"Take words with you and return to the Lord”

Hosea 14


In Hosea 14 the prophet is calling Israel (the northern Kingdom) to repentance.  The nation has been led by a series of failed kings and has strayed far from God.


It is interesting to note that Hosea does not call for animal sacrifices in his warning, but instead says “Take words with you and return to the Lord”.  A cross reference in my bible for this verse is Psalm 51:16-17:  “You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings.  The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart O God, you will not despise.”


When we desire strong and lasting relationships the willingness to repent when we have wronged the other party is essential.  As I read Hosea 14 I thought about changing Israel in verse one to my name.  I then thought about substituting the United States and finally the Christian Church for Israel.  In all three instances there are certainly many opportunities to tell God “I’m sorry”.


It seems that repentance is a term that we don’t hear very often.  We like to talk about all of the benefits of being a Christian, but sincere confession and repentance often take a “back seat”.  If this concept is essential to healthy human relationships, how much more so in our relationship with our perfect, loving, and merciful God?


Hosea seems to sum things up in chapter 14 verse 9:  “Who is wise?  Let them realize these things  Who is discerning?  Let them understand .  The ways of the Lord are right; the righteous work in them, but the rebellious stumble in them.”

David and Bathsheba

2 Samuel 11

Today we read the all too human story of David and Bathsheba. How sad it is as we see one sin lead to another (and another) in this tragic episode. You can make an argument that the sin chain starts
with covetousness (10th commandment) followed by adultery (6th commandment) followed by lies (8th commandment) followed by murder (5th commandment). What a mess!! But isn’t that the nature of sin? How often do we witness the sin in our own lives and in the lives of others spiral from one area of failure to another?

And what about those who are affected by sin? One of the lies that comes with sin is that it can be private, that no one else will be affected. That is rarely the case. Like a pebble thrown into quiet waters sin has a ripple effect, both in our actions and the people it affects.

Think of the people impacted by David’s sins.  Here’s a list that I came up with. Maybe you can think of more:

David
David’s servants
Bathsheba
Uriah
Joab
Soldiers killed or injured with Uriah
David and Bathsheba’s son (see Chapter 12)

What an awful condition that we live with! As we consider the devastation that sin causes in our world, it makes God’s grace and love all the more amazing. Consider that despite the rampant sin that we read about in 2 Samuel 11 there is ultimately repentance and forgiveness. Eventually Solomon is born to David and Bathsheba and Joseph, the earthly father of Jesus, is descended from Solomon – see Matthew chapter 1.

I love the words that we recite during the communion service found in the King James Version of 1 John 1:8-9: “8If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” What an incredible and comforting promise given the nature of sin! 

Thanks be to God for grace through the gift of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord!

Sinful desires: A Precursor to Death

By Thomas Denegre

Did you commit murder? Rob a bank? Have adulterous affairs?  Chances are you’re a good Christian and you didn’t do any of these things.   But Jesus said that was not good enough.

In this week’s reading from Matthew 5:21-35 Jesus teaches there is a higher standard to our behavior, for he states to the crowd;

“Everyone who is angry with his brother shall be guilty of murder before the court.”

“Everyone who has not forgiven his brother their sacrifice or prayer will not be heard.”

“Everyone who looks at a woman with lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.”

Clearly, it’s not enough that our outward behavior be righteous, but so too must be the thoughts in our heart.  Jesus goes on to say, “But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person. For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander.” Matt 15:18

Just as it takes three elements to make a campfire; oxygen, fire, and wood.  So, too does sin need three elements; the world we live in, sinful thoughts and desires (motive), and opportunity.

Some people may say, that if sinful thoughts are just as bad as the sin, then why shouldn’t you just do the sin.  Simply, a life in sin kills the heart and separates us from God.  Sin is on the same level as nerve gas and atomic weapons; deadly and catastrophic. 

Acting out sinful desires causes harm and death to us in many ways.

