"Who Forms The Human Spirit Within A Person."

"A prophecy: The Word of the Lord concerning Israel.  The Lord, who stretches out the heavens, who lays the foundation of the earth, and who forms the human spirit within a person, declares:...."  (Zechariah 12:1, NIV)

Notice the progression from, "stretches out the heavens," to, "the foundation of the earth," to, "Who forms the human spirit within a person."  Could we call this the journey from the macro to the micro?

Father, in Jesus' Name, I praise You for Your matchless works.  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.'"

Hebrews 12:2

"He Shall Build The Temple"

"Behold, the Man whose name is the BRANCH!  From His place He shall branch out, and He shall build the temple of the Lord...."  (Zechariah 6:12)

Our text tells us that our Lord Jesus Christ, "shall build the temple of the Lord."  Of course He will, and He has, and He is continuing.  The Bible tells us that Jesus' Followers are His House and His Temple.  Hebrews 3:6 tells us, "but Christ as a son over His Own house, whose house we are...."  And 2 Corinthians 6:16 tells us, "For you (His Church) are the temple of the Living God.  As God has said, 'I will dwell in them and walk among them.  I will be their God, and they shall be My people.'"  

"As you come to Him, the Living Stone-- rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to Him-- you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.  For in Scripture it says: 'See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious Cornerstone, and the one who trusts in Him will never be put to shame.'" (1 Peter 2:4-6, NIV)

Father, in Jesus' Name, I cannot fathom that You desire to, "dwell in [me]...."  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.'"

Hebrews 12:2

The Watchman's Responsibility

"But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet, and the people are not warned, and the sword comes and takes any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood I will require at the watchman's hand."  (Ezekiel 33:6)

A watchman cannot be one who tests the water to see what is popularly acceptable.  He simply tells what he sees.  Life and death depend upon our reaction.

Notice that disobedience is likened to, "iniquity."  Someone once said, "There is no anointing for obedience."  Our Lord Jesus speaks.  Obedience is our responsibility.  

Father, in Jesus' Name, thank You for watchman in my life.  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.'"

Hebrews 12:2

PLEASE NOTE UPDATE BELOW DEVOTIONAL

"They dress the wound of my people as though it were not serious.  'Peace, peace,' they say, when there is no peace."  (Jeremiah 6:14, NIV)

Most are familiar with the last sentence of today's text, not so the first.  People who have been referred to as "optimists" are often, "'peace, peace,'..when there is no peace", people.  As a result, "They dress the wound of My People as though it were not serious."  The, "wound," of the earth, however, and, "My People," is very, "serious."

I read and prayed today from one of the Psalms reading, "Restore us again, God our Savior [Who is our Lord Jesus Christ], and put away Your displeasure toward us....Will You not revive us again, that Your people may rejoice in You....He promises peace to His People, His Faithful servants-- but do let them not turn to folly."  

Father, in Jesus'  Name, I pray that I see just how, "serious," is this present time.  "Will You not revive us...."  Amen. 

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Sarah and I will be joining a team serving in what the U.S Senate Commission on Indian Affairs refers to as "Indian Country."  Our opportunity of serving is on the Crow Indian Reservation in Southern Montana.  We will be away from August 27-September 6.