Presumptious Folly - September 30, Readings: Jeremiah 3-4, Galatians 2, Psalm 109:13–19, Proverbs 24:3–4

Links to Today's Readings

"I can't believe you did that."

I've heard that phrase more than once, especially in my earlier years when I tended to do crazy things for attention and fun. In Jeremiah 3, he expresses his utter amazement at the foolish behavior of his chosen people.

Israel was in sin. Deep sin. Abiding sin. Idolatrous sin. Year after year they drifted farther from God, became more like the nations around them and less pleasing to the God who had redeemed them from the Egyptians, given them the land and blessed them richly. They ignored his laws and embraced the idols he had warned them against. He sent his prophets to warn them to change their ways. Some of them they just ignored. Others they silenced in various forms.

And Jeremiah, speaking for God, was absolutely amazed at their brazen sin. They were sure that God was on their side, that their status as the chosen people meant that no matter how they lived, God would protect them and bless them. In verses 4 and 5, their view is expressed.

Have you not just now called to me,

    ‘My father, you are the friend of my youth—

will he be angry forever,

    will he be indignant to the end? 

We are God's favorites, they thought. He's not going to really judge us, like the prophets have warned.  He's our buddy and no matter how we live, he will take up for us.

But God just reiterated his word, in verse 14. "Return." Time and again he called them to repent of their sin and return to loyalty to him. Repent. Return. Renew your passion and fidelity to the God of Israel.

But, as verse 5 says,

Behold, you have spoken,

    but you have done all the evil that you could.”

They spoke of God as their friend and assumed he would never be angry at them, but they continued to live in sin without any regard to what pleased God.

Sometimes, we forget the grace of God and think that God loves us because of how great we are and saved us because of our good works. But the Bible makes it clear that no one is righteous and that none of us is worthy of God's love and forgiveness. We must never forget the grace of God.

But it is equally evil to forget the holiness of God and to assume that because we are saved by grace we can live any way we please. Like Israel, we will love the blessing of God's intimacy and his favor over our lives when we embrace sin and flaunt God's will. We are created by God's grace to live for his pleasure. The pleasure of God ought to be the highest passion of any believer.

I am thankful, Lord, for your grace that saves me and sustains me. But may I never use that grace as an excuse to live in sin. May I learn from the failures of Israel to live daily for the pleasure of the one who bought me by his grace. 

Fighting for Grace! September 29, Readings: Jeremiah 1-2, Galatians 1, Psalm 109:6–12, Proverbs 24:1–2

Links to Today's Readings

Henry Blackaby said that all human beings, even those who have been redeemed, have a natural tendency to depart from God. We are held by God's grace and our salvation is secure in Christ, but we have that inborn tendency to drift from our walk with the Lord back into the ways of the world and into sin.

Paul recognized a similar problem among the Galatians - a tendency to drift away from the gospel of grace and return to some form of works-based, law-focused salvation.

I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. Galatians 1:6-7

There is only one gospel that saves, Paul assured them, but they were still turning aside from the grace of Christ to a false gospel, one based on human works, one that could never save.

Deep inside of each of us is the idea that we ought to do something to earn the favor of God, that we need to change to please him, do something to make him love us more, or perform some heroic act to be worthy of God's grace.

But that is why we call it grace. You can't earn it and you will never deserve it. Nothing you can do will make God love you more and your sins do not make him love you less. That is not an excuse for sin, but a great comfort. It is by grace we are saved and it is by grace that we live.

Listen, my friend, your relationship with God is based on who Christ is and what he has done, not on who you are or your merit. You need to always resist that inner voice that says you've got to earn God's love. You ought to walk in holiness because God loves you, not so that he will love you. You need to fight that inner voice that says God must not love you anymore when you have failed. You resist sin out of gratitude for God's unmerited favor not out of a desire to earn it.

Like the Galatians, we have a constant tendency to slip away from grace and fall back into a works-based mentality. Since our salvation and our lives are all of grace, we must fight that tendency every day.

Father, I thank you that you have done for me what I could not do for myself. Help me to revel in your grace and never fall back into the works of the law. 

My Greatest Enemy - September 28, Readings: Isaiah 66, 2 Corinthians 12–13, Psalm 109:1–5, Proverbs 23:34–35

Links to Today's Readings

Armies spend a lot of time doing surveillance on their enemies, trying to figure out who they are, what their resources are and how they can be attacked. If you want to win, you need to know your enemy.