·         One, it causes people to excuse sin rather than stopping sin.  It deadens the heart and we become desensitized to actions leading to death. Good becomes evil and evil becomes good. Sadly, we see this when churches fly rainbow flags to endorse rebellion.

·         Two, sin will kill, steal, and destroy. 

·         Three, intentional sin is rebellion against God, especially when a person celebrates the sin rather than repents from it.

·         Four, sin will always hurt and kill people.  Free love has aborted 60 million people and that’s just the tipping point.

For myself, to stop the opportunity of sin, I must remove the motive of sin in my heart.  Jesus came to target the evil in my heart and transform it into his image. He knows my heart is defiled, but when I became born again, I was given a new spirit and heart.  God said in Ezekiel; “And I will give them one heart, and a new spirit I will put within them. I will remove the heart of stone from their flesh and give them a heart of flesh.” Ezekiel 11:19

By living in life union with Jesus and having his words living powerfully within me (John 15:7), I can become aware of my thoughts and motives.  While I cannot stop a thought from occurring, I can stop nurturing it. I also know when I do sin, I quickly repent of it to my Father, because God desires to forgive and heal me. By having a spirit-to-spirit relationship with God, I have a guardian at the gate to my heart that lets in good motives while keeping evil ones out.  I trust God when he said, 'I will give them a heart to know Me, for I am the LORD; and they will be My people, and I will be their God, for they will return to Me with their whole heart.” Jeremiah 24:7

Thou Shalt Not Judge … Never, Ever, Ever!

READ: Matthew 7:1-5

1Do not judge, or you too will be judged.

Very popular, very acceptable. I’ll do what I want. You’ll do what you want. Neither of us will dare correct the other or insinuate that one (or both) of us is a sinner. 

2For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.

So if I ignore everyone else’s sin, then they’ll have to ignore my sin. Or else … the judgment of God! 

3Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?

Huh? My brother is perfect the way he is. I do not judge him. And what is this plank of which you speak, Jesus?

4How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? 

What speck? What plank? We’re perfect the way we are. Where are you going with this, Jesus?!

5You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.

And there’s the issue! We were never called to ignore sin in our own lives or each other’s lives. Quite to the contrary, the Scriptures read: “I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received,” (Eph 4:1) and, “If someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently.” (Gal 6:1)

We are called to soberly evaluate our sin, repent, and gently restore our brothers and sisters in Christ. Are you doing this?

Come On In!

Many years ago as children, we would play outside for hours. There was so much to do and see outside, that to be forced to remain indoors seemed a form of punishment. But, there were some days when inside felt like a safe place.  When the neighborhood bully was on the rampage, or if it turned cold or rainy, we would want to go inside and play. Often on those days, for whatever reason, my mother would lock the door so we couldn't run in and out.

This memory bubbled up when I read verse Revelation 3:8. "See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut..."  As an adult who had come to recognize Jesus as my Savior and my friend, this open door was key. Just the thought that I am always welcome; expected even, bring comfort; and that the door to Jesus' heart never closes.

I know now my mom's patience had exhausted and she tired of us running in and out, tracking her clean floors with mud. At the time, I thought I was missing out. I feared there might be something going on that I needed to know about.

As I age I am coming to realize just how many of my childhood experiences defined me; that even at a ripe old age, memories can bring a grin or a tear. Traumatic memories surface, but so do the joyous ones. When we come to know Jesus and understand the power of forgiveness and repentance, we see the door open wide and we can step in, assured that we will not be shut out ever again.

When we feel low or doubt our reason for being, verses referring to open doors bring encouragement and peace: “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. (Matthew 7:7)  "Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and open the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me." (Revelation 3:20)

Revelation 3:7-13

Now is the time to Break Free

Many years ago, at a women's Bible Study, I began my personal relationship with Jesus.  It was my first in-depth study, one requiring 5 days of homework and reading scripture. Looking back I can see God's hand all over this experience. The study was by Beth Moore and it was called, "Breaking Free."

