SPEAKING THE TRUTH

Daniel 11:1–12:12; 2 Thessalonians 3:1–18; Job 42:10–17 “And now I will reveal the truth to you” (Dan 11:2). How much better would our world be if more of us were willing to take this kind of stand—to make these kinds of statements? The truth Daniel refers to are the prophecies foretelling what will happen in the Persian Empire. Great power and wealth are coming, and with them comes the fear of how that power and wealth may be used. If we read between the lines of the prophet’s statements in Dan 11, we can feel the trepidation. He is concerned that wickedness will once again sweep over the land. Such was the case for Paul: “Pray for us, that the word of the Lord may progress and be honored … and that we may be delivered from evil and wicked people, for not all have the faith” (2 Thess 3:1–2). Paul was aware that unbelievers would seek his life. He wasn’t sure what the future would look like. We can imagine the fear that he must have felt, wondering, “What is next? What is coming? Who is my friend? Who is my enemy?” If you have ever been in a situation where it seems you have more enemies than friends, you know that speaking the truth becomes increasingly difficult over time. The prophecies in Dan 11 suggest a time like this, and Paul’s words tell us that life for the early Christians was uncertain. Many Christians today lead relatively safe and easy lives. For Christians in some parts of the world, though, Paul’s situation is far too familiar. But no matter our present situation, we must boldly speak the truth. What is God asking you to say? JOHN D. BARRY John D. Barry and Rebecca Kruyswijk, Connect the Testaments: A One-Year Daily Devotional with Bible Reading Plan (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2012).

PREVENTING DESIRE

The weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ. 2 CORINTHIANS 10:4–5 So many things in our evil society attempt to capture our attention: movies, television, books, music, clothing, advertisements, and now the Internet—all designed to capture the emotions. For example, advertising executives know that buying is ultimately an emotional decision. Few people know or even care about the mechanics of the car being advertised, yet they are impressed if it looks like a race car, or if a pretty girl is behind the wheel, or if other kinds of emotional bait are included in the ad. We need to guard our minds, emotions, and wills. We need to seek God’s will by meditating on His Word and letting His will become ours. An unprotected, uncontrolled, and unyielded mind is going to be filled with evil desires that will result in evil deeds. We must control how our emotions and minds respond to the tempting bait they encounter. John MacArthur, Truth for Today : A Daily Touch of God’s Grace (Nashville, Tenn.: J. Countryman, 2001), 326.

THE BIRTH OF SIN

When desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full–grown, brings forth death. JAMES 1:15 Most people think of sin as an individual act or behavior. But today’s verse says that sin is not an act; it is the result of a process. Sin starts with desire, which is related to emotion. It begins when you desire to be satisfied by acquiring something, when you have an emotional longing to possess what you see. Temptation then affects your mind through deception. You begin to justify and rationalize your right to possess what you desire. Your mind is deceived into believing that fulfilling your lust will satisfy you and meet your needs. Next, your will begins to plot how you’re going to get what you want, and when lust is seduced (so to speak) by the baited hook, it becomes pregnant in the womb of a person’s will. Finally, the act of sin occurs. Knowing how sin is born should help you in avoiding temptation. John MacArthur, Truth for Today : A Daily Touch of God’s Grace (Nashville, Tenn.: J. Countryman, 2001), 324.

RECOGNIZING THE TRAP

Each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. JAMES 1:14 Temptation doesn’t come from God but from within. The term drawn away was used in hunting contexts to describe animals being lured into traps, and enticed is a term used to describe catching fish with bait. Every person is tempted when the trap of sin is baited with that which appeals to his lust. A person’s lust responding to enticing bait deceptively draws him away to the point where he is trapped. What pulls us so strongly to the bait? It’s not God. And it’s not Satan, his demons, or the world’s evil system that entice us to sin, although they bait the hook. It is our lustful nature that pulls us to take hold of it. Our flesh, our fallen nature, has a desire for evil. From a spiritual perspective, the problem is that even though we’ve been redeemed and have received a new nature, we still have an enemy within. The resident passion of the flesh, not God, is responsible for our being tempted to sin. John MacArthur, Truth for Today : A Daily Touch of God’s Grace (Nashville, Tenn.: J. Countryman, 2001), 323.

GOD IS NOT TO BLAME

Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He tempt anyone. JAMES 1:13 Although some believe in the ancient idea that God is responsible for our temptation and sin, James forbids such a thought in today’s verse. James warns against rationalizing our sin and blaming God in the midst of our battle against temptation. When you are fighting temptation and near to yielding, don’t make the excuse that God is tempting you. Assuming that no one would accuse God of directly causing him to sin, James is saying that we should not even think of God as the ultimate cause of our sins. Most people don’t go as far as to see God as the direct tempter, but they do believe God is indirectly to blame by having permitted the situation and the possibility of failure. But God is not the near agency of temptation, nor is He even its remote cause. Don’t ever look at yourself as a victim of God’s providence. John MacArthur, Truth for Today : A Daily Touch of God’s Grace (Nashville, Tenn.: J. Countryman, 2001), 322.

