2 Corinthians 6

WEEK   10                                      2 Corinthians 6

THURSDAY  Reflections

A yoke binds two things together. Paul advises the people of Corinth and us not to be yoked (bound) to unbelievers. This isn't saying we can't be friends with the unsaved, because without interaction, how can people come to Christ? Just being a friend to an unbeliever isn’t what Paul is talking about.

Two bound animals can't go separate ways; either they move together, the stronger pulls the weaker along (never a good thing), or they go nowhere. If we are bound to unbelievers, then Paul's concern isn't that we will bring them to God but the other way around.

This scripture is used most often in marriage, but I believe business deals, oath-bound organizations, and other binding arrangements would do well to take Paul's words to heart. We are here to reach the world. How can we do that if we are bound to something which denigrates the name or work of Jesus?

2Co 6:1-18
(1)  We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain.
(2)  (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)
(3)  Giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed:
(4)  But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses,
(5)  In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings;
(6)  By pureness, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned,
(7)  By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,
(8)  By honour and dishonour, by evil report and good report: as deceivers, and yet true;
(9)  As unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and, behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed;
(10)  As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.
(11)  O ye Corinthians, our mouth is open unto you, our heart is enlarged.
(12)  Ye are not straitened in us, but ye are straitened in your own bowels.
(13)  Now for a recompence in the same, (I speak as unto my children,) be ye also enlarged.
(14)  Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
(15)  And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?
(16)  And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
(17)  Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,
(18)  And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

Photo by Bryson Hammer on Unsplash

Micah 6

WEEK  10                                          Micah 6

WEDNESDAY  Reflections

God lays out his case against Israel. The question we ask is what can we give. The problem is God really doesn't want people to offer sacrifice for guidance and direction. He wants a people to live as he commanded. The summary of how to live is found in verse 8, "He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God" (NIV). Many see this command to act justly in regard to social justice, but God wants us to live rightly with him and others.

 

In the bigger picture of Scripture, God wants us to be people who walk humbly and do justly. Not a people who are trying to follow rules, but a people whose hearts have been changed to be like His. 



Mic 6:1-16
(1)  Hear ye now what the LORD saith; Arise, contend thou before the mountains, and let the hills hear thy voice.
(2)  Hear ye, O mountains, the LORD'S controversy, and ye strong foundations of the earth: for the LORD hath a controversy with his people, and he will plead with Israel.
(3)  O my people, what have I done unto thee? and wherein have I wearied thee? testify against me.
(4)  For I brought thee up out of the land of Egypt, and redeemed thee out of the house of servants; and I sent before thee Moses, Aaron, and Miriam.
(5)  O my people, remember now what Balak king of Moab consulted, and what Balaam the son of Beor answered him from Shittim unto Gilgal; that ye may know the righteousness of the LORD.
(6)  Wherewith shall I come before the LORD, and bow myself before the high God? shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves of a year old?
(7)  Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, or with ten thousands of rivers of oil? shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?
(8)  He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?
(9)  The LORD'S voice crieth unto the city, and the man of wisdom shall see thy name: hear ye the rod, and who hath appointed it.
(10)  Are there yet the treasures of wickedness in the house of the wicked, and the scant measure that is abominable?
(11)  Shall I count them pure with the wicked balances, and with the bag of deceitful weights?
(12)  For the rich men thereof are full of violence, and the inhabitants thereof have spoken lies, and their tongue is deceitful in their mouth.
(13)  Therefore also will I make thee sick in smiting thee, in making thee desolate because of thy sins.
(14)  Thou shalt eat, but not be satisfied; and thy casting down shall be in the midst of thee; and thou shalt take hold, but shalt not deliver; and that which thou deliverest will I give up to the sword.
(15)  Thou shalt sow, but thou shalt not reap; thou shalt tread the olives, but thou shalt not anoint thee with oil; and sweet wine, but shalt not drink wine.
(16)  For the statutes of Omri are kept, and all the works of the house of Ahab, and ye walk in their counsels; that I should make thee a desolation, and the inhabitants thereof an hissing: therefore ye shall bear the reproach of my people.

Micah 5

WEEK 10                                              Micah 5

TUESDAY  Reflections

This chapter contains the promise that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem. This is scripture the leaders of the Jews referred to when Herod asked them where the king would be born. It was also why some didn't originally believe Jesus was the Messiah. Jesus came from Nazareth, and thus they assumed he was born there. Many interpreted this scripture as a military leader, which wasn't Jesus' mission on his first coming; some had trouble accepting Jesus as the messiah. 

 

What got people in trouble is they assumed they understood what God was doing perfectly from the prophecy. God was and is going to fulfill all of the prophecies, but not as they thought. This, to me, is a warning when we come to the final book of the Bible; Revelation. We should concern ourselves with what we know is being taught rather than what we think might happen.

