YOU ARE THE POTTER; I AM THE CLAY. Isaiah 29:16; Romans 9:20-21.

God made you for a plan. What plan? Whose plan? His plan. He may reveal to you His plan. But He won’t change His plan. Is that unfair? What if you don’t like God’s plan? What if your plans are as good as His plans?

That’s the wrong way to look at it. He knows all things—and He knows what you are made to do and be—and He loves you. So He made you to enjoy His plan.

You will always be happier and your life will be more fulfilling when you are following HIS PLAN. If God made you to be a cup, you will never be happy trying to be a plate. If He made you to be a bowl, you will not find happiness as a soap dish.

God loves you so much!—let Him make the decisions. Don’t turn things around.

“You have turned things around, as if the potter were the same as the clay. How can what is made say about its maker, ‘He didn’t make me’? How can what is formed say about the One Who formed it, ‘He doesn’t know what He’s doing’?” Isaiah 29:16.

Would you say God doesn’t know what He is doing? Of course not. But if you are always fighting for your OWN plans, rebelling against God’s plans, then you are saying God is wrong.

“But who are you, O man, to answer back to God? Shall what is formed say to the One who formed it, ‘Why are you making me this way?’ DOES NOT THE POTTER HAVE THE RIGHT to make from the same lump of clay one vessel for special occasions and another for common use?” Romans 9:20-21.

God wants ONE thing from you: YOUR WILL. Can you give it? Take a knee, lift your hands, and say to God, “I surrender.”

“The only thing I really owned,

The one thing I wanted to keep.

The only thing that I can give.

Is the thing He wanted from me:

My will.”

—Jean Belander.

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TRUE LEADERSHIP.  2 Chronicles 30:18-20.

Leadership requires humility and service, such as Jesus washing the feet of His disciples. But it also involves something priestly. 

That is, true leaders do what priests do—they plead to God for their people, just as Jesus pled for us from the cross.

Hezekiah was a godly king. He had the temple cleaned and he re-instituted the abandoned sacrificial system.  Then Hezekiah wanted the nation to celebrate the Passover again, a tradition forgotten for centuries.  But the Passover must happen on the 15th – 22nd day of the Hebrew month of Nissan.  The day was coming and many of the people of Israel were not prepared and were “ritually unclean.” 

Hezekiah did not want to wait another year. 

“Many … were ritually unclean, yet they had eaten the Passover contrary to what was written. But Hezekiah had interceded for them, saying, ‘May the Good Lord provide atonement on behalf of whoever sets his whole heart on seeking God, Yahweh, the God of his ancestors, even though not according to the purification rules of the sanctuary.’ So the Lord heard Hezekiah and healed the people” 2 Chronicles 30:18-20.

Hezekiah used his leadership as king to return the nation to God. He got them to cleanse the temple and celebrate Passover.  Then when the people sinned by taking the Passover while ritually unclean, Hezekiah went to God on behalf of his people.  That is what a priest would do—intercede with God on behalf of his people.  But as a king, Hezekiah was willing to shoulder that burden. 

We should do the same for those we lead.  Pray for those you lead.  BEG GOD to reveal Himself to them. Ask Him to give them His forgiveness, grace, and new life.  What did Jesus pray while being crucified?  “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”  What did Stephen pray while being stoned? “Father, do not hold this sin against them.”

God, make us Godly leaders. Teach us to intercede on behalf of those we lead.  May we lead like Hezekiah!

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HE IS MINDFUL. HE KNOWS. 2 Chronicles 30:18-20.

When Hezekiah became king, he began reforms to bring God’s people back to the Lord. He got rid of idol worship and brought back the Passover. When it came time to celebrate it, however, many of the people were ritually unclean, but ate the Passover anyway, breaking God’s law.

“But Hezekiah interceded, saying, ‘May the good Lord provide atonement on behalf of whoever sets his whole heart on seeking God, even though not according to the purification rules.’ So the Lord heard Hezekiah.” 2 Chronicles 30:18-20.

God was merciful. God knew the hearts of the people. They made mistakes in their worship, but God forgave those mistakes and was pleased the people were observing the Passover again.

God is the same way with us. He accepts our imperfect prayers and blesses our imperfect efforts. God sees our struggle to obey Him, to worship Him, and to learn His word, and He blesses us—though we are imperfect.

“He is mindful that we are but dust” Psalm 103:14.

God knows you are but dust—He knows you are “only human,” and He will cut you some slack. He will accept you and bless you for trying.