TO DO LIST: FEAR GOD

Reflections on Proverbs From the time I was old enough to work an after-school job, I knew what I wanted to do with my life. I had a game plan. Star student and valued employee, I closely identified with the Proverbs 31 woman; she embodies the modern-day linchpin concept: goal-setting, prioritizing and productivity. But it wasn’t until I was put out of work due to major surgery that I realized what I didn’t have in common with her. Without a title or task list, I felt all my strength and dignity had been stripped away. But the woman in Proverbs 31 is fearless. She laughs confidently at the days to come. Why? It’s not immediately apparent, but by examining the surrounding context of the passage, I get a sense that her identity isn’t tied to her ability to do. The key to understanding her isn’t found in her multitasking skills or her ability to make a profit (31:18). Rather, it’s found in the closing verses of the chapter: “Many women have done excellently, but you surpass them all. Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised” (Prov 31:29–30). “Fearing the LORD” isn’t fear in the way we usually think of it, and it’s not merely obedience. It marks a profound reverence for God that includes knowledge of who he is (1:29; 8:13; 14:26; 19:23). The book of Proverbs begins and ends with this theme, making the Proverbs 31 woman the climactic example of fearing God. I also found that I identified with another biblical woman. Eve is the scriptural antithesis of the Proverbs 31 woman. She sought wisdom and had goals. However, when she was tempted to eat fruit from the tree of knowledge of good and evil, Eve chose to be “wise in [her] own eyes,” something Proverbs warns against (3:7). Rather than depend on God for wisdom, Eve chose wisdom through “pride and arrogance and the way of evil” (8:13). She desired knowledge, but it came from the one she chose to rebel against. Her resulting identity crisis was catastrophic. During those long days after surgery, I recovered more than my health. When I took an honest look at myself and realized I had let my work and accomplishments define me, I recovered my identity as well. I learned more from the Proverbs 31 woman when I didn’t look at her accomplishments or even her wisdom; instead, I looked at the source of her confidence and wisdom, our ultimate example: God. SHERILYN GRANT ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN BIBLE STUDY MAGAZINE MAY–JUNE ‘12 BIBLICAL REFERENCES FROM ESV Sherilyn Grant, “To Do: Fear God,” in Moment with God: A Devotional on Every Biblical Book, ed. John D. Barry and Rebecca Van Noord (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2014).

INCHING TOWARD GOD

Reflections on the Psalms I have had seasons of great joy and delight in God, as well as seasons of unrelenting sorrow—times when God seemed silent and hidden in the midst of distressing circumstances and loss. We would love to think that following God is nothing but going from one degree of glory to the next (2 Cor 3:18), but this often does not feel like the case. For those of us with access to the Bible, God is never truly silent or hidden. Even when our hearts tell us that he is nowhere to be found, his Word tells us otherwise. When we feel distant from God, we can meditate on Psalms 120–134; making it our guide. These psalms can lift us to higher ground (Psa 61:2). These fifteen chapters are called the “Psalms of Ascents” in modern translations, or “Songs of Degrees” in the King James Version. I appreciate both descriptions, because each speaks of a deliberate process of moving further up towards God and further in our relationship with him. Rather than promising a fast fix, these psalms provide a script and context for the journey of patiently pursuing God. For me, emerging out of a season of despair often begins with a fifteen-day-long contemplation of the Songs of Ascents, one chapter for each day. Beginning day one with Psa 120, I find myself relating to the writer at Ground Zero: “In my distress” (Psa 120:1 ESV). Regardless of the writer’s exact circumstances, distress is a universal human condition. We have all been there. “I called to the Lord” (Psa 120:1 ESV). The psalmist invites us to come before God with raw honesty: “Deliver me, O Lord, from lying lips, from a deceitful tongue” (Psa 120:2 ESV). I am reminded each time I read this passage that there is no point in coming to God any other way. Sometimes we just need to say to God, “Too long have I made my dwelling among those who hate peace” (Psa 120:6 ESV). Psalm 120 is an invitation to dump our burdens, grief, sorrow and distress on God. And “he answered me” (Psa 120:1 ESV). What a beautiful assurance. When we cry out to God, He answers us. When God answers it is not like getting a phone call and immediately recognizing the caller’s voice. Sometimes discerning God’s voice requires patience and faith. On day two, I move onto Psalm 121: “I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made the heaven and the earth” (Psa 121:1 ESV). Meditating on the magnitude of God diminishes my problems. God created the heaven and the earth; he can handle this, whatever “this” is. It is a simple truth, but an effective word against my propensity toward soul-sickening anxiety. “My help comes from the LORD.” Period. Sometimes I simply repeat this phrase throughout the day. It always helps. For the two weeks that follow, my days begin with subsequent Songs of Ascents. As I read, I find one phrase to focus on. I jot it down in a journal and then brainstorm around that phrase. My faith is slowing restored as I become immersed in these passages. Perhaps there is no immediate deluge of tears, and maybe I am not thrust into spiritual revival overnight, but day-by-day and chapter-by-chapter, this collection of psalms never fails to help me inch closer to God. CHRISTY TENNANT ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN BIBLE STUDY MAGAZINE SEPT–OCT ‘09 BIBLICAL REFERENCES FROM ESV Christy Tennant, “Inching toward God,” in Moment with God: A Devotional on Every Biblical Book, ed. John D. Barry and Rebecca Van Noord (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2014).

