Isaiah 6:5 (ESV) - And I said: “Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!”
There are some amazing places of beauty on this earth: Niagara Falls,
the Grand Canyon, Mount Everest, the Great Barrier Reef. These are
places of stunning majesty and glory. Time spent in any of these places
is a great privilege and can alter a person’s perspective on their
personal life and place in the world.
Isaiah was a prophet of the Old Testament who never visited any of
these glorious places. He was to be sent on a tough job: preach and
prophesy to the wayward nation of Judah. Judah had turned its back on
God and fallen into a lifestyle of injustice and meaningless religious
ritual. But before Isaiah was to be sent by God, there was some work
needed in his own life, which required an encounter with the holiness of
God.
Isaiah’s perspective and entire life is turned upside down when he is
given a vision of the Lord sitting high upon a throne surrounded by
angelic beings. The place is filled
with smoke, the ground is shaking, and Isaiah hears one angel giving a
“play by play” to another angel of what they see: “HOLY HOLY HOLY is the Lord of hosts; may his glory fill the whole earth!”
“Holy” literally means “consecrated and set apart.” Imagine the terror
Isaiah felt when immersed in the majesty and “otherness” of God. The
whole scene turns personal very quickly, as Isaiah’s perspective on
himself and his place in life are altered by his encounter with the
Holy. He cries out, first at a deep personal level: “Woe is me! For I am lost. I am a man of unclean lips.”
Isaiah’s encounter with the real and palpable holiness of God forced
him to take a hard look at his own life—not his neighbor nor his
church—but himself.
In the piercing reality of God’s holiness, Isaiah recognized his own
sin and unworthiness. Thankfully, the encounter does not end there. As
Isaiah comes to a reoriented understanding of the state of his soul in
light of God’s holiness, he experiences God’s forgiveness. Now he is
ready to be sent.
PONDER: If you had a deeper sense of the holiness of God, how would that change your perspective on life?
REFLECTION or DISCUSSION:
Isaiah was given an incredible vision from God. He was given the
privilege of glimpsing the throne room of God. In response to the
vision, Isaiah felt unworthy. He felt unclean and ruined because he, a
sinner, was in the presence of the perfect and holy God.
Read Isaiah 6:1-3, Revelation 4:3-6, & Revelation 5:11-13. What kind of picture of heaven do you get from these passages?
Using these verses to guide you, draw a picture of what heaven might be
like.
Paragon Church
Sunday, March 8, 2015
Friday, March 6, 2015
Day 15 - Wisdom
Proverbs 8:1-6 (ESV)
Does not wisdom call? Does not understanding raise her voice? On the heights beside the way, at the crossroads she takes her stand; beside the gates in front of the town, at the entrance of the portals she cries aloud: "To you, O men, I call and my cry is to the children of man. O simple ones, learn prudence; O fools, learn sense. Hear, for I will speak noble things, and from my lips will come what is right...
A strange, small, green being is a source of wisdom in Star Wars V - Empire Strikes Back. Luke Skywalker’s X Wing fighter is stuck in a swamp, deep in a hidden, far-away place. The wisdom of Yoda comes out in “Try not. Do, or do not. There is no try.” Got it?
We sometimes have this idea that wisdom is hidden in some deep, mysterious place. That only a chosen few discover the sages who can pass on enlightening truth.
But the Bible speaks of wisdom as an everyday, practical, accessible quality of life. The God of all truth and wisdom wants us to be wise in each decision we make every day.
In Proverbs 8 wisdom is depicted as out-front, conspicuous, and loud. In this passage, wisdom has a voice of its own: not a whisper or a secret, but a shout and a call. Wisdom “calls out,” saying to humanity, “I raise my voice...” What does this voice say? You don’t need to be foolish. You can live a prudent life. Here are ways to speak, to act, to discern, to react, to plan, to prosper, to please God.
In Proverbs, to be wise is to be discerning, humble, prudent, fair, and right. Wisdom is the discernment with which to see the differences between major and minor issues; humility, so that we don’t make too much of ourselves; prudence, which not only judges what is right but predicts different contingencies; fairness and rightness, which cause others to trust us. To be wise, in other words, is more than being smart. You can be the most intelligent person in the world and be a fool. Wisdom means to be good, and in so doing, to be right.
