As the rain and snow

“Paul passed through the inland country and came to Ephesus… And Paul said, ‘John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him, that is, Jesus.’ On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they began speaking in tongues and prophesying… He took the disciples with him, reasoning daily in the hall of Tyrannus. This continued for two years, so that all the residents of Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks. And God was doing extraordinary miracles by the hands of Paul, so that even handkerchiefs or aprons that had touched his skin were carried away to the sick, and their diseases left them and the evil spirits came out of them…

“And fear fell upon them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was extolled. Also many of those who were now believers came, confessing and divulging their practices. And a number of those who had practiced magic arts brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. And they counted the value of them and found it came to fifty thousand pieces of silver. So the word of the Lord continued to increase and prevail mightily.”  Acts 19:1,4-6,9-12,17-20

As Paul took the word of God into Ephesus, its power proved life-changing for those who received it. The Holy Spirit ignited new communication and spreading of the gospel. Minds were persuaded, life directions altered, bodies restored as a fantastic sign of new and vibrant faith. Worship was enhanced through a deeper reverence for Almighty God, and the word brought humbling, sobering conviction that compelled honest confession, forever foregoing of evil practices, the destruction of instruments of wickedness, the irretrievable surrender of earthly valuables. (Hebrews 4:12)

When God’s word increases and prevails, its effects are unstoppable and transformative. God’s truth penetrates our minds to rectify wrong thinking, our spirits to embolden prayer, our hearts to set them ablaze in love and holy affection. God’s word topples our shrines to self and belongings and worldliness, and breaks open the way for fresh life direction, an eternal perspective, new employment of time, refined stewardship of resources and talents. When we continue in the word, it heals our spiritual infirmities, loosens our grip on things that once satisfied and frees us to embrace what lasts forever. (2 Timothy 3:14-17)

As we are exposed to the word, what effect is it having? Are we merely gaining knowledge that puffs up, that we parade and discuss in our closed comfort circles, or are we being significantly equipped for works of love and mercy and service that profit others and glorify God? What changes have we made over the last month in expenditures of time or money, in recreation, relationships, prayer focus and investment, because of what the word has taught us? Where will we apply it to make a difference? Where will we yield anew to its power? (1 Corinthians 13:1-2)

Lord, prevail mightily in me! Cause Your word to have its way with my attention and affections, my wisdom and my worship, that Your marvelous name be extolled.

 

“And Isaac prayed to the Lord for his wife, because she was barren. And the Lord granted his prayer, and Rebekah his wife conceived. And the Lord said to her,

When her days to give birth were completed, there were twins in her womb. The first… they called Esau. Afterward his brother came out… [and he] was called Jacob.”

“When Isaac was old and his eyes were dim, he called Esau his older son and said to him, ‘My son,.. I am old; I do not know the day of my death. Now go out to the field and hunt game for me, and prepare for me delicious food, such as I love, so that I may eat, that my soul may bless you before I die.’ Now Rebekah was listening. So when Esau went to the field… Rebekah said to Jacob, ‘I heard your father speak to your brother Esau, “Bring me game, that I may bless you before I die.” Now therefore, obey my voice. Go and bring me young goats, so that I may prepare from them delicious food for your father, such as he loves. And you shall bring it to your father to eat, so that he may bless you before he dies.’” Genesis 25:21,23-26; 27:1-10

God, who superintends beginnings and ends and all in between, speaks His promise, establishing His plan with the power of His word for all that will be. Man twists and connives in his own effort, to his own liking, dipping into fleshly desire, manipulating to bring about what he thinks is God’s will, yet God overrules. He is the supreme Ruler of all. He is sovereign, worthy of submission and praise. His ways are worthy of our trust, and always best. We can take Him at His word, even when His promises seem impossible.

Before we dismiss the Isaac home for its dysfunction and deception, these passages turn a spotlight on us. When we know what God has declared to be true, right, and expected, but do not particularly like that it seems restricting or misaligned with our wants and felt needs, do we dismiss that part of His word? Do we ever try to bend its meaning to fit our preferred interpretation, or work it out according to our strategy?

Are there areas where we yield to temporary pleasure or disordered affection over the greater favor of Christ and His promises? Isaac’s idolatry of delicious game reigned over his reason, his sense of taste won over his sense of right. Where do I think the only way to resolve an ongoing problem (to which I have contributed) is dishonest manipulation? Rebekah believed God’s promise of blessing to Jacob, but thought she had to sin to make it happen. Where do I fear man more than God? What cowardice drives me to obey voices I know are wrong? Jacob weakly gave in to his mother’s orders, and suffered the consequences. (Genesis 27:24-29,41-44; 28:10-16; 31:36-41; Hebrews 11:24-26)

My King, keep me from succumbing to the temptation to rule my own life. May my daily choices exalt Your providence and supremacy.

