Zephaniah

Zephaniah 3:14-20

When I started reading the seldom read scripture of Zephaniah and studying about the prophet, I became aware that he was directing his words, not so much at the common people, but more towards the upper class, the royalty and those that surrounded them.  These were the people who were putting God aside and devoting themselves to amassing fortunes of earthly things, fine homes, silver and gold, high living and immoral activities.  Sounds very much like our world today.  Zephaniah prophesies the coming of the Day of the Lord.  And tells these people that God will destroy their cities, their homes, their fortunes and themselves.  However, he ends with explaining what will happen to those who have heeded God’s call and humbled themselves to obey His commandments.  These will be spared and will be given honor and praise.  They will be God’s children and He will be their God.

Christians today have the same promise if we but accept God and His Son, Jesus.  Not only can we live a life of peace knowing that whatever happens, we are loved by Him, but also have the promise of life everlasting in His Kingdom.

Prayer:  Most Holy God, we pray that your way will be accepted by the people of this earth and we do not get caught up in the act of amassing fortunes here on earth and allow our hearts to turn against You.

Charles Boyd

The Curtain

Hebrews 10:11-25

If you were a Jew, living in Old Testament times, you were required to make sacrifices for your sins.  But even after making a sacrifice, you still weren’t allowed past the curtain in the tabernacle or temple, into the Holy of Holies, or the Most Holy Place. This is because God dwelt in the Holy of Holies and whoever entered was entering into the very presence of God.  The curtain shielded a most holy God from sinful man.  Only the High Priest was allowed to enter, and only once a year, after very special preparation.

But Jesus Christ changed all that.  When he gave his life for us on the cross, the curtain in the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom.  (This curtain was 60 feet high, 30 feet wide and 4 inches thick!)  Because of Jesus’ sacrifice, we can now enter into God’s presence.  And not only that, but God has given us the gift of the Holy Spirit, who puts His laws in our hearts and writes them on our minds.  God is here.

He offers hope.  And we can come to him freely!

Prayer:  Lord, thank you for the gift of your Son and your Holy Spirit.  Help us to come to you freely and often with hearts of gratitude, trusting in you completely.  “Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.”  Amen.

Julie Darling

The Real Deal

Isaiah 43:1-21

After reading today’s scripture I get a renewed sense of several attributes of our God.  I believe the reading reminds us that God is caring, compassionate, all mighty, all powerful and the source of life and hope.  Early in the passage there are words of reassurance and comfort.  It describes times of “passing through rivers” and “walking through fires,” and we are reminded that God will be with us.  Next, the verses remind us of who God is.  It’s as if we needed to check the credentials of the One who was providing these assurances.  Verses 10-13 reaffirm that He is the one and only God.  Next, and just in case we might still have doubts, the passage provides a reminder of His power in verses 16-17 when the miracle of the parting of the Red Sea is cited.  The last few verses of this reading seem to show the hope and promise that God represents as we picture Him as “water in the desert.”  In the 21 verses that make up today’s reading, I believe we are given words of assurance and hope.  God will be with us always, and no matter how lost or lonely we may feel at times, He can be like water in the desert to us, offering hope and life.  Also included in this passage are words that provide a clear confirmation of who God is.  The one and only Lord, creator, and savior.

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, You are the one and only God.  Maker of all things, Lord of our Lord.  Help us each day to put our faith and trust in you, and to remember that you are always with us, Amen.

Jeff Henricks

Jesus as King

John 18:33-37

The first question Pilate asks Jesus when he summoned him was, “are you the king of the Jews?”  Jesus answers this question with a question.  “Is that your own idea or did others talk to you about me?”  Pilate’s reply reveals his pride and why he made such a bad governor.  “Am I a Jew?  How do you expect me to know anything about Jewish affairs?”  Pilate refused to learn about the very people he was governing.  No one can govern a people if he makes no attempt to understand them and to enter into their thoughts and minds. 

Jesus goes on to say that he is a King but his kingdom is not of this world.  How wonderful it is to know Jesus as our Lord and King.  He knows our everyday struggles, problems, concerns and joys because he became human and lived among us.  Jesus is also an infinite spirit and as such, knows our thoughts and minds and is always with us.  Though, he is King of the Universe, Jesus is totally accessible to us.  How many of you have ever met or talked to a King, or in our case, the president?  Even dignitaries must go through red tape and protocol to meet with the President.  Yet, Jesus is always available and welcomes our talks.