Mic 5:1-15
(1)  Now gather thyself in troops, O daughter of troops: he hath laid siege against us: they shall smite the judge of Israel with a rod upon the cheek.
(2)  But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.
(3)  Therefore will he give them up, until the time that she which travaileth hath brought forth: then the remnant of his brethren shall return unto the children of Israel.
(4)  And he shall stand and feed in the strength of the LORD, in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God; and they shall abide: for now shall he be great unto the ends of the earth.
(5)  And this man shall be the peace, when the Assyrian shall come into our land: and when he shall tread in our palaces, then shall we raise against him seven shepherds, and eight principal men.
(6)  And they shall waste the land of Assyria with the sword, and the land of Nimrod in the entrances thereof: thus shall he deliver us from the Assyrian, when he cometh into our land, and when he treadeth within our borders.
(7)  And the remnant of Jacob shall be in the midst of many people as a dew from the LORD, as the showers upon the grass, that tarrieth not for man, nor waiteth for the sons of men.
(8)  And the remnant of Jacob shall be among the Gentiles in the midst of many people as a lion among the beasts of the forest, as a young lion among the flocks of sheep: who, if he go through, both treadeth down, and teareth in pieces, and none can deliver.
(9)  Thine hand shall be lifted up upon thine adversaries, and all thine enemies shall be cut off.
(10)  And it shall come to pass in that day, saith the LORD, that I will cut off thy horses out of the midst of thee, and I will destroy thy chariots:
(11)  And I will cut off the cities of thy land, and throw down all thy strong holds:
(12)  And I will cut off witchcrafts out of thine hand; and thou shalt have no more soothsayers:
(13)  Thy graven images also will I cut off, and thy standing images out of the midst of thee; and thou shalt no more worship the work of thine hands.
(14)  And I will pluck up thy groves out of the midst of thee: so will I destroy thy cities.
(15)  And I will execute vengeance in anger and fury upon the heathen, such as they have not heard.

Photo by Sven Scheuermeier on Unsplash

2 Kings 20

WEEK   10                                       2 Kings 20

MONDAY  Reflections

We discussed Hezekiah's attitude about the future of the kingdom in Isaiah, so I want to look at the miracle. God didn't just remove Hezekiah's boil; God told Isaiah how to make what we would call medicine to treat it. For some, this may seem like a small detail, but I believe it is a reminder that God uses medical treatments to cure. God gave Isaiah the knowledge of what to do. Today, God gives doctors and researchers knowledge which leads to cures.

 

If you're sick, it isn't a lack of faith if you go to the doctor. It is a lack of faith if you are trusting only the doctor and not God. God uses medicine! It is presumptuous to demand God heal in the way you want Him to when He has provided a way to be healed.  

2Ki 20:1-21
(1)  In those days was Hezekiah sick unto death. And the prophet Isaiah the son of Amoz came to him, and said unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Set thine house in order; for thou shalt die, and not live.
(2)  Then he turned his face to the wall, and prayed unto the LORD, saying,
(3)  I beseech thee, O LORD, remember now how I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart, and have done that which is good in thy sight. And Hezekiah wept sore.
(4)  And it came to pass, afore Isaiah was gone out into the middle court, that the word of the LORD came to him, saying,
(5)  Turn again, and tell Hezekiah the captain of my people, Thus saith the LORD, the God of David thy father, I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears: behold, I will heal thee: on the third day thou shalt go up unto the house of the LORD.
(6)  And I will add unto thy days fifteen years; and I will deliver thee and this city out of the hand of the king of Assyria; and I will defend this city for mine own sake, and for my servant David's sake.
(7)  And Isaiah said, Take a lump of figs. And they took and laid it on the boil, and he recovered.
(8)  And Hezekiah said unto Isaiah, What shall be the sign that the LORD will heal me, and that I shall go up into the house of the LORD the third day?
(9)  And Isaiah said, This sign shalt thou have of the LORD, that the LORD will do the thing that he hath spoken: shall the shadow go forward ten degrees, or go back ten degrees?
(10)  And Hezekiah answered, It is a light thing for the shadow to go down ten degrees: nay, but let the shadow return backward ten degrees.
(11)  And Isaiah the prophet cried unto the LORD: and he brought the shadow ten degrees backward, by which it had gone down in the dial of Ahaz.
(12)  At that time Berodachbaladan, the son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent letters and a present unto Hezekiah: for he had heard that Hezekiah had been sick.
(13)  And Hezekiah hearkened unto them, and shewed them all the house of his precious things, the silver, and the gold, and the spices, and the precious ointment, and all the house of his armour, and all that was found in his treasures: there was nothing in his house, nor in all his dominion, that Hezekiah shewed them not.
(14)  Then came Isaiah the prophet unto king Hezekiah, and said unto him, What said these men? and from whence came they unto thee? And Hezekiah said, They are come from a far country, even from Babylon.
(15)  And he said, What have they seen in thine house? And Hezekiah answered, All the things that are in mine house have they seen: there is nothing among my treasures that I have not shewed them.
(16)  And Isaiah said unto Hezekiah, Hear the word of the LORD.
(17)  Behold, the days come, that all that is in thine house, and that which thy fathers have laid up in store unto this day, shall be carried into Babylon: nothing shall be left, saith the LORD.
(18)  And of thy sons that shall issue from thee, which thou shalt beget, shall they take away; and they shall be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.
(19)  Then said Hezekiah unto Isaiah, Good is the word of the LORD which thou hast spoken. And he said, Is it not good, if peace and truth be in my days?
(20)  And the rest of the acts of Hezekiah, and all his might, and how he made a pool, and a conduit, and brought water into the city, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?
(21)  And Hezekiah slept with his fathers: and Manasseh his son reigned in his stead.