“Come, everyone who thirsts,
    come to the waters;
and he who has no money,
    come, buy and eat!
Come, buy wine and milk
    without money and without price.
Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread,
    and your labor for that which does not satisfy?
Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good,
    and delight yourselves in rich food.
Incline your ear, and come to me;
    hear, that your soul may live.” Isaiah 55:1-3

I watched the muscular pelicans glide regally over the calm water this morning, winging, hovering, driven by hunger. Suddenly, at a flash of instant, they rise up, dive deep, their long beak underwater just long enough to grab a fish. They turn back up to balance, rest for the briefest moment, taste. Up tilts the head to open the throat, and gulp. Down goes the fish; breakfast is served.

And so we feed, morning by morning, rousing ourselves, arising, expending effort to take off above the living waters. We watch, we listen, we dive deep into God’s word, and the promises, assurances, warnings, instructions He gives we ingest and savor. We look up to Him, open ourselves in willing reception, and swallow. His living truth becomes our nourishment. Our sustenance for the hours ahead of uncertainty, decisions, threats, conversations, responsibilities.

His waters go deep, His morsels are choice and many. ‘Come and feed,’ He calls. And never does His supply run dry.

The world offers an assortment of food for our daily fare. There are dead critters, tasteless critters, critters that might appear intriguing and satisfy for a while, but leave us feeling empty. The Master trains our insight to know what truly nourishes, the diet that affords spiritual energy and strength, the input that increases discernment and wisdom, the heavenly meat that builds reserves for times when we cannot feed. It is our discipline with Him that develops wings strong enough to go the distance, and grows minds smart enough to know the path to take. It is this consistent feeding that matures our spiritual senses, enabling us to hear and see Jesus in His word and world, and that stirs our desire to follow Him. (Hebrews 5:14)

What pulls us away from the water that gives life? What lethargy weighs down our resolve, what self-pity dampens our spirit, what spiritual apathy leaves us drifting and empty? What takes precedence over our early?

As we begin our days, we can pray for ourselves with Paul, “I bow my knees before the Father, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.” Then we’ll be ready to take off, soar, dive, and look up to be sated. (Ephesians 3:14,16-19)

Lord, keep me coming to Your waters and delighting in Your richest fare. When I rise, satisfied, wing me to feed the hungry world.

“You brood of vipers! How can you speak good, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. The good person out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure brings forth evil. I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.” Matthew 12:34-37

Jesus follows His teaching on the treasure we store with a parable about how we receive and respond to God’s word in our hearts- and only those who hear and understand bear fruit. God’s word is living, active, and powerful, yet there is a cooperation in which we participate if it is to take up full residence in us and have its sway. (Matthew 13:3-8,19-23; Hebrews 4:12)

“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.” “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.” “I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.” “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.” “Keep [my words] within your heart… Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.” Deuteronomy 6:5; Psalm 51:10; 119:11; Proverbs 3:5; 4:21,23

How much attention do we pay to our hearts?  It’s easy to get taken up with our exterior face and dress, adornments of education, accomplishments, and accolades, a flurry of tasks and activity, and not tend to our interior. It is more difficult to deal with conviction and disorder, to yield up nursed grudges, to change our ways, than it is to put on fancy clothes. We falsely think that if we cover up well and long enough, our accumulated hidden crud will be rendered inert and not affect the way we behave, but we end up paying the higher price of neglect.

The Bible makes much importance of the inner self. The God who sees all warns that our hearts are the wellspring for every word, action, and decision we manifest. Jesus teaches the heart is the place to keep clean of sinful allegiances and fill with truth and love for Him, to protect and employ for faith. A pure heart, properly stoked, will bear its heat and power and shine through all our external decorations and doings if we make it a priority and guard it with vigilance. (1 Samuel 16:7; Proverbs 27:19)

When was the last time I took inventory of my heart? Are there attitudes and habits I’ve allowed to reside, and calcify, there, and when will I confess them and set them aside? Am I regularly storing up God’s word in my heart? When do I take time to read, study, memorize, and apply it? Would we choose to exercise a healthy rate of love and trust?

Father, my heart is Yours to store. May it abound with Your good treasure, and flow with Your life, and beat in unison with Yours.

