November 21

Ezekiel 42-43

Holiness marks every inch of the Temple grounds and its servants. No one may serve God unless God first makes them holy. No one calls themselves into God’s service. He appointed His servants throughout the Old Testament, and under the New Covenant, God calls Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Pastors and Teachers to lead (Ephesians 4:11), and all believers to grow the Church. God’s holiness makes Him separate, different, and in control of everything related to knowing Him—it is He who makes His servants holy (1 Peter 1:2).

We might think of holiness as usefulness. If we’re no different than people outside God’s family, what’s the point of being in God’s family?

James 5

Some people try to use James 5 to either condemn wealth or to somehow connect godliness to poverty, which is absurd. Anyone even mildly acquainted with poverty knows how much misery it brings. What we see in Scripture is God providing wealth (Abraham, Job, David, Solomon, Matthew, Joanna, Lazarus, and many of Jesus’ disciples were wealthy). Jesus possessed a tunic at the time of His crucifixion that only wealthy men could own. Deuteronomy 8:18 says remember that it is the LORD your God who gives you the power to gain wealth… The Devil’s system creates more poverty, and devilish people try to dress it up as caring for the poor.

Psalm 119:1-16

I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you. The heart determines direction.

Proverbs 28:6-7

Today’s proverbs help illuminate other readings. (I love when that happens!)

November 20

Ezekiel 40-41

The command at the beginning of Ezekiel’s vision to pay attention to the details reveals God’s expectations. He is precise and He expects precision from those who manage His property (us, for instance). One cannot remain slack in their obedience and expect God’s blessings, and that is especially true for His shepherds.

If you’re one to cut corners, come to Jesus. The Holy Spirit will show you that every word of God has a precise meaning. You will see it and be glad that He is not vague.

James 4

Driving on a highway yesterday, I noticed two birds fighting in the middle of the road ahead. No more than a second later, just as I came upon them, the boxing birds veered into my lane and WHAM they both bounced off my windshield. I looked in the rearview mirror and saw one hit the asphalt awkwardly, leaving little doubt to his condition. The other one remains a mystery. I’d heard of “killing two birds with one stone,” but not with one windshield.

I wonder if they were locked in a great struggle over the political oppression of birds. Maybe one was forcing widowed birds from their nests with usurious interest rates. More likely, they were arguing over a stale bread crust, not realizing that the food trucks on one side and grassy fields on the other side of the highway offered an abundant buffet of scraps.

There are things that God tells us to fight for: free the innocent, for instance. We often get distracted by less important battles. How many times does a fight over something stupid get us into terminal trouble? You crave what you do not have; you kill and covet but are unable to obtain it. You quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask (4:2). Instead of getting what we want, we get the windshield.

Psalm 118 (cont.)

The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone (v. 22). Pay close attention to this Psalm, it’s about Jesus. God appointed builders to carefully construct His Temple according to His plan. They performed flawlessly, and the Temple became a source of immense pride to Israel (all in a good way). But the Temple was only the beginning. He applied the same precision in calling other men to oversee His peoples’ instruction in the Law. Their job was always to build up the people of God by carefully explaining God’s way to live. The job of overseer, like any prominent position, comes with the temptation to turn overseer into overlord and think of oneself as better than those they manage. We see this today with many Pastors and Teachers who believe their teaching is more important than what the people learn.

As a result of their hubris, the teachers of the Law chose the wrong cornerstone. They chose obedience to the sacrificial system as the key measurement from which to build God’s people, but this is not what God said. He said, I desire mercy, not sacrifice (Hosea 6:6 and 1 Samuel 15:22). As a result, when the Messiah came, they rejected Him (Matthew 9:13).

Jesus is the foundational cornerstone–all measurements of righteousness go off Him. Any religious system that focuses more on activity than the heart that motivates the activity is open to false motivation. Such a system becomes burdensome and results in greater injustice than it prevents–it actually pushes people away from God.

God cares nothing for ritualistic religion! He wants you more than He wants what you can do for Him. Do you want Him more than His benefits? Are you hungry for God?

Proverbs 28:3-5

Those who forsake the law praise the wicked, but those who keep the law resist them. I don’t know about your church, but mine is full of fighters. People have grown tired of godless fools stealing from them, indoctrinating their children against God and parents, and elevating promiscuous sex as a moral value. Some of our people believe they must protest and complain, and who can blame them? Who can possibly think it’s wrong for us to demand our rights? Well, God does.