BIG PICTURE HOPE

Ezekiel 38:1–39:24; Revelation 19:1–10; Job 38:12–24 Some Bible passages are so perplexing that we’re not really sure what to make of them. Such is the case with Ezek 38:1–39:24. As we closely examine this text, we can easily lose sight of its message. We can find ourselves so lost in the details that the big picture becomes fuzzy. So what is the big picture presented in this passage? God is on the side of His people; He will fight for them. This message is comforting. We all experience times when we feel like an ancient Israelite, lost and wandering in the desert. We go through times when we’re not sure what’s next or how it will all end up. But when we realize that God is there to war on our behalf—even in the midst of supreme chaos and paradise interrupted (compare Ezek 37)—our viewpoint quickly shifts. When we feel as though we’re blindly grasping for answers in the smoke that is the future, startling realizations like the type Ezekiel envisions can provide us with the hope we need (compare Heb 11:1). The book of Revelation casts similar visions. After the lament over Babylon and all the “woes,” John the Apostle experiences rejoicing in heaven—salvation has arrived: “After these things I heard something like the loud sound of a great crowd in heaven saying, ‘Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God, because his judgments are true and righteous, because he has passed judgment on the great prostitute who corrupted the earth with her sexual immorality, and has avenged the blood of his slaves shed by her hand!’ ” (Rev 19:1–2). The big picture of the confusing passages of the Bible is indeed big. God is bringing judgment against the evil in the world and ushering in His great and glorious salvation. He will war on our behalf against all we fear. He has, and will, fight for us. He is a glorious and powerful God, worthy of praise. What is the big picture of the current situation you’re dealing with? How does it give you hope? JOHN D. BARRY John D. Barry and Rebecca Kruyswijk, Connect the Testaments: A One-Year Daily Devotional with Bible Reading Plan (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2012).

PERSIST DON'T JUST EXIST

Ezekiel 28:1–29:21; Revelation 13:11–14:13; Job 36:24–33 The phrase “patient endurance” brings to mind the pasted-on smile of a parent regarding a misbehaving child—a parent clinging to the hope that someday this stage will pass. In Revelation the term is used in a much different way. “Here is the patient endurance of the saints, those who keep the commandments of God and the faith in Jesus” (Rev 14:12). The statement is set in the context of judgment. Here the phrase requires more than simply sitting still and enduring persecution. It’s intended to encourage first-century believers to actively abandon the sins of the day: idolatry, pride, oppression. Encouraging patient endurance was a call for early Christians to persevere by pursuing righteousness—to follow Christ faithfully even while enduring a period of suffering (Rev 14:12). Patient endurance is active persistence, loyalty, and discernment. We get this sense as John continues: “And I heard a voice from heaven saying, ‘Write: “Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on!” ’ ‘Yes,’ says the Spirit, ‘in order that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow after them’ ” (Rev 14:13). Rest comes later. Right now, when we suffer trials, God asks us to live lives that reflect our loyalty to Him. This loyalty and these deeds are motivated by hope that He provides—especially through the death of Christ. When you think about patiently enduring trials to your faith, you don’t have to regard yourself as a victim. Persist because of the hope you’ve been given and in which God continues to uphold you. Faith doesn’t sit still. How are you patiently enduring? REBECCA VAN NOORD John D. Barry and Rebecca Kruyswijk, Connect the Testaments: A One-Year Daily Devotional with Bible Reading Plan (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2012).

