Micah 1-4
Focus: Micah 3:8 “But I am full of the courage that the Lord’s Spirit gives, and have a strong commitment to justice. This enables me to confront Jacob with its rebellion, and Israel with its sin.”
Recently, I participated in a weekend class in San Antonio. As I was flying home, I was able to share the Gospel with the girl sitting next to me. It turns out that she grew up in the Church and has since left because of hypocrisy. She said, “My mom keeps pressuring me to get baptized. But I don’t want anything to do with her religion. She has had affairs with several men and has wrecked four other marriages outside of her own. There are four men who she slept with, and I am not sure which one of them is my actual dad.” From my own family background, I can understand why she feels the way she does.
My heart grieved because sadly her story is not an isolated incident in the Church. Incidentally, hypocrisy is a problem that has molded the reputation of God’s people throughout history. Those who claim to be Christians are failing in epic proportions. The reason for this is because of weak passive leadership that fails to confront evil. Today, more than ever, we need people who are bold and willing to stand up against injustice, rebellion and sin. I am not exclusively talking about church pastors, administrators, or volunteer leadership. I am talking about every individual who claims to follow Christ. It does not take a title to lead! In fact, all of God’s people are called to step up and confront evil, especially evil in the Church.
Micah was once such person who God used to stand up against Israel’s sin. Through the prophecy of Micah, God promised that he would destroy the land and remove his people and place them in captivity if they did not turn away from their wickedness. Fortunately, at the time of Micah’s prophecy, the prophecy against God’s people never materialized. Hezekiah, the king at the time, listened to the prophet of God and was instrumental in leading Israel to revival. God delayed his wrath. Micah was filled with God’s spirit- his life was transformed. He was also deeply committed to justice.
There are many of us who are angry and discouraged because of such hypocracy. However, hypocrisy can only come to an end when the “angry and discouraged” are filled with God’s spirit and deeply committed to justice. In other words, the angry and discouraged must first be spiritually transformed. Jesus said that we must first take the long out of our own eye before we confront others who are in sin. Then, once we are living by truth, we must be willing take initiative to engage with others who are not living by truth. This takes courage and a deeply rooted commitment to doing what is right, even when it is hard.
If you are that person who is frustrated with people who claim to be holy but who are not living out their claim, then you are the person that God wants to use. Do not wait for someone else to deal with the problem. You are the answer! There is no plan B. Those who have been transformed by the love of Christ must be deeply committed to confronting evil in a way that honors God. It was because of Micah’s faithfulness that Hezekiah was transformed, and he in turned led the revival of God’s people. It will be because of you who, being transformed, are courageously committed to justice in a way that challenges those who are doing wrong. Who or what do you need to confront today?
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Tags: church, courage, hypocrisy, Jesus Christ, leadership, lifestyle
Faith and the Heavenly City
Isaiah 61-66
Focus: Isaiah 62:6-7, “I post watchmen on your walls, O Jerusalem; they should keep praying all day and all night. You, who pray to the LORD, don’t be silent! Don’t allow him to rest until he reestablishes Jerusalem, until he makes Jerusalem the pride of the earth.”
The other day, I heard a sermon about fear. The message was that we should not worry and that we can use faith to overcome worry. We were encouraged to remind ourselves of God’s past faithfulness as a means of encouragement for overcoming today’s struggles. But I would argue that God’s bygone grace (past faithfulness) is not necessarily intended to be a motivator during crisis. Instead, I think scripture is clear that God’s past faithfulness is our foundation for trusting Him for His future promises. When we face crisis, our focus should be on God’s promises for the future.
In Isaiah 62, Isaiah is speaking to those returning to Judah from the Babylonian captivity. These people are returning back home for the first time, and their city is utterly destroyed. It must have been devastating to witness such loss. Relatives were dead; homes were demolished; and there was no real order to the land. Yet, Isaiah’s instruction was not for people to reflect back on God’s past blessings. His instruction was to pray for the reestablishment of Jerusalem until it is made the pride of the earth. The people of Israel were oriented toward the future promise of restoration.
There is nothing greater that we should pray for than the rebuilding of Jerusalem. The fullness of God’s promise to make Israel a great nation has not been reached. There is a heavenly city that has yet to be finished. It will be a place for God’s people to dwell where there will be no more sickness or dying. Evil and unrighteousness will be gone. This will be a kingdom ruled by Christ that will be the pride of the earth filled with the glory of God. This is the City we should pray for!