The call of wisdom is, of course, the call of God. Our creator is the one who has such high hopes for our lives that he shouts out warnings and summons us with his calming voice. And we don’t need to go looking in a mystic swamp to find him.
PONDER: In which ways do you need the wisdom of God for what you are facing today?
REFLECTION or DISCUSSION
Wisdom is calling out to us in Proverbs 8. This call is God helping us to seek his wisdom in each area of our lives. Being wise means trying to discern the choices God wants us to make each and every day.
Read Proverbs 8:1-6 again. What do you think wisdom means? God wants us to have his wisdom. What are some ways you can become more wise? How can you use wisdom when you make decisions?
Does not wisdom call? Does not understanding raise her voice? On the heights beside the way, at the crossroads she takes her stand; beside the gates in front of the town, at the entrance of the portals she cries aloud: "To you, O men, I call and my cry is to the children of man. O simple ones, learn prudence; O fools, learn sense. Hear, for I will speak noble things, and from my lips will come what is right...
A strange, small, green being is a source of wisdom in Star Wars V - Empire Strikes Back. Luke Skywalker’s X Wing fighter is stuck in a swamp, deep in a hidden, far-away place. The wisdom of Yoda comes out in “Try not. Do, or do not. There is no try.” Got it?
We sometimes have this idea that wisdom is hidden in some deep, mysterious place. That only a chosen few discover the sages who can pass on enlightening truth.
But the Bible speaks of wisdom as an everyday, practical, accessible quality of life. The God of all truth and wisdom wants us to be wise in each decision we make every day.
In Proverbs 8 wisdom is depicted as out-front, conspicuous, and loud. In this passage, wisdom has a voice of its own: not a whisper or a secret, but a shout and a call. Wisdom “calls out,” saying to humanity, “I raise my voice...” What does this voice say? You don’t need to be foolish. You can live a prudent life. Here are ways to speak, to act, to discern, to react, to plan, to prosper, to please God.
In Proverbs, to be wise is to be discerning, humble, prudent, fair, and right. Wisdom is the discernment with which to see the differences between major and minor issues; humility, so that we don’t make too much of ourselves; prudence, which not only judges what is right but predicts different contingencies; fairness and rightness, which cause others to trust us. To be wise, in other words, is more than being smart. You can be the most intelligent person in the world and be a fool. Wisdom means to be good, and in so doing, to be right.
The call of wisdom is, of course, the call of God. Our creator is the one who has such high hopes for our lives that he shouts out warnings and summons us with his calming voice. And we don’t need to go looking in a mystic swamp to find him.
PONDER: In which ways do you need the wisdom of God for what you are facing today?
REFLECTION or DISCUSSION
Wisdom is calling out to us in Proverbs 8. This call is God helping us to seek his wisdom in each area of our lives. Being wise means trying to discern the choices God wants us to make each and every day.
Read Proverbs 8:1-6 again. What do you think wisdom means? God wants us to have his wisdom. What are some ways you can become more wise? How can you use wisdom when you make decisions?
Thursday, March 5, 2015
Day 14 - Glory Road
PSALM 96:2-7 (ESV) - Sing to the Lord, bless his name; tell of his salvation from day to day. Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples. For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised; he is to be feared above all gods. For all the gods of the peoples are worthless idols, but the Lord made the heavens. Splendor and majesty are before him; strength and beauty are in his sanctuary. Ascribe to the Lord, O families of the peoples, ascribe to the Lord glory and strength!
There is a street in Green Bay, Wisconsin named Glory Road. This street reminds residents and visitors of Green Bay that the city’s professional football team, the Green Bay Packers, has won more championships than any other professional football team in the U.S.—thirteen championships in its ninety- two year existence. One of the ironies of Packer glory is that, except for a very small minority, the names of most of the 1600(+) men who have ever played for the Packers over its ninety-four year history have been forgotten. Glory is fleeting.