THE LAST PERSON YOU WOULD EXPECT

Ezekiel 26:1–27:36; Revelation 13:1–10; Job 36:13–23 Yahweh is capable of doing anything and everything He pleases. If He were not a good God, this would be deeply frightening, but considering His wonderful character, this is comforting. In Ezekiel 26:1–6, Yahweh describes the sins of Tyre and His plans against the powerful Phoenician city-state. The people of Tyre are arrogant. They do as they please, usually to the detriment of other people. Yahweh refuses to put up with this any longer. When He finally destroys Tyre, He does it through unexpected means: Nebuchadnezzar, king of the Neo-Babylonian empire from 605–562 BC. Despite Nebuchadnezzar’s cruel and ruthless nature, Yahweh uses him to enact punishment on Tyre (Ezek 26:7). Stories like this make me wonder how written prophecy would look today. How often would we see God use people without their realizing it? How many evil-hearted people have been used for a larger and better purpose? We’re never really certain how God is acting. We learn bits of information through prayer and the Bible, but only He knows what outcome He will produce. We know the trajectory—Christ’s full reign on earth and the admonishment of evil (e.g., the destruction of the beast in Rev 13:1–10)—but we don’t know precisely how that will play out. There is no easy answer to this perplexing question, but what is certain is that Yahweh will ultimately carry out His will in the world. And His will might come in unexpected ways. No one can know the mind of God but God Himself. So when we pray, let’s pray for the miracle, not for the means. How do you perceive God acting in your life and the lives of others? What miracle should you be praying for? JOHN D. BARRY John D. Barry and Rebecca Kruyswijk, Connect the Testaments: A One-Year Daily Devotional with Bible Reading Plan (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2012).

GETTING PAST THE PAST

Reflections on 1 Chronicles First Chronicles begins with an exhaustive chronology. A recurring theme quickly becomes apparent: But they were unfaithful to the God of their ancestors and prostituted themselves to the gods of the peoples of the land, whom God had destroyed before them (1 Chr 5:25). Again and again, the Israelites sin against God. When they are punished, they admit they “have sinned and done wrong” (1 Chr 21:17). How far does God’s grace extend? My fiancé and I sat on the couch in our pastor’s office; he jiggled his foot nervously while I curled my legs underneath me and leaned against him. It didn’t matter that we were there by choice—I felt defensive even before the pastor began asking questions. I knew premarital counseling would help us learn how to communicate, fight fair and express love and forgiveness. But the experience was terrifying. It was terrifying because it exposed all my failures. The parts of my personality I attribute to familial quirks are really glaring shortcomings. I tell myself that my inherited conflict-avoidance is really just “being cautious.” But it’s accompanied by a destructive tendency to shut down when things get tense. The painful experience of dredging up past conflicts forced me to take a fresh look at my sinful habits—ones I’m now trying to break, but wonder if I’m doomed to repeat. Joshua 24 records a conversation that addresses a similar concern. In God’s presence, as Yahweh renews his covenant with Israel, Joshua recounts the spiritual history of the Israelites: “This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘Long ago your forefathers, including Terah the father of Abraham and Nahor, lived beyond the River and worshiped other gods. But I took your father Abraham from the land beyond the River and led him throughout Canaan and gave him many descendants’ ” (Josh 24:2–3). What follows is an argument between Joshua and the Israelites. Joshua insists that the people will turn away from the LORD; the Israelites counter this, promising to serve faithfully. If you’ve read much of the Old Testament, you know that Joshua is right. The Israelites disobeyed God many times leading up to this covenant, and after they enter the promised land, they continue to perpetuate a cycle of disobedience, punishment and then, out of desperation, repentance. It’s a pattern I recognize in myself. But when repentance follows cyclical mistakes, it opens the door for blessings that wouldn’t otherwise occur: forgiveness, restoration and redemption. In his first-century letter to churches in Asia, Peter reminds his readers that Christ’s work indeed brings them out of sin and death: “You know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect” (1 Pet 1:18–19). This reminder makes all the difference. I haven’t been charged with the unattainable task of making my own salvation. Instead, it comes through the blood of Christ. Although I may be heavily influenced by my unique experiences and relationships, I’m not doomed to repeat the same mistakes over and over: Jesus’ work redeems my past and—thank God—my future. In our counseling sessions, we learned to respond to fear and sin with the truth of Christ. After being hurt or having to make a very personal confession or realizing that we’ve caused hurt, we now pray together, using Peter’s reminder to the early churches: You are no longer a slave to sin. You were “redeemed from the empty way of life … with the precious blood of Christ” (1:19). JESSI STRONG ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN BIBLE STUDY MAGAZINE NOV–DEC ‘12 BIBLICAL REFERENCES FROM NIV Jessi Strong, “Getting Past the Past,” in Moment with God: A Devotional on Every Biblical Book, ed. John D. Barry and Rebecca Van Noord (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2014).