Psalm 122:6 says, “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem! May those who love her prosper!” In Matthew 6:10, when Jesus was teaching his disciples to pray he said to pray “may your kingdom come, may your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” The great city of God filled with His glory is the hope of the Christian faith. It is what we live for; it is what we are destined for. So, when worry, fear, and crisis come, true faith is forward oriented towards the promise of God’s kingdom. Our faith is trusting God for all He is yet to do because of all that He has already done.
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Tags: sin, depression, crisis, Trials, struggles, temptation, lifestyle, Christian faith, heavenly city, Jerusalem
Isaiah 56-60
Focus: Is. 58:6-7 No, this is the kind of fast I want. I want you to remove the sinful chains, to tear away the ropes of the burdensome yoke, to set free the oppressed, and to break every burdensome yoke. I want you to share your food with the hungry and to provide shelter for homeless, oppressed people. When you see someone naked, clothe him! Don’t turn your back on your own flesh and blood!
This last Sunday was a special day at Watermark Church, Dallas. The first part of our service was a celebration of all the ways God has used our Church body to minister in Dallas, greater Texas, and abroad. The remainder of the service was visiting different stations that were set up in the Town Center (foyer). There were scores of ministries that we partner with represented among the booths, and each representative shared how our Church is strategically involved with them.
After leaving the service, I was reminded of how I must value justice and mercy, especially as it relates to the poor, the weak, and the vulnerable in our society. While Watermark may not be the perfect body, it is good to know that we are on track. Time after time all throughout Scripture, we can see God’s heart for justice and mercy. We can also see His repulsion against religiosity- the act of performing religious lip service without personal transformation.
Isaiah 58 is a great reminder of what our faith should look like as it translates into real life. God is not looking for people who would just pray for justice. God does not need individuals who would only pray for those who are hungry, nor is he so much concerned about us sending up prayers for those who need clothing and shelter. It does not matter how much we pray or fast about such things if our hearts are not moved to the point were we respond.
When I say respond, I am not talking about an exclusive emotional response of compassion. I am talking about the proactive engagement in laboring against injustice, hunger and poverty. There is nothing to pray about except that God would show you how to use your own resources - time, talent, and treasures (that he has given YOU for such a purpose!). If you should pray, then expect to act on your prayers!
While we are not all called to be the deliver of resources, we are all called to be givers of resources.
If your heart is beating and you are alive to read this, one valuable resource you have is time. How can you give of your time to act in a meaningful way? If you are uniquely gifted, talented or trained, you have talent. How can you use your skill set to be an advocate for another who is in need? Also, check your bank account. Do you have a job that brings in income? Great. You have treasure. How can you use your treasure to partner with those who are on the frontlines in this battle for justice and mercy? What can you do? What will you do?
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Tags: justice, leadership, mercy, oppression, poverty
Do looks count in leadership?
Isaiah 51-55
Focus: Is. 53:1-2, Who would have believed what we just heard? When was the LORD’s power revealed through him? He sprouted up like a twig before God, like a root out of parched soil; he had no stately form or majesty that might catch our attention, no special appearance that we should want to follow him.
Have you ever noticed that some of the world’s greatest leaders are often beautiful or handsome? Or they have some sort of a commanding presence? Even in the Church, it seems that the most popular pastors today are tall and good-looking.
This is nothing new. In Biblical times looks counted. King Saul was a tall man who was considered beautiful in his time. His stature was intimidating, and he was the first King of Israel. This trend was present throughout Israel’s history and was present in surrounding cultures of the time.
So what does that mean for those of us who are just average? Can average-lookers serve God in a dynamic way? It is true that being good looking and tall can help stack one’s leadership deck, and for some reason such features are dominating. It really is natural for good looks and leadership to be a combination.
However, physical features do not necessarily command influence. What stirred my heart as I was reading through this passage was that the single greatest influence/ influencer in the world, Jesus Christ, was not much to look at. Check it out.
In Isaiah 53, this great prophecy describes God’s suffering servant (Jesus Christ) as one who had no stately form or majesty that would catch our attention. In other words, this person who Isaiah was writing about was less than stunning in his physical appearance. His stature probably did not command attention in the same way that great military leaders did in his day. This suffering servant was no looker.
In fact, there was nothing physically pleasant about this servant that would compel others to follow him. Scripture explicitly states that. This should clue us in that in God’s economy, looks are not priority. They are neutral. Even while Jesus was plain in his appearance, he sprouted up like a twig before God. His influence came through the Lord’s power revealed through him.
The bottom line is that relying on looks is vain. Good-looking people can be ugly leaders or great leaders. More than anything, we can see that God values humble servant leadership for His people. So, if you are attractive, great. Use it to your advantage to influence others through humble servant leadership. If you are average or less than average in your looks, great! Use it to your advantage through humble servant leadership that is empowered by God.
