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Downward Spiral

Posted in Bible Study, God, Holy Spirit, Holy Week, Jesus Christ, Prayer, Spiritual Growth, The Father, tagged , , , , , , , on March 30, 2026| Leave a Comment »

Judges 1-2. Having read through the Bible multiple years now, when we hit Judges, the life of the nation of Israel becomes one or two steps forward and two or three steps backwards. The Bible is one unified story that points to Jesus. But to do that, it also has to describe the reason for Jesus’ coming which is our absolute need for a savior. This is true of us as a society. It is true of me and everyone else individually. As Paul says in the seventh chapter of his letter to the church at Rome – “Woe is me… the good I would do, I don’t do; and that which I know not to do, that is what I do… who will save me from this wretched condition?” The answer is Jesus. What Paul cries out about is demonstrated through Israel in the book of Judges. Israel demonstrates this up and down nature of our humanity through a series of slides into depravity followed by subjugation leading to crying out to God for help. God raises up a leader to rescue them, followed by relative peace that eventually descends into depravity again and the whole process starts over.

There is another layer to the stories in Judges that we might easily miss. In these first two chapters, the narrator gives us a list of all the areas where the Israelites did not drive out the Canaanites who were living there. The people living in the land worshipped other gods. They sacrificed their children. They included various immoral practices into their “worship” such as cult prostitutes. The Lord had clearly said the existing inhabitants must be removed from the land or they would become a snare and trap for the Israelites. We will see this play out in ever-increasing ways through Judges.

There is a direct correlation to the life of a person when they come to Christ. We are to consistently drive out the sin habits that we have developed over our life prior to entering into the saving relationship with Jesus. It is not clean your act up to be saved. It is totally the fact that we are a new creation, and we are to live like it. Through the forgiveness we receive in Jesus and the empowerment of the Holy Spirit living in us, we can live a different life. We are to crucify the flesh or the ways of the old nature.  Every area that we do not deal with will become a foothold for the enemy. Left unaddressed, the foothold becomes a stronghold. Before long, our life will be one of domination by God’s (and ours) enemy because we didn’t deal with the sin habit when the Holy Spirit first revealed it to us.

The solution is simple. Paul shouts it out in Romans 8… Thanks be to God for Jesus! Jesus broke the power of Satan, of sin, as well as the fear of death. Starting with this reality which Jesus purchased for all humanity at the cross, we look to Him and, by the power of the Holy Spirit, we reject and pull down every thought, every sin habit that we might once have embraced. We do not let them live and have dominion over us.

As we live into Holy Week this year, we see and we model Jesus’ focus on the Father and the Father’s good plan. Painful though it was, Jesus knew it was God’s way, it was the only way to save us… to save me… to save you. And as His children, He has a good plan beyond our salvation, as good as that is. He wants to sanctify us. He wants us to live in peace. He wants our lives to point to Him. So, we will set our face towards the Father, and we will drive out anything and everything in our life that would turn us away from following Him faithfully.

Help us LORD to crucify everything that is not of you. We desire to live lives surrendered. And we say yes to the active part of surrender… laying down our lives and all lesser loves to embrace you and your ways. To you be the glory faithful Lord, you who entered into Jerusalem knowing what lie before you, knowing that you did not deserve to die such an ignominious death. But you did it for us. You did it for me. Thank you Jesus.

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Choose, Cling, Witness

Posted in Bible Study, Bible Study, God, Holy Week, Jesus Christ, Responsibility, Spiritual Growth, The Father, Trials, worldview, Worship, tagged , , , , , , on March 29, 2026| Leave a Comment »

Joshua 22-24, The progression here is the plan for every believer and follower of Jesus. We are to choose the Lord. This is not a one-time activity. It is a recurring choice we get to make over and over. This is the essence of faith, choosing the Lord and following Him every day until it is the only thing we know to do.

Now choosing Him is easy when life is good. Life isn’t always good. In fact, there are many times when life is hard. It is in hard times when it is essential that we cling tightly to the LORD. When our children were little, a game they loved to play was to sit on my foot and wrap their arms around my leg while I walked. I remember their giggles and squeals as I would walk around asking my wife if she liked my new shoes. If they did not cling tightly though, they would fall off. This picture comes to mind when I think of clinging. There is such a close personal nature to clinging when I think of this. God is a good, good Father who desires that we hold onto Him, hold onto His promises, hold onto His way of living such that the third word comes into play.