COUNTERFEIT REPENTANCE

Reflections on 2 Kings We often take the genuineness of our repentance for granted, as if feeling sorry for our sin is proof enough. But just after Paul preaches repentance, he commands his listeners to “prove their repentance by their deeds” (Acts 26:20). True repentance has corroborating evidence. Perhaps the best way to learn what genuine repentance looks like is by examining the opposite: a counterfeit. In 2 Kings we find one in King Joram. Joram rules when Samaria, the capital city of the northern kingdom of Israel, is besieged by Ben-Haded, king of Syria. The siege places the people of Samaria in desperate circumstances. When a citizen pleads for help from King Joram, he tells her hope does not rest in him: “If the LORD does not help you, where can I get help for you?” (2 Kgs 6:27). It seems to be the response of someone who depends on Yahweh. But after discovering that some in his kingdom are eating their own children to stay alive, Joram decides Yahweh can’t help him. Rather, he decides Yahweh is the cause of the problem. Joram takes out his frustration on the prophet Elisha: “May God deal with me, be it ever so severely, if the head of Elisha the son of Shaphat remains on his shoulder today!” (6:31). It’s a move that undermines God’s provision both for Joram and for Israel. Elisha had shown God’s provision in a situation involving the same invaders. He had notified Joram when the Syrian king made plans to war against Israel and provided Joram with an opportunity to attend to the situation—“time and again” (6:8–9). Though Joram expressed a measure of faith, he had short-term memory loss when it came to God’s goodness and provision. When the captain arrives to seize him, Elisha counteracts the attempt by prophesying that the siege will end: “This is what the LORD says: About this time tomorrow, a seah of flour will sell for a shekel and two seahs of barley for a shekel at the gate of Samaria” (7:1). Like his king, the captain doubts his word—showing that the people are following in Joram’s unbelief. Elisha takes his lack of faith seriously, saying, “You will see it with your own eyes … but you will not eat any of it” (7:2). God does provide for Israel. The Syrians, believing they are being attacked by an army of Egyptians and Hittites, flee from their camp; the path they take is “littered with garments and equipment that the Syrians had thrown away in their haste” (7:15). The irony and provision in this: The Syrians were attacked by an “army” of four desperate lepers, who promptly sat down to eat their dinner leftovers and then proceeded to plunder their goods. When the lepers report this situation to the king, Joram still refuses to believe: “I will tell you what the Arameans have done to us. They know we are starving; so they have left the camp to hide in the countryside, thinking, ‘They will surely come out, and then we will take them alive and get into the city’ ” (7:12). Joram’s conspiracy theory proves false. In the end, it’s the captain who dies for not believing Elisha’s prophecy, trampled by people as they rush to plunder the Syrian camp for flour and barley. Joram’s unbelief appears to go unpunished, but it does stand as a reminder that we can trust in God’s care and provision—even in dire circumstances or when authorities refuse to do so. Belief and repentance depend on our decisions to listen to God and act accordingly, even when it’s against common knowledge or logic. MATT ERBAUGH ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN BIBLE STUDY MAGAZINE MAR–APR ‘12 BIBLICAL REFERENCES FROM NIV Matt Erbaugh, “Counterfeit Repentance,” in Moment with God: A Devotional on Every Biblical Book, ed. John D. Barry and Rebecca Van Noord (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2014).

LITTLE WHITE LIES

Reflections on 2 Samuel It’s easy to declare, “Lying is a sin; never lie!” The ninth commandment tells us that God abhors it. And we see King David experience negative consequences for lying in 2 Samuel 11–12. However, a reading of the Old Testament will quickly reveal that “Never lie!” isn’t so clear cut. What are we supposed to do with the stories where people not only lie, but seem to be honored for doing so? Honorable Liars In Exodus, we read about midwives defying Pharaoh’s order to kill Israelite boys. Later, they lied to him about it. They were said to have “feared God” and were rewarded with families of their own. In Joshua, when guards come to capture the Israelite spies, Rahab claims they had already escaped when they were actually hiding on her roof. The Bible, far from denouncing her lie, honors her: “By faith, Rahab the prostitute did not perish with those who were disobedient, because she had given a friendly welcome to the spies” (Heb 11:29). In 1 Samuel, David flees from King Saul. Before leaving the country, he makes one last stop at the tabernacle. He lies and tells the priest that he is on a secret mission for the king. He says this so that the priest could have an alibi for Saul. Questioning The Lawgiver A closer reading of these Old Testament stories shows that these lies took place when lives were in danger. As a result, some have replaced one blanket statement (“Never lie!”) with another: “Never lie … unless someone’s life is at stake.” But if it’s okay to lie when it saves someone from death, what about when it saves someone from torture? We find that instead of answering the original question, we’ve created new problems. This question about lying isn’t important because it highlights a potential problem in God’s Law. It’s important because it reveals a problem in our lordship. This brings us back to the story of David. People often talk about this story not because David lied, but because he broke another rule: eating consecrated bread. Jesus mentions David’s rule-breaking in order to explain why he let his disciples pick grain on the Sabbath. Confusion over Sabbath rules was once the equivalent of asking “Is it ever okay to lie?” The Pharisees considered picking grain as evidence of Jesus’ problematic leadership, but Jesus uses it to reveal that the Pharisees were the ones with the problem. They had been spending so much time and energy on the Law that they lost sight of the Lawgiver. Rules had become their master instead of God, so they needed to know them intricately. In contrast, Jesus declares “the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath,” so know him intimately. We find context for these Old Testament stories in James 2:19–26. Of all the Old Testament examples of faith in action, James features Abraham’s readiness to sacrifice Isaac, his son. He also highlights Rahab’s willingness to save the spies. James picked stories about killing and lying—things that would never happen if rules were followed. Real Life Rules What is Jesus saying about daily obedience—not just life or death situations? What about practical things like giving (“Is it 10 percent?”), church attendance (“Can I skip today?”), and TV consumption (“Am I allowed to watch that?”)? God uses rules to reveal his heart so we can better submit to him. Just don’t spend so much time trying to figure out the rules that you miss hearing his voice. MATT ERBAUGH ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN BIBLE STUDY MAGAZINE NOV–DEC ‘11 BIBLICAL REFERENCES FROM ESV