What is my greatest enemy in my Christian life - that one thing that will derail me? The "things that are in the world" are always with us - the lust of the eyes (greed), the lust of the flesh and the pride of of life. I am constantly at danger of each one of them.

But Paul knew what the greatest danger was, that which keeps us from effective ministry and kingdom success. It is pride. In 2 Corinthians 12 he says some things that go directly against our normal way of thinking. Though he had received great promises from God and had even been blessed to be a witness of heavenly glory in a vision, he refused to boast about any of that. Instead, he turned that around and he boasted in his weaknesses.

On behalf of this man I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except of my weaknesses. 2 Corinthians 12:5

He recognized that the greatest enemy of Christian success is pride. As soon as we become entangled in our own arrogance and self-centeredness, we lose our effectiveness and become spiritually impotent.

To avoid arrogance, God gave Paul a thorn in the flesh (verses 7-8) that would keep him humble. No one knows what this thorn in the flesh was - a physical pain, a constant source of temptation, a person who irritated him - but we know that Paul cried out to God that the thorn might be removed. God refused.

Why? Why would the God who healed so many through Paul not heal Paul of this thorn? Paul explains that. It was "so I would not exalt myself." Paul's thorn reminded him daily that it was all of God and not of him - a lesson we so often forget.

God was willing to allow his beloved servant Paul to experience ongoing, persistent pain and aggravation so that he would remain humble.

In the middle of that pain, that humiliation, Paul learned something wonderful and life-changing, which he expressed in 2 Corinthians 12:9.

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

 In our weakness, we learn of the strength of God. In our pain, we learn of the power of his grace. In our humility, we experience his glory.

And so, we don't need to pretend we are more than we are, or to hide our weaknesses. God's goodness and grace flow to the weak, not to those who pretend to be strong.

Father, my weakness is a reality I often forget. May I boast in your power that resides in me, and nothing else. 

God Wins. September 27, Readings: Isaiah 64-65, 2 Corinthians 11:16–33, Psalm 108:6–13, Proverbs 23:31–33

Links to Today's Readings


History is a tragic story. God created this world as a paradise. It was filled with beauty, natural wonders we cannot even imagine. It was a place of true joy and pleasure, meant for a man and woman to enjoy each other and to raise a family in peace. And best of all, God was there. He walked and talked with Adam and Eve in the Garden. That was the world as God intended.

But we came along and messed everything up. The first human pair rejected the God who made them and who placed them in a beautiful world. They chose the path of darkness instead of light, of destruction rather than glory.

We rejected God, but he did not reject us. He could have destroyed this world or he perhaps just turned us over to our own devices, to suffer the consequences of our sin. But that is not what God did. He went to work to reverse the curse of sin and to restore the beauty of his creation.

That is what the millennium is, when Christ rules this world bodily for a thousand years. It is described in Isaiah 65.

“For behold, I create new heavens

    and a new earth,

and the former things shall not be remembered

    or come into mind.

But be glad and rejoice forever

    in that which I create;

for behold, I create Jerusalem to be a joy,

    and her people to be a gladness." Isaiah 65:17-18

After he comes again in glory, Jesus will renew this world. The times of sin and suffering will be forgotten as God creates a new world for his people to enjoy. 

As sin's curse is done away with, long life returns.

No more shall there be in it

    an infant who lives but a few days,

    or an old man who does not fill out his days,

for the young man shall die a hundred years old,

    and the sinner a hundred years old shall be accursed. 65:20

Labor will no longer be cursed as it was after the fall, but life will be blessed by God in every way. 

They shall not labor in vain

    or bear children for calamity,

for they shall be the offspring of the blessed of the Lord,

    and their descendants with them. 65:23

Nature will be restored. Natural disasters and dangers will be done away with. 

The wolf and the lamb shall graze together;

    the lion shall eat straw like the ox,  65:25

Herbivorous lions? Things will be very different. Wolves and lambs feeding together, safely!

The most important and wonderful aspect of this millennial reign is that God's nearness and intimacy will be restored. The wall of separation between God and man erected by our sin will have been torn down. 

Before they call I will answer;

    while they are yet speaking I will hear. 65:24

The millennium is God's victory in world history. His original design, his glorious intent for this world, for nature, for humanity will be restored. We may have messed up the world that God created, but his power is so great he can recreate it. What we break, he fixes. That is how amazing our God is. 

Our God is greater than our sin. In the grand scheme of world history,

God wins.

