Category: Quiet Time

Repent, Return, Rejoice

Thoughts on Hosea 9

“Rejoice not, O Israel!”
‭‭Hosea‬ ‭9:1‬a ESV‬‬

This word is for us.

Us who have seen, and known, and experienced,
the goodness, the glory, and the grace of God.

Us who, by whatever reasons, have left His wondrous presence and have gone away from Him, indulging instead in worldly pursuits. Giving our hearts, our minds, our strengths, our souls, to man-made idols. False gods. The temporal for the eternal.

Us who by habit, or tradition, or simply following the patterns of this world, celebrate with feasts, and festivals, and parties, and other kinds of merry making. (Because why not? What’s wrong with having some fun?)

But this is not the time for rejoicing. Not for us.

Because the jealous love of the all-powerful God is coming to claim what He has so preciously redeemed.

It is foolishness to be hard-headed and hard-hearted against this relentless, fearsome love. That which we hold dear, but is ascribed incorrectly to idols, will fall away and fall apart. The severity of our pain is proportional to our stubbornness. Don’t be like Pharoah, don’t be like Israel.

This is a time for remorse, of repentance, and of returning.

Only then can, and will, we truly rejoice.

Instructions from the Promise-keeper

Thoughts on Deuteronomy 12

While in the previous post I was stuck in a passage for a few weeks, this post is many many months in the making. I don’t know how many revisions I’ve done up to this point. Maybe my heart just wasn’t ready this whole time.

It’s difficult to read through this part of the Israelites’ journey without thinking that maybe – just maybe – I, too, am about to experience a “claiming the promised land” moment in my life.

Is it just me? I get excited and begin to imagine what my “promised land” might be. It’s a great motivator: as I imagine future possibilities I find myself making commitments to “be careful to do all” that is commanded of me. Unfortunately, I am not always able to keep these commitments.

Now, by God’s grace, I have learned that the “promised land” is not a Country, a Company, a Career, or (for some) a Companion. Infinitely better than all those things is Christ. Being in the Center of his grace and purpose in my life is the best place I have been and will ever be.

So for this passage, I am led to meditate not on the land of promise – and all the great things about it – but on the instructions of the God of the promise.

  • When you’re given a fresh start – start well. Take the opportunity to change previous wrongs and remove bad habits. Not only is it benefitial to do so, but it is disastrous if it is not done. Be merciless, do not allow yourself be tempted. Do not be fooled to think that you are as strong as you think you are. You might be okay now, after a spiritual high, but eventually there will be plateaus and valleys. It is better to be safe than sorry.
  • Listen well to instructions. When God tells us to run away from something, He gives us something to run towards instead. Seek, and listen well. Replace those wrong and bad habits with good ones – right ones. God’s instructions are laid out for us in the Bible, so seek Him there.
  • Persevere in doing well. Once you’ve received your instructions, obey to the best of your ability. God says to do “all”, not “some”. Even if you’ve made a fresh and clean start, temptations may still come from outside your area of control. “Take care that you be not ensnared to follow them”, the Bible says. In other words, there will be snares/traps. And traps by definition is something that can catch you off guard. Take care, and Persevere.
  • Rejoice! and lead your household to rejoice as well. All these instructions are beneficial to you. These are not to restrict you, but to free you from needlessly unnecessary burdens. And although the blessings should not be the focus, God is always clear to say that blessings are a natural by-product of obedience. Not only for you, but also for “your children after you forever.”

Uncommen World

I’m reading the @YouVersion plan ‘UNCOMMEN: Uncommen Words Of Husbands, Dads, & Leaders’. Check it out here: http://bible.com/r/19H

Day 5: Uncommen World

“In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” Matthew 5:16 ESV

There’s a person in the Bible who took this passage quite literally: Moses.

Moses didn’t even realize it at first. But every time Moses came back to the people after spending time with God, his face would shine so bright that the Israelites needed a veil to cover his face.

The lesson for me here is straightforward:

  • This light is not of our own, we only reflect God’s light.
  • The more time we spend with Him, the brighter we shine.
  • As that happens, don’t waste it, don’t hide it!
  • Jesus didn’t say to his disciple that they should be a light, Jesus said you are the light.
  • This light will let people see the reason for your actions, ultimately bringing glory to God.

Somehow – because of the many different issues and concerns at work and at home – for 3 weeks I “got stuck” meditating on this partcular passage. Looking back, I realize that being “stuck” actually helped me really internalize the theme of the IDMC from weeks back: discipleship happens from the inside – out.

Uncommen Words of a Leader

I’m reading the @YouVersion plan ‘UNCOMMEN: Uncommen Words Of Husbands, Dads, & Leaders’. Check it out here: http://bible.com/r/19H

Day 4 – Uncommen Words of a Leader

Joshua 1:5-9 – “No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you or forsake you. Be strong and courageous, for you shall cause this people to inherit the land that I swore to their fathers to give them. Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to do according to all the law that Moses my servant commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success wherever you go. This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

A leader “encourages”: he gives courage. But a leader can only give courage that he himself already has.

As Joshua admonished the people to not be afraid, God does the same to him 40 years later. “Be strong and courageous”, God repeats to Joshua three times. Then He adds, “Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed”.

What caused the people to be fearful? This was a generation who has seen the awesome and fearsome power of God countless of times. Could we have similar tendencies? Giving in to our fear of man, rather than fear of God, can have very regrettable consequences: we would miss out on many great and wonderful things.

40 years later, what made God repeat his statement to Joshua three times and then one more? This generation of people have not experienced the power of God in the same magnitude as the previous generation. 40 years is a lifetime ago, and we cannot fault Joshua and the people to be a bit worried.

The leaders’ courage and the courage he gives cannot merely be pep talk. We cannot just tell people to “Be strong! Be courageous!” without giving them the reason *why* they can be. And for Joshua, that reason is not because of his own strength or wisdom. His courage is anchored solely on this promise: “the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

There is a caveat. It’s a simple one yet surprisingly difficult to do: if God is to be with you, then you have to be with God.

So, leader, you – and the people God has placed under your care – will surely face trials and challenges. Especially as you try to live as God intended, which is usually counter to the culture of this world. Spend time with God and with his Word. Do not sway left or right. Meditate day and night. This your only – and sure-fire – way to get through this victoriously.

Uncommen Words of a Dad

I’m reading the @YouVersion plan ‘UNCOMMEN: Uncommen Words Of Husbands, Dads, & Leaders’. Check it out here: http://bible.com/r/19H

Day 3 – Uncommen Words of a Dad

James 1:19 – “This you know, my beloved brethren. Everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger…”

For Christians, there is no such thing as coincidence.

My friend, Non, invites me – really, out of the blue – to go through this  devotional as a group. Without any hesitation I accepted the invite, even if I didn’t really know the topic nor the contents. And I haven’t done this for months now, being stuck in Deuteronomy this whole time. And then, somehow, the lessons are exactly what I needed to hear and learn in this very specific, very particular point in our family’s life.

There are no coincidences.

Instead of coincidence, this is confirmation. Confirmation that taking this step (leap) of faith is in line with what God wants for me and our family.

How can I listen to my children, how can I speak encouragement to them, if I am not physically – and mentally, and emotionally – present? How can I influence my children positively, how can I be a role-model (like being slow to anger), if I keep disappearing – not knowing when I will be back, and for how long I will be with them? What is the point of reading and studying about Godly Parenting, if I am never present enough to do apply what I’ve learned?

There is no longer any doubt. Thank You, for the encouragement, and for strengthening my resolve.