The reality is our lives will be a witness to something. The question is what do we bear witness to? Do we just blend in with the world and its brokenness… its misplaced faith… its fears… its corruption? Or do we bear witness to the living God who is at work transforming our lives day by day, well-made choice by well-made choice. As we choose and as we cling, our lives will reflect the love and goodness of God more and more.

Today is Palm Sunday. Jesus rode into Jerusalem to lots of external fanfare, yet He knew what lie before Him. He saw the cross looming on the near horizon. Living in Roman occupied territory, Jesus had certainly seen the gruesome displays of Roman justice, so He had no illusions about what was coming. Yet He chose to obey. He chose to ride into the coming maelstrom. And He did so clinging to the Father, trusting His plan, trusting His heart. And today, Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection are the central point of all history, a glorious witness of God’s love and desire that ALL mankind might choose, cling, and bear witness to Him.

Blessed LORD, we choose you today. We cling to you today. LORD, make our lives a faithful witness to your love and goodness to each and every person we meet today. In Jesus’ Name!

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Promises, Promises – God the Promise Keeper

Posted in Bible Study, Bible Study, God, Holy Spirit, Holy Week, Jesus Christ, Prayers, The Father, Worship, tagged , , , , , , , on March 28, 2026| Leave a Comment »

Joshua 19-21. It was drilled into me at a young age that a person’s word was their bond. A promise was sacred and could not be broken. As I grew and experienced the world I came to realize that such a belief was not all that widely held. Lawyers proliferate partly to try and hold people to their promises and partly to try and get people out of their promises. Joshua 21:45 says, “Not one word of all the good promises that the LORD had made to the house of Israel had failed; all came to pass.” God is a promise maker. God is a promise keeper!

We are about a quarter of the way into reading the Bible in a year. It was way back in the early part of Genesis that God made the promise to Abram that He would give to his descendants the land of Canaan. That was about 600 or so years prior to today’s reading. Needless to say, some of God’s promises have a long timeline. Fortunately, they also do not have an expiration date. We most often think in terms of days, weeks, and years. The LORD, who exists outside of time, but created time for our sake, moves on a grander and more spectacular scale when time is concerned. There is a term used for Jesus’ birth that captures God’s use of time… “in the fullness of time”. When all the conditions had been met, it was time for God’s ultimate promise to be met.  Jesus… God in the flesh… God walking among humanity… God demonstrating how to live… and how to die… Jesus our redeemer kinsman… Jesus, our Lord and our God! Jesus, the ultimate promise keeper. The ultimate promise kept.

As we enter Holy Week, I will deviate from posting about the daily reading through the Bible to look at Jesus and Holy Week. This week is the annual remembrance of the penultimate week in all of history. From Genesis 3:15 through the last verses of Malachi in the Old Testament, the Holy Spirit was inspiring the writers to point to Jesus and this week that occurred some 2000 years ago. And since that time, all of history has been shifted because of the resurrection and the reality that death has been conquered, the Holy Spirit has been given to the Church, and Satan’s domination of humanity has been broken. Many of the LORD’s great promises have been fulfilled. And we rest in the sure and certain knowledge that those that remain are coming. For it is true… not one word of all the good promises that the LORD has made will fail to come to pass. God is a promise maker. God is a promise keeper.

Come Lord Jesus. Use us to keep your promises. Inspire our words and actions to perfectly align with you and your good work in the world. Transform hearts, minds, and lives through your Holy Spirit and your people walking in a living faith. Jesus, it is in your Name that we pray!  

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Restoration

Posted in Bible Study, God, job, Prayer, tagged , , , , , , on February 21, 2026| Leave a Comment »

Job 40-42, Job’s long requested interview with God ends today and to say it went differently than Job had in mind would be a significant understatement. The LORD’s response to Job is exactly what Job needed to hear. God lovingly puts Job in his place by articulating His place. Job “the Righteous” is properly humbled. There was nothing wrong with Job’s actions before calamity befell him. The only area where Job needed correction was in his heart where pride had taken root. Like an undiagnosed disease, Job’s pride had to be brought to the surface and dealt with. And God did.