The Bible often speaks of the glory of God. Glory refers to the fame, renown, and honor ascribed or attributed to God because of his great deeds and perfect attributes. John Piper defines God’s glory as “the radiance of his holiness, the radiance of his many infinitely worthy and valuable perfections”! The book of Psalms is the prayer book of the people of God and its prayers and prose describe eloquently God’s deeds and attributes. The psalmist repeatedly speaks of God’s righteousness, justice, steadfast love, holiness, and faithfulness. These attributes are unchanging. God’s glory is not fleeting as human glory is.
God calls us to declare his glory among the nations, to ascribe to the Lord glory and strength. His people are also called on to sing, praise, and proclaim. All these actions speak of worship and witness. They are in response to and centered on the strength, splendor, majesty, deeds, salvation, and glory of God. The psalm reminds us that the life and character of the people of God should reflect the character and attributes of God—his glory—to the world.
C. S. Lewis once said, “Aim at heaven and you will get earth thrown in, aim at earth and you get neither.” Lewis’ admonition helps us reimagine our lives lived for the glory of God where our actions, desires, words, and choices are shaped by our love for and delight in God. Earthly glory is fleeting—like the forgotten performance of an old football player. The glory of God is lasting and reorients the way we live in this world.
PONDER: What are things you could do today that would glorify God?
DISCUSSION or REFLECTION:
Picture your favorite athlete. People tend to glorify athletes. We wear their jerseys, we give them awards, and we wait all week to watch them play. Now what would happen if we transferred this passion and excitement to God? What would it look like?
Read Psalm 96:2-7 again. Who are some of your favorite athletes or celebrities? Why are they your favorite? Athletes often bring attention to themselves. However, this passage shows us that instead we get to bring attention to God. What kind of attention are you bringing to God?
There is a street in Green Bay, Wisconsin named Glory Road. This street reminds residents and visitors of Green Bay that the city’s professional football team, the Green Bay Packers, has won more championships than any other professional football team in the U.S.—thirteen championships in its ninety- two year existence. One of the ironies of Packer glory is that, except for a very small minority, the names of most of the 1600(+) men who have ever played for the Packers over its ninety-four year history have been forgotten. Glory is fleeting.
The Bible often speaks of the glory of God. Glory refers to the fame, renown, and honor ascribed or attributed to God because of his great deeds and perfect attributes. John Piper defines God’s glory as “the radiance of his holiness, the radiance of his many infinitely worthy and valuable perfections”! The book of Psalms is the prayer book of the people of God and its prayers and prose describe eloquently God’s deeds and attributes. The psalmist repeatedly speaks of God’s righteousness, justice, steadfast love, holiness, and faithfulness. These attributes are unchanging. God’s glory is not fleeting as human glory is.
God calls us to declare his glory among the nations, to ascribe to the Lord glory and strength. His people are also called on to sing, praise, and proclaim. All these actions speak of worship and witness. They are in response to and centered on the strength, splendor, majesty, deeds, salvation, and glory of God. The psalm reminds us that the life and character of the people of God should reflect the character and attributes of God—his glory—to the world.
C. S. Lewis once said, “Aim at heaven and you will get earth thrown in, aim at earth and you get neither.” Lewis’ admonition helps us reimagine our lives lived for the glory of God where our actions, desires, words, and choices are shaped by our love for and delight in God. Earthly glory is fleeting—like the forgotten performance of an old football player. The glory of God is lasting and reorients the way we live in this world.
PONDER: What are things you could do today that would glorify God?
DISCUSSION or REFLECTION:
Picture your favorite athlete. People tend to glorify athletes. We wear their jerseys, we give them awards, and we wait all week to watch them play. Now what would happen if we transferred this passion and excitement to God? What would it look like?
Read Psalm 96:2-7 again. Who are some of your favorite athletes or celebrities? Why are they your favorite? Athletes often bring attention to themselves. However, this passage shows us that instead we get to bring attention to God. What kind of attention are you bringing to God?
Wednesday, March 4, 2015
Day 13 - Courage from the Call
Nehemiah 2:8 (ESV) - 8 and a letter to Asaph, the keeper of the king's forest, that he may give me timber to make beams for the gates of the
fortress of the temple, and for the wall of the city, and for the house
that I shall occupy.” And the king granted me what I asked, for the good hand of my God was upon me.
