Scott Lane

American Idols

Re: Verse reading–Ezekiel 18:1-18 (day five) All the talk of idols seems really outdated and not applicable to 21^st Century American Christian Culture. Right?? Wrong!! That’s what I was thinking until I began reading a book I just purchased by Kyle Idleman. He writes, “What if the gods of here and now are not cosmic deities with strange names? What if they take identities that are so ordinary that we don’t recognize them as ‘gods’ at all? What if we do our ‘kneeling’ and ‘bowing’ with our imaginations, our cash, our search engines, our calendars? What if I told you that every sin you are struggling with, every discouragement you are dealing with, even the lack of purpose you’re living with are because of idolatry?”

So, I again have such a respect and hope in reading the scripture. I also have an opportunity to search my heart and life and look for idols while reflecting on Ezekiel 18.

God Prepares & Encourages

Re: Verse reading – Ezekiel 1:28-3:4 (day five)

God begins to call/commission Ezekiel into service and ministry. In chapter 1, He “reveals” to Ezekiel His character and nature.

Windstorm (1:4) – Power – God is never helpless.

Throne (1:26) Sovereignty – God always is in control (even in difficult circumstances).

Fire (1:27) Holiness- God judges and punishes sin and disobedience.

Rainbow (1:28) Kindness and Mercy. Even in judgment, God remembers mercy.

Scripture is full of pictures, accounts, and experiences that, if we look and listen, can help us discover and understand more about the character and nature of God. Often times, God will “reveal” parts of His nature and character that will be of great value and insight to the heart of each believer in the midst of circumstances and preceding the future. Looking back, can you see how each one of these pictures Ezekiel sees, encourages and prepares him for the task that lies ahead?

May we be willing to ask God do the same in our hearts. (Scripture, Sermons, Prayer, Worship, Service, and Fellowship) What are you learning about the Lord?

A Promise Kept

Re: Verse reading–Jeremiah 31:27-34; 32:1-15 (day five)

Jeremiah 31 31 “Behold, days are coming,” declares the LORD, “when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah, 33 “I will put My law within them and on their heart I will write it; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.

Luke 22:20 “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.

John 14 ¹⁵“If you love me, keep my commands. ¹⁶And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— ¹⁷the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.

Colossians 1 ²⁷To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Lessons from Babylon to Holy Week

Re: Verse reading – Jeremiah 21:1-10, 38:1-6 (day five)

We see a couple of similarities as we compare the narrative in Jeremiah and the recounts of Holy Week in the Gospels. Absence of Leadership (A leader who cowers down to the wishes/demands of the passionate crowd people instead of standing strong and making an unpopular decision (Zedikiah/Pilate). True Picture of Following God (The Lord’s provision and plan calls for submission and surrender (Chaldeans/Cross).

The call to live a life that evidences grace, truth, strength, integrity, and love (2 Timothy 2:22-25) is still what the Lord would desire of all His followers. It also is worth remembering Jesus always believed the Christian life would involve to some degree: pain, difficulty, and humility (Luke 9:23).

Family

Re: Verse reading – Jeremiah 29:1-14 (day five)
It’s worth noting that God’s hope-filled Word of encouragement and challenge to His people in the midst of exile in Jeremiah 29 has great regard for the family. “⁵Build houses and live in them; and plant gardens and eat their produce. ⁶Take wives and become the fathers of sons and daughters, and take wives for your sons and give your daughters to husbands, that they may bear sons and daughters; and multiply there and do not decrease.” He points to family life and the hope and mission that can be in operation in each home. Seems to reverberate the command given in Deuteronomy 6. So… Fathers, mothers, sons and daughters- is there hope (The love, goodness, strength, and power of The Living God) being taught, talked, and celebrated in your home? It is the task of each family to lead out in worship and discipleship. It is the task of the church to partner with moms, dads, kids, and grandparents to equip and encourage.

The Word of the Lord

Re: Verse reading – Jeremiah 36 (Day Five)
How many times have we read “The Word of the Lord came to Jeremiah (me)” so far in this book of the bible? My calculations are 26. What great comfort it must have been to Jeremiah for the Lord to continually guide and shape His thoughts, ministry, and message. How clearly, during these moments of chapter 36, he must have understood where the real strength and power of “The Word of the Lord” resides.

