Anger

Whole Day 8 Identifying The Oppression

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Whole Day 8 Identifying The Oppression

Rebecca Adams

June 29, 2022

Anger,Broken,Confession,Cross,Deliver,Design,Forgiven,Freedom

Read His Words Before Ours!

Jeremiah 22:3-5
Proverbs 31:8-9
Zechariah 7:9-10
John 1:1-16

The snarls of a sinister enemy snaked through the goodness of Eden, deviously plotting the downfall of the Almighty who had cast him from His glorious presence.
How the enemy loved himself. How he loathed the Almighty.

Humanity would pay the price of the enemy’s sickening self-love by carrying his pride in their hearts, grooming it, making it their own, then calling it righteousness by justifying their selfish pride to the Almighty. Perfectly mimicking the enemy’s craft which had earned him ejection from The Presence.

“I’ll make it appealing”, the enemy drooled with demonic delight darkening his eerie eyes. Love for self, hatred for others. His breathing slowed as his shadow fell across Eve’s innocent face as she delighted in the husband she’d been lovingly given by the Maker. “I’ll make them murderers of one another as they feast frenetically upon the lusts of their flesh”, his callous thoughts crept through him as quickly as the greed glowed in his belly. “Almighty will not have the final word. I will make His beautiful creation suffer. In killing them, I will kill Him”.

Then, adorning his luscious invitation with a lethal portion of deception, the enemy lured Eve with a single question meant to draw her into his grasp and under his oppression. “Did God really say…” (Genesis 3:1) For if you question God and His goodness, you question everything.

We know the rest of the story. Innocent Adam and Eve ensconced in Eden’s luscious beauty, wide eyes curious at the heavy fruit in hand.

One.
Single.
Sin.
Death had snatched Life away.

Perfection had now fallen under the monstrosity of ominous oppression.
Corruption held the scepter and the enemy laughed, sure of his venomous victory.
The world wouldn’t need to learn to hate, kill, lust, thieve, gossip, eye-roll, bicker, and mock for oppression was now written into their DNA.

Natural man would take after their new father and sin’s self-love would spread like an uncontrollable wildfire, ravaging, killing, destroying everything from atoms to earthworms to bodies with earthquakes, poison, divorce, genocide, slavery, abortion, addiction, and the like. Nothing was untouched by oppression’s insidious sickness.

How do we identify oppression?
We look for the darkness.
We look for the absence of Light.

On the grand scale and the small ones. As we look at the nations and inside the isolated islands of our homes, oppression rages on. Cancer, mental illness, abuse, tragedy, complaining, bitterness, anger, slander, murder. It hides its snarling sickness in rage and rape and behind the gruesome masks of bigotry, prejudice, pretentious piety, and chauvinism. Oppression’s enslavement marks us all; it’s meant to kill, demean, and destroy for Sin and Death are its father.

The enemy hates the Almighty and oppresses His people.
The Almighty hates the work of the Father of Lies and every single act of oppression.
But lest we walk away with the ludicrous assumption the enemy and the Almighty are equal in force, hear the Word of the Lord.  

Then the earth shook and quaked;
the foundations of the mountains trembled;
they shook because he burned with anger.
Smoke rose from his nostrils,
and consuming fire came from his mouth;
coals were set ablaze by it.
He bent the heavens and came down,
total darkness beneath his feet.
He rode on a cherub and flew,
soaring on the wings of the wind.
He made darkness his hiding place,
dark storm clouds his canopy around him.
From the radiance of his presence, his clouds swept onward with hail and blazing coals. The Lord thundered from heaven; the Most High made his voice heard.

He shot his arrows and scattered them;
he hurled lightning bolts and routed them.
The depths of the sea became visible, the foundations of the world were exposed,
at your rebuke, Lord,
at the blast of the breath of your nostrils.

He reached down from on high
and took hold of me;
he pulled me out of deep water.

He rescued me from my powerful enemy
and from those who hated me,
for they were too strong for me.

They confronted me in the day of my calamity,
but the Lord was my support.
He brought me out to a spacious place;
he rescued me because he delighted in me.
For you rescue an oppressed people,
but you humble those with haughty eyes.
(Psalm 18:7-19, 27)

Long before the crafty serpent had even considered the plot of his disastrous deceit in Eden, the Almighty already knew of Satan’s vile plan, and He’d already decided to sacrifice Himself for His people.

Yes, Satan plotted to slay humanity pressing them farther and farther from the Father who lovingly crafted them to enjoy relationship with Him.
But in a radical act of unfathomable humble love, the Almighty allowed Himself to be slain by the sinners, then rise again to conquer sin and death forever. Death had been swallowed whole by Life! (1 Corinthians 15:54)

Yes, oppression’s foul stench is everywhere in our world, but the Light of the Victor shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. (John 1:5) As Christ-followers run toward the broken, the battered, the lonely, the fearful, and yes, even the angry and abusive, we bring with us, the victorious light of the One who has conquered Sin and Death forever.

Oppression’s power is vanquished by One Name, The Lord Jesus Christ.
(Philippians 2:10-11)

See the oppression, surrender your own rebellion, and fearlessly carry the Light of Love by the power of Jesus into the world around you for nothing can separate us from the love of Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:38-39)

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. All things were created through Him, and apart from Him not one thing was created that has been created. In Him was life, and that life was the light of men. That light shines in the darkness, and yet the darkness did not overcome it.” (John 1:1-5)

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beginning,Christ,curse,Eden,hope,Oppression,rescue,Satan,Savior,Sin,victory
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Whole Day 9
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Everywhere oppression and injustice exist, Jeremiah’s words still carry the authority of the Lord God. We are not exempt simply because we live in 2022. How will we live out the rest of today differently because of Jeremiah’s relevant message? How will we shift the direction of our lives tomorrow? Not sure? Commit to reading just these brief verses every morning and praying for the Lord to convict and shape you as you take in His living and active words. (Hebrews 4:12)
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Whole Day 4 See The Sickness: Digging Deeper

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Whole Day 4 See The Sickness: Digging Deeper

Rachel Jones

June 23, 2022

Anger,Giving,Glory,Grace,Jesus,Love

Discover the original intent of Scripture. Make good application to our everyday lives.
Become equipped to correctly handle the Word of Truth!