The battle is God’s; over one hundred Bible verses say so! I agree that not fighting seems wimpy, completely unreasonable, and impossible to follow. So what? It is God’s law that we love others as He loves us. By this everyone will know that you are My disciples, if you love one another (John 13:35). Rest your soul in the Holy Spirit, pray more than you complain, demonstrate more love than protest, deliver more gentle, open-ended questions than harsh rebukes. Set aside your indignation, anger, and fear for what might become of this generation. Trust God and sow the Gospel generously. The time may come when we’re left with no choice but to fight. That time is not yet and we’ll know when it is because the battle will come to us and it’ll be impossible to ignore (Revelation says so).

Those without God have no peace with God. Your peace is more attractive to them than a fighting spirit. Your peace carries the Spirit’s power. (I pray God fills me up enough to show you.)

November 19

Ezekiel 39

It will surely happen, declares the Lord GOD. This is the day of which I have spoken (39:8). I’ll remind you that out of approximately 2,500 prophecies in the Bible, 2,000 have happened. Two thousand predictions! What are the odds? Dr. Hugh Ross is a mathematical genius, and he calculated the odds of 2,000 biblical prophecies coming true at 1 in 102000 (that’s 1 followed by 2,000 zeroes). It would be easier for someone to find a specially marked french-fry under a picnic table somewhere along I-30 without giving them any hints where to start looking. The odds of all those prophecies being fulfilled is less than the number of seconds that the universe has existed. These probabilities exceed the limits of possibility, but not for God. His possibilities are not limited like ours.

You and I predict what will happen based on our best guesses, and we’re often wrong. When God declares something will happen, it’s as though it already has happened.

James 2 (cont.)-3

You foolish person, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless? (2:20). I imagine that many people find James’s language offensive. When James, a First Century Hebrew, called someone foolish he meant something quite different than when an English speaker uses the term twenty centuries later. James means someone who is purposefully ignorant of God’s word. A fool in the biblical sense is one who turns their back to wisdom like a man who day-after-day, year-after-year chooses to forage for pennies on a railroad track instead of working. He lacks sense though he has a few cents.

James’s claim comes from a divinely inspired understanding of theology, and a basic understanding of logic. If one claims to have faith but no tangible action follows it, that indicates that they actually have faith in something other than what they claim. One cannot have faith in God and then have nothing to show for it. My proposition is according to God’s word and is consistent with what we observe. Faith in God without godly deeds is no more possible than water without wetness.

For James, the matter was solved through the accounts of Abraham and Rahab whose actions proved their faith. For others who need something more, we offer neuroscience proving that belief leads to action in the direction of that belief. Therefore, when we see no action, we know that something was believed that caused either inaction or action in another direction. For instance, when someone says they believe it’s best to obey God and God says to know the Bible, but they do not read it, they actually believe something else. When one says they believe in God, but their actions are deceptive, one wonders why they are elected to Congress, or why we should believe anything they say.

On the other hand, those who learn God’s word, seek to know Him, have His Spirit, and trust His ways grow in faith and deeds, and they become wise. The wisdom from above is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and the fruit of good deeds. It shows no favoritism and is always sincere (3:17).

Psalm 118

God shows us who He is by His deeds. Experience with Him shows that God’s love endures despite our sin. While He laughs at humanists who believe people can solve the world’s problems, He continues to love them. We can love them too, though I admit it’s not the easiest thing I ask of myself.

Proverbs 28:2

This one’s a bit scary as it sounds like us. A land in rebellion has many rulers, but a man of understanding and knowledge maintains order. Let’s face reality, we will never have order as long as unity means unifying around a party line. Unity in the Bible is with God, and that’s the kind of unity that yields peace. We see it played out all over the world as nations go to war with themselves over their multiplicity of leaders. There’s no war where Jesus is King.

November 18

Ezekiel 37-38

I replied, “O Lord GOD, only You know” (37:3). When the Bible says nothing is impossible with God, it’s not kidding. Dry bones of dead men clicking together like Legos, growing tendons, organs, muscle, and skin to form a functioning army is God doing the impossible. I doubt we could imagine it had God not done it. What else can He do?