Prayer:  Our Father, how blessed we are to have a King who has lived among us, who knows our thoughts, who loves us and who welcomes our presence.  Thank you for being our King, Amen.

Ron Corley 

A Perfect Kind of Love

Colossians 1:9-23

                      

Paul wrote this passage to encourage his readers to accept Gods reconciliation and love.  Even with all of our knowledge, we only have one decision that matters, which we choose continually - to allow God to remake us "without blemish" or hold onto our rebellious imperfect selves.  All of history tells us we cannot fix ourselves, but we keep hoping results will be different next time.  Paul urges us to put our hope in the perfect LOVE that is Jesus Christ.

Prayer:  Dear Lord, You know me and my blemishes - thank you for loving me anyway. I am only complete because of your unconditional love and I am thankful, Amen.

Dana Askins

Baptism of Jesus

Matthew 3:1-17

The focus of Matthew 3 is on John the Baptist and the Baptism of Jesus.

Jesus was not baptized for repentance for sin because Jesus never sinned.  To fulfill all righteousness means to accomplish God’s mission.  Jesus saw his baptism as advancing God’s work.  Jesus was baptized because:

1. He was confessing sin on behalf of the nation, as Nehemiah, Ezra, Moses, and Daniel had done.
2. He was showing support for what John was doing.
3. He was inaugurating his public ministry.
4. He was identifying with the penitent people of God.

Jesus, the perfect man, didn’t need baptism for sin, but he accepted baptism in obedient service to the Father, and God showed his approval.

The Father made it known that he was “well pleased” with his son.  It is a successful life when it is lived to please God.  It was Jesus’ purpose, and it ought to be ours as well.  As Christians, we have been baptized into Christ.  We did not let anything “prevent” us from being baptized.  It is God’s command, and we revered him in keeping it.  When we did so, he washed away our sins.  It pleased the Father to take away our sins and receive us into his house by his grace.

Prayer:  Gracious and all wise Heavenly Father, Thank you for having John baptize Jesus.  This reminds me that baptism is about my relationship with you and not about who baptizes whom.  Thank you for Jesus’ example of living only to please you and accomplish your will.  Please fill my heart with that same resolve and empower it by that same spirit.  In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

Cecilia Richey

Rejoice - Reverence - Response

Psalm 95

Reading Psalm 95, verses 1-5 are words and thoughts which often come into my heart and mind when I look at nature.  Driving through the Tetons, watching the ocean, clouds in a blue sky, the waving of grain touching a Panhandle sky with nothing else in sight.  These all fill me with joy and awe while I experience blessings of nature God created just for our enjoyment.  What a great and glorious God we have!

Reading verses 6-7 remind me to be thankful and show reverence to the God who has given us so very much of Himself.  I remember a moment in time when my in-laws, Wilma and Joe Herndon, mentioned to me they had seen a beautiful, bright, rainbow in the sky and were overwhelmed with reverence of our creation and Creator.  They found a place to stop on the side of the road and together sang the Doxology.  They felt God needed to be adored and they responded.

Concluding with verses 8-11 we read something a bit different.  We are reminded not to harden our hearts.  In other words, listen and obey.  For me personally, I can rejoice in His majesty and I can be reverent in the limited knowledge my mind and heart can hold of God and I can listen.  HOWEVER, obey often makes me want to put the brakes on.  I have to first mull it over, to consider if it’s a good thing for me, if it is doable.  I believe for me, this is what “not to harden our hearts” that God is speaking to us about.  My human nature says, “wait…do I want to do this, is it something I can do and why.”  Am I the only one who does this?  Then these thoughts occur to me in this season of Advent…what if Mary said, “Are you kidding me? No, I can’t do this. Find someone else.”  Or, if Joseph had said, “Let me mull over this for awhile, God.”

Our Lord is a great God, God above all gods and the greatness of His creation is not just to make us feel good.  Isn’t it in living in a right relationship with that creation, through obeying our Creator, that we find the fullest life and the most joy?  I must not harden or ignore what God asks of me.  I must obey and walk with Him.  This is life in fullness.  My humanness still wants to say…”But.”  Please be patient.  God is not through with me yet!

Prayer:  God, We need balance.  It is easy to take from You the beauty of Your creation, to receive the love You have shown through the gift of Your son and accept Your forgiveness.  It is a comfort to know You walk with us but it’s often hard to respect Your word enough to obey the things You ask of us.  Balance our thinking, God.  Help us not only rejoice, revere, and respond but also to respect Your words.

Sharon Herndon