This DD Connects With "See The Sickness"
Why Dig Deeper?

Read His Words Before Ours!

Jeremiah 8:18-22

My joy has flown away; grief has settled on me. My heart is sick. 19 Listen—the cry of my dear people from a faraway land, “Is the Lord no longer in Zion, her King not within her?” Why have they angered me with their carved images, with their worthless foreign idols? 20 Harvest has passed, summer has ended, but we have not been saved. 21 I am broken by the brokenness of my dear people. I mourn; horror has taken hold of me. 22 Is there no balm in Gilead? Is there no physician there? So why has the healing of my dear people not come about?
Read More Of His Words

The Original Intent

1) Why does Jeremiah ask if the Lord is no longer in Zion? (verse 19)

For centuries, God warned the people of Judah of the dire consequences of disobedience. (Deuteronomy 28:49) Judah disregarded the prophets God sent to correct them until finally God allowed Judah to be taken captive. (2 Kings 24:14)

When the prophet Jeremiah lamented the oppression of his people in Jeremiah 8:19 he cried, “Listen—the cry of my dear people from a faraway land, ‘Is the Lord no longer in Zion, her King not within her?’” Matthew Henry explains, “The common cant was, ‘Is not the Lord in Zion? What danger then need we fear? […] Surely we shall do well enough, for have we not God among us?’ But, when it grew to an extremity, it was an aggravation of their misery that they had thus flattered themselves.”

Jeremiah grieved because his people wondered why God did not deliver them from oppression if He was still their Lord and King. God countered Jeremiah’s question with, “Why have they angered me with their carved images, with their worthless foreign idols?” (verse 19). Jeremiah lamented that his people had forsaken God to worship worthless idols. As David Guzik notes, “The problem was not that God had abandoned the land of Israel; the problem was Israel had abandoned God.”

The Lord mercifully gave Judah many opportunities to return to Him before allowing His people to face consequences for their disobedience. (2 Kings 17:13) But just as God demanded justice, He also promised hope. In Deuteronomy 30:2-4, God assured Judah that once they returned to the Lord with obedience and repentance, He would gather them and restore them. What a blessing that we can rely on the goodness and mercy of God to carry us through trials, even the ones we bring upon ourselves.

The Everyday Application

1) Why does Jeremiah ask if the Lord is no longer in Zion? (verse 19)

Sometimes I take the grace of God for granted, doing my own thing my own way, telling myself that God will forgive me (yet again) because that’s His nature.

I feel conviction to stop disobeying, and sometimes I make feeble attempts to change, but invariably I end up making the same mistakes, presuming upon God’s grace to put up with my disobedience.

Steven Lawson asserts, “Many who profess Christ today emphasize a wrong view of grace that makes it a free pass to do whatever they please. Tragically, they have convinced themselves that the Christian life can be lived without any binding obligation to the moral law of God.”

The people of Judah did much the same thing, ignoring God’s repeated warnings to stop sinning and start obeying. (Isaiah 1:17-19) When they faced God’s wrath for their disobedience, the prophet Jeremiah heard the people crying out, “Is the Lord no longer in Zion, her King not within her?”. (verse 19) The people knew God was on their side, so they took advantage of His love and favor, expecting Him to always take them back.

God did bring restoration (Ezra 9:9), but not until they faced the consequences of their actions.

In my life there was a time when I persisted in sin and disobedience, seeking forgiveness but making little effort to produce real change. Eventually, disappointed and distraught, I implored God’s mercy and forgiveness, realizing that God desired true repentance from me, not just remorse or shame. (Psalm 51:16-17) I asked Him for grace to forgive me and surrendered to the Holy Spirit to be empowered to obey Him. (Romans 1:5) I purposed to change my situation and habits out of love for my God and hatred toward my sin (Jude 23), allowing Him to guide me going forward.

How much better to rely on God‘s strength from the beginning than to presume on His goodness! (Ephesians 6:10)

The Original Intent

2) Why does Jeremiah say that he is broken, he mourns, and horror has taken hold of him? (verse 21)

This was unwelcome news. In verse 21, Jeremiah accepted that God’s impending judgment was coming and he cried out, “I am broken by the brokenness of my dear people. I mourn; horror has taken hold of me.”

W.A. Criswell explains, “This is a lament, a sad and sorrowful cry of the prophet Jeremiah as he saw the proffered grace of our Lord refused by the nation, and as he looked upon the armies of the bitter and hasty Chaldeans as they destroyed Judea, destroyed the city of Jerusalem, destroyed the holy temple. (2 Chronicles 36:19) Jeremiah faithfully served God from childhood by urging His people to return to the Lord, warning them of the dire consequences of rejecting God, and it broke his heart to watch his people choose their own destruction.

Alyssa Roat tells us Jeremiah was known as the “weeping prophet” and he “lived at a truly terrible time in history. Not only did he experience the horrors of war, starvation, siege, and captivity, he was called upon to tell the people of it, urging them to repent. Worst of all, they didn’t listen.” The Dutch artist, Rembrandt, made a famous painting titled Jeremiah Lamenting the Destruction of Jerusalem, depicting Jeremiah’s great sorrow over his people’s sin and destruction. The book of Lamentations is filled with Jeremiah’s poetry describing his sorrow over Judah’s desolation.

Because Jeremiah loved the Lord intensely, the brokenness of God’s people grieved him. It was for broken people like these that Jesus suffered and died. (Isaiah 61:1) May we be like Jeremiah and carry God’s love to others, inviting them to find healing in Him.

The Everyday Application

2) Why does Jeremiah say that he is broken, he mourns, and horror has taken hold of him? (verse 21)

It is difficult to watch our kids make mistakes and suffer the consequences. It might be why there are so many helicopter parents who hover over their kids trying to keep them safe from everything, or maybe worse, lawnmower parents, who clear their kids’ paths of any difficulties. Although it is beneficial for children to learn from failures and navigate difficulties, it hurts our hearts to watch them suffer.