I will never forget this study and have shared it a number of times since, with other women who were in the same place I was at that point my life; broken, alone, lost and hopeless. I was poor in spirit, a prisoner chained to an empty life. The key verse for this entire study was Isaiah 61:1-2.

The words in Isaiah were fulfilled by Jesus and told in the text for today by Luke. As we spend this final week studying about repentance and prayer and the Holy Spirit, these words speak to me and remind me of the days when God used 9 women at my study table to encourage and teach me how to embrace Jesus Christ as Savior.

The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
  because he has anointed me
  to preach the good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for
  the prisoners
  and recovery of sight for the blind,
to release the oppressed,
to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor.  (Mark 4:18-19)

I will never be the same again and I thank God for that.  Where are you right now? Do you need someone to come alongside you to help you through a rough patch, or do you need a mentor to show you the way to Jesus? I would love to speak with you. Send a confidential message to me here.

These past weeks as we studied the Book of Joel we learned repentance is forgiveness and restoration. We learned that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved (Romans 10:13). It is about time we take this message seriously. It is time for a revival in our land.

Luke 4:14-21

Repentance PR

Return, O Israel, to the Lord your God. Your sins have been your downfall! Take words with you and return to the Lord. Say to him: “Forgive all our sins and receive us graciously that we may offer the fruit of our lips.” Hosea 1, 2

Word association. I’ll say a word and you say the first thing that comes to mind. Ready?

“Repent.”

What was the first thing that came to mind? Sin? Sinner? Judgment? Turn around?

If ever a word could hire a PR firm, I suspect “repent” would be among the first in line. People don’t like to hang out with repentance or meditate on its meaning; it is much more comfortable to note it, attach our connotation to it and move on. Non believers think “judgment” and brace themselves against it. Believers think “sinners” and amen in smug agreement. And we all lose out in our limited view. So let’s give repentance a fair shake.

Should it surprise us that it his own people whom God most often calls to repentance? It was true of Old Testament Israel and it was true of New Testament believers. The church in Ephesus had lost its first love, and Jesus said, “repent."  The churches in Pergamum and Thyatira had welcomed false teachings, and Jesus said, "repent.” The church in Sardis was found weak, disobedient and lacking in its deeds, and Jesus said, "repent.” The church in Laodicea had lost its fervor and Jesus said, "repent.” The call to repentance resounds throughout the earth, but perhaps first and foremost to God’s own people.

Which leads us to the other thing we need to understand about repentance. Certainly we are called to turn away from sin, but repentance is every bit as much a call to blessing. It reflects God’s judgment, yes, but it holds forth his mercy, as well. Listen to God’s heart in repentance, so beautifully spoken through his prophet, Hosea: “I will heal their waywardness and love them freely, for my anger has turned away from them. I will be like the dew to Israel; he will blossom like a lily. Like a cedar of Lebanon he will send down his roots; his young shoots will grow. His splendor will be like an olive tree, his fragrance like a cedar of Lebanon" (Hosea 14:4-6). Such hope! Such favor! Such love!

Repentance is not a beat-down, but an opportunity. It is not a desert, but an oasis. It is not confinement; it is freedom.

“Repent.” Me.

“Repent.” Blessing.

[Click here to see the daily reading in Hosea 14:1-9.]

The Story - Chapter 6 - Numbers 20-21

Grumbling Continues
Today we see first-hand that God does not play favorites. Pride and disobedience are sinful ways and sinful ways will be punished by God. While this particular incident may seem like a judgment call to us, God had repeatedly explained His expectations and Moses and Aaron were the leaders. Scripture tells us leaders are held to a higher standard and are responsible for setting the example for those they lead.

Numbers 20:12 (NIV)
“But the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, "Because you did not trust in me enough to honor me as holy in the sight of the Israelites, you will not bring this community into the land I give them."