Breathe into these slain, so that they may live! (37:9). By the breath of His mouth, God makes things come alive. The ancients realized that when one speaks, they breathe out, and they reasoned that God’s word comes out by His breath. This led to the Holy Spirit being called the breath of God. His word, therefore, is alive–it comes from the breath of His mouth. Both Hebrew word ruach and the Greek pneuma translate “Spirit” in English, but they both mean “breath” or “wind” in common usage. When God breathes on something, His Spirit emanates from Him to bring it to life. You became a living being by the breath of God in your Mama’s womb. When Jesus breathed on His disciples, He said, “Receive the Holy Spirit,” and they came alive (John 20:22).

The deeper question for most of us, especially when we feel dead from a miserable trial is, “Can I come alive?” If dry bones can live by the word of the Lord, and nothing is impossible with God, why not?

James 1-2

Everyone should be quick to listen... (1:19). I imagine that when he wrote this, James was thinking of the older men in his church. As one of that balding lot, I can criticize us–we talk too much. Perhaps we believe others care to hear our exploits for the fifth time. Heaven help us if we think things change by our complaints or, worse, recounting the good old days.

The reality is that we accomplish a lot more if we listen. People tend to trust those who listen well. Listening invites people to tell you where it hurts. I’ve found that if I listen to people long enough, they’ll tell me how to lead them to Jesus and help them grow.

Psalm 117

Great is His loving devotion toward us … Meditate on loving devotion.

Proverbs 28:1

God’s love fills us with confidence in God’s word, so we know what to do.

November 17

Ezekiel 35-36

I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes and to carefully observe My ordinances (36:26-27). This is one of the most exciting prophecies in the whole Bible. It was fulfilled at Pentecost and is yours for the asking (Luke 11:13).

Lord, you are supreme over all the earth. You send your Spirit like the wind wherever you please. I ask for your Holy Spirit to be in me, guiding me, teaching me, correcting me, reminding me who I am in Jesus. Take out the stony pieces of my heart and replace them with a heart of flesh that your word penetrates easily. I want to know you.

James 1

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, when you encounter trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance (1:2-3). Over a few months, a woman threw four parties. Her friend asked why, and she replied, “Our business partner stole half our money and fled the country. Then, our house flooded, and my sister’s marriage broke up. Last week, we had to move my mother into hospice.”

Her friend stared in disbelief. She’d heard about the embezzlement, but not the rest. She said, “You should’ve called for prayer at least,” caught herself, and added, “Sorry, I guess I just want to be here for you. It sounds like too much for one person to handle. But I still don’t get why all the parties?”

Party lady replied, “We wondered if God was punishing us, and to be honest, we were so down, we didn’t want to hear all the sympathy. I came across James during my quiet time with God, where it says, ‘count it all joy when you experience trials of many kinds,’ and realized that God will bring us through all of it. We thought ‘counting it all joy’ might mean throwing parties. So…”

Can you imagine a more difficult command than James’s? I’d like to tell tales of the parties I threw when I felt trials were strapping me to a whipping post, but I don’t have any. Either I forgot the command or, more likely, I was too overwhelmed with sadness, fear, and anger, and too lacking in faith; but now I’m confessing sin and that’s not why you’re reading this (all the same, see James 5:16 if have an extra minute). Perhaps you will do better than me the next time trials visit.

Psalm 116

Return to your rest, O my soul, for the LORD has been good to you (116:7). I think the Bible scholars who say the soul is the part of a person that houses emotions are onto something. Emotions direct behavior, so a downcast soul means raw emotions and depression. The soul at rest in the Lord has God’s peace and calm emotions.

A great Bible study searches for all the verses that contain the word “soul.” You’ll see the importance of rest to emotional control. Telling someone to control their emotions when they’re wound up is like telling a river to stop flowing. I do not think God tells us to use willpower to control emotions. He tells us to allow the Holy Spirit to fill us so that our emotions grow calm (Galatians 5:22-23 and Ephesians 2:8-9).

When trouble strikes, the soul expresses fear, anger, sadness, and disgust, sometimes all at once, and quite loudly. Perhaps, you’ve noticed. When a soul turns to God’s mercy in faith, it finds rest. How else do you think James could find joy in trials except by the power of the Holy Spirit? Do not think you will become a sweet soul, attractive to yourself and others by your own doing–that is a lie–but it will happen by the Holy Spirit renewing your soul.