Father, I rejoice that no matter how bad things get today, I can be confident in your ultimate victory over sin - mine and this world's. 

Bright Lights of Darkness - September 26, Readings: Isaiah 62-63, 2 Corinthians 11:1–15, Psalm 108:1–5, Proverbs 23:29–30

Links to Today's Readings

Almost every Scripture that speaks of the end times warns us of the proliferation of false Christs (who would claim to be God’s new representative on earth), false apostles (claiming new authority over God’s church), false prophets (claiming new revelation to add to or clarify what God’s perfect Word already says) and false teachers (who lead God’s people astray by twisting truth for their own reasons – generally money and power). We are duly warned that such will always be within the church (yes, that is right – INSIDE the church) trying to lead God’s people astray from the inside.

But this spirit of antichrist was already at work in the church of Corinth. There were those who had come in among the brethren there and tried to undermine Paul’s authority and call the gospel of grace he proclaimed into question. It was the presence of these men, these false apostles, that caused Paul to deal so harshly with the Corinthian church. He was worried that they would follow the lies into spiritual destruction.

Wouldn’t it be great if liars and deceivers wore signs and marked themselves clearly? I was reading today of a well-known “evangelical” writer who has now compromised on pretty much every doctrine and moral standard that we hold dear. Yet he never says, “I’ve left the faith and am no longer a Christian.” He continues to maintain that he is both a Christian and faithful to God’s Word. He is pleasant, a great writer, charismatic (in the personality sense) – seems all around like a nice guy. But his doctrine is increasingly poisonous. Wouldn’t it be nice if he owned his doctrine deviation and admitted it, so that no one would be confused?

That is not the way of false teachers, false prophets, false apostles or false Christs. Paul addressed this in 2 Corinthians 11:13-15. He begins by describing those against whom he contended, in verse 13

“For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ.”

Then, in verse 14, he explains the reason for this.

“And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.”

He makes this conclusion in verse 15.

“So, it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness.”

Satan is not a hideous creature of with grotesque features – like he is presented in fiction. He is an being of light who presents his ways as beautiful, wonderful and happy. “God wants you to be happy,” he whispers as you try to decide whether to do the right thing or not.  “It’s all about you.” “Just follow your heart and do what you feel is best.” Satan whispers sweet things to us and tells us what we want to hear.

It is all a masquerade. His purpose is to kill and to destroy. From the beginning of time his strategy has been to lie to God’s creation and to get us human beings to choose what is wrong instead of choosing obedience. By shining his lying light on us, he induces us to choose the wrong path and bring the consequences of sin on our lives.

He seems fair and happy and beautiful but he pays off in death and destruction. Don’t be fooled by the light. It can be simply a means of being induced into the darkness.

When his false teachers enter the church, they follow his pattern. They tell us nice things, things we want to hear. They tell us to stop talking about sin, to ignore biblical standards that might make us or others unhappy, to cast off the yoke of Christ and to maintain control of our own lives. It all sounds so good but it is a mirage, a lie. It brings the death of the church instead of the blessing of God.

We must be deep in the Word of God and sensitive to the Spirit of God so that we can identify these false workmen who would lead us astray from the inside.

Father, help me to be a proclaimer of truth and righteousness, to identify and expose those who would lead the Body of Christ astray.

Armed and Dangerous! September 25, Readings: Isaiah 60-61, 2 Corinthians 10, Psalm 107:36–43, Proverbs 23:26–28

Links to Today's Readings

Then Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s servant and cut off his right ear. (The servant’s name was Malchus.) So Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword into its sheath; shall I not drink the cup that the Father has given me?”

What was Peter thinking?  A detachment of soldiers, led by Judas, found Jesus and the disciples in the olive grove across the Kidron Valley, to arrest him.  Peter, for reasons that escape me, had brought a sword to the prayer meeting, and he swung it. Badly. Being a fisherman, not a soldier, the best he could do was lop off the ear of the High Priest’s servant.  Jesus told him to put away the sword, healed the servant’s ear, and presented himself to the soldiers, to “drink the cup the Father has given me.”

It would be easy to judge Peter if we did not so often emulate him.  He misunderstood the situation and reacted in the wrong way.  All Peter did by his sword-swinging attempt to help Jesus was become an obstacle to God’s work.