When I began having a quiet time, God seemed to speak to me every day. I may have read only a paragraph of the Bible, and a brief devotional (such as that pictured above), but every morning God blessed me and gave me thoughts from Him that stayed with me all day. He KNEW that I was but dust, that I needed encouragement. Today I spend longer and read much more, but experience less of the amazing touch of God and His deep truths. But I am older and further along—I don’t need the same encouragement.

My point is, God knows your starting place, and He will forgive your imperfections. There is no perfect way to spend time with God. Just get alone with Him every day and open His word. He will bless you when you do, in spite of your imperfections. He simply wants to spend time with you.

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ONE SCARY BIBLE STORY.  2 Kings 18:19-35; 2 Kings 19:35-36.

When Sennacherib, King of Assyria, began conquering the world, he sent men to convince King Hezekiah to surrender.  But rather than go to the palace, they went to the City Gate and shouted to the crowds—in Hebrew—knowing that before Hezekiah could offer a rebuttal, the seeds of fear and doubt would grow into full terror.  The Rabshakeh stood on the wall of Jerusalem and shouted:

“What are you trusting in? …  Suppose you say to me, ‘We trust in the Lord our God?’ Have I attacked this place without the Lord’s approval? The Lord said to me, ‘Attack this land and destroy it.’  Don’t let Hezekiah deceive you: he can’t deliver you from my hand…. Has any of the gods of the nations ever delivered his land from the power of the king of Assyria? Where are the gods of Hamath and Arpad? Where are the gods of Sepharvaim, Hena, and Ivvah?  Have they delivered Samaria from my hand? Who among all the gods of the lands has delivered his land from me?” 2 Kings 18:19-35.

The Rabshakeh lied.  He claimed King Hezekiah had angered God by tearing down the high places and requiring everyone to worship at the altar in Jerusalem.  (Hezekiah did tear down the high places, but that was what God wanted.)  The Rabshakeh also claimed that God SENT the Assyrian army to wipe out Judah as punishment for tearing down the high places.  Finally, the Rabshakeh added some truth: Assyria had already conquered many other kingdoms—what made Judah think they were so special?

Immediately, the King, the priests, and Isaiah the prophet tore their clothes and fell on their faces before God. 

And God said, ‘Have no fear.’  God took care of everything:

“Then the angel of the Lord went out and struck down 185,000 in the camp of the Assyrians. When the people got up the next morning—there were all the dead bodies.”

2 Kings 19:35-36.

God, remind us to bring You our fears!  Thank you for RESCUING US.

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THERE IS NOTHING MAGIC ABOUT GOD’S LAW. 2 Chronicles 30:18-20.

The Harry Potter stories are the latest in a long line of fictional tales in which the power of a magic spell is determined by the speaker’s ability to say the right words in the right order—and even with the right accent.  If you say the words incorrectly, either nothing happens, or something completely different happens—and it will be either comical or terrifying, depending on what the audience will enjoy most. 

Christians sometimes treat scripture like a series of magic spells.  

We talk about scripture as though the word order has magical power, forgetting that the translation process shuffles the words like a deck of cards.  Not only that, many words cannot be translated and what may have been a single word in Greek or Hebrew may be best rendered as a phrase in English. 

My point is, it is the ideas that matter, not some allegiance to exact words in the exact order.  And of course, the scripture is NOT a magic spell.  The words are a vehicle that connects us to the power of God. We get to know Him by getting to know His word.

Similarly, it is a mistake to think that God regards the Old Testament law as some magic penal code that will decide the fate of those without Christ.  God uses the law to EDUCATE us about His high standards and our failure to live up to those standards.  That is, the law reveals our need for forgiveness. But following the law will never help us secure forgiveness. 

You know who will be forgiven—under both the Old Covenant and the New Covenant? Those who seek God with their whole hearts.

The law is a tool, a measuring stick. It helps us see where our heart is. No one will ever perfectly follow every word—every accent—of the law.  But though we fail, God will know if our heart is in the right place.  Thank God we do not have to perfectly follow the law! We would ALL fail.

When King Hezekiah re-instituted the Passover after it had not been celebrated for generations, many were not ready to eat the meal, but God saw their hearts:

“They had eaten the Passover contrary to what was written. But Hezekiah interceded for them, saying, ‘May the Lord provide atonement on behalf of whoever sets his whole heart on seeking God, Yahweh, the God of his ancestors, even though not according to the purification rules of the sanctuary.’ So THE LORD HEARD HEZEKIAH AND HEALED THE PEOPLE” 2 Chronicles 30:18-20.

