my devotionals recently may have sounded like "downers;" reality is funny that way.  I don't mean to say that I am the only one facing reality in these days, but I do say there are far too many in Christendom who are not. 

I have been rereading portions of the book, The Great Evangelical Recession.  As I indicated before, there are portions of the book with which I do not agree, especially his perspective on the political involvement and ideology of evangelicals.  It is the statistical information, however, which was/is to me a revealing of most alarming trends in, not just evangelicalism, but in Christendom in general.  Now I know that it is very unpopular and very off putting for those who want to raise finances for their work in the Kingdom to say that we are loosing this battle------ but we are.  For too long, too many quote-anybody-and-everybodies have used theology of the over worked cliche, "I read the end of the book, and we win."  Yes, in "the end," we do win.  But if trends in Christendom continue as they are, then our text may very well be the epitaph of Christendom, especially in the United States of America.  Europe is already gone.< br>
Consider the context of today's text.  The Holy Spirit through Paul tells us, "By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as a wise builder, and someone else is building on it.  But each one should build with care.  For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.  If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light.  It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person's work.  If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward."  Then follows our text.

Only our Lord Jesus Christ and His Words qualify for, "gold, silver, costly stones."  Anything or anyone else which is not rooted in Jesus Christ is, "wood, hay or straw."  Scientists tell us, "There is no known natural substance that can destroy gold."  Yet there are plenty of "natural substance[s] which can destroy, "wood, hay or straw."  Too much of people's lives are based upon, "wood, hay or straw."  The American Church has, by in large, replaced, "Thus says the Lord,"  with, Thus says me.  This is the reason the Church in America is steadily declining, losing members, losing finances.  This is the reason so many lives are being destroyed today.

Prayer and "powerful worship" are touted today as the epitome of religious experience.  Of course the Bible teaches the centrality of prayer and worship.  But prioritize them above union in/with Jesus and His Words and you have a life and church built upon subjectivity; hence, nothing but, "wood, hay or straw."  Build our lives in Jesus Christ and His "Law-Words," and nothing on earth or the universe at large, Heaven or Hell will be able to, "separate us from the Love of God," nor from the Living Triune God Himself, nor His purposes, nor His promises, nor His, "many mansions," well, nor ANYTHING.  Church in America and throughout the world:  Do not settle for, "....even though only as one escaping through the flames"!  Let's take as many with us as we can.

Father, in Jesus' Name, I pray I never settle for, "wood, hay or straw," or, "as one escaping through the flames."  "Lord, have mercy, Christ have mercy."  Amen.
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* We so thank you for prayers for our family.  Just a "sentence prayer" in faith is worth more than......
* Also appreciate prayers for the upcoming mission in DC
  

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

"Looking unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2