The prophet Jeremiah was not a parent, but he grieved over his people like a parent because he had God’s father heart for the people of Judah. (Jeremiah 20:9) He was no helicopter or lawnmower prophet, though. He warned God’s people of the disaster awaiting them if they continued sinning. When Jeremiah saw the desolation God’s people brought on themselves because of their sin, he mourned, ““I am broken by the brokenness of my dear people. I mourn; horror has taken hold of me.” (verse 21)

Jeremiah hated to see his people suffering the consequences they could have avoided by heeding God’s words, but he understood that Judah’s exile was essential for repentance from sin and returning to God. God’s chastisement was necessary, but it would also be useful in turning the people’s hearts back to Father God. (Jeremiah 29:10) Jennifer Rothschild notes, “We often don’t understand why God allows exile. But this you can be sure of […] even in exile, God is giving you a hope and a future. He has plans for your welfare, even when it doesn’t feel well or fair. His plan isn’t for your calamity. God’s plans are to bless and prosper you, not to harm you.”

It is a comfort to know that even God’s correction is a blessing that makes us stronger.

The Original Intent

3) What does Jeremiah mean when he asks, “Is there no balm in Gilead?” (verse 22)

When Jeremiah lamented the oppression of his people by the Chaldeans (also called Babylonians) he queried, “Is there no balm in Gilead? Is there no physician there? So why has the healing of my dear people not come about?”. (Jeremiah 8:22) Philip Ryken writes, “Gilead was the land just east of the Jordan River. It was known for its healing balsams. […] Scholars have been unable to determine how the balm of Gilead was made, but it seems to have been a soothing, aromatic resin made from a tree or a plant. It might be compared to aloe vera.”

Since Gilead was well-known for its healing balm, obviously this was not an actual inquiry. Jeremiah’s rhetorical question emphasized that God had forewarned His people and allowed Judah’s oppression because of their sin and disobedience.

Charles Ellicott suggests “The question of the prophet is therefore a parable. ‘Are there no means of healing, no healer to apply them, for the spiritual wounds of Israel?’ The prophets were her physicians, repentance and righteousness were her balm of Gilead.”

Because God’s people chose not to avail themselves of the remedy God provided through the warnings of the prophets, despite the many opportunities God offered, they experienced oppression, subjugation and exile. The people had multiple invitations to avoid catastrophe, just as Gilead was replete with healing salve.

Judah had the promises of God to protect and guide them if they obeyed Him (Joel 2:18-21), yet they turned towards worshipping other gods and idols instead.

My prayer is to recognize how the Lord provides the “balm of Gilead” in my times of trouble and readily accept His grace and forgiveness whenever I falter.

The Everyday Application

3) What does Jeremiah mean when he asks, “Is there no balm in Gilead?” (verse 22)

When Jeremiah queried Judah in verse 22, he was stating the obvious to the blinded people of Judah, who were sick in their rebellion. Right in their midst, Judah had access to the remedy for their spiritual sickness at their fingertips yet refused healing. They had God’s leadership and protection, and they abandoned Him for wicked pursuits and sinful living. (Jeremiah 2:13)

Chidi Okoroafor notes, “Jeremiah’s question is, “How can a people who traded in balm be so sick?” “How can the people of God, with the Law in their midst, be so sinful?!” What was the solution for the nation of Israel? It was simply using the balm that they already had.”

Had they obeyed God’s laws and remembered His goodness to them, Judah would have avoided decades of oppression.

It is easy to read about their choices and condemn their actions, but we make the same poor decisions today. We may not worship physical idols, but we easily prioritize other things and selfish desires before God. It isn’t hard to neglect abiding in Him, and eventually we find ourselves disobeying His Word.

Our solution is the same one Jeremiah preached. We need to use the balm we have been given by the Lord to heal us, which is trusting in God and knowing Him by studying His Word.

Ann Voskamp asserts, “Jesus is your Soul Salve, your Balm of Gilead, your Wounded Healer who touches your hidden wounds [and…] absorbs all your hurt into His healing heart.”

Jesus calls aloud to heal our wounds (1 Peter 2:24) and break our chains (Romans 8:2). Jesus is our Deliverer (John 8:32) and our Refuge (Psalm 46:1), the Balm of Gilead for every hurt we suffer.

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anger,giving,God,grace,Jesus,love
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Whole Day 3
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Oppression: an unjust or cruel exercise of authority or power. (Merriam-Webster)

Often, oppression includes a cluster of feeling heavily burdened and mentally or physically troubled, which may lead to adverse conditions and anxiety.

Oppression has existed since sin first entered the world. As we read the works of Old Testament writers, we find their lament of the suffering humanity experiences.

“My joy has flown away; grief has settled on me. My heart is sick.
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June 20 - July 8, 2022 - Journey Theme #109

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Terrain Day 10 Mount Of Olives

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Matthew 6:25-34
Romans 8:14-17
Matthew 21:1-5

Terrain, Day 10

Read enough of my writings, sit with me at coffee, or walk beside me as the sun sets and you will know, “this girl loves small things.”

The solitary flower in a mass of wild weeds.
The softly curled leaf, just hinting at gold while its counterparts wear green.
The single dappled spot on the underside of my daughter’s toe.

I gravitate towards the “little known and oft’ forgotten” that I might re-discover old treasure made new again. Imagine my delight when, after weeks of praying and studying the Mount of Olives, I found “it,” a tucked-away pocket of words waiting for me to discover anew. The words are easily glossed over, as I had a hundred times before, but today, the Spirit of God raised them up out of His word for me to see with fresh eyes.

“During the day, He (Jesus) was teaching in the temple, but in the evening, He would go out and spend the night on what is called the Mount of Olives. Then all the people would come early in the morning to hear Him in the temple.” (Luke 21:37-38)

I have a sacred space in my house where I sit in the mornings or late at night with my Bible, journal, and pen. When I first began meeting regularly with the Lord, my spot was in my baby’s nursery where morning light flooded my pages. Then it moved to the reclining chair in my room where I could look up to find a tiny cross etched “coincidentally” in the paint above me. When the chair was retired, my space became a square on the floor beside my bed, its lowness reminding me of my need for humility and for Christ’s perfect humility towards me. With my back against the wall, I’ve sat hundreds of times weeping in grief or joy, angry at injustice, delighted with God’s beauty, or sitting silently to hear His voice. Each time, I’ve stood up, having been reminded of truth wrapped in grace. This space has been life-giving to me, not because of its physical attributes, but because of the living God who faithfully meets me.

As I read the passage in Luke, I realized for the first time that Jesus also had a sacred space He regularly visited. The Mount of Olives.