Rather than being slavishly devoted to obeying the words of the law, as though those words had magical power, may we SET OUR WHOLE HEART ON SEEKING GOD.

God is interested in our hearts.

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Embarrassed by Your Faith? Isaiah 25:5,8; 26:11; Matthew 10:32-33.

Have you ever been embarrassed to be a Christian? Ever been tempted to deny your faith, to say you’re not one of “THOSE” Christians—as if you are some OTHER kind, some better, more understanding type? There can be negative associations with Christ and with His Bride, the church. Lost people may accuse you of being judgmental or a hateful bigot. And don’t bother trying to pretend—you will never be able to please them, so it’s better to be real and honest from the beginning. And God will honor you when you stand with Him.

“Whoever confesses Me before men, I will also confess him before My Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies Me before men, I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.” Matthew 10:32-33.

What does Jesus say will happen if you deny Him in front of other people? He says He will deny you before the Father—where it matters most. Will you lose your salvation? Maybe, maybe not. But clearly Jesus takes this seriously: don’t deny the One who died for you!

And as for the shame of following Christ, God will take care of that:

“You subdue the uproar of the barbarians… He silences the song of the violent. He will destroy death forever. The Lord God will wipe away the tears from every face and REMOVE HIS PEOPLE’S DISGRACE FROM THE WHOLE EARTH…. They will see Your zeal for Your people and they will be put to shame.” Isaiah 25:5,8; 26:11.

God will remove His people’s disgrace. He will honor you when you honor Him. He sees your faithfulness, and He will reward it. He will remove the “disgrace” of knowing Him, and being married to Christ will be the highest honor, as it should be. At that time, those who don’t know Him—who have always denied him— “will be put to shame.” In the last days, God’s justice will give honor to His children, and will shame those who spent their lives shaming Jesus and His people.

STAY FAITHFUL!

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God Subdues the Uproar of the Barbarians. Isaiah 25:5.

I saw a video today of Antifa protestors burning an American flag. Sadly, that has become commonplace with America-hating protestors. But this time they took it further, and burned a Bible.

Why? How did a love letter from the God who created them and died for them become something worthy of burning? They pretend to be protesting police brutality, but what does burning Bibles have to do with that? They seem to be against Jesus. He died for them, yet they would destroy the record of His love and mercy.

Does that bother you? It should.

But God can handle it. He still touches hearts and changes lives. He can handle these poor, lost souls. He can whisper in their hearts and draw them to Himself. Have faith—God will win the battle for some of those souls. And He will calm their rage.

“You subdue the uproar of the barbarian, as the shade of a cloud cools the heat of the day.” Isaiah 25:5.

Pray for misguided protestors wreaking havoc not only all over the country, but on their own lives. Their actions will destroy them. Pray for God to subdue them, to calm them, to reveal to them the only peace that lasts—the peace of knowing Jesus.

And while God is reaching them, read your Bible. Read it before someone takes it from you. If the devil can get Americans to start burning Bibles, your Bible may be next in line. We should value God’s word as much as the enemy fears it. We should be READING it.

Again, start by reading the short books. Here are the first 20 of the shortest books: 1) 3 John (shortest book) 2) 2 John 3) Philemon 4) Jude 5) Obadiah 6) Titus 7) Haggai 8) Nahum 9) Jonah 10) Habakkuk 11) 2 Peter 12) Zephaniah 13) 2 Timothy 14) Malachi 15) 1 Thessalonians 16) Colossians 17) Proverbs 18) Philippians 19) James 20) 1 Peter

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EARTH DAY. Isaiah 24:1-23.

People today talk a great deal about CLIMATE CHANGE, and they usually mean ‘anthropogenic’ or man-caused climate change.  That is the belief that the release of carbon dioxide (think car exhaust) has caused the earth to warm.  For many, causes like this one are a religion, complete with sin, guilt, judgment, penance (you better buy that electric car), heresy, and excommunication (you’ll be ‘canceled’).

It may surprise you to know that this concern for pollution is Biblical—ALMOST. 

“Behold, the Lord is stripping the earth bare and making it desolate… the earth will be stripped completely bare and totally plundered.  The earth mourns and withers. The world wastes away …  THE EARTH IS POLLUTED BY ITS INHABITANTS, for they have transgressed my teachings, overstepped decrees, and broken the everlasting covenant.  Therefore a curse has consumed the earth, and its inhabitants have become guilty…. Earth’s rebellion weighs it down, and it falls, never to rise again….  The moon will be put to shame and the sun disgraced, because the Lord of Hosts will reign as king… and He will display His glory” Isaiah 24:1-23.