The single-greatest influencer in this world was plain, and may have even been…. dare I say…. ugly. But he was empowered by God. The truth is that anyone who is empowered by the Lord can be useful in a dynamic way. I have to ask, “What is fueling your life and how is it working in your sphere of influence?”
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Tags: influence, leadership
Does God care about justice?
Isaiah 46-50
Focus: Isaiah 47:1-3, “Fall down! Sit in the dirt, O virgin daughter Babylon! Sit on the ground, not on a throne, O daughter of the Babylonians! Indeed, you will no longer be called delicate and pampered. Pick up millstones and grind flour! Remove your veil, strip off your skirt, expose your legs, cross the streams! Let your private parts be exposed! Your genitals will be on display! I will get revenge; I will not have pity on anyone.” (NET)
There are times in life when I have wondered if God cares about justice. I have often wondered if God will ever do something about the wickedness that plagues our planet. The problem of evil is not new, but it is still difficult to address. While I know that Scripture deals with the problem of evil, I am shocked at just how graphic it is as it deals with God’s plan for evil and injustice.
Isaiah 47:1-3 is a prophecy against the wicked nation of Babylon. The charge against Babylon was that she tried to appropriate the throne of God. God’s judgment against her was severe. His plan was for the ultimate humiliation and destruction of Babylon. Babylon, a propagator of evil and injustice, was going to be stripped of all the things that she gloried in. Her rebellion would be crushed.
Truly, this passage gives a glimpse of one of God’s passions. God is passionate about justice. Micah 6:8 says, “He has show you man what the Lord requires, but to do justice and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” Even while God has a special love towards His people, and when God disciplined them for their sin, His plan still was to restore Israel. God was vindicating His people who were thwarted by the wickedness of Babylon. God was bringing justice to Israel through His judgment and ultimate shaming of Babylon.
Babylon was stripped and humiliated because of her sin. She was charged with making a mockery of Yahweh and trying to assume His throne. This passage should give us significant pause. Are our hearts in rebellion against God? Do we have an independent spirit that has no regard for the King? Have we submitted to his authority and Lordship in our life? How are we fighting for justice on behalf of the weak and vulnerable?
God is passionate about justice. If Babylon had her day in court, so will we. If Babylon was completely exposed, stripped and utterly humbled, what will God make of those who do not turn away from their rebellion and continue to commit evil? The glory of mutiny against God’s throne will no longer be so glorious in the Day of Judgment. It will be a dreadful day for propagators of evil. It is clear and there is no question that God is passionate about justice. Are you? How are you a part of God’s mission against evil?
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Tags: Babylon, evil, God, justice, mercy
Isaiah 41-45
Focus: Isaiah 45:22-25 Turn to me so you can be delivered, all you who live in the earth’s remote regions! For I am God, and I have no peer. I solemnly make this oath- what I say is true and reliable: ‘Surely every knee will bow to me, every tongue will solemnly affirm; they will say about me, “Yes, the LORD is a powerful deliverer.”’” All who are angry at him will cower before him. All the descendants of Israel will be vindicated by the LORD and will boast in him.
Reading this promise that God gave to His people is stunning. God is making his case against His people’s infidelity, but even as he presents His case, he pleads with them to return to Him. Israel was an idolatrous nation. They worshipped idols and their hearts were preoccupied with other gods- Baal and Ashera. But the Lord demonstrates that there is no other true God besides Him. He is God alone. He has no peer. Yet, while Israel was unfaithful, He did not completely reject them. In fact, he pursued His people.
The God of Israel was great and merciful to His people. Even while their hearts wandered, He had great patience when they rebelled. Not only that, but God went after His people when they walked away from Him. He went after them like a lover who goes after his bride. God promised that Israel’s great affair with other gods would one day come to an end. She would be vindicated by the Lord and boast in Him. What does that mean?
Israel’s sin brought her into severe bondage. It ruined her. Yet, the Lord was compassionate and had a special love for His people- even when they went in directions that were not life giving. Even when His people rebelled against Him, God pursued them with His great love. Why? So that they would boast in Him.
There is nothing more life changing than when a person has messed up and has nowhere else to go. Their life is in chaos and there is no hope. And then another who is compassionate and merciful reaches out to that person who is hopelessly dead in their tracks. The guilty person is pardoned and accepted. The shame is gone, and the one who extended the hand is seen as a hero and deliverer who can be trusted. That is what God did for His people Israel. Ultimately he did it through the ministry of Jesus Christ.