Ezekiel 15

WEEK  9                                              Ezekiel 15

SATURDAY  Reflections

Vines are of little use to make furniture or any real wood product. If the vine produces no fruit, then there really isn't any use for them but to be thrown into the fire. Jesus refers to this imagery in John 15. Here, God is telling the people of Jerusalem they are just as unfruitful and therefore worthless. As a person carelessly throws vines into the fire, so Jerusalem will feel like it is thrown into judgment.  Whose fault is this? The people who chose to disobey God. 

Eze 15:1-8
(1)  And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
(2)  Son of man, What is the vine tree more than any tree, or than a branch which is among the trees of the forest?
(3)  Shall wood be taken thereof to do any work? or will men take a pin of it to hang any vessel thereon?
(4)  Behold, it is cast into the fire for fuel; the fire devoureth both the ends of it, and the midst of it is burned. Is it meet for any work?
(5)  Behold, when it was whole, it was meet for no work: how much less shall it be meet yet for any work, when the fire hath devoured it, and it is burned?
(6)  Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; As the vine tree among the trees of the forest, which I have given to the fire for fuel, so will I give the inhabitants of Jerusalem.
(7)  And I will set my face against them; they shall go out from one fire, and another fire shall devour them; and ye shall know that I am the LORD, when I set my face against them.
(8)  And I will make the land desolate, because they have committed a trespass, saith the Lord GOD.

Photo by Siim Lukka on Unsplash

Micah 4

WEEK  9                                            Micah 4

FRIDAY  Reflections

Here is a great picture of God's redemptive work. God will bring not just the children of Abraham but others into His kingdom. What is the path to this? Captivity! Yes, Micah claims that God's way to bring His deliverance is through Babylon, a heathen country, the land of their enemies. God is not going to leave them there; this is just part of the path God has chosen. 

 

We at times must go through our versions of Babylon. Like Israel, this isn't where God wants us to stay, but it is where we must travel to become all God wants us to be. The path God wants us to take to victory often must go through the land of the enemy. Don't be discouraged; God will do what is needed. 

Mic 4:1-13
(1)  But in the last days it shall come to pass, that the mountain of the house of the LORD shall be established in the top of the mountains, and it shall be exalted above the hills; and people shall flow unto it.
(2)  And many nations shall come, and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, and to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for the law shall go forth of Zion, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.
(3)  And he shall judge among many people, and rebuke strong nations afar off; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up a sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.
(4)  But they shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree; and none shall make them afraid: for the mouth of the LORD of hosts hath spoken it.
(5)  For all people will walk every one in the name of his god, and we will walk in the name of the LORD our God for ever and ever.
(6)  In that day, saith the LORD, will I assemble her that halteth, and I will gather her that is driven out, and her that I have afflicted;
(7)  And I will make her that halted a remnant, and her that was cast far off a strong nation: and the LORD shall reign over them in mount Zion from henceforth, even for ever.
(8)  And thou, O tower of the flock, the strong hold of the daughter of Zion, unto thee shall it come, even the first dominion; the kingdom shall come to the daughter of Jerusalem.
(9)  Now why dost thou cry out aloud? is there no king in thee? is thy counsellor perished? for pangs have taken thee as a woman in travail.
(10)  Be in pain, and labour to bring forth, O daughter of Zion, like a woman in travail: for now shalt thou go forth out of the city, and thou shalt dwell in the field, and thou shalt go even to Babylon; there shalt thou be delivered; there the LORD shall redeem thee from the hand of thine enemies.
(11)  Now also many nations are gathered against thee, that say, Let her be defiled, and let our eye look upon Zion.
(12)  But they know not the thoughts of the LORD, neither understand they his counsel: for he shall gather them as the sheaves into the floor.
(13)  Arise and thresh, O daughter of Zion: for I will make thine horn iron, and I will make thy hoofs brass: and thou shalt beat in pieces many people: and I will consecrate their gain unto the LORD, and their substance unto the Lord of the whole earth.