(WHOLE CHAPTER)
In a 1910 speech entitled “Citizenship in the Republic,” Teddy Roosevelt uttered these words:
The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who...at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.
Nehemiah knew what it meant to “dare greatly.” To rebuild and restore anything is never easy—it takes courage, resiliency, and the commitment to take risks. Rebuilding the city walls of Jerusalem required a team that understood the realities and that was committed to do what needed to be done—no matter what. Only after Nehemiah told his team “of the hand of my God that had been upon me for good, and also the words that the king had spoken to me,” the whole group said, “Let us rise up and build.” The text goes on: “So they strengthened their hands for the good work.”
The word used in Hebrew for “strengthened” is chazaq, the same word used in other places in the Old Testament for courage—a kind of courage infused with strength, stamina, endurance, perseverance, and fortitude. Rebuilding and restoring require nothing less.
No sooner had Nehemiah and his colleagues committed themselves to “rise up and build,” when the attacks of the opposition began—Sanballat and Tobiah’s jeers and scornful words: “What is this thing you are doing?” Nehemiah’s response to his attackers is nothing short of deep faith in God: “The God of Heaven will make us prosper, and we his servants will arise and build...” Nehemiah’s experience reminds us that in the challenging but hopeful tasks of rebuilding and restoring—courage is not only a prerequisite, but we need others who are courageous, who “strengthen their hands,” to walk with us. And together, “we rise up and (re)build.” That brings hope: so dare greatly and take courage as you rebuild.
PONDER: Is there some “rebuilding” that God wants you to be about for which you need faith to “dare greatly”?
Prayer for Courage
Give us courage, O Lord, to stand up and be counted, to stand up for others who cannot stand up for themselves. To stand up for ourselves when it is needful to do so. Let us fear nothing more than we fear thee. Let us love nothing more than we love thee, for then we shall fear nothing also. Let us have no other God before thee, whether nation or party or state or church. Let us seek no other peace but the peace which is thine, and make us its instruments, opening our eyes and our ears and our hearts, so that we should know always what work of peace we should do for thee.
Sanballat and Tobiah hated Nehemiah and the work he was doing to repair the walls of Jerusalem. They were constantly mean and threatening to him. Read Nehemiah’s response to the bullying in Nehemiah 2:20. Who did Nehemiah say was protecting him? When have you been teased or made fun of by someone else? How did it make you feel? How can Nehemiah’s response help us when others are mean to us?
(WHOLE CHAPTER)
In a 1910 speech entitled “Citizenship in the Republic,” Teddy Roosevelt uttered these words:
The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who...at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.
Nehemiah knew what it meant to “dare greatly.” To rebuild and restore anything is never easy—it takes courage, resiliency, and the commitment to take risks. Rebuilding the city walls of Jerusalem required a team that understood the realities and that was committed to do what needed to be done—no matter what. Only after Nehemiah told his team “of the hand of my God that had been upon me for good, and also the words that the king had spoken to me,” the whole group said, “Let us rise up and build.” The text goes on: “So they strengthened their hands for the good work.”
The word used in Hebrew for “strengthened” is chazaq, the same word used in other places in the Old Testament for courage—a kind of courage infused with strength, stamina, endurance, perseverance, and fortitude. Rebuilding and restoring require nothing less.
No sooner had Nehemiah and his colleagues committed themselves to “rise up and build,” when the attacks of the opposition began—Sanballat and Tobiah’s jeers and scornful words: “What is this thing you are doing?” Nehemiah’s response to his attackers is nothing short of deep faith in God: “The God of Heaven will make us prosper, and we his servants will arise and build...” Nehemiah’s experience reminds us that in the challenging but hopeful tasks of rebuilding and restoring—courage is not only a prerequisite, but we need others who are courageous, who “strengthen their hands,” to walk with us. And together, “we rise up and (re)build.” That brings hope: so dare greatly and take courage as you rebuild.
PONDER: Is there some “rebuilding” that God wants you to be about for which you need faith to “dare greatly”?