I love nature and hiking and muddy creeks, scraggly branches, jumping frogs, and hidden hollows, but sleeping overnight…outside…under the sky? No, thank you. Firm No. N to the O, No!

But this was Jesus’ spot: His place of prayer, rest, and renewal all night long.
Because Jesus was both fully human and fully God, I am confident He had favorite trails up the mountain’s side. Perhaps He took different ones depending on His mood as He processed the human emotions of the day. Did He shed tears as He walked the familiar terrain to the spot He had deemed “His” for sleeping and prayer? Did He recount aloud conversations He’d had with His disciples or the Pharisees? Perhaps His fingers graced the edges of silky flower petals as He walked, knowing every granule of pollen as only the Creator could. Surely some nights He went without sleep as He watched the moon arc across the sky He held in place. These scenes seem likely considering the divinely human nature of the Lord Jesus, but one action is absolutely certain: here the Savior, God in the flesh, communed with the Father by the Spirit’s breath.  

This is what made the Mount of Olives special for Jesus.
Did Christ have continuous connection with the Father through the Spirit while on earth?
Yes; all three Beings equally comprise the Triune God. Yet, while on earth, Jesus gave us this quiet, tucked away example of deeply intimate prayer and escape throughout the gospels.

He left the crowds midday to pray. (Luke 4:42)

He rose early, hungering for this place of deep prayer. (Mark 1:35)

He spent His nights walking the trails of Mt of Olives to be alone with the Father. (Luke 21:37-38)

On these mountain slopes, He taught the masses how to love one another and live with a kingdom mindset. (Matthew 5:1-11)

Here, He taught His disciples how to pray. (Luke 11:1-4)

Oddly enough, considering the title of our Journey Theme, it wasn’t the terrain of the mountain that drew Jesus, it was the communion He shared with Father and Spirit in quiet isolation. He delighted in being tucked away from the crowds, out on the mountain His very own breath had created, as He shared solitude with Father and Spirit in prayer.

As the sun’s rosy glow began warming the hard ground beneath Him the next morning, Jesus opened His human eyes and began His trek down the mountain. I can see the smile on His face as He walked, continuing His conversation with the Father, while approaching the temple to teach again of lasting hope found in God alone.

His rhythm of sacred conversation is meant to be shared.
He freely invites us into communion with the Triune God of the Universe!
What a marvelous thought, that we should be invited as co-heirs with Christ and, by His Spirit, we are urged to call out, “Abba! Father!” (Romans 8:15-17)

Jesus spent many nights walking the terrain of the Mount of Olives and resting His head on its mounds of dirt and leaves, but the terrain of our hearts is where He most longs to meander.
He desires for us to know Him as He is.
Come, enter the conversation!


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Pause IV Day 1 The Outcry

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It’s difficult to read Habakkuk’s words and not feel an inward groan,
an ache of knowing that so much is deeply broken.

Pause IV, Day 1

Certainly, each of us, have echoed Habakkuk’s cries.

Everywhere I look, I see brokenness, God!
Fighting in the streets.
Marriages dissolving.
Children being abandoned.
Babies murdered.
People groups oppressed because of the shade of their skin.
Justice doesn’t even have a chance of prospering because the governing systems are so broken.

And we wonder where God is.
Does He see?
Can He not hear?
Doesn’t God care?!

Strange, isn’t it? To read ancient writings and watch them fit so perfectly in our own time as if they flowed from our pen.

Habakkuk had watched the slow degradation of his beloved nation for years. He had studied Israel’s history and traced her moral decline. He waited for God to move. He cried out for God to hear, and see, and do something!

Even as he threw his angry fists at the sky, tossing up his big, audacious questions, he also knew in his core, that God was real. He was present. He did see. He had not forgotten His people and walked away. Habakkuk knew truth.

This reality of God’s unchanging character both soothed and irked him. He knew God saw all the brokenness, yet Habakkuk was angry that God had not yet chosen to act as Habakkuk felt He, the Lord God, should act.

That’s a painful glimpse in the mirror for me, Sister.
Because Habakkuk is me.

Sit still with me here in the tension of an unchanging, always present, always loving God and the sinful, rebellious world we live in.

Consider the message the Lord had for Habakkuk, and ask what He has for you.
Choose to limit your words, and read His words before ours.

Grab your Bible, a journal and pen,
and open your heart to bask in the presence of the Almighty!

Today's Challenge

Today’s Challenge
1) Read Habakkuk 1, then circle back and re-read verses 1-4 a few times through.
Answer these 3 questions in your journal from verses 1-4:
a) What do these verses tell me about God and His character?
b) What do these verses tell me about others and the world around me?
c) What do these verses tell me about me and my heart?

2) Close your time by praying for these truths to take root in your heart and for the Holy Spirit to remind you and teach you more about these things today. Be sure to write out any questions you have as you read! If you’d like to send your questions to us, we’d love to study with you!

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Habakkuk 1

The pronouncement that the prophet Habakkuk saw.

2 How long, Lord, must I call for help
and you do not listen
or cry out to you about violence
and you do not save?
3 Why do you force me to look at injustice?
Why do you tolerate wrongdoing?
Oppression and violence are right in front of me.
Strife is ongoing, and conflict escalates.
4 This is why the law is ineffective
and justice never emerges.
For the wicked restrict the righteous;
therefore, justice comes out perverted.

God’s First Answer
5 Look at the nations and observe—
be utterly astounded!
For I am doing something in your days
that you will not believe
when you hear about it.
6 Look! I am raising up the Chaldeans,
that bitter, impetuous nation
that marches across the earth’s open spaces
to seize territories not its own.
7 They are fierce and terrifying;
their views of justice and sovereignty
stem from themselves.
8 Their horses are swifter than leopards
and more fierce than wolves of the night.
Their horsemen charge ahead;
their horsemen come from distant lands.
They fly like eagles, swooping to devour.
9 All of them come to do violence;
their faces are set in determination.
They gather prisoners like sand.
10 They mock kings,
and rulers are a joke to them.
They laugh at every fortress
and build siege ramps to capture it.
11 Then they sweep by like the wind
and pass through.
They are guilty; their strength is their god.


