Month: August 2015

Future Restoration of Current Realities

Posted on by hona

“Now I want to say something more about this city. You have been saying, ‘It will fall to the king of Babylon through war, famine, and disease.’ But this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: I will certainly bring my people back again from all the countries where I will scatter them in my fury. I will bring them back to this very city and let them live in peace and safety. They will be my people, and I will be their God. And I will give them one heart and one purpose: to worship me forever, for their own good and for the good of all their descendants. And I will make an everlasting covenant with them: I will never stop doing good for them. I will put a desire in their hearts to worship me, and they will never leave me. I will find joy doing good for them and will faithfully and wholeheartedly replant them in this land…

When God’s Will Isn’t Our Way

Posted on by hona

Jonah had been on the run from God. When God told him to go in one direction, he chose to do the opposite, resulting in being thrown into the sea by a group of sailors only to be swallowed up by a fish. While Jonah was on the run, God kept providing specific provisions to get him back to where he needed to be. This fish spit him up on the shore near Nineveh after Jonah decided to be obedient. The people in Nineveh were a violent and wicked people. They treated their enemies barbarically, and the last thing Jonah wanted to do was tell them to repent. Surprisingly, Jonah’s message was well received, and the people turned to God. As Jonah was observing the change in the people, he couldn’t believe it. He thought these people deserved punishment, and he wanted his message to be fulfilled. He was more concerned about his message than the saving of the people. While he finally followed God’s will, he wanted to do it his way and dictate the outcome…

Don’t Spend a Lifetime in the Desert

Posted on by hona

The Israelites left Egypt only to forget the slavery they had experienced. When they were walking through the desert, all they saw were the things they were lacking and the things they left behind. God sent them manna to sustain them on their journey to the Promised Land. They experienced a miracle everyday when food arrived on the ground. Even in the midst of experiencing God’s provision, the wailing commenced. The journey from Egypt to the Promised land would have taken days. However, in Numbers 13, the spies were sent to scope out the land, and the fear of the people consumed them. Interestingly, in this moment in Numbers 11, the dissatisfaction with their current reality and a grumbling spirit were predecessors to entry into the Promised Land. Their attitude jaded their current perspective and influenced their faith. If they couldn’t believe God to provide meat for them, then they wouldn’t be able to believe God to provide victory for them later. The stakes would be greater when they faced giants, and their missed opportunity today foreshadowed their lack of faith tomorrow. The Israelites were looking back at a season with far more glamour than that season actually afforded…

An Invitation That Changes Everything

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When Levi, also known as Matthew, woke up that morning, he didn’t know how one conversation would change the trajectory of his life. His job was to collect taxes, and the people despised the tax collectors, because they were known to practice extortion and steal from the people. He was no exception. While tax collectors were generally well off, it came as a result of dishonesty. Jesus, walking along, saw this man whom the Jews despised, and extended him an unusual invitation. In the moment of decision, he left everything to follow Jesus. The people standing around were probably wide eyed and stunned that this tax collector would leave his wealth, prominence, authority, and position to follow a religious leader…

Do You Know Who You Are?

Posted on by hona

Jesus had been doing miraculous signs among the people. Lazarus, who died, was raised from the dead when Jesus called his name. People had been healed, received miraculous provision, and delivered from oppressive spirits. Even with all that God was doing in their midst, some people couldn’t accept Jesus. Isaiah, the prophet, had previously spoken of these things, and the people willingly ignored Jesus, fulfilling what he had said. Although they could see miracle after miracle with their eyes, it didn’t change the hardness of their hearts. The Pharisees had established an order for the people, and it was culturally unacceptable to go against these religious leaders. If anyone should know the Messiah, it would be the religious leaders. But even they missed what God was doing because it didn’t go along with their prescribed religion….