Prayer for Courage
Give us courage, O Lord, to stand up and be counted, to stand up for others who cannot stand up for themselves. To stand up for ourselves when it is needful to do so. Let us fear nothing more than we fear thee. Let us love nothing more than we love thee, for then we shall fear nothing also. Let us have no other God before thee, whether nation or party or state or church. Let us seek no other peace but the peace which is thine, and make us its instruments, opening our eyes and our ears and our hearts, so that we should know always what work of peace we should do for thee.
—by Alon Paton, a South African author and anti-apartheid activist (1902-88).
From The Complete Book of Christian Prayer.
DISCUSSION or REFLECTION
Nehemiah had the courage to step out
and do something great. He was in the process of restoring hope to an
entire people group. Great moments, however, rarely go unopposed.
Nehemiah faced major taunting and threats from outsiders who did not
want the walls to be rebuilt. Nehemiah’s trust in God in the midst of
the threats is a testament to his faith.
Sanballat and Tobiah hated Nehemiah and the work he was doing to repair the walls of Jerusalem. They were constantly mean and threatening to him. Read Nehemiah’s response to the bullying in Nehemiah 2:20. Who did Nehemiah say was protecting him? When have you been teased or made fun of by someone else? How did it make you feel? How can Nehemiah’s response help us when others are mean to us?
Tuesday, March 3, 2015
Day 12 - Called to Rebuild
Nehemiah 2:5 (ESV) - And
I said to the king, “If it pleases the king, and if your servant has
found favor in your sight, that you send me to Judah, to the city of my
fathers' graves, that I may rebuild it.”
(READ NEHEMIAH 2)
Many older American neighborhoods have houses, known as bungalows, built in the “arts and crafts” style. These finely crafted homes built in the early 1900s bear the mark of careful German craftsmanship and pride. A bungalow with broken or boarded up windows, a sagging roof, and overgrown yard is a sad thing to see. But hope comes alive when someone has taken to rebuilding and renewing such a home—there is hope for that house, for that street, and for that neighborhood. Rebuilding and restoring bring hope.
In 445 BC, after 70 years of Babylonian captivity, the Jews are beginning to return to Judah, more specifically, to the capital, Jerusalem. Nehemiah, a Jewish public official working in the Persian city of Susa, gets news that the city walls of Jerusalem are in shambles and the very existence of his forefathers’ city is in peril. As this reality seeps into his soul, Nehemiah grieves. He weeps. He prays. And as Nehemiah feels a call to take action and rebuild the city walls, he boldly asks his unbelieving boss not only for a leave of absence but for help. Through it all, Nehemiah recognizes the hand of God on his life. “And the king granted me what I asked, for the good hand of my God was upon me” (Nehemiah 2:8).
Rebuilding is never, ever easy. It is hard work, much harder than building anew, because when one rebuilds, for better or for worse, there is history, remnants of the original, and voices around us—all of which can help or hinder the rebuilding process. But rebuilding and restoring bring hope.
Like the broken-down city walls of Jerusalem in Nehemiah’s day, there is need all around for rebuilding and restoration. Souls. Marriages. Families. Friendships. Schools. Homes. Houses. Neighborhoods. Employment opportunities. God calls his people to be restorers and rebuilders. Plunging into the realities of rebuilding and restoring will require God’s people to grieve, cry, pray, ask for help, and in the end, take action. And like Nehemiah, one can be confident of God’s hand upon our lives.
PONDER: As you look at the landscape of your life, or of your city, is there something or someplace—in you or through you—that God wants to rebuild or restore?
Take time to read Nehemiah 2:1-8. The people Nehemiah loved lived in Jerusalem. At one time they had an amazing wall that protected the city, but then it was knocked down and destroyed. Nehemiah felt called to go to help the people in that city who were in need.
If you have time, try this activity to help you/your family get a glimpse of what the rebuilding of the wall meant to the people in Jerusalem. Find something to build with (Legos, blocks, books, etc.). As a family, try to build a tower. Then have someone knock it over. Ask everyone how they feel seeing all of their hard work destroyed. Then try rebuilding the tower. When you are finished, talk about why the rebuilding of the wall in Jerusalem would have been important to the people there.