WE WANT OUT

Ezekiel 14:1–15:8; Revelation 5:1–14; Job 33:29–33 We’ve all had those moments when we just want out, when the chaos of life seems overwhelming. We want an end to the struggle with sin. We want relief from the things that are part of living in a broken world. We know Christ reigns, but we want what is “after these things” (Rev 4:1) right now. Living in the midst of persecution, the early believers must have experienced these emotions daily. In his revelation, John himself expresses the need for hope in chaos. When he sees a scroll in the hand of “the one who is seated on the throne” (Rev 4:11)—the Father—the apostle weeps because no one has been found worthy to open it. The scroll contains the things that will happen—the judgments that will remove evil and sin and set things right. Without someone worthy enough to open the scrolls, the chaos in the world will continue forever. But then the Lamb appears. In John’s revelation the 24 elders worship the Lamb for His work of redemption: “And they were singing a new song, saying, ‘You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slaughtered, and bought people for God by your blood from every tribe and language and people and nation, and made them a kingdom and priests to our God’ ” (Rev 5:9–10). It is Christ’s work that gives Him the authority to open the seals. As the Lamb who was slaughtered, He reversed death and the fate of those who believe in Him. He is responsible for setting all things right. This knowledge is incredibly comforting for us. God is the great chaos-fighter. Jesus has drawn us out of our own chaos with His sacrifice. He will help us live in the now—in a world that is often chaotic but will, in time, be set right. In the meantime, we can respond to His work of ordering our lives and the lives of those around us. And when we feel helpless and out of control, we can rely on the great chaos-fighter. Are you frustrated with your life circumstances? How can you approach difficult areas of your life knowing God will set all things right? How can you rest knowing Christ is at work, right now, in your life? REBECCA VAN NOORD John D. Barry and Rebecca Kruyswijk, Connect the Testaments: A One-Year Daily Devotional with Bible Reading Plan (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2012).

WORDS AND ACTIONS

Ezekiel 12:1–13:23; Revelation 3:14–4:11; Job 33:19–28 Leading by example is a simple principle to understand, but it’s a very difficult one to live. The prophets were often called to lead by example, though doing so usually meant enduring suffering for others. “And the word of Yahweh came to me [Ezekiel], saying, ‘Son of man, you are dwelling in the midst of the house of rebellion who has eyes to see and they do not see; they have ears to hear, and they do not hear, for they are a house of rebellion. And you, son of man, prepare for yourself the baggage of an exile, and go into exile by day before their eyes. And you must go into exile from your place to another place before their eyes; perhaps they will see that they are a house of rebellion’ ” (Ezek 12:1–3). By witnessing God’s servant suffering, the people would be reminded of their rebellion and understand the gravity of God’s displeasure. In this situation, God prescribes exile as their punishment for rebelling against His requirements and forfeiting His calling for their lives. God’s prophet, Ezekiel, “pronounces” God’s punishment through actions. In doing so, he becomes a type of sufferer for the people. He does not deserve their punishment, and he does not pay it for them, but he demonstrates the price of sin as he leads by example. There is a time for words and a time for action. We all would do well to heed the words before the actions become necessary. We must also understand that, in our desire to emulate Christ, there are times we must go beyond warnings or advice and commit to bearing the burden for others—even suffering undeservedly on their behalf. We must show others what it means to follow Christ by acting as Christ would—giving unmerited grace even when it is costly. What actions must you take today? In what areas must you move words to deeds? Who can you sacrifice for today? JOHN D. BARRY John D. Barry and Rebecca Kruyswijk, Connect the Testaments: A One-Year Daily Devotional with Bible Reading Plan (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2012).