Photo by Robert Bye on Unsplash Pictures in my blog have some connection with the topic or the chapter, some are clearer than others. Here I see enemy land are as dangerous as entering a field of land mines.  

2 Corinthians 5

WEEK  9                                        2 Corinthians 5

THURSDAY  Reflections

We are all going to die, but Christians have something better coming. When we die, we go to be with God. We will all be judged. Christians will be judged for our actions (not salvation). The judgment of God causes Paul to persuade people to come to Jesus. We are new creatures in Christ. We have a new life because Jesus took on our sins and paid for them. Jesus never sinned. All these truths and more are found in this chapter.

 

For me, the promise that when our life is over we go to be with God gives comfort. This isn't an escape I'm looking for, but the gift I know is coming. There is more than just this world, and this gives me hope. Paul's teachings are one of the reasons I do not believe in soul sleep. 

What is God teaching you today?

2Co 5:1-21
(1)  For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.
(2)  For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven:
(3)  If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked.
(4)  For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life.
(5)  Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit.
(6)  Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord:
(7)  (For we walk by faith, not by sight:)
(8)  We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.
(9)  Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him.
(10)  For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.
(11)  Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences.
(12)  For we commend not ourselves again unto you, but give you occasion to glory on our behalf, that ye may have somewhat to answer them which glory in appearance, and not in heart.
(13)  For whether we be beside ourselves, it is to God: or whether we be sober, it is for your cause.
(14)  For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead:
(15)  And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.
(16)  Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more.
(17)  Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
(18)  And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;
(19)  To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
(20)  Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.
(21)  For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

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Psalm 102

WEEK   9                                             Psalm 102

WEDNESDAY  Reflections

One of the things that gives me peace is the honesty of the Psalms. There is no glossing over; if the psalmist is happy, he rejoices; if he is sad, he laments; if he is angry, then that too is demonstrated. God knows us, and the Psalms reflect Him and us. It shows us how we can be honest with God

 

In Psalm 102, the psalmist pours out his pain. Yet, the psalmist understands God will do what is right. God will make everything right. This reminds me of what Jim Collins in his book, Good to Great, calls the Stockdale Paradox. I won't go into detail (Read it; it's great stuff), but it is believing that things will work out but brutally accepting the truth of the current situation. The psalmist understands both his plight and God's faithfulness. 

Psa 102:1-28
(1)  A Prayer of the afflicted, when he is overwhelmed, and poureth out his complaint before the LORD. Hear my prayer, O LORD, and let my cry come unto thee.
(2)  Hide not thy face from me in the day when I am in trouble; incline thine ear unto me: in the day when I call answer me speedily.
(3)  For my days are consumed like smoke, and my bones are burned as an hearth.
(4)  My heart is smitten, and withered like grass; so that I forget to eat my bread.
(5)  By reason of the voice of my groaning my bones cleave to my skin.
(6)  I am like a pelican of the wilderness: I am like an owl of the desert.
(7)  I watch, and am as a sparrow alone upon the house top.
(8)  Mine enemies reproach me all the day; and they that are mad against me are sworn against me.
(9)  For I have eaten ashes like bread, and mingled my drink with weeping,
(10)  Because of thine indignation and thy wrath: for thou hast lifted me up, and cast me down.
(11)  My days are like a shadow that declineth; and I am withered like grass.
(12)  But thou, O LORD, shalt endure for ever; and thy remembrance unto all generations.
(13)  Thou shalt arise, and have mercy upon Zion: for the time to favour her, yea, the set time, is come.
(14)  For thy servants take pleasure in her stones, and favour the dust thereof.
(15)  So the heathen shall fear the name of the LORD, and all the kings of the earth thy glory.
(16)  When the LORD shall build up Zion, he shall appear in his glory.
(17)  He will regard the prayer of the destitute, and not despise their prayer.
(18)  This shall be written for the generation to come: and the people which shall be created shall praise the LORD.
(19)  For he hath looked down from the height of his sanctuary; from heaven did the LORD behold the earth;
(20)  To hear the groaning of the prisoner; to loose those that are appointed to death;
(21)  To declare the name of the LORD in Zion, and his praise in Jerusalem;
(22)  When the people are gathered together, and the kingdoms, to serve the LORD.
(23)  He weakened my strength in the way; he shortened my days.
(24)  I said, O my God, take me not away in the midst of my days: thy years are throughout all generations.
(25)  Of old hast thou laid the foundation of the earth: and the heavens are the work of thy hands.
(26)  They shall perish, but thou shalt endure: yea, all of them shall wax old like a garment; as a vesture shalt thou change them, and they shall be changed:
(27)  But thou art the same, and thy years shall have no end.
(28)  The children of thy servants shall continue, and their seed shall be established before thee.

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