Philippians 2 says that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the father. Jesus Christ is God’s hand reaching out to His people. His death on the cross is the sacrifice that vindicates anyone who trusts in Him. No matter what we have done in life, God has still pursued us. He is the great Lover who pursues His people so that they will live in a way that brings life. It begins by accepting Jesus extended hand, releasing guilt and shame, and boasting in Him- the great Lover and Pursuer of our life.
Below is a video about what a Lover IS NOT:
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Tags: adultery, compassion, forgiveness, freedom, grace, guilt, idolatry, love, mercy, shame
God, I’m tired. Now what?
Isaiah 36-40 Focus: Isaiah 40:29-31, He gives strength to those who are tired; to the ones who lack power, he gives renewed energy. Even youths get tired and weary; even strong young men clumsily stumble. But those who wait for the Lord’s help find renewed strength; they rise up as if they had eagles’ wings, they run without growing weary, they walk without getting tired.
Sometimes life just isn’t fun. The beatings that life can bring are exhausting, and they are even worse when they are self inflicted. When fatigue sets in emotionally and spiritually, it is difficult to go on. Today I came across a beautiful passage that the prophet Isaiah proclaimed to God’s people thousands of years ago. It was very encouraging.
Israel was a nation that was going to be raped and looted by the Babylonian army. There was going to be mass destruction and thousands of people were going to be murdered or taken into captivity as slaves. Through the nation of Babylon, God was punishing His people for breaking the Covenant. It is exhausting to think about. So what did God say to those who suffered?
Isaiah 40:29-31 are the words spoken to Israel. God did not leave his people high and dry. Isaiah was reminding Israel that Yahweh is the eternal source of strength who is unable to be compared to any other god. He is the sovereign Creator who rules the kingdoms of this world. There is no one like Him! Therefore, the God of Israel should be feared more than life because He is the giver of life itself. Therefore, wait on the Lord who is the giver of strength.
Not much has changed today. While none of us do not have to suffer the fait of the blows of Babylon, we all suffer in some way. Our world is broken and people are afflicted with the pain of hurts, habits and hang-ups. Injustice and unrighteousness plague every country on earth. We all are affected in some way. The world is not as it should be. The world is not as it was created to be.
The reality is that we live in a fulcrum between ages, and we are waiting for God to restore and refashion his creation back to its original created state. Because of the work of Christ on the cross we can be saved from the penalty of our own sins. Not only that, but we can also have hope that we will one day be saved from the bondage that has captivated all of creation. Heaven and earth will be destroyed, and there will be a New Jerusalem, a heavenly city, built by God.
God’s message to those who are trusting in Jesus Christ is to “wait on the Lord for renewed strength.” Do not give up the battle for faith in God. Do not give up fighting the battles in life. Find renewed strength in the promises of the Lord as he is working in your life, even during the most difficult times. There is a heavenly city waiting for you! Keep walking towards that city!
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Tags: depression, exhaustion, Haiti, isolation, Suffering, tired
Isaiah 31-35
Focus: Isaiah 35:3-4 Strengthen the hands that have gone limp, steady the knees that shake! Tell those who panic, “Be strong! Do not fear! Look, your God comes to avenge! With divine retribution he comes to deliver you.”
Recently I have been learning about the prophets of Israel and how God used them to guide His people. Every time there was a passage of judgment in the Prophets, it was actually an offer of mercy. If his people responded to the message of judgment, then God in great mercy might set his judgment aside temporarily or permanently. Unfortunately, God’s people did not respond in a way that would have benefited them as often as they should have.
In this passage, God is proclaiming what He will do for His people when they return to Him and are faithfully committed to Him as their Lord. In the midst of judgment, when all hell has broken loose and God’s people have suffered because of their unfaithfulness, God gave a promise for what their future holds.
As part of God’s discipline and punishment for breaking the Covenant, Israel and Judah would suffer from the oppression of Babylon and Assyria. Yet God said to strengthen the hands that had gone limp. Steady the knees that shake. Israel was to be courageous and strong in the midst of their oppression. Why? Because of God’s promises.
God promised to bring retribution and deliverance for his people. God is just and he will pay back and avenge his enemies that bring Him loss. Not only that but God is merciful and cares for His people who are rebellious against him. Remembering God’s promises was to be the focal point for strength in the midst of discipline and trials.
Today, through the work of Jesus Christ on the cross, people everywhere have the same hope. Even while we are all screwed up and live in a world that is jacked, we have the hope that we will one day be made new in glorified bodies. We will one day live in shalom, the peace of God.