Look at the amazing ripple effect of Job’s calamity. Job had a personal encounter with the LORD and it changed him. Job had his pride brought into view and he was humbled and repented. Job’s friends were rebuked by God, they were humbled, and they repented and apologized to Job. Job forgave and then Job interceded for them. If we stopped right there with right relations between God, Job, and Job’s friends restored, it would be a win, win, win. But God, in His overflowing generosity, restores Job’s family line and restores material blessings upon him. The author emphasizes how over the top this is by pointing out the blessings upon Job’s daughters. Within the intensely patriarchal society of the day, this shouts of God’s goodness and generosity. God sees the big picture. And in His wise and loving way, He always draws those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose, into closer fellowship with Himself and with His family.

LORD, I thank you for Job and the picture you give us of this man and his journey into deeper fellowship with you. I can’t help but marvel at the transformation in Job through these 42 chapters. It seems Job knew about you and tried hard to honor you at first, but by the end, Job came to truly know you and that made all the difference. LORD, help us to know you, to learn from you, to grow to be like you, following the leading of your Holy Spirit more and more. Do what you need to do to crush pride and whatever else might be present in our heart that hinders our relationship with you and others. We love you LORD and we give ourselves to you this day.

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God Speaks

Posted in Bible Study, God, Jesus Christ, job, The Father, worldview, tagged , , , , , , on January 14, 2026| Leave a Comment »

Job 38-39, God Speaks. When we see the word Lord in all capital letters, “LORD”, we are seeing the personal name of God. So, the LORD shows up, and the story finally gains the one true, authoritative voice in what has been a rather tumultuous conversation. Instead of starting with answers though, the LORD immediately begins asking questions. God does not need to defend Himself, nor does He really need to explain His actions. His ways are so much higher than ours, and He works within the context of the entire universe, that He does not owe us any explanation. And we probably wouldn’t understand the complexities if He did. What He does do is ask questions to help Job and his friends grasp who He is and this great gap between their limited knowledge and wisdom against God’s greatness as Architect, Creator, and Sustainer of all that is.

I also noticed that God peppering them with questions was what He does when He comes to earth in the flesh some 2000+ years later. Jesus seldom just answered questions with direct answers. He answered questions with questions. In the Gospels Jesus was asked about 180 questions while He is recorded as asking over 300 questions. I realize this is very purposeful. For the LORD, it is much more important for us to internalize who He is and allow it to move us toward a deep relationship with Him than it is for us to just gain knowledge. He doesn’t need us to memorize the answers to the test, He wants us to know Him, to trust Him, to allow Him to give us the answers we need at the right time. And some of our questions will simply disappear in comparison to knowing Him. And with today’s encounter, I think Job, and us, are well on the path to learning that.

LORD, we acknowledge our limited understanding and perspective. You are God and we are not. We are so thankful that it does not matter how much we know, so long as we know and trust you. We have questions and you are okay with that so long as we trust you will give us what we need when we need it. And you do and you will. In this we confidently rest. You are our Architect, our Creator, our Sustainer, and Lord. To you we give all praise, honor, and glory today and forever. Amen.

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God Plays the Long Game

Posted in Bible Study, God, God Stories, heaven, job, Trials, tagged , , , , , , , , on January 12, 2026| Leave a Comment »

Job 32-34, God Plays the Long Game. A young man shows up in today’s reading, Elihu, and he initially seems to bring some much-needed wisdom to the conversation with Job. Unfortunately, he heads down the same path as the three friends telling Job what a rebellious sinner he must be for God to punish him so. Before he starts accusing Job without truly knowing the background, he says some things about God that are true as he describes God as merciful. In Job 33:29-30 Elihu points out that God will allow pain and suffering to get a person’s attention and to turn them away from sin and back to Him. This is a true statement, and it speaks to God’s mercy. But it is not the reason for all pain and suffering as Job’s story shows us.  There are times when the brokenness of this world impacts us and we suffer independent of our relationship with the Father. And perhaps an even more paradoxical reason is that in some cases the suffering of a righteous person might be to reach an unrighteous neighbor, friend, or family member.