Habakkuk’s Second Prayer
12 Are you not from eternity, Lord my God?
My Holy One, you will not die.
Lord, you appointed them to execute judgment;
my Rock, you destined them to punish us.
13 Your eyes are too pure to look on evil,
and you cannot tolerate wrongdoing.
So why do you tolerate those who are treacherous?
Why are you silent
while one who is wicked swallows up
one who is more righteous than himself?
14 You have made mankind
like the fish of the sea,
like marine creatures that have no ruler.
15 The Chaldeans pull them all up with a hook,
catch them in their dragnet,
and gather them in their fishing net;
that is why they are glad and rejoice.
16 That is why they sacrifice to their dragnet
and burn incense to their fishing net,
for by these things their portion is rich
and their food plentiful.
17 Will they therefore empty their net
and continually slaughter nations without mercy?

How Does “Pause” Work?
1. Each day, Monday through Friday, for 3 weeks, we will provide you with a simple challenge. Each challenge is designed for you to engage with the Almighty in a deeper way and perhaps in a new way than you have been recently.

2. Having a journal is a must! You’ll want to take notes as you walk this special Journey of Pause.

3. Each week focuses on one or two passage of Scripture and we walk with you as you study and flesh these out for yourself. As you write your thoughts, read His Word, and pray, questions might come up. That’s Perfect! Ask a trusted fellow believer, a pastor, or send us an email as you work through them!

4. Jumping in at the middle? No problem! Here is the entire Journey Theme.

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Embracing God’s fullness in our lives is rooted in scripture and memorizing His word is vital to our continued growth and depth with Jesus. Tap and hold from your mobile device to download this week’s verse and make it your phone’s lockscreen!

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in Pause IV!

Sketched VIII Day 15 Mephibosheth

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Read His Words Before Ours!

2 Samuel 4:1-4
2 Samuel 9:1-13
Matthew 22:8-10

Sketched VIII, Day 15

Fire crackled in the enormous fireplace as heat poured from it, taking the chill from the stone room, and my body. The inviting scent of roasting meat mingled deliciously with the burning embers.

A table was laid before us, plates and goblets arrayed with royal flare awaiting the bounty of fastidious delicacies. My mouth watered expectantly, though I was keenly aware of my unworthiness to be seated here. Self-consciously, I tucked my twisted hand closer to my abdomen. My ratty cloak stank of body odor as it served for my pillow, blanket, and sole protection against wind, rain, and chill.

“I was five years old,” began the man, interrupting my thoughts. He wore bristly whiskers and wispy white hair. His arms were strong and his chest wide. Images of my own deformity leapt to mind in sharp contrast, and I sank into myself.

“Why did this man send slaves into the rain to bring me inside today?”, I wondered. We were strangers and I certainly had nothing to offer.

One moment, I was huddled in the downpour, my poor cloak shielding my eyes, as my one good hand held out my bowl, begging for alms.

The next, I was picked up, literally carried, by two strong men who wrapped me in a warm blanket.

I was ushered into this ornate hall, flooded with warmth, and seated at this fine table. Flabbergasted at this strange turn of events, I wrestled with the idea of opening my mouth to apologize. Surely, this kind, wealthy man, had mistaken me for someone else. But the smell of hot food overwhelmed my conscious, so I sat still, waiting for the food, or for the man to find me out.

“It was the age of wooden swords and giants and gleeful discoveries at every turn,” continued the man. His eyes danced with boyish wonder, as if he was looking at the belly of a bug again for the very first time. “Most of my afternoons were spent wandering the royal gardens or teasing the kitchen servants so they would give me extra snacks.”

The man laughed with delight, and the sound of it warmed my insides as I felt my body relaxing and a faint smile lifting my cracked lips.

A servant arrived, bowing slightly, “Lord Mephibosheth, the meal is ready.”
With a kind nod from the man, the servant departed, and Mephibosheth lifted twinkling eyes to me again. “I hope you are famished!”

Words failed me, at the wonder of it all, but I managed a nod, realizing my reticence reflected me as a fool. Mephibosheth, however, returned to his story, as if I was a devoted friend. He told of his beloved father, how tall and brave and kind he was, how they wrestled playfully in the evenings, and of their hunting trips.

Then he told me of the dark day his father died on the battlefield; the same day his grandfather was killed. Though he’d surely told this story often, deep emotion saturated Mephibosheth’s voice. The depth of tragic loss was like dark waters. How well I, too, knew those waters.

Servants continued piling food onto my plate no matter how much I ate, and my goblet was never dry. As food and wine poured from the kitchen, Mephibosheth’s story continued pouring from his heart. There was bad blood between his grandfather, King Saul, and the next anointed king, David. So when his nursemaid learned of both the deaths of Mephibosheth’s father and grandfather, she feared for his life and literally ran from the palace, carrying five-year-old Mephibosheth.

The royal grandson was now on the run, finding shelter in Lo-Debar, literally meaning “no pasture land”. In the span of a single day, the young boy had lost his home, his father, his grandfather, and, shockingly, his mobility. The nurse had fallen as she ran with the little boy, crushing his feet.

With sudden awareness, I clutched my handicapped hand closely as I watched this stately man of strength and honor push back from the table, revealing twisted feet attached to lifeless legs. My jaw fell slack.

What had happened between the events of that tragic day and now to transform a broken little boy into this giant of a man, full of kindness instead of bitterness?!

Mephibosheth, his gaze lingering over my own deformity, asked the question I couldn’t. His gray eyebrows furrowed, “You want to know why I’m not bitter and angry, don’t you?’”

I dipped my head. Hatred was a heavy burden; I knew, because I carried it.
Mephibosheth extended his hand towards me as if to offer an embrace, were it not for his mangled feet keeping him at his seat. “Undeserved mercy. That’s what happened, my friend.”

My head lifted and my confused eyes met his gentle gaze. “David became king in my grandfather’s place as he was already anointed by God, and he ruled Israel well. I continued hiding in Lo-Debar, keeping my distance, accepting my reality as an outcast.”

I rubbed my arm as Mephibosheth momentarily looked down at his feet, but his voice carried on with vitality, “I married a beautiful woman and after little Micah was born, a royal messenger came from King David. One of my clearest memories of my father, Jonathon, is how much he loved David. Always his stories were of their adventures together. David was closer than a brother to my father, and on the day the King’s servants found me in Lo-Debar, it was to bring me, the outcast, back home.”