Struggles and pain are a temporary reality, but our focal point in suffering should be in God’s deliverance. We need to strengthen our weak hands and steady our shaking knees. Have courage and be strong. For those who trust in the Lord, there will one day be freedom from all the struggles that discourage us and weigh us down.
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Tags: crisis, God, Haiti, Israel, Judah, mercy, oppression, struggles
Isaiah 26-30
Focus: Isaiah 26:8 You will desecrate your silver-plated idols and your gold-plated images. You will throw them away as if they were a menstrual rag, saying to them, “Get out!”
There is nothing more humbling than enduring disaster. Nobody wants to face troubling times. What happened in Haiti a few days ago was a horrible tragedy with lasting consequences. No one should have to go through that kind of affliction! It grieves my heart to see the innocent suffer.
At stake during such catastrophes is the question, “Is God good? or can anything good come about from this?” As difficult as it is to believe, I think that tragedy, more than anything else we will experience in life, will most certainly teach us to trust the Lord. Tragedy will most certainly teach us that God is good.
What Haiti is going to experience is the gracious hand of God working through His people who are beginning to intensely minister to their needs. The world is responding to this disaster like never before. His people are responding in a way that I have not seen in my life. Haiti’s cries have been heard.
But more than felt needs being met, the people in Haiti will understand- like no one else- what is most important in life. Haitians everywhere have been stripped of everything that they trusted in that ultimately is not life giving.
Disaster can reminds us all that God alone is good. It is ultimately because of man’s mistrust in God’s goodness that the earth is under a curse. Man sinned, the earth was cursed, and there is disaster. God grieves with us as we are affected by the effects of the fall, and he will one day bring healing. Our current reality will not last forever.
For those of us who will experience tragedy (that is all of us!), we must learn through our pain to trust the Lord. When all is stripped away from our life, we learn what is most important in all of life. It is in these moments where we are able to renounce our idols and see the goodness of God. Tragedy is the rock that shatters the shades of idolatry. It causes us to see the distractions that blind us- distractions that are not life giving or eternal. Only God and human souls are eternal.
Tragedy teaches us to embrace God as the giver of life and to embrace others who share life with us. My prayer is that during the current tragedy and during times like this that we will remember the things in life that are most important.
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Tags: crisis, disaster, earthquake, Haiti, idolatry, natural disaster, sin, tragedy, trust
Where is God in Haiti?
Isaiah 21-25
Focus: Isaiah 25:8 He will swallow up death permanently. The sovereign LORD will wipe away the tears from every face, and remove his people’s disgrace from all the earth. Indeed, the LORD has announced it!
Yesterday the world was literally shaken by an earthquake that devastated one of the poorest nations on earth. It is going to be recorded as the greatest disaster since the earthquake in China a year ago, and the Tsunami that hit Indonesia and India a few years ago. There is no way to estimate the total loss that has raped the land of Haiti. My prayers will be with these people. Haiti shook, and the lives of tens of thousands or more are in ruin. But their cries have been heard.
The recent tragedy is another reminder that death, sickness, injustice, unrighteousness, and evil still exist. The innocent continue to suffer, and the weak are still exploited. But where is God in these “hells” on earth? Doesn’t God care?
In short, the answer is “YES!” God does care, and it will be proven by the hands of his people who respond to tragedies like what has happened in Haiti. There is no plan B. We are God’s instruments to help others in their time of need. The world will witness the hand of God restoring the lives of those who have suffered, but a greater promise is in store for those who trust in the Lord.
One day the evil and injustice that we know will be destroyed. God will swallow up death permanently, and he will drench His people with His mercy. God himself will wipe the tears from every face and he will remove the shame from his people. This is what we are living for! While we live in a world that is not yet perfect, one day everything will be made new. This is the Christian hope. This is the promise for those who trust in the Lord.
I can only imagine what it will be like to stand in the Lord’s presence in the time that he has prepared a new home for me and for those who have been faithful to Him. The guilt and shame of my past failures will be completely gone. Fear from violence and evil will no longer be. This is the Christian hope! This is what Christ offers. This is His promise. The Lord has announced it. He has spoken. It will be so.
My heart is with those who are grieving their loss. My prayer is that they will turn to Christ as they begin to witness His power and see it for the first time. To those who are on the outside looking in at the disaster that has violated the lives of others, what are you doing to help bring justice and mercy for the innocent? What are the resources you have to help? This is your time to shine. There is no plan B. You are the face of God today in Haiti, and you are the hands of God in the lives of those who suffer.
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Tags: earthquake, evil, Haiti, hope, injustice, justice, lifestyle, mercy