The martyred missionary, Jim Elliot comes to mind. Jim felt called to reach a cannibalistic tribe in the upper Amazon region of Ecuador. After months of preparation and repeated attempts to find ways to communicate with the tribe, the missionaries found an area on a river in the jungle where they could land their plane. Within a few days they were killed. While this could easily be the end of the story; a thwarted attempt to reach a remote, violent tribe in some distant jungle, it was not. Jim’s widow, Elizabeth, shared his passion. Not long after Jim’s death, Elizabeth was able to reach the Waodani tribe that had killed her husband. She befriended them. She moved in to live with them with her and Jim’s young daughter. And through her the tribe was converted and the Bible translated into their language. Jim’s words written shortly before his death are a powerful reminder that God plays the long game, “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.”

Father, help us to keep in mind the long game. Remind us that our words echo through time if they are your words spoken in truth and love. Teach us to number our days with eternity in mind, that we might live lightly in this world and fully with you. In Jesus’ Name we pray.

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Turning the Corner

Posted in Bible Study, God, job, Orphans, Responsibility, Spiritual Growth, Trials, worldview, tagged , , , , , , on January 11, 2026| Leave a Comment »

Job 29-31, Turning the Corner. Our time in Job thus far has been bookended by accounts of Job’s righteousness. In chapter 1 God speaks of Job’s righteousness so we know Job is truly a good and righteous person. In chapter 31 Job goes on to list all the things that he does that are good and right. Job’s righteousness is impressive and puts me in my place by comparison. Which, when I think about it, is possibly a good thing for both Job and me. It is good for Job because it uncovers an area of his life, pride and entitlement, that are NOT character traits that endear us to God. It is good for me because I still have a way to go to even measure up to Job’s righteousness AND I can receive the warning from Job’s pride. It is the slippery slope that comes when our reputation supersedes our relationship with the Father.

But everything is about to change. Job’s three friends have run out of steam. Their accusations and false help have not stuck. And Job’s heart is laid bare with all of his goodness peeled back to reveal an area of need. God loves Job just like He loves us. What seemingly started as a dare between God and Satan has become a tool God uses to reveal to Job his need that he would never have seen without his suffering AND the interactions with his friends. And God will use this to bless not just Job, but his friends too. I am excited to see where God takes us in the coming days.

Father, you love us too much to let us remain stuck. In Isaiah you call out righteousness laid over pride as filthy rags. You desire that we act right towards others, but you desire that to spring forth from our ever-growing relationship with you. So, we bend our knees and lay all our ambitions and motivations before you now. You know them already. We ask that you help us to see ourselves rightly and live surrendered. We offer ourselves to you that you might transform us. We are your children and our desire is to live as faithful men and women of God. Be glorified, our Lord and our God!

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Beginning of Wisdom

Posted in Bible Study, God, Spiritual Growth, The Father, Trials, Vision, worldview, Worship, tagged , , , , , , , on January 11, 2026| Leave a Comment »

Job 24-28, Beginning of Wisdom. Unlike most of scripture, the only way to properly read Job is in its entirety. The Bible is amazing in many respects. One of those is that it encompasses a variety of literary styles. In telling Job’s story and capturing the dialog of Job and his three friends, we see descriptions of God and His character that are opinions and not hard facts. The mixture of truth, half-truth, and misunderstanding about God is combined in a way that emphasizes foundational truth about God and His ways, but only when we read the entire story. If you are like me, it has taken multiple reads to get to the point that I can see this and not get tied up in the warped theology espoused by Job’s friends and, to a degree, but Job.

When we get to Job 28:28 I cannot help but release a big sigh. In my mind I have been trying to parse out the truth versus misunderstanding in each person’s dialog. Even Job speaks at times with more emotion and less faith than I am comfortable with. As an engaged reader it is a mental and emotional roller-coaster. But then I read a verse that I can hang my hat on. ‘And he said to man, ‘Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to turn away from evil is understanding.’”’ I find this truth throughout scripture. I find this truth in evaluating the world on a macro level. And I have found this to be true in my 65 years on earth.