 

“When Mordecai learned all that had been done, Mordecai tore his clothes and put on sackcloth and ashes, and went out into the midst of the city, and he cried out with a loud and bitter cry… Esther the queen was deeply distressed [and] called for Hathach, and ordered him to go to Mordecai to learn what this was and why it was… Mordecai told him all that had happened to him, and the exact sum of money that Haman had promised to pay into the king’s treasuries for the destruction of the Jews. Mordecai also gave him a copy of the decree issued for their destruction, that he might show it to Esther and explain it to her and command her to go to the king to beg his favor and plead with him on behalf of her people.

“[Esther said], ‘All know that if any man or woman goes to the king inside the inner court without being called, there is but one law—to be put to death.’ Mordecai told them to reply to Esther, ‘If you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another place… And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?’ Then Esther told them to reply to Mordecai, ‘Go, gather all the Jews to be found in Susa, and hold a fast on my behalf, and do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my young women will also fast as you do. Then I will go to the king, though it is against the law, and if I perish, I perish.’ Mordecai then went away and did everything as Esther had ordered him.” Esther 4:1,4-5,7-8,11,13-17

God’s sovereign hand had moved the chess pieces of a rebel queen’s expulsion, a king’s harem, the overhearing of one plot against the king, the crafting of another against the Jews, and now He zeroed in on one benevolent uncle and his adopted niece, the new queen, in the Persian capital of Susa. The message from Mordecai to Esther: ‘Make much of such a time.’ God in His goodness, His vast power and infinite wisdom, had brought all history and His individual people to this setting in this hour, and He had a task for them to do. If Esther refused, He would still accomplish His plans, but she would miss out on being a part and experiencing His glorious deliverance.

There is supernatural activity going on everywhere, all the time, and Almighty God assigns our specific places and roles to participate in His kingdom work. Are we attuned to Him, and available? It takes sharp eyes to see, time and attention to hear, and a willing readiness to grip the mantle of prayer, take the risk, approach the throne, seize His appointments.

What and where specifically would God have us instigate revival, speak life-giving truth, join a movement that would make a difference for eternity? Whom does He want us to encourage, admonish, or comfort today? What time, resources, unique talents would He employ?

Lord, help me know and embrace Your plan for my ‘such a time.’ Grant me bold courage to plead, risk, and obey, for Your holy sake and glory.

“When Jesus had finished all these sayings, he said to his disciples, ‘You know that after two days the Passover is coming, and the Son of Man will be delivered up to be crucified.’ Then the chief priests and the elders of the people gathered in the palace of the high priest, whose name was Caiaphas, and plotted together in order to arrest Jesus by stealth and kill him. But they said, ‘Not during the feast, lest there be an uproar among the people.'” Matthew 26:1-5

These parallel accounts are fascinating. Jesus prepares His disciples very specifically for what will be taking place in the coming days that will rock their world– namely, His crucifixion, the cruelest punishment for the worst of criminals. Yet concurrently, in a closed-door meeting of the high priest and his cohorts, the religious leaders furtively plot the arrest and death of Jesus, thinking they can plan and carry it out with stealth and control. Little are they aware that the Lord of lords has known all along what will take place and when they will make their move.

We erect our lives. We schedule our days and years. We strategize, we determine. We prepare every nuance and design all details. We plot to perform and succeed and think no one can touch us and nothing can ruin our plans. And all the while, the Ruler of all is carrying out His good and wide and perfect will that involves and controls and swallows ours in one divine gulp.

“The heart of man plans his way,
    but the Lord establishes his steps.” Proverbs 16:9

“For the Lord of hosts has purposed,
    and who will annul it?
His hand is stretched out,
    and who will turn it back?” Isaiah 14:27

Where do I attempt to make plans behind my heart’s closed doors, apart from consulting my Lord, and take pride in my accomplishments as though I was king? Are there instances where I forge ahead out of fear He would delay my wants or efforts, then seek His blessing as an afterthought? Do I hold so tightly to the reins of my life that I miss His better guidance and fail to see His larger purposes?

I grow to know God better as I look for His higher order in all of life and ask ‘what is He teaching?’ There is much freedom and security in trusting His supremacy over my schemes.