God has charged us with responsibility for the earth: “fill the earth and subdue it” Genesis 1:28.  We were told to let the land rest during every seventh year, for example, yet we are notorious for over-working the land, abusing our resources.  However, the real evil affecting the planet is not pollution, but ACTUAL EVIL: “The earth is polluted by its inhabitants, for they have transgressed my teachings, overstepped decrees, and broken the everlasting covenant. Therefore a curse has consumed the earth” Is. 24:5-6. We should protect the planet and stop pollution. But know that the earth is damaged more by sin and perversion than by smog and pollution. Walk in holiness and bless the land: “How lovely on the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news” Is. 52:7.

God, help us care for the land You’ve provided—and help us live holy lives that bless the places where we step.

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THE GOLDEN HOUR REVEALS THE GLORY OF GOD. Isaiah 24:23.

Last night while I was mowing I watched the sun transform from hot, golden sunlight to cooler sparkling light dappling through the trees.  The clouds above me went from white to yellow to pink.  

Then this morning I had to leave before dawn and drive into the city.  The drive took a while, and I watched the reverse: the sky went from soft purples and pinks to the brilliant, blazing sunlight of a perfect morning.  At one point I was near downtown in a neighborhood with boarded-up windows, vacant buildings no one will rent, and homeless people waking up after a night on the sidewalk. One man was still sleeping, his feet inside his tipped-over shopping cart to guard his stuff.  Nevertheless, even in this rough part of town, the morning sun showered everything in the most heavenly golden light.  Suddenly the urban squalor looked like Pebble Beach Golf Course. That golden sunlight made everything beautiful, like it was covered in a layer of golden fairy dust.

Photographers know that the best time for outdoor photography is the last hour before sunset and first hour after sunrise.  That is known as “the Golden Hour” because the light is literally golden—and it bathes everything it touches in a golden wash.  Everything is more beautiful during the golden hour. 

“The moon will be put to shame and the sun disgraced, because the Lord of Hosts will reign as king … and He will display His glory” Isaiah 24:23.

No matter how bright or beautiful the sunlight, it is nothing compared to the brightness of God’s glory.  No matter how beautiful the sun’s golden light, it cannot compare to the beauty of the One who created the sun. 

“And the [heavenly] city has no need for the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God has illumined it, and its lamp is the Lamb” Revelation 21:23.

The Glory of God is not an easy concept. What does that even mean? When I think of God’s glory, I imagine the way sunshine turns everything bright and beautiful during the Golden Hour. God’s glory blazes like the sun, lighting the darkest places, covering everything (even you!) with a dazzling layer of beauty. God’s glory shines all over the world, throughout His creation, a dazzling fire that never dims, and in Heaven God’s glory will be our sunlight.

When you see brilliant, golden sunlight, let it remind you of God’s Glory.

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*Photo courtesy of Marshall Wales.

THE BIBLE AS LITERATURE. Isaiah 22:17-18.

Is the Bible literature, a work of art?  Some find the idea offensive, as though we were arguing the Bible is ONLY literature, when it is much more.  But as a work of art, as a carefully-crafted collection of words, the Bible is UNPARALLELED.  Consider Genesis 1, Psalm 23, John 1, or Luke 2.  I taught British Literature to public school students from a textbook that included the Lord’s Prayer and the Parable of the Prodigal Son.  The Bible contains some of HISTORY’S GREATEST WORDS. And no other work can match its influence—the King James translation, particularly.

Consider this obscure passage from Isaiah 22:17-18: 

“Behold the Lord will … violently turn and toss thee like a ball into a large country. There shalt thou die.” (KJV).

Other translations:

“Look, you strong man! The Lord is about to shake you violently… He will wind you up into a ball and sling you into a wide land.” 

“He will whirl you around and around and throw you like a ball into the open countryside.” 

“He will crush you like a ball and hurl you deep into a land far, far away.” 

“He will wrap you up tightly like a turban. He will throw you far away into another land.” 

“He will grab you by the hair, swing you round and round dizzyingly, and then let you go, sailing through the air like a ball, until you’re out of sight.  Where you will land, nobody knows.”

Is that not great imagery?  Can’t you just see it?  What an unusual picture: God will roll the strong man into a ball and throw him far away.  Is that not a great warning against pride?  And a reminder of the awesome power of the Almighty God? 

Believe it or not, studying the Bible will make you better with words—a better reader and a better writer.

God, remind us to be HUMBLE.  Remind us of your power to ball up the arrogant and throw them away.  Help us love your POWERFUL WORDS more every day.

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