LORD, you are the source of all wisdom. When things don’t make sense, when evil seems to triumph, we know we can trust you and trust your heart. You have made all things – seen and unseen. You exist outside of time – the past, present, and future are all now to you. We bow to you, acknowledging our great limitations and your limitless nature. That out of all this, that you love us and desire what is best for us, we humbly, reverently, give you thanks and offer you our lives. It is in the mighty Name of Jesus that we pray,

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Arguing with God

Posted in Bible Study, God, job, tagged , , , , , , , on January 11, 2026| Leave a Comment »

Job 21-23, Arguing with God. It was freeing for me when I realized I didn’t need to act pious before God. As I grew in our relationship, recognizing that His love and forgiveness were way bigger than my sin and assorted stumbles in life, I became able to stop trying to be righteous. It made any perceived distance between us shrink and I began to understand what it meant to “walk with God”. And instead of striving and trying to act right against the current of the world, my fleshly desires, and the temptations of Satan, my heart and my mind became more desirous of pleasing my faithful Lord. Doing what brings joy to Him became my desire. Because I knew He loved me unconditionally AND knew all that I thought, it became totally fine to talk it out when I was unhappy, confused, angry or any other emotion that I had attempted to stuff when I was trying to act righteous.

I recognize this in Job today. He is ready to argue with God. We know He doesn’t have the whole picture and some of Job’s assumptions are not correct, but I am encouraged because He never loses faith in God. He may be ready to challenge God that He has made a mistake in punishing him, but He does not lose faith that God is there or that He will listen to Him. While very limited in the New Testament, lamentations are a common theme in the Old Testament. As many as 60 of the Psalms are considered lamentations and there is even one whole book that is a collection of distressed heart cries to God called Lamentations. Being honest with God, even if it is an argument we are going to lose, is the path to greater intimacy with the Lover of our soul.

Father, thank you, that we can be real with you. We do not need to hide how we feel. Beyond the fact that there is nothing we can hide, there is truly more mercy, grace, and love readily available to us, that we can only receive when we let down our guard and let you in. That you gently, lovingly, pursue us, encouraging us to open up, is truly a great gift. Even when we don’t fully understand what’s going on, we put our trust in you. You are faithful and true. Blessed be the Name of the LORD, our God! Amen!

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My Redeemer Lives

Posted in Bible Study, God, job, Spiritual Growth, Trials, worldview, Worship, tagged , , , , , , , on January 11, 2026| Leave a Comment »

Job 17-20, My Redeemer Lives. Lately I have had this tremendous sense of gratitude that we live in a day and time when God’s progressive revelation of Himself has come so far. In the days of the Prophets, the understanding of God was limited to the Law and the mixed messages coming from true prophets and false prophets and priests. When the people were wandering in the wilderness, they had Moses and the stone tablets, but we saw how much weight that carried. That whole generation (except Joshua and Caleb) died because of their lack of faith. From Abraham to Moses, there was God’s promise to Abraham, but not a lot more to rest your faith on. So, for Job to proclaim this truth, years before God spoke to Abram (who became Abraham) in the midst of his great suffering, is a testament to his faith. And it is BIG faith statement.

I have this mental picture right now that won’t go away. I see a kitten hanging on the end of a rope. There is both terror and determination in the kitten’s eyes. The caption reads, “Hang in there, baby.” Job’s cry are the words the kitten is thinking as it dangles. And there is a reward as the rope is pulled up and rescue ensues. Our Redeemer does live and He is our Rescuer. Job may not be correct in saying his suffering is from God, but he is absolutely on target when he says My, and Our, Redeemer Lives.

Faithful Redeemer and Lord, we thank you that in all things and at all times we can trust you. Even when we are at the end of our rope, you are there. Psalm 139 comes to mind, you know me, you know us, and we are yours. Thank you for rescuing us, for sending Jesus to die that we might live. Thank you for redeeming us, purchasing us with a price far beyond our worth. We pause to let that sink in… You paid so much for us because you love us and you have good plans for us. Such knowledge is too wonderful, to amazing. But that is who you are… our wonderful, amazing, glorious Redeemer, Savior, and Lord! Amen!

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