Tears streamed down my face as I saw them glistening in Mephibosheth’s gray eyes;
the outcast had been brought home.

“More than that, my friend,” Mephibosheth continued as he cast his arm across the display of rich food, “David brought me to his table and declared I would always have a seat with him as long as I lived. I was deformed and living in a place of defeat, but I was shown mercy. This is why you are here tonight. Mercy is not for the keeping,” Mephibosheth explained with a wide smile, “it’s for the giving!”

In the same way Mephibosheth experienced the kind mercy of King David, so Jesus Christ demonstrates His kindness to each of us. He sends out His own servants to the streets of the world, inviting one and all to come and eat with Him so we might all experience the fullness of life. Come to His table, then extend mercy to others. We are all undeserving!

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A Note About Sketched
In this series, we are stepping into the shoes of various characters throughout history. Some are biblical, some are well-known in modern day times, and some are people our writers know personally. We do our best to research the culture and times surrounding these individuals to give an accurate representation of their first-person perspectives on life and the world, but we can’t be 100% accurate. “Sketched” is our best interpretation of how these characters view(ed) God, themselves, and the world around them. Our hope is that by stepping into their everyday, we will see our own lives a little differently!
Enjoy!
And keep watching for Sketched Themes to pop up throughout the year!

Embracing God’s fullness in our lives is rooted in scripture and memorizing His word is vital to our continued growth and depth with Jesus. Tap and hold from your mobile device to download this week’s verse and make it your phone’s lockscreen!

Thanks for joining us today as we journeyed into Sketched VIII Week Three! Don’t miss out on the discussion below – we’d love to hear your thoughts!
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Here’s a link to all past studies in Sketched VIII

Redeemed Day 11 The Waiting Game

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Ruth 3:1-18
Deuteronomy 25:5-10
Philippians 4:6-7

Redeemed, Day 11

Fear, anxiety, anger, sadness. These words describe the current emotions of many Americans. As I write, the world is experiencing a pandemic that has taken thousands of lives and impacted countless others.

Uncertainty pervades our country right now. Some are worried about contracting the virus or losing a loved one who is already medically compromised, while others are overwhelmed with financial concerns as their jobs are impacted. Businesses have closed and we have been instructed to “shelter-in-place” and to practice “social distancing” to try to stop the virus from spreading too quickly.

We have been given an end date for our stay at home order, and then watched as the date was extended. Disagreements abound as some are concerned about opening businesses too quickly, jeopardizing safety, while others are concerned about the effects of a broken economy.

Couples are postponing weddings. Graduations have been pushed back or moved online. Medical and dental procedures have been put on hold, and funerals are limited.

When will it be safe to go out? What will happen in the days to come? When will we be able to go back to the life we knew as normal? What are we to do in our uncertainty? How do we handle the waiting?

In the book of Ruth, we are introduced to two women who also faced uncertain times. As we’ve learned, Ruth and her mother-in-law, Naomi, were both widows. Upon their return to Bethlehem, Ruth couldn’t have known what the future held for her. But she trusted and respected Naomi, complying with Naomi’s suggestions for provision.

Naomi was aware of a kinsman-redeemer, a man named Boaz.  A kinsman redeemer was a close family member who agreed to marry a widow, providing financially for her and carrying on the family name.

Naomi gave instructions to Ruth, to approach Boaz as kinsman redeemer and trust his noble character would move him to treat Ruth with honor.

Just as Ruth had a redeemer in Boaz, we, too, have a Redeemer.
His name is Jesus.

Since sin entered the world through Adam and Eve, we all are broken.
We experience pain, loss, and disappointment.
We cause the same and continue the cycle of brokenness.
Ultimately, we are separated from the Father by our sin.

We need someone who will meet us in our need, just as Boaz did Ruth, and redeem us, protecting our future. Jesus willingly came to earth, in the form of a man while fully God, to do just that. 

He experienced pain, scorn, shame and rejection. And then, He went to the cross, to put to death sin and shame on our behalf. To pay our innumerable debts, once and for all.

He chose us. He chose to love us enough to buy our freedom and our security for eternity.  He longs for us to come to Him, leaving behind our sin and shame and following Him as we journey on this earth. He knows there will be pain, but He promises to never leave or forsake us while we finish our days here before He welcomes us into eternity with Him!

What are you waiting for today? Is it a job or a promotion? Or maybe a husband? A child? Are you awaiting test results from a physician? Are you praying fervently for a family member to come to Jesus or to return from their wandering? Are you waiting to see the loved one you’ve been separated from during this time of uncertainty?

Paul admonishes us in Philippians to not be anxious for the future, but to pray and give our concerns to God with thanksgiving, allowing His peace to guard our hearts in Christ Jesus.

Jesus is near. In the waiting, He is near. Wait with hope, remembering He who calls us remains faithful to His promise that He will never leave us. Though our prayers may not always be answered the way we want or expect, we can trust that God is good, and one day we will see Him and realize He is the One we were waiting for all along!

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Embracing God’s fullness in our lives is rooted in scripture and memorizing His word is vital to our continued growth and depth with Jesus. Tap and hold from your mobile device to download this week’s verse and make it your phone’s lockscreen!

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Redeemed Day 5 Comfort In The Bitter

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Exodus 15:22-27
Ruth 1:1-22
Matthew 20:17-28
Philippians 2:12-18

Redeemed, Day 5

Murmurs whispered swiftly through the small town, carried by dusty, sandaled feet. A sudden sense of excitement and curiosity pulsed through Bethlehem as two women approached. Questions swirled among small clusters of residents as all peered intently at the two figures.

The older woman walked with an authority that conveyed she knew the town well, and as excitement grew, a woman nearby exclaimed, “Can this be Naomi?” The elder woman stopped suddenly, and electricity charged the air as all within earshot waited for her reply.

“Don’t call me Naomi.” She bit the words off as if they were a weapon. “Call me Mara, for the Almighty has made me bitter.” The younger woman walking beside her slipped a comforting arm around her tense shoulders, but she stiffened and continued. “I went away full, but the Lord has brought me back empty. Why do you call me Naomi, since the Lord has opposed me, and the Almighty has afflicted me?”