Proverbs 27:23-27

Be sure to know the state of your flocks and pay close attention to your herds. You have heard me say that the Bible is the best financial success book of all time. One of God’s key management principles is to know the condition of one’s assets. Where’s the money coming in and going out? What’s the maintenance schedule? To be good sons and daughters means taking care of what God has given us. One cannot be apathetic with God’s stuff!

November 16

(Bible Project video summary Ezekiel Part 2 on YouTube.)

Ezekiel 33-34

Tell them that as surely as I live, declares the Lord GOD, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that the wicked should turn from their ways and live (Ezekiel 33:11). I know of no other god who is described as the God of the Bible describes Himself. He sends His word by messenger and Scripture day after day hoping people will turn to Him. Let’s face it though, a lot of people prefer to tell God who He can be.

The gods of our age are as numerous as the stars, invented by squirrel-headed people who are too fragile to listen to the real God. They prefer inventing gods who can’t talk back. One does not have to look far to see where that kind of self-idolatry leads. God does not want them to die, but they’re killing themselves.

I Myself will search for My flock and seek them out (34:11). Thank God for Jesus the Good Shepherd who rescues lost sheep (John 10, Hebrews 13). You are My flock, the sheep of My pasture, My people, and I am your God, declares the Lord GOD (34:31).

Hebrews 13

Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they watch over your souls as those who must give an account. To this end, allow them to do this with joy and not with grief, for that would be of no advantage to you (13:17). The writer assumes that spiritual leaders align with God’s word, which is why I keep pressing you to hunger for it, consume it, and meditate on it. If you don’t know what God says, how can you test your leaders? Millions of people follow false prophets who tickle ears to gain control.

When you find a leader, be a joy to lead. It is to your advantage to make things easier for leaders whether they are your Pastor, teacher, manager, or elected official. Why make it hard on yourself?

If you cannot follow your leader, please make sure that it’s because of their unwillingness to follow Scripture. God does not reward contentious children, nor does He accept personality conflict as a valid reason to separate. Whatever the reason, don’t make a scene. Give the leader all the honor that their office deserves (even if they’re undeserving). Do not lie, bow out gracefully, and find someone you can follow.

Psalm 115

Not to us, O LORD, not to us, but to Your name be the glory, because of Your loving devotion, because of Your faithfulness. Only God is worthy of praise. People do wonderful things, and we are right to reward a good performance. But only God can save us.

Proverbs 27:21-22

A crucible for silver and a furnace for gold, but a man is tested by the praise he receives. If you’re the one receiving praise, keep things in order and perspective. You don’t want to become the celebrity who believes their press and then suffers from a prideful fall, broken relationships, and misplaced loyalty.

November 15

Ezekiel 31-32

The egos of powerful people are often their undoing. They see themselves through carnival mirrors bent to contort their images. God sees things as they really are. You consider yourself a lion among the nations, but you are like a monster in the seas. You thrash about in your rivers, churning the waters with your feet and muddying the streams (32:2).

Stay out of the mud. God is sovereign, and those He chooses live as His children enjoying royal rights and responsibilities. Or one may live in the mud.

Hebrews 12 (cont.)

See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God, and that no root of bitterness springs up to cause trouble and defile many (12:15). Today’s passage reminds us that there are two parts to forgiveness. First is the act of forgiving the person. Second, is the act of cleansing the memory of whatever they did that needed to be forgiven. Many people will say the former, but not deal with the latter. That’s like pulling the heads off the weeds in the garden and leaving the roots. Weed roots grow weeds!

When one forgives but holds onto the offense, that’s bitterness, which is poisonous. Every time they think of that person, they’re not thinking how to pray for them. They’re feeling the offense and getting all worked up. Forgive, and dig out the roots of bitterness before the poison kills the whole garden.

Psalm 113-114

Who is like the LORD our God, the One enthroned on high? (113:5). Nobody! Hallelujah!

Proverbs 27:18-20

As water reflects the face, so the heart reflects the true man. You can change the attitude of your heart, and your behavior will follow. When you decide to know God, and turn to Him for help, the ugly desires of your heart will start to show. Each one, whether it’s lust of the flesh, greed, contentiousness, or boasting, they all have to be put to death.