DEFIBRILLATORS FOR SARDIS

Ezekiel 9:1–11:25; Revelation 3:1–13; Job 33:8–18 We cover up the dead places in ourselves with all sorts of regalia. We fill the emptiness with fine clothing, once-in-a-lifetime experiences, or relationships in which the other is set up as god. Underneath the trappings, though, we’re decaying. Of all the churches addressed in Revelation, the church in Sardis receives the most intense critique. Sardis was a wealthy city and a military stronghold. And the church, like the city, seemed to be alive and well. But Christ, speaking truth through John’s revelation, uncovers and names the decaying parts: “I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, and you are dead. Be on the alert and strengthen the remaining things that are about to die, for I have not found your works completed before my God” (Rev 3:1–2). The community in Sardis needed more than a stern scolding. They needed immediate resuscitation. They had so compromised their faith that many among them were spiritually dead. Those parts not already dead were dying. And the façade only perpetuated continued decay. What was the answer? Was there hope for Sardis? Is there hope for us? Sardis could be brought back from the edge of death, but only through repentance: “Therefore remember how you have received and heard, and observe it, and repent” (Rev 3:3). Urgency is paramount: “Be on the alert,” Christ tells them. “I will come like a thief.” We have received the same instructions. Like Sardis, we might—if we try hard enough—meet others’ expectations. But we shouldn’t lie to ourselves. God sees our outward works, but He also knows our hidden hearts. Name your need, repent, and find hope in Christ, the only one who can fill the emptiness. In what areas of your life do you feel empty? How can you name your sin? REBECCA VAN NOORD John D. Barry and Rebecca Kruyswijk, Connect the Testaments: A One-Year Daily Devotional with Bible Reading Plan (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2012).

IT WILL EAT YOU ALIVE

Ezekiel 6:1–8:18; Revelation 2:12–29; Job 33:1–7 Idolatry eats at our souls. And God puts up with it for only so long. “And the word of Yahweh came to me, saying, ‘Son of man, set your face to the mountains of Israel and prophesy against them, and you must say, “Mountains of Israel, hear the word of the Lord Yahweh, thus says the Lord Yahweh to the mountains and to the hills, to the ravines and to the valleys: ‘Look, I am bringing upon you the sword, and I will destroy your high places, and your altars will be desolate, and your incense altars will be broken, and I will throw down your slain ones before your idols, and I will place the corpses of the children of Israel before their idols, and I will scatter your bones around your altars’ ” ’ ” (Ezek 6:1–6). Ezekiel portrays God’s view of the true nature of idolatry and the ramifications of living an idolatrous life. When people put wood and stone, or gadgets and entertainment, before their relationship with Yahweh, they are giving up the most valuable part of themselves. Today, most people place entertainment above God. We value celebrity more than Jesus. We may deny this, but if we closely examine how we spend our time and money, we find that we love our idols as much as the ancients did. How can we as Christians be instruments for the changes God wants to bring to the world if we conform ourselves to the expectations of our culture? Where we invest our time, assets, and attention reveals what we care about most. If we give ourselves over to worldly priorities instead of God’s, we deserve the same fate that Yahweh prophesied for the children of Israel in Ezek 6:1–6. But our good and gracious God wants to redeem us, and we should commit ourselves to seeking His blessing instead of His judgment (John 3:16–17; Rom 8). If we follow Him with our entire being—setting aside all that stands between us and Him—the world will look different. Idolatry will be revealed for what it is: a thief and a glutton, stealing the very lives God has in store for us. If we seek God with all our being, idolatry will hold no power over us. It will die from neglect while our lives take on new vitality as we boldly proclaim the glory of our life-giving God. What idols stand between you and the life God has for you? JOHN D. BARRY John D. Barry and Rebecca Kruyswijk, Connect the Testaments: A One-Year Daily Devotional with Bible Reading Plan (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2012).