When Naomi left her hometown as a younger woman, she was in a far different season of life. Life in her new home of Moab was good. There were hardships, sure. It was a time of famine, after all. But for the most part, her life was pleasant. Which was fitting; the name “Naomi” means “pleasantness.” Her life was following the natural order.

Marry a good, upstanding Jewish man. Check.
Build a family together and continue the lineage. Check, check.

Her list could have been mine. Or yours too, maybe?

But then.

Elimelech died. Her person. The one with whom she built a life. The one she cleaved to, having left behind her family and friends. Gone.

Every plan for the future, every marital hope, every daydream glimpse of her beloved as a gray-haired grandfather, telling stories to delighted little ones. Vanished. Gone forever, like a wisp in the desert air. As a widow, she found herself facing an unknown future, alone.

Her sons married, and years passed.

It’s likely she began to look forward with expectancy as she waited for news of grandchildren. Scripture doesn’t say if those ten years were hard or soft, but sudden loss came to call on Naomi again with the death of not one, but both, of her sons.

Another defining facet of her identity, marred forever. Stripped of the treasured roles which defined a woman’s value, she grieved both those she loved and her cultural purpose. Wounds of loss and disappointment were raw and gaping for a time, but eventually, they began to harden.

Naomi decided to return to Bethlehem, and Ruth insisted on joining her.

Scripture doesn’t describe the scene of Naomi’s return in quite the detail my imagination paints, but it isn’t difficult to picture, is it?

By the time Naomi and Ruth reached Bethlehem, Naomi’s heart posture was apparent. The grief and loss she had endured were not submitted to the Lord, but were instead allowed to harden into bitterness. By telling the women in Bethlehem to call her “Mara,” she drew a clear parallel between herself and the Israelites’ experience wandering through the wilderness with only bitter water to drink.

Anger, frustration, self-pity. Bitterness.

I imagine as they approached Bethlehem, her mind was flooded with memories of the day she and Elimilech left, and the sorrow of that initial separation. The naive, wistful thoughts about returning together in the future, perhaps with a few mischievous grandchildren in tow. Instead, she returned with her son’s widow, carrying a burden of grief and sorrow.

It wasn’t supposed to be this way. 

Oh, Naomi. I’ve been there. The words feel familiar, because they are familiar. They’ve split through my hurting heart more than once.

And maybe yours, too, Sister? 

Have you let your own plans, or the experiences in your life, define you?

Have you let them fill you? 

I have. 

Just like Naomi, we can all reflect on times we have sought what only God can give
us from our
husband,
family,
friends,
career,
health,
talent,
reputation,
safety,
security,
political party, or
fill-in-your-blank.

But dear friend.

If we are filled and defined by what we want, or by our relationships or experiences, how are we any different from the rest of the world? Do any of those things fill us with light or God’s truth? 

More importantly, if we are full of those things, how can He fill us with what He desires? 

Ouch.

The truth of what happens when we allow ourselves to be filled by anything but our God is illustrated by Naomi’s response to the pressure and loss in her life. She allowed herself to be filled by something other than the Lord, so when those people and relationships were no longer in her life, she was empty. The wounds of loss allowed her hard heart to spill out when she publicly blamed Him for all she endured.

She missed the comfort the Lord provided her in Ruth, but she also missed the opportunity to share with the townspeople about the comfort, peace, joy, and fruitfulness the Lord provides in hard seasons.

And friend? We are in danger of the same. When we allow ourselves to be filled by anything but God, we are missing the blessing He longs to extend to us in both the famine and the plenty.

Lord, You are the author and creator of life. Your plans are far above any I could devise. I confess my desire and need for control, and I choose to repent today. Heal the places in me that need a touch from You, and teach me how to walk in Your way. All I have is Yours. In Jesus’ Name, amen.

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Embracing God’s fullness in our lives is rooted in scripture and memorizing His word is vital to our continued growth and depth with Jesus. Tap and hold from your mobile device to download this week’s verse and make it your phone’s lockscreen!

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Neighbor Day 15 When Unloved

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Leviticus 19:17-18
Matthew 5:33-48
Luke 10:1-16
Romans 13:8-14

Neighbor, Day 15

The Command
Love your neighbor as yourself. 

Most of us have repeated the words countless times, so they roll off the tongue easily. But what does it really mean? Human nature urges us to draw the boundary line so we know what’s expected. We want to know exactly who we should consider our neighbors…and whether we consciously realize it or not, who we can exclude.

Let’s dig in a little deeper.

The Context
In this story, the title, citizenship and position of the people involved didn’t matter at all. 

Jesus was showing the disciples God was not at all interested in labels that appeal to mankind; rather, His focus was heart posture. When Jesus told His disciples the parable of the good Samaritan, He didn’t hesitate to jump knee-deep into the hypocrisy of the age and point out the wrong heart motives hidden behind titles of priest and Levite.

Jesus was a master storyteller. Every word He spoke held great intention and profound revelation. He knew that because of their heritage, those listening would be predisposed to connect with the priest, or the Levite, and prejudiced against the Samaritan.

Make no mistake; His purposeful vagueness with regard to the man who was beaten and robbed was by design as well. Because it didn’t matter who he was or where he was from. Jesus was making the point that their neighbor, and ours, is anyone and everyone in need. 

The Questions
But what about those who don’t return our love?
What about those who will not love us the way we desire to be loved? 

Dear friend. This may be a hard word to receive, but it’s absolutely vital that we grasp it. Those very questions are rooted in the great deception of our current age: that our faith is about us and how we feel. For the people in the back, I’ll say it again.

Our faith is not and can not ever be based on our feelings.

There never has been and never will be another human who will ever be able to fulfill in us the needs that God alone can fill.

As tempting as it may be to seek approval and fulfillment from those around us, our salvation can only ever be founded on Scripture alone, by faith alone, by grace alone, through Christ alone, and to the glory of God alone. This is the true gospel. The moment we begin to believe it is acceptable for our faith to be dictated by our feelings is the moment we begin to settle for a false gospel: the gospel of self.

Friends, we can not allow this to be so. The gospel message has never been about us beyond the salvation, freedom and whole heart, whole mind, whole life transformation Christ Jesus works in us when we submit ourselves to His hands.

In short, it doesn’t really matter how we feel. 

Woo. Talk about counter-cultural. But the gospel has never been about fitting in or being comfortable, has it? Jesus himself assured us that to answer His call and follow Him required us to pick up our cross and die to self.