“The Bible is the written word of God, and because it is written it is confined and limited by the necessities of ink and paper and leather. The Voice of God, however, is alive and free as the sovereign God is free. ‘The words that I speak unto you, they are spirit and they are life.’ The life is in the speaking words. God’s word in the Bible can have power only because it corresponds to God’s word in the universe. It is the present Voice which makes the written Word all-powerful.- A.W. Tozer

What’s the Point?

Re: Verse reading – Jeremiah 11:18-23; 12:1-6; 17:14-18; 20:7-18 (day five)
I am VERY competitive. I keep score. Most times, it really is a huge disservice to my heart and soul. I suspect most of us are that way too. Jeremiah continues to learn a lesson that every human heart has to eventually understand. Keeping score is SO dangerous, because each life has its own unique journey (race) marked out by the Lord. How can you compare? Keeping score often takes our eyes off of the Lord and puts the focus on others or ourselves. Keeping score uses human judgment and perspective to quantify the totals. Keeping score skews the priority. Look at Jeremiah’s focus and perspective… “They grow, they have even produced fruit. You are near to their lips But far from their mind.3 But You know me, O LORD; You see me; And You examine my heart’s attitude toward You. Drag them off like sheep for the slaughter And set them apart for a day of carnage!” So, what’s the point? What’s the perspective? God calls us to walk in obedience not victory. Obedience puts our focus on Him.

Listening, Looking, Learning

Re: Verse reading – Jeremiah 18:1-12; 19:1-15 (day five)
¹This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord: ²“Go down at once to the potter’s house; there I will reveal My words to you.” I bet he had seen potters doing their work lots of times. Yet this time, Jeremiah saw and obtained amazing insight and instruction from The Lord. Ever wonder how many times we overlook or pass by opportunities and circumstances that the Lord would use to teach, guide, and encourage us? Maybe a teachable heart begins with humble prayer asking God to help us see and learn throughout the day (about Him and ourselves). “Speak, for your servant is listening.” (1 Samuel 3:10)

Ray Stedman describes this attitude; “It makes every incident in your experience a continual challenge to see God at work. At your office, at your kitchen sink, your desk, your nursing stand at the hospital, your room in the retirement home, your classroom at school you are being continually exposed to situations which are a challenge to God in you in your circumstances.” (commentary on Philippians 2:13).

Speaking to Youth

Re: Verse reading – Jeremiah 1 (day five)
6 Then I said, “Alas, Lord GOD! Behold, I do not know how to speak, Because I am a youth.” 7 But the LORD said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am a youth,’ Because everywhere I send you, you shall go, And all that I command you, you shall speak. 8 “Do not be afraid of them, For I am with you to deliver you,” declares the LORD.

This morning I am aware of when God chose to “call” Jeremiah. Jeremiah was a youth. It was a moment and message that would shape the rest of his life.

This weekend in our Youth Ministry is our Freedom Weekend (Disciple Now). Over a hundred teenagers gathered in homes around this city for concentrated and intentional times of Bible study, worship, service work, and community with other believers. A setting that often the Lord uses to eternally change and shape their hearts and lives. Will you pray for them? Will you pray that God’s Word will “come to them”? Will you pray that God will speak to them? There is NO greater message or moment than when The Living God speaks to the human heart.

Reality

Re: Verse reading – Luke 24:13-35 (day five) Verse 15- “While they were talking and discussing, Jesus Himself approached and began traveling with them.” This is the reality of this encounter from the beginning. The 2 men were with Jesus but didn’t know it (perception). Sound familiar? Often times our own issues, experiences, and circumstances keep us from a close and connected “fellowship” with Christ. Notice the word “fellowship”. The relationship NEVER changes, just OUR ability to hear and sense the presence of the Living God. One of the significant truths found in this passage is that Jesus shows us the future reality (we experience as New Testament Believers) of the work of the Holy Spirit in the heart of the believer. John 14:26 ^“But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.”

He helps us see and sense REALITY. The continued promise and presence of the Lord. Matthew 28- “and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”