It is difficult to grasp just how long and drawn out this journey had been. Thirty-seven years have passed since the first scouting party entered the Promised Land and 40 years since the Exodus from Egypt. We don’t know anything much about those 37 years of wandering, but it is a fairly safe bet it was filled with grumbling, complaining and dissatisfaction. For, here we are once again, listening to the people moaning their famous ‘poor me’, chant.

Numbers 20:2-3 (NIV)
”Now there was no water for the community, and the people gathered in opposition to Moses and Aaron. They quarreled with Moses and said, "If only we had died when our brothers fell dead before the LORD!”

Does any of this sound familiar? Do we find that we are constantly standing before God and bemoaning the same issues, day after day? Can’t we learn from our past and get beyond our petty grievances and embrace all the good which is around us? We need to daily open our eyes and close our mouths; we need to confess those times of doubt and dissatisfaction and embrace the gifts of life which God has given.

An entire generation of Israelites had passed and the next generation was preparing to accept their inheritance of the Promised Land, had they not learned from their parents’ mistakes? Have we learned from ours? Sin is all around us, there is no escaping that fact. What we can escape is the inevitability of our actions, our next moves. The act of repentance is to turn our life around, to make an about face and go in the opposite direction from the sin which imprisons.

Today let us examine our ways. Are we still wandering the dry desert sands or are we opting for the soul-quenching oasis of God’s grace and forgiveness?


Read Numbers 20-21 here

Listen to Numbers 20-21 here

1 Corinthians 5:1-13

Tolerance and rationalization are words that beg to be defined in the text for today.  The topic is sexual sin and the destruction it can cause in the Community of Believers.  This was a common sin in Corinth, and it is a common sin today.  Why?  Is this a case of history repeating itself and following in the same dangerous path of those who have gone before us?

There are many questions for me as I read this chapter.  A buzz word for the past few years has been tolerance; we are to tolerate bad behavior or be considered hypocrites.  Society encourages that we not call sin out, but allow those whose behavior is shocking at best, to rationalize their behavior.


Christians are to care for and love one another.  We are not to turn a blind eye to improper and immoral behavior when it occurs within the Body of Believers.  We are called to correct each other's behavior, to encourage repentance and remorse. Like the one rotten apple in the barrel that eventually affects all the others, it must be removed.


"What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? God will judge those outside. Expel the wicked person from among you.” (1 Corinthians 5:12-13)

Tough love is just that, tough.  It is tough to face and even tougher to follow through with; but the rewards are plentiful when the offender recognizes his/her sin and repents.  Unlike the rotten apple that had to be destroyed, the repentant believer can return to the Body. “I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.” (Luke 15:7)

Read the 1 Corinthians 5:1-13 text here.  Listen to the audio of 1 Corinthians 5:1-13 here.

Acts 19:1-22

I am trying to share a point with to help you relate what these verses mean and make them more clear, but I am drawing a blank.  The only thing I am thinking at this point is the time when I knew who Jesus was, I understood Him to be my Savior.  I knew all the things taught to me in catechism classes, but I didn't really care; it made no difference to me.  It is difficult to admit that and write the words here.

But, (thankfully there is a but), at some point I began to cultivate a personal relationship with Jesus and that changed everything for me.  My baptism became important to me and I learned to call upon the Holy Spirit for clarity when reading the Word of God.


While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul took the road through the interior and arrived at Ephesus. There he found some disciples and asked them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?”
   They answered, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.” (Acts 19:1-2)


This appears to be another lesson on the importance of The Holy Spirit to our salvation.  The baptism so many had received was from John when he was preparing the way for Jesus; a baptism of repentance--turning from sin and embracing clean living.  Baptism of the Holy Spirit is a sign of new life in Christ.  Like Apollos, these people needed more instruction into the life and ministry of Jesus.  Just like me and probably like you too.

Read Acts 19:1-22 here.