But what about those who harm us?
Jesus said to love them.

But what about those who persecute us? What about our enemies?
Jesus said to love them.

But what about when our spouse doesn’t show love or communicate the way we need? What if we have grown apart, or are simply incompatible?
Jesus said to love them.

The Call
We are each called to yield to the work of the cross as God performs the outworking of our faith, and to live and love the gospel out in every aspect of our lives. From the moment we accept the gift of salvation, we receive the impartation and installment of Holy Spirit inside us. This is something we can take absolutely no credit for, because none of it is possible in our own strength. Our part is only to submit to what He is doing and recognize all glory belongs to God alone!

However, as we go about our daily lives, there is an enemy who actively works to destroy, distort, and disengage us from the transformation Jesus desires to work in us. How does he do this? By introducing a thought pattern rooted in lies.

So what is the lie here?

You deserve to be treated the way you want to be treated. 

Friend, the enemy loves to woo us with thoughts and ideas which glorify our feelings, ourselves, our needs, and our desires. He wants nothing more than to see us so completely wrapped up in ourselves and what we think and feel and need, that we miss what God has to say about anything. He’s sneaky, and a masterful liar, and Scripture tells us he prowls around like a lion, searching for anyone to devour. This lie is a prime example of how he works. He takes a tiny bit of truth, or even a big chunk of truth, and distorts it into something we want to hear.
Close enough to sound right, but just enough off course we miss the message. 

The Truth
Jesus said, “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

Do you catch the difference between the two statements, Love?
The lie is all about what serves us.
The truth is all about what serves others.

Because the Jesus we follow and submit to was a servant to all.
When we look at His life on earth, we can’t escape the fact the King of Kings chose humility and servanthood over control.
He chose righteousness over self-righteousness.
He chose holiness over being heavy-handed.

This is the truth, and cost, of our calling: we are called to love and serve all people.
Regardless of how they respond to and treat us.
No caveats; no excuses.

We are called to love!

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Questions Day 13 Is God Loving Or Angry?

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Psalm 103
Isaiah 57:14-19
John 2:13-17
Romans 1:18-32

Questions, Day 13

Why is God angry in the Old Testament,
but loving in the New Testament?

It’s a question people often have as they study the Bible, and an understandable one. When we read of God flooding the whole earth or destroying entire cities in the Old Testament, His wrath can be hard to equate with Jesus’ compassion toward prostitutes and sinners as He ate with them, spent time with them, and told them of God’s grace in the New Testament. While the Old Testament has much to say about judgement, the New Testament appears to focus more on forgiveness, and it can be a challenge to reconcile the two.

How can we make sense of it all?
First, the Bible clearly states God is always the same;
He “does not change like shifting shadows” (James 1:17).

Furthermore, Jesus, who is “the same yesterday, today, and forever” (Hebrews 13:8), is also “the image of the invisible God” (Colossians 1:15).

The God of the Old Testament is the same God in the New Testament.
To understand God’s character, it’s vital we consider the Bible as a whole,
rather than focusing on isolated incidents.

While God does show anger in the Old Testament, He is also described eleven times as slow to anger, and on many occasions, we see Him showing mercy while continuing to love and care for His people, despite their continued unfaithfulness.

For example, Psalm 103 is an eloquent expression of David’s gratitude for God’s gracious forgiveness and compassion.

God does express anger at times, but this serves to highlight the severity of sin and the destruction it brings, while pointing to our need for a Saviour. The consequences of sin can be harsh, but God’s ultimate desire is not to punish, but to save. 

The Old Testament is filled with promises and prophecies pointing ahead to a solution to the problem of sin, a solution God Himself would provide because of His love.
Again and again, He reminds His people the Saviour will come.

As we move into the New Testament, and Jesus is born as the fulfilment of God’s promises, the focus shifts more toward God’s compassion because the fulfillment has come! Scripture emphasizes the reason for Jesus’ coming and His death, was to deal with sin.
If we trust in Him, we no longer need to fear God’s anger against us:
“God proves His own love for us
in that while we were still sinners,
Christ died for us.
How much more then,
since we have now been declared righteous by His blood,
will we be saved through Him from wrath?” (Romans 5:8-9)

However, God’s holy anger is present in the New Testament as well. Paul describes at length God’s wrath against those who continue in sin and suppress the truth about God. (Romans 1:18-32)

We read of Jesus turning over tables in the Temple, driving out merchants and money changers in rage because His Father’s house, a place of prayer, was being treated as a marketplace.

Anger and love are both present in God’s character throughout both Old and New Testaments.

This tension can be uncomfortable. Anger is often seen as unacceptable because of the destructive effects of anger when it’s out of control, but God’s anger is different from our (often sinful) human anger, and is actually an important, and good, part of who He is.

While our anger does not accomplish God’s purposes, His righteous anger is intentionally focused against destructive sin. (James 1:20) This was brought home to me as I worked with a group of children, sharing the story of Jesus in the Temple. After hearing the story, they were instructed to transform it into a drama. At first, their presentation brought the story to life very well, but then one child decided to alter the ending.

As “Jesus” shouted and expressed His righteous anger, another boy went over and put an arm round “Jesus.” “It’s okay,” he said. “Calm down. Come outside and sit down, and we’ll talk about it.” 

In one way, it was a lovely, compassionate response, but it was also missing the point.
In some situations, the holy response is anger.
We, too, can be tempted to edit out God’s anger and focus on His love, but the truth is, since “God is love” (1 John 4:16), His anger is actually an expression of His love.

Jesus’ passion for His Father’s house was the driving force behind His rage at its misuse. God’s love for people is manifested in His anger when He sees them being mistreated or abused. If He failed to be angry over these things, then He would fail to be wholly loving. 

Surely, it’s a comfort to us, in the face of injustice or ill treatment, to know God
cares.
To know His anger on behalf of the innocent surpasses our own.
To know there are consequences for those who refuse to repent of their sin.

In Graham Kendrick’s song, “Come and see,“ he describes the cross as the place “where wrath and mercy meet.” Maybe the cross is where we most clearly see God’s anger and His love intertwined. Even as His anger against sin is poured out, His grace in sending Jesus to bear it in our place assures us of His perfect love.

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