“Praise to the Lord, who o’er all things so wondrously reigneth;
shelters you under his wings, and so gently sustaineth!
Have you not seen all that is needful has been
granted in what he ordaineth?”  ~Joachim Neander (1680)

Supreme Ruler, You do and can do all things, and none of Your purposes can be thwarted.  Humble me before You. Teach me to trust Your plans as I make mine. Conform my thinking to Yours, and align my desires with Your good, pleasing, and perfect will. (Job 42:2; Romans 12:1-2)

“Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. As the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and slept. But at midnight there was a cry, ‘Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ But the wise answered, saying, ‘Since there will not be enough for us and for you, go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves.’  And while they were going to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut. Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open to us.’ But he answered, ‘Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.’ Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.” Matthew 25:1-13

“And do not get drunk with wine, but be filled with the Spirit.” Ephesians 5:18

Dangerous is the attitude that says, ‘I’ll settle this later.’ ‘I won’t be called to account, I’ll have time to clean up.’ ‘I’m tired. I’m working. I’m busy. Just a minute. Tomorrow. Not now. This is more important.’ There are many ideas and occupations that would detract our focus from Jesus, and deter us from looking for Him in every endeavor. Yet the Scriptures teach us to watch, to be vigilant, to be ready.

What the foolish virgins did was get excited, but make no preparations. They liked the idea of a wedding celebration here and now, but lacked foresight and wisdom to be appropriate guests. They were impulsive, enthused about their terms, their timing, their way, but got tired and lost interest when the party didn’t happen. And they lost out. They missed the Bridegroom altogether.

Isn’t it human nature to want what God wants, as long as He wants it my way? To write my terms for our relationship? In my flesh, I plot my choice of schedule and manner of how things should happen, and I grow restless and impatient when my plans do not come about as I’d determined. I grow weary of waiting for the fulfilling of my desires, answers and changes and guidance for which I’ve prayed, and can begin to doubt God’s interest or goodness.

I can allow my spiritual tank to run dry, assuming I’ll find a convenient time and place to refill when it suits. I think I know the remedy for our distance, and will apply it when I deem it important. My lack of ongoing watchful prayer and filling of the Spirit prevent me from seeing the danger of depleted oil.

What makes me spiritually drowsy? On what plans, or dreams, have I become ‘drunk,’ allowing them to have more sway over me than God’s Spirit?

Lord, keep me alert and wise, filled with Your Spirit, trimming the wick of a keen and undivided heart. May I daily be expectant and prepared for Your every invitation. (Psalm 86:10-11)

 

“Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, ‘The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat, so do and observe whatever they tell you, but not the works they do. For they preach, but do not practice. They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on people’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to move them with their finger. They do all their deeds to be seen by others. For they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long, and they love the place of honor at feasts and the best seats in the synagogues and greetings in the marketplaces and being called rabbi by others. But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all brothers. And call no man your father on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven. Neither be called instructors, for you have one instructor, the Christ. The greatest among you shall be your servant. Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.'” “Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom his master has set over his household, to give them their food at the proper time?  Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes.” Matthew 23:1-12; 25:45-46

Jesus’s scathing remarks about the scribes and Pharisees might have been confusing to His hearers. After all, those publicly religious leaders were to be revered, even feared, as the perfect role models of righteousness and authority. Jesus was condemning them? Yes, because He knew their hearts. Their teaching may have aligned with God’s commands, but their motives and actions did not match. They paraded their religious costumes, flaunted their self-righteous legalism, and pompously relished attention for their esteemed positions. Inwardly they were corrupt; life was “all about me.”

Before condemning them for their hypocrisy, where are we guilty of the same? When have I looked down on someone for foolish choices, ungodly behavior, rash words, seedy involvements, and failed to consider my own self-righteous attitude, favoritism, love of ease, fear of man, secret indulgences, stingy grace? Where am I culpable for measuring my behavior against others’, and neglecting measurement against God’s holy standards of selfless servanthood, humility, preferring others before myself? Where have I chosen whom to love and forgive? (Matthew 5:44-48; Ephesians 2:3-4; Philippians 4:32)

The Lord calls us to servanthood, in our mindset and in our actions, doing all as unto Him, even in the high positions He entrusts to us. Our best Teacher is Jesus, our loving Father is God, our only Master is the King of kings. We are to be adorned with His righteousness, filled with His Spirit, and yielded to His service and honor. (Isaiah 61:10; Ephesians 5:15; Colossians 3:23)

Lord, check me whenever I make life all about me, and shape my deepest heart’s desire to be all about Thee. Capture my every affection and ounce of vitality that I give You full attention, to the exaltation of Your grace and glory.

