Tag: heb12

Precious In His Sight!

Stephen is on trial and boldly preaching the Gospel to the Sanhedrin. His sermon begins in the book of Genesis. His survey of the Old Testament highlights the problem with his accusers’ hearts. Israel is known for its stubbornness and rebellion. It is also known for persecuting and killing the prophets God sent to it. 

As Stephen ends His sermon, he does something that gets him killed like the prophets before him. He makes a direct application to his hearers. With boldness, he says: “You stubborn people! You are heathen at heart and deaf to the truth. Must you forever resist the Holy Spirit? That’s what your ancestors did, and so do you! Name one prophet your ancestors didn’t persecute! They even killed the ones who predicted the coming of the Righteous One—the Messiah whom you betrayed and murdered. (Acts 7:51–52, NLT)

What stood out to me in the reading this morning was the posture of Jesus. As Stephen looked up, God allowed him to see through the veil into another dimension, and he saw Jesus standing. And he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” (Acts 7:56, ESV) This is interesting because Jesus is mentioned numerous times in the New Testament as being seated at the right hand of God (Colossians 3:1, Hebrews 8:1, Ephesians 1:20, Hebrews 12:2). The death of Stephen was precious, and it was something that He stood for.

Wow! Imagine God standing to receive his saints into Glory. What a reception given since He doesn’t stand for anything else! What a thought to remember that though this world persecutes and rejects the Christian, Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints. (Psalm 116:15, ESV)

Thank you for joining me as I read and journal chronologically through the Bible! This devotional reflection comes from Acts 7-8.

Singing a Different Tune!

The Book of Ezra opens with a much different tune than the other prophets we have read. Seventy years of exile are finally over. God stirs King Cyrus’s heart to rebuild the Temple of God in Jerusalem and to let those Jews who desire to leave for their homeland go. In all this, God shows Himself faithful to His Word (Ezra 1:1, 5). 

The following stood out as I meditated on chapters 1-3 in today’s reading. In early autumn, when the Israelites had settled in their towns, all the people assembled in Jerusalem with a unified purpose. Then Jeshua son of Jehozadak joined his fellow priests and Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel with his family in rebuilding the altar of the God of Israel. They wanted to sacrifice burnt offerings on it, as instructed in the Law of Moses, the man of God. (Ezra 3:1–2, NLT) The Bible says all the people had a unified purpose and desire. In unity, they purposed to rebuild the altar of the Lord, and they wanted to offer sacrifices to Him! Yes, God’s people have a different tune from seventy years earlier. Over the last seventy years, God’s chastening work in His people has completely realigned their hearts (Ezra 3:10–11)!

I am reminded of the following in Hebrews…But God’s discipline is always good for us, so that we might share in his holiness. No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening—it’s painful! But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way. (Hebrews 12:10–11, NLT) Sometimes, God, being the good Heavenly Father that He is, must change our tune so that, like His people of old, we too might experience the peaceful harvest of right living. Right living is peaceful living, and peaceful living has the distinct tune of praise, joy, and holiness. That’s our loving Heavenly Father—For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.” (Hebrews 12:6, ESV) As believers, let us embrace this expression of God’s love and not faint when He brings about this peaceful fruit of right living in our lives.

Thank you for joining me as I read and journal chronologically through the Bible! This devotional reflection comes from Ezra 1-3.

A Spectacle To The Unbelieving!

Ezekiel has been warning God’s people for 32 chapters. The results are dismal! No one has responded! There are no salvations and baptisms to report to headquarters. By today’s standards, pragmatism would have changed the method and the message at this point in search of results. But God comforts Ezekiel by reminding him that the results are not for him to manufacture. His job is to remain faithful to the message that God has given him. But if you warn the wicked to turn from his way, and he does not turn from his way, that person shall die in his iniquity, but you will have delivered your soul. (Ezekiel 33:9, ESV) Ezekiel finds comfort in obeying the Lord despite the results.

So, why has there been no repentance? God allows us and Ezekiel to peer into the hearts and private moments of the people. In Ezekiel 33:30-33, God reveals that the people talk about Ezekiel in their homes, whisper to one another about him, and even come and sit before him to hear what he has to say. But their actions are not sincere. They have no intention of following God’s Word. Their interest is purely self-serving. They find it entertaining, like a trip to the theater.