(READ NEHEMIAH 2)
Many older American neighborhoods have houses, known as bungalows, built in the “arts and crafts” style. These finely crafted homes built in the early 1900s bear the mark of careful German craftsmanship and pride. A bungalow with broken or boarded up windows, a sagging roof, and overgrown yard is a sad thing to see. But hope comes alive when someone has taken to rebuilding and renewing such a home—there is hope for that house, for that street, and for that neighborhood. Rebuilding and restoring bring hope.
In 445 BC, after 70 years of Babylonian captivity, the Jews are beginning to return to Judah, more specifically, to the capital, Jerusalem. Nehemiah, a Jewish public official working in the Persian city of Susa, gets news that the city walls of Jerusalem are in shambles and the very existence of his forefathers’ city is in peril. As this reality seeps into his soul, Nehemiah grieves. He weeps. He prays. And as Nehemiah feels a call to take action and rebuild the city walls, he boldly asks his unbelieving boss not only for a leave of absence but for help. Through it all, Nehemiah recognizes the hand of God on his life. “And the king granted me what I asked, for the good hand of my God was upon me” (Nehemiah 2:8).
Rebuilding is never, ever easy. It is hard work, much harder than building anew, because when one rebuilds, for better or for worse, there is history, remnants of the original, and voices around us—all of which can help or hinder the rebuilding process. But rebuilding and restoring bring hope.
Like the broken-down city walls of Jerusalem in Nehemiah’s day, there is need all around for rebuilding and restoration. Souls. Marriages. Families. Friendships. Schools. Homes. Houses. Neighborhoods. Employment opportunities. God calls his people to be restorers and rebuilders. Plunging into the realities of rebuilding and restoring will require God’s people to grieve, cry, pray, ask for help, and in the end, take action. And like Nehemiah, one can be confident of God’s hand upon our lives.
PONDER: As you look at the landscape of your life, or of your city, is there something or someplace—in you or through you—that God wants to rebuild or restore?
Take time to read Nehemiah 2:1-8. The people Nehemiah loved lived in Jerusalem. At one time they had an amazing wall that protected the city, but then it was knocked down and destroyed. Nehemiah felt called to go to help the people in that city who were in need.
If you have time, try this activity to help you/your family get a glimpse of what the rebuilding of the wall meant to the people in Jerusalem. Find something to build with (Legos, blocks, books, etc.). As a family, try to build a tower. Then have someone knock it over. Ask everyone how they feel seeing all of their hard work destroyed. Then try rebuilding the tower. When you are finished, talk about why the rebuilding of the wall in Jerusalem would have been important to the people there.
Monday, March 2, 2015
Day 11 - Right Place/Right Time
Esther 4:14 (ESV) - 14 For
if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance will rise for
the Jews from another place, but you and your father's house will
perish. And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a
time as this?”
(WHOLE CHAPTER)
Sometimes God calls people to stand up, and sometimes, to sit down and claim what is right. Late in the day on a public transportation bus in Montgomery, Alabama on December 1, 1955, the bus driver asked an African-American woman to move to the back of the bus so that a white man could sit down. Forty-two-year-old Rosa Parks refused. Years later she wrote:
When I sat down on the bus that day, I had no idea history was being made—I was only thinking of getting home. But I had made up my mind. After so many years of being a victim of the mistreatment my people suffered, not giving up my seat—and whatever I had to face afterwards—was not important. I did not feel any fear sitting there. I felt the Lord would give me the strength to endure whatever I had to face. It was time for someone to stand up—or in my case, sit down. So I refused to move.
Five centuries before Christ, another woman made a bold move to prevent the persecution––in fact the annihilation––of her people. Esther was a Jewish woman among the population of thousands of Jews living in Persia (modern day Iran). When the Persian king married her, Esther was in a providential spot. One day she learned of a secret plot to annihilate all the Jews living in Persia.
She could approach her husband, the king, but at great personal risk. That was when a cousin challenged her: “Who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?” (Est. 4:14).
Providence is not displayed on billboards. God’s call is not like a siren arresting everybody’s attention. Our place in God’s plan is sometimes an actual physical spot we occupy.
For Rosa Parks it was a bus seat. For Esther it was the palace of the king. For any of us, “the right place at the right time” could be a phone call tomorrow that opens a new opportunity, an injustice we witness that we speak up about, meeting a person who becomes a significant work partner.