“And at the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem they sought the Levites in all their places, to bring them to Jerusalem to celebrate the dedication with gladness, with thanksgivings and with singing, with cymbals, harps, and lyres. And the sons of the singers gathered together from the district surrounding Jerusalem and from the villages. Then I brought the leaders of Judah up onto the wall and appointed two great choirs that gave thanks. One went to the south on the wall to the Dung Gate. And after them went Hoshaiah and half of the leaders of Judah, and Azariah, Ezra, Meshullam, Judah, Benjamin, Shemaiah, and Jeremiah, and certain of the priests’ sons with trumpets: Zechariah… and his relatives, Shemaiah, Azarel, Milalai, Gilalai, Maai, Nethanel, Judah, and Hanani, with the musical instruments of David. And Ezra the scribe went before them… 

“The other choir of those who gave thanks went to the north, and I followed them with half of the people, on the wall, above the Tower of the Ovens, to the Broad Wall, and above the Gate of Ephraim, and by the Gate of Yeshanah, and by the Fish Gate and the Tower of Hananel and the Tower of the Hundred, to the Sheep Gate; and they came to a halt at the Gate of the Guard. So both choirs of those who gave thanks stood in the house of God, and I and half of the officials with me; and the priests with trumpets. And the singers sang with Jezrahiah as their leader. And they offered great sacrifices that day and rejoiced, for God had made them rejoice with great joy; the women and children also rejoiced. And the joy of Jerusalem was heard far away.” Nehemiah 12:27-28,31-36,38-43

In the cacophony of everyday life we hear a lot of noise, from songbirds to sirens, from vehicles to machines to horns, from a workman’s shout to a mother’s chastisement to a crowd’s revelry. But how often do we hear joy? And what part might I have in bringing it to the mix, and fore?

The dedication of the wall was a celebration of accomplishment in the face of opposition, of perseverance and commitment and hard work from people of all backgrounds and talents. It was a rejoicing in a humanly impossible work that God had brought about, a time of exalting Him who had done great things. As much as this well-ordered dedication was a beautiful procession ringing the city like a festal crown, it was also a natural uprising of music in every heart, sparkling with melody like multicolored jewels. Gratitude does that, gracing our places with visible, audible joy.

To be heard far away, our joy must abound nearby, welling up inside to overflow. How consistently do I rejoice in my Savior, and sing His praise? What selfish feelings and mental consternations dampen my joy in the Lord, and how will I exchange those for thankfulness? With whom do I connect to laud Him together? Joy seldom attends this dark world; what will I do to contribute it to my home and community? (Psalm 47:1; 96:1; Philippians 4:4)

LORD, may joy so fill my heart and life with ceaseless praise that others see, and hear, and taste its fruit, and glorify You. (Galatians 5:22)

“We bring you good news, that you should turn from these vain things to a living God, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all that is in them. In past generations he allowed all the nations to walk in their own ways. Yet he did not leave himself without witness, for he did good by giving you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying your hearts with food and gladness.” Acts 14:15-17

“What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you.  The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man, nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything.  And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, that they should seek God,.. and find him… For ‘In him we live and move and have our being.’ ..We ought not to think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by the art and imagination of man. The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent, because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness.” Acts 17:23-31

The LORD over time is LORD of man. He has created us and provided everything for our needs and good. He determines when and where we are born, and into what families. He gives us freedom to walk in our own ways, giving ample evidence of His love, beauty, sufficiency, and power. Yet man so often chooses to make gods with human hands, objects and fetishes we can hold and control, affections we can nurse and indulge in on impulse. The sovereign Potentate of time, Who has determined when He will judge every person, pursues individuals and purveys the truth of the gospel to all who will hear, “Repent!” “Everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.” (Acts 10:43)

We who are bound by time can get caught up in it, filling our days with activity and our moments with frenzy. We can fill our schedules with building temples to man, our minds with lowly thought, our hands with meaningless occupation. And when we come before the Master, what will we have to show? Treasures we have laid up in heaven, crowns to offer God in worship, or ashes of a wasted life? (Matthew 6:19-20; 1 Corinthians 3:10-15; Revelation 4:10-11)

What vain things captivate me today? What idols distort my view of the High and Holy One? What compulsion to man-make and serve and achieve distracts from doing all as unto Him? (Colossians 3:23-24)

“Crown Him the Lord of years,
The Potentate of time.
Creator of the rolling spheres,
Ineffably sublime.
All hail, Redeemer, hail!
For Thou hast died for me;
Thy praise shall never, never fail
Throughout eternity.”  ~Matthew Bridges (1800-1894)

Lord, let me never forget Who You are, and that I will one day stand before You to account for all I do. Have Your way with me in every moment. (2 Corinthians 5:10)