This situation reminds me of what the Apostle Paul said in 1 Corinthians 4:9, where he and the Apostles were made a spectacle to the world. In another place, the writer of Hebrews recalls how his audience was publicly ridiculed in Hebrews 10:33. Christians have a message for the world, and we are not to alter it for the sake of results. Even though the world may view our message as foolishness and us as ridiculous, we are to remain obedient and faithful, living out the Gospel of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Just as Jesus endured the ridicule of sinners on the cross, in Him, we can find strength to be obedient in the face of such indifference and opposition. (Hebrews 12:1–3)

Thank you for joining me as I read and journal chronologically through the Bible! This devotional reflection comes from Ezekiel 32-34.

A Loving Father: The Fruit of God’s Chastening!

Does God love His chosen people? Reading through the prophets can be heavy. It can be hard to read about the chastisement God brings upon them for their sins. So, does God love His people?

The Chastening of God

In today’s reading, the thought that stands out to me is the picture of God chastening or correcting His people. 

“Is not Israel still my son, my darling child?” says the Lord. “I often have to punish him, but I still love him. That’s why I long for him and surely will have mercy on him. (Jeremiah 31:20, NLT)

Does God love His people? Yes! That is why He chastens or corrects them. In love, He warned them; in love, He chastens them. 

A Changed Heart

What is the fruit of this love? 

I have heard Israel saying, ‘You disciplined me severely, like a calf that needs training for the yoke. Turn me again to you and restore me, for you alone are the Lord my God. (Jeremiah 31:18, NLT) 

The fruit is a changed heart, a heart of repentance. This heart of repentance will have a profound effect on Israel. Notice the peaceableness of Israel after the chastening. 

Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: “Once more they shall use these words in the land of Judah and in its cities, when I restore their fortunes: ” ‘The Lord bless you, O habitation of righteousness, O holy hill!’ And Judah and all its cities shall dwell there together, and the farmers and those who wander with their flocks. For I will satisfy the weary soul, and every languishing soul I will replenish.” (Jeremiah 31:23–25, ESV)

Peaceable Fruit in Our Lives

What a reminder that God loves His own, and evidence of this love and that we are His own is His chastening and correction. 

For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. (Hebrews 12:6–8, KJV) 

What is the expected result of this love? 

No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening—it’s painful! But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way. (Hebrews 12:11, NLT)

True Love 

As believers, as God’s children, let us embrace the correction of our loving Father. He is seeking a harvest of right living, which yields peaceable fruit in our lives. He is showing us His love, which should cause us to love Him more!

Thank you for joining me as I read and journal chronologically through the Bible! This devotional reflection comes from Jeremiah 30-31.

The Suffering Servant: Jesus our Saviour!

Jesus Described In The Old Testament

Today’s reading contains the description of a Servant. Not just any servant, but the Servant. This Servant that Isaiah describes is the Servant-Messiah, affirmed in the New Testament as Jesus of Nazareth, the Son of God (Matthew 8:17, Mark 15:28, Luke 22:37, John 12:38, Acts 8:27-40, 1 Peter 2:21-24). In fact, Isaiah 53 is quoted or alluded to in the New Testament more times than any other Old Testament chapter. 

The Suffering of Jesus

The heart of this prophecy is Isaiah 53:4-6. Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

 Yes, this Servant suffered for the guilty, though He was innocent. He took upon Himself our sins, our iniquities. He took our punishment for sin so we might have peace and healing. He kept the law perfectly and lived a sinless, spotless life that He, the perfect sacrifice, might reconcile us—bring us back to God! He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities. (Isaiah 53:11, KJV) 

Endurance Through Jesus

What does this mean for us as believers? Among many things, let’s keep our eyes on Jesus! He’s the author and finisher of our faith. Let’s endure with patience the race before us. Let’s not grow weary in well-doing. Let’s consider Him who endured much to redeem us! (Heb 12:1-4)

Thank you for joining me as I read and journal chronologically through the Bible! This devotional reflection comes from Isaiah 49-53.