The question is: How will we react when it is our turn for “such a time as this”?
PONDER: What kind of fear, hesitation, or doubt might hold you back from doing the right thing when you are the right person at the right time in the right place to make a difference?
REFLECTION OR DISCUSSION:
During the time of Esther, the law decreed that people could not enter the court of the King unless they were summoned. When Esther received disturbing news from her cousin Mordecai about a plan to kill all of the Jews in the land, this law put her in a very difficult spot, and she had a huge decision to make. Would she speak up for her people? Or would she remain silent out of fear?
Read the conversation between Mordecai and Esther in Esther 4:12-16. Why was Esther afraid to speak up about this horrible plan to the King? When has it been hard for you to speak up about what is right? Why is it important for us to speak up for what we know is right?
(WHOLE CHAPTER)
Sometimes God calls people to stand up, and sometimes, to sit down and claim what is right. Late in the day on a public transportation bus in Montgomery, Alabama on December 1, 1955, the bus driver asked an African-American woman to move to the back of the bus so that a white man could sit down. Forty-two-year-old Rosa Parks refused. Years later she wrote:
When I sat down on the bus that day, I had no idea history was being made—I was only thinking of getting home. But I had made up my mind. After so many years of being a victim of the mistreatment my people suffered, not giving up my seat—and whatever I had to face afterwards—was not important. I did not feel any fear sitting there. I felt the Lord would give me the strength to endure whatever I had to face. It was time for someone to stand up—or in my case, sit down. So I refused to move.
Five centuries before Christ, another woman made a bold move to prevent the persecution––in fact the annihilation––of her people. Esther was a Jewish woman among the population of thousands of Jews living in Persia (modern day Iran). When the Persian king married her, Esther was in a providential spot. One day she learned of a secret plot to annihilate all the Jews living in Persia.
She could approach her husband, the king, but at great personal risk. That was when a cousin challenged her: “Who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?” (Est. 4:14).
Providence is not displayed on billboards. God’s call is not like a siren arresting everybody’s attention. Our place in God’s plan is sometimes an actual physical spot we occupy.
For Rosa Parks it was a bus seat. For Esther it was the palace of the king. For any of us, “the right place at the right time” could be a phone call tomorrow that opens a new opportunity, an injustice we witness that we speak up about, meeting a person who becomes a significant work partner.
The question is: How will we react when it is our turn for “such a time as this”?
PONDER: What kind of fear, hesitation, or doubt might hold you back from doing the right thing when you are the right person at the right time in the right place to make a difference?
REFLECTION OR DISCUSSION:
During the time of Esther, the law decreed that people could not enter the court of the King unless they were summoned. When Esther received disturbing news from her cousin Mordecai about a plan to kill all of the Jews in the land, this law put her in a very difficult spot, and she had a huge decision to make. Would she speak up for her people? Or would she remain silent out of fear?
Read the conversation between Mordecai and Esther in Esther 4:12-16. Why was Esther afraid to speak up about this horrible plan to the King? When has it been hard for you to speak up about what is right? Why is it important for us to speak up for what we know is right?
Sunday, March 1, 2015
Day 10 - Where is your Broom Tree?
1 Kings 19:5 (ESV) - 5 And he lay down and slept under a broom tree. And behold, an angel touched him and said to him, “Arise and eat.”
(WHOLE CHAPTER)
Have you ever felt like you’ve endured something so difficult you have reached your limit? You’ve spent all your energy, put up with all the grief you can—you’re tired of holding off fear, fatigue, and failure.
The Old Testament prophet Elijah also reached the end of his rope. 1 Kings 18 describes Elijah’s stunning victory over the prophets of Baal. But almost immediately after this great win, he receives a death threat—fear takes over and he runs for his life. Fear’s grip on Elijah is in stark contrast not only to the miraculous way in which God had just intervened on behalf of Elijah, but also contrasts dramatically with the faith, courage, and obedience he portrayed in confronting evil. As Elijah succumbs to fear, he flees to the wilderness and sits under a broom tree, despondent, depressed, and spent, wishing for his life to end. Elijah reminds us that people of faith, courage, and obedience to God are not immune to fear and its debilitating effects.