REMEMBERING TO REMEMBER

Reflections on Deuteronomy I must confess that sometimes I read about the forgetfulness of Bible characters and chide them in my mind. I think, “If God showed me a burning bush, I would never doubt him again.” But I would. And so would you. God knows our propensity to forget. That is why he is adamant that his people be intentional about remembering his goodness. He also knows that remembering helps us. To a quaking Israel facing a daunting enemy, God said: “You may say to yourselves, ‘These nations are stronger than we are. How can we drive them out?’ But do not be afraid of them; remember well what the LORD your God did to Pharaoh and to all Egypt. You saw with your own eyes the great trials, the miraculous signs and wonders, the mighty hand and outstretched arm, with which the LORD your God brought you out. The LORD your God will do the same to all the peoples you now fear.” (Deut 7:17–19 NIV). Remembering how God delivered us helps us overcome fear. We haven’t fled Pharaoh, but we have stories of our own. Instead of chariots, I have faced eighth-grade bullies. Instead of a ruthless ruler, I have faced a boss who took out his family troubles and work stress on me, frequently in front of other employees. Instead of famine, I have faced an empty fridge and turn-off notices from the electric company. Yet as I look back, all I see is a string of provision: an upperclassman, who stepped in just as I was about to get beaten to a pulp; a human-resources manager who restructured the office, placing me under a different boss; a series of anonymous checks that came in the mail that summer, when I was really struggling to stay in New York. Remembering how God provided helps me face current bullies, bosses and bills. Remembering also fuels praise, worship and the exultation of God. When David led God’s people in restoring the ark of the covenant to its rightful place, he taught them a song of thanks to the LORD, saying, “Remember the wonders he has done, his miracles, and the judgments he pronounced,” (1 Chr 16:12 NIV). David then enumerated some of those miracles and judgments, culminating in the declaration, “Praise be to the LORD, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting,” to which the people responded, “Amen” and “Praise the LORD,” (1 Chr 16:36 NIV). As a worship leader, my ministry depends upon being able to worship God regardless of present circumstances. There have been many times when I have awoken on a Sunday morning with a dull heart toward God. The devotional practice of remembering has served me more times than I can recall. Flipping through the journals on my shelf, glancing through a prayer notebook, or simply sitting still in my living room to reflect on God, I am jostled out of complacency and back to faith. Remembering God’s provision, deliverance, and promises changes things. Of all the things we should remember to remember, the death and resurrection of Christ is the most significant. As the apostle Paul reminds the Corinthian church: “The LORD Jesus, on the night when he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, ‘This is my body which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.’ In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me,’ ” (1 Cor 11:23–26 NIV). I confess that I would struggle to remember Christ when I receive the bread and the cup, if the pastor didn’t read this passage as a reminder. The battle for my thoughts is fiercest in that moment, standing before the table. As a leader, I am already thinking about what is next in the service while the wafer is still in my mouth; already picking up my guitar while drinking the wine. But Jesus said to remember, so in the quiet of my home, during the time I have set aside for devotion, I try to do just that. I remember to remember the goodness of God. CHRISTY TENNANT ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN BIBLE STUDY MAGAZINE NOV–DEC ‘09 BIBLICAL REFERENCES FROM NIV Christy Tennant, “Remembering to Remember the Goodness of God,” in Moment with God: A Devotional on Every Biblical Book, ed. John D. Barry and Rebecca Van Noord (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2014).

FINDING HELP

Reflections on Numbers I say, “Help comes from God.” I tell people, “You’re not alone.” Both are empty phrases if I don’t live like I believe them. The book of Numbers shows us that as the Israelites traveled through the wilderness, they, too, struggled to live out these words. After 40 years of wandering, they were likely wondering if God had fallen asleep on the job. The author of Psalm 121 spotted this problem. The ancients believed the gods dwelt on the mountains, but the psalmist says otherwise: “I raise my eyes toward the mountains. Where will my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth” (HCSB). God doesn’t sleep. In contrast to the belief that gods drifted into the underworld, and consequently awful things happened, the psalmist explains that God is always present: “He will not allow your foot to slip … the Protector of Israel does not slumber or sleep.” We think we are different than the ancients, but we, too, link terrible things to God’s supposed ineptitude, or his judgment. The psalmist says the opposite: God is a shelter from the elements. God doesn’t get sunburned. Even though people believed the “sun” and “moon” gods brought unbearable weather, the psalmist says: “The LORD protects you; the LORD is a shelter right by your side. The sun will not strike you by day, or the moon by night. The LORD will protect you from all harm.” Again, we think we are more advanced than the ancients, but we have the insurance clause for “other acts of God.” Rather than viewing the LORD, or the gods, as the cause of unexpected disaster, the psalmist views him as a Protector. But why would God protect us? God doesn’t blush. It seems that any creator would look at what we have done to the world and either hate us, or be embarrassed. Instead of blushing, God turns his face towards us. God teaches the priests, via Moses, to request his presence. Psalm 121 echoes the priestly prayer: “The LORD bless you and protect you; the LORD make his face shine on you, and be gracious to you; the LORD look with favor on you and give you peace.” God follows this by saying, “In this way [Aaron and his sons, the high priests] will put My name on the Israelites, and I will bless them” (Num 6:24–27). God’s undaunted presence marks believers. Here’s how we can be enveloped in that presence. Find help in Jesus. Just prior to his arrest and betrayal, Jesus prays, “I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, … protect them by Your name that You have given Me, so that they may be one as We are one” (John 17:11). Our acceptance of Jesus makes us one with the Father. Consequently, we are protected. But help is not for hoarding. We are called to use God’s protection to create community. Find help in community. Jesus prays for love, which is at the center of good community: “May [the believers] be made completely one, so the world may know You have sent Me and have loved them as You have loved Me” (John 17:23). When believers unite in Christ’s love, the broken can be helped. Bring help to the world. The fruits of our Bible study should not be private. We have to live what we believe. Jesus ends his prayer by saying, “I made Your name known to them and will make it known, so the love You have loved Me with may be in them and I may be in them” (John 17:26). We should show God and other people the love he has shown us. Let’s take our needs to God, watch him act, and then make him known. JOHN BARRY John Barry, “Finding Help,” in Moment with God: A Devotional on Every Biblical Book, ed. John D. Barry and Rebecca Van Noord (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2014).