Hunger for God helps identify our heart’s attitudes, and the Holy Spirit can change them quickly. You have to cooperate, of course, and your face will show the difference. Selfishness turns to caring, deception to honesty, pride to humility, contentiousness to reconciliation. You decide what directs your heart and who you become.

November 14

Ezekiel 29-30

In the Bible, when a nation’s commander took credit for something God did, that nation was doomed. As our nation’s leaders demonstrate a contention spirit, posturing and bickering about who did what, pray one of them will give God the glory. When you see one who tries to steal God’s glory, pray for God’s mercy. Pray that He punishes their arrogance, restores them to Himself, and has mercy on the nation.

Hebrews 12

Since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off every encumbrance and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with endurance the race set out for us (12:1). If we’re not careful Bible readers, we might think that willpower is the secret to living for Jesus. Jesus is the secret to living in Jesus. I’m inviting you to receive the faith of Jesus right now. Ask the Holy Spirit to fill you with His faith (yours won’t cut it). The heroes of the faith kept their eyes on a better day. They hungered for God, received his word, accepted His facts as their faith. They believed Him.

Psalm 112

Blessed is the man who fears the LORD, who greatly delights in His commandments. The promises of Psalms 112 may be taken literally. Read them all, delight in God’s word, and know that all the promises of God are “Yes” in Christ. And so, through Him, our “Amen” is spoken to the glory of God (2 Corinthians 1:20 BSB). You are blessed, your children will be mighty, you will prosper not needing to borrow but generously lending, you will not fear bad news, your horn will be lifted high (your strength will be obvious!), and the wicked who oppose you will find agonizing frustration.

Proverbs 27:17

As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another. If your friends make you dull, level up.

November 13

Ezekiel 27-28

Your heart has grown proud because of your wealth (28:5). Many biblical scholars believe that today’s reading about the King of Tyre metaphorically describes Satan. All the pieces are there–ancient creation, proud heart claiming divinity, beauty, access to God, place in Eden, and a spectacular fall. It is a sad reality that many people to whom God gives great wisdom, He also gives great wealth, but they turn to pride. Some of the most prideful people I’ve met were also the wealthiest and most unhappy. Pride is a disastrous vice and the root cause of all sin. I’m not God; neither are you.

Hebrews 11 (cont.)

He was looking ahead to his great reward (11:26). Moses rejected the immense wealth and privilege of bug-worshiping Egyptians for the poverty and shame of God-worshiping Israelites. You may have the same opportunity. Moses believed God’s reward beat Pharoah’s, and his choice led him to the desert where God developed his faith.

Is God developing your faith in a dry place? You do not know the future, but you know by faith that a better day lies ahead. Applying Hebrews 11:26 to oneself requires meditation and time–it is the Lord who reveals such mysteries and sets new things in motion. Living in faith is not wishing for a better day; faith is confidence in God that follows hunger for God. Be still and know that I am God (Psalms 46:10).

Psalm 111

Everything He does reveals His glory and majesty. Ask the Holy Spirit to bring to mind His great deeds. You may think of creation started, seas parted, or disease thwarted (smile). Now, focus. Holy Spirit, show the reader your great deeds done in their life. Show the reader your mighty hand (v. 4). We worship your holiness and magnificence, you are Lord Almighty, El Shaddai!

Proverbs 27:15-16

Like trying to grasp oil. Contentiousness is a common sin in our nation. It slithers in and strikes without regard to spiritual condition, even Christ’s followers have succumbed to an argumentative spirit. It works against a humble spirit that God rewards. It is anti-submission, pro-disruption, and powerfully selfish. The proverb talks about a contentious wife, and I’ve seen her destroy many marriages. I’ve seen the principle applies equally to contentious men who refuse to be led by wiser heads.

Restraining that person is like trying to hold onto a handful of oil. You do not have to try it to know it’s impossible. Contentiousness yields loneliness, and God does not want that for you. To find peace, we must battle the contentious spirit. If it’s in you, renounce it, ask God to heal the raw emotions that let it take hold. (I’ve found that contentiousness hangs onto feelings of inferiority that stem from damaging lies). Take authority. Tell it to leave. If it’s plaguing a loved one, ask if they’re hungry for God’s peace and gently work with them until the Holy Spirit heals the wound and the unclean spirit slides out. (I’ve described the basic process that brings inner healing. Contact me if you’d like to know more.)