Notice the broom tree: a provision from God and a place to replenish. Under the shade of this small shrub-like tree, Elijah cries out, “O Lord, take my life, for I am no better than my fathers,” and then falls asleep. But this innocuous, scrubby tree becomes a place where Elijah’s despondency fades and his faith and life are renewed. As Elijah lay sleeping on a soft bed of broom leaves, God sends a messenger by way of an angel to speak (twice) firm but replenishing words: “arise and eat.” God then provides water and cake within Elijah’s reach, physical sustenance that enabled him to journey on to Horeb and hear from God again.
Fear can debilitate, paralyze, make one flee. Sadly, fear can also overshadow the reality of God’s deliverance and work in one’s life. But thankfully, fear was not the end of Elijah’s story, nor does fear have to be the end of anyone’s story. God provides places of replenishment—shade-giving broom trees. These are places where body, soul, and spirit are renewed by God’s provisions—his words and his sustenance.
PONDER: Where is your “broom tree?” Do you have a place of shade to rest, encounter God, and experience his replenishment?
REFLECTION or DISCUSSION
Elijah encountered God in some really incredible ways. Before this passage, Elijah challenged the prophets of Baal. Elijah called down fire from heaven, and God showed that he is real. Shortly after this amazing feat, Elijah forgot about God’s provision, and feared for his life. When we come to 1 Kings 12:5, Elijah is just about ready to give up, yet God has a plan to replenish him.
Read 1 Kings 19:3-8. What did God do for Elijah when he was afraid and ready to give up? When have you given up or felt like giving up? What might happen if we give up? Read Deuteronomy 31:6. How can this verse help us when we feel like giving up?
(WHOLE CHAPTER)
Have you ever felt like you’ve endured something so difficult you have reached your limit? You’ve spent all your energy, put up with all the grief you can—you’re tired of holding off fear, fatigue, and failure.
The Old Testament prophet Elijah also reached the end of his rope. 1 Kings 18 describes Elijah’s stunning victory over the prophets of Baal. But almost immediately after this great win, he receives a death threat—fear takes over and he runs for his life. Fear’s grip on Elijah is in stark contrast not only to the miraculous way in which God had just intervened on behalf of Elijah, but also contrasts dramatically with the faith, courage, and obedience he portrayed in confronting evil. As Elijah succumbs to fear, he flees to the wilderness and sits under a broom tree, despondent, depressed, and spent, wishing for his life to end. Elijah reminds us that people of faith, courage, and obedience to God are not immune to fear and its debilitating effects.
Notice the broom tree: a provision from God and a place to replenish. Under the shade of this small shrub-like tree, Elijah cries out, “O Lord, take my life, for I am no better than my fathers,” and then falls asleep. But this innocuous, scrubby tree becomes a place where Elijah’s despondency fades and his faith and life are renewed. As Elijah lay sleeping on a soft bed of broom leaves, God sends a messenger by way of an angel to speak (twice) firm but replenishing words: “arise and eat.” God then provides water and cake within Elijah’s reach, physical sustenance that enabled him to journey on to Horeb and hear from God again.
Fear can debilitate, paralyze, make one flee. Sadly, fear can also overshadow the reality of God’s deliverance and work in one’s life. But thankfully, fear was not the end of Elijah’s story, nor does fear have to be the end of anyone’s story. God provides places of replenishment—shade-giving broom trees. These are places where body, soul, and spirit are renewed by God’s provisions—his words and his sustenance.
PONDER: Where is your “broom tree?” Do you have a place of shade to rest, encounter God, and experience his replenishment?
REFLECTION or DISCUSSION
Elijah encountered God in some really incredible ways. Before this passage, Elijah challenged the prophets of Baal. Elijah called down fire from heaven, and God showed that he is real. Shortly after this amazing feat, Elijah forgot about God’s provision, and feared for his life. When we come to 1 Kings 12:5, Elijah is just about ready to give up, yet God has a plan to replenish him.
Read 1 Kings 19:3-8. What did God do for Elijah when he was afraid and ready to give up? When have you given up or felt like giving up? What might happen if we give up? Read Deuteronomy 31:6. How can this verse help us when we feel like giving up?
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