Re: Verse reading–Exodus 5:1-2; 6:1-8; 7:1-5, 14-18; 8:1-3, 16, 20-21; 9:1-4, 8-9, 13-18, 25-26; 10:3-11, 21-22, 28-29; 11:1-5 (day four) There was a common element in each of the plagues…each was introduced with “Thus says the Lord!” God wanted Pharoah to know who he was dealing with. Moses was a spokesman for the Lord. God did not have to have Moses to deliver the Israelites from Egypt, but He chose to use him. God is able to accomplish His work by himself, yet He chooses to use us as well. What is our response to God when He calls? Do we argue with God like Moses did or do we just ignore what God says, as if we didn’t hear Him? Pharoah ignored God…he claimed he didn’t know Him so why should he obey Him? Pharoah learned the hard way. Moses was slow, but he came to trust God in faith. (He made the Hall of Faith lineup in Hebrews 11!) Trust God when He speaks…”Thus says the Lord!”
Tag: Lord God
Stop
Fourth Day of Advent
Isaiah 30:15-18 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
15 For thus the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel, has said,
“In repentance and rest you will be saved,
In quietness and trust is your strength.”
But you were not willing,
16 And you said, “No, for we will flee on horses,”
Therefore you shall flee!
“And we will ride on swift horses,”
Therefore those who pursue you shall be swift.
17 One thousand will flee at the threat of one man;
You will flee at the threat of five,
Until you are left as a flag on a mountain top
And as a signal on a hill.
God Is Gracious and Just
18 Therefore the Lord longs to be gracious to you,
And therefore He waits on high to have compassion on you.
For the Lord is a God of justice;
How blessed are all those who long for Him.
“In repentance and rest is your salvation.” We don’t believe it—not yet, anyway. As Isaiah says, “You would have none of it.” Someone has said that the fourth commandment (“Remember the Sabbath”) is the only one we brag about breaking: “I’m blowing and going; I’m crazy busy; I’m on autopilot.” We are convinced that if we stop what we’re doing—if we stop attempting to maintain a certain image in the eyes of others; if we stop guiding conversations toward things that we’re comfortable talking about; if we stop comparing ourselves to others; if we stop seeking security in our accomplishments—then we will find ourselves lonely and rejected and unloved. We think we’re running away from such an outcome, but we’re actually running towards it, because we’re thinking like we’ve always thought, which always leads us to a future we dread. We become exactly what we fear. What to do? Stop everything you think you shouldn’t stop. That’s called rest. It isn’t cozy. But you can do it. When you stop (and only when), you will listen, and when you listen—after a time—you will hear God.
Bryan Richardson
Re: Verse reading – John 1:1-18
Let’s Start
Welcome to TheEverydayPrayer blog (Advent Edition). For the next 26 days (November 30-December 25) we will welcome new bloggers to this space. Staff members and lay leaders, gifted writers all, helping us prepare for the celebration of Christmas. This is a journey that we will take together. Ready? Let’s start!
First Day of Advent
Genesis 3:8-15 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
8 They heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden. 9 Then the Lord God called to the man, and said to him, “Where are you?” 10 He said, “I heard the sound of You in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid myself.” 11 And He said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?” 12 The man said, “The woman whom You gave to be with me, she gave me from the tree, and I ate.” 13 Then the Lord God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?” And the woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.” 14 The Lord God said to the serpent,
“Because you have done this,
Cursed are you more than all cattle,
And more than every beast of the field;
On your belly you will go,
And dust you will eat
All the days of your life;
15 And I will put enmity
Between you and the woman,
And between your seed and her seed;
He shall bruise you on the head,
And you shall bruise him on the heel.”
Q—Why do we need a Savior?
A—Because we hide from God (see today’s reading “And the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God.”—v 8—compare your own experience)
Q—Why do we hide from God?
A—Because we feel shame (an intuitive signal of a spiritual reality).
Q—What is shame?
A—Inner condemnation for past failure, a deep sense of unworthiness or inadequacy.
Q—How does shame manifest?
A—Many ways, avoidance of God, reluctance to accept/embrace a high calling, self-hatred—often unconscious.
Q—Why did Jesus come?
A—TO RELEASE US FROM SHAME! To restore us to God!
“You will call His name Jesus, for it is He who will save His people from their sins.”—Matthew 1:21
“There is therefore now no condemnation (internal or external, legal or spiritual) for those who are in Christ Jesus.”—Romans 8:1
Thought for today–Until we are released from shame, until we come out of hiding and fear of inadequacy, Christmas has not come.
Pastor Don
Re: Verse reading – John 1:1-18
Active Faith
Re: Verse reading–Ezekiel 18:1-18 (day four) Verse 9 says, “if He walks in My statutes and My ordinances so as to deal faithfully-he is righteous and will surely live, declares the Lord God.” This verse seems to mirror the message found in Habakkuk 2:4. “…the righteous will live by his faith.” When we live by faith, we live in obedience to God’s commands. Ezekiel has listed a number of things that the righteous man will or will not do. Faith is a very active state…when we walk by faith, we are not passive and inactive. Some believe that to walk by faith is blind, thoughtless motion…not so! Faithfulness is yielding to God’s way of life…putting aside our prideful pursuit of our own will. In Romans 1:17, Paul introduced this same truth into his own theology…”the righteous man will live by faith.” The truths of God’s Word never change…it is still true today!
A “stand up” person
Re: Verse reading–Ezekiel 1:28; 2:1-10; 3:1-4 (day seven)
“Son of man, stand up on your feet and I will speak to you.” (2:1) We are not helpless, not without strength or duty. God instructs us to stand up. Makes it a condition for further communication with us. It requires courage. Large challenges are ahead. The Holiness of God and our consequent fear of failure will discourage us from trying. Even so, God does not want us to cower or retreat from Him or His holy assignment. He wants us to stand at attention and accept His commission. It was true for Ezekiel and Joshua and true for us. “Be strong and courageous. . .only be strong and courageous. . .Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the Lord God is with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:6-7.9) Most of us would rather take a nap. God commands us to stand and face a holy and demanding vision.