Peter failed to realize that the arrest of Jesus was part of God’s sovereign plan of salvation.  God was working through the tragedy, accomplishing his redemptive purpose.  It just didn’t look that way to him.  Peter was sure things had gone very wrong.  Somebody had to do something about it.  Peter took up his sword and went to work to make things right.

Because Peter forgot that God was still in control, he also forgot that human weapons and human ways do not accomplish the work of God.  He swung his sword in full confidence that Jesus would applaud his courage and bless his efforts.  But Jesus did not applaud Peter, he rebuked him.  In Peter’s attempt to “do something for Jesus” he only made a bad situation worse, and caused pain for others.

What If Peter Had Succeeded?

Consider this: what if Peter succeeded?  What if he had been able to fight off the soldiers and free Jesus?  What would have been accomplished?  He would have stopped the Cross!  His attempt to help could have doomed us all to eternal hell.   God would never let that happen, but it makes you think.  How often do we cause kingdom chaos in our efforts to help God?  We pick up human weapons of power politics, persuasion, control, manipulation, gossip, and strife, thinking we can do good.

Peter assumed that Jesus was unarmed.  But Jesus did have weapons.  Jesus was fighting with the most powerful weapon in the world – God’s love.  He was on his way to the cross to lay down his life for sinners.  By obedience, by submission, by sacrificial love, Jesus did what Peter’s puny sword could not.  Jesus, by laying down his life, conquered sin, and death, and hell.  He redeemed lost humanity and stepped on Satan’s neck.  He accomplished all of that without Peter’s sword.

God has made the weapons of Christ available to us.  “The weapons of our warfare are spiritual,” said Paul.  When we love our enemies, when we return good for evil, when we lay down our lives for the sake of others, we wield powerful weapons that God uses in mighty ways.

Peter, trying to do good, did evil, because he operated on his own judgment, by his own power, with his own weapons.  Jesus was operating on the Father’s agenda, by the Father’s power, with the Father’s weapons.  Peter messed up.  Jesus saved the world.

“For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. 5 We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ." 2 Corinthians 10:3-5

Frankly, I’m not sure that we in the Christian world understand this.  I forget it way too often.  We have weapons, but they are not the weapons of the flesh.  Anger.  Vitriol.  Scheming.  Political organization. Gossip.  Slander.  These are the weapons people in the world use to accomplish that which they desire.  But those are not our weapons.  We have different weapons – better weapons – weapons that actually accomplish mighty and powerful works.

I would like to point out three things about these weapons.

1)  Our Weapons are Not Worldly

We do not fight with the weapons of the world.  Power politics won’t get the job done.  Legalism is pointless.  Trying to follow the rules of religion in the power of the flesh is futile.  And we don’t do battle with anger and condemnation.  These fleshly weapons have no power.  They seem effective but they accomplish nothing of eternal significance.

2) Our Weapons are Spiritual and Powerful

When we use the weapons of God, we fight with “divine power.” Did you get that?  When I use God’s weapons, I fight Satan with God’s power.  Wouldn’t that wipe the smirk off the devil’s face?  We are so used to doing much and accomplishing little.  We jump in with a great splash but we are seeing little real spiritual transformation.  Could it be that we are using the wrong weapons, fighting with the force of the flesh instead of the power of the Spirit.

3)  Our Warfare focuses on the Mind

Satan works to spread lies and deceive us into defeat.  God speaks truth to our spirits and casts down the strongholds of Satan’s lies.   It is not religion that will change us, nor our good works.  We cannot try our hardest and succeed.  Victory comes when the Word of God casts down the lies of Satan in our minds and we begin to walk in the victory of God.

Our Weapons

Paul makes it clear what kind of weapons we have.

 ”By purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, the Holy Spirit, genuine love; ⁷ by truthful speech, and the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left.” 2 Corinthians 6:6-7

The purity that is produced in us by the Spirit, the knowledge that banishes Satan’s lies, the spiritual fruit of patience and kindness which replaces anger and vengeance, the truth of God applied to our lives – these are the weapons of warfare that the Spirit of Christ gives us that have real power to make a real difference.

May we stop fighting the right battles with the wrong weapons.

Here's something I wrote a while back - sorry, this will be a little longer than our usual devotional!

A Not So Subtle Allegory

Once upon a time, the nation of Homino found itself constantly under attack by the armies of Skotos.  Homino’s fighters were armed only with bows and arrows, swords and spears.  They fought the best they could, but were no match for the modern army of Skotos, whose soldiers were equipped with machine guns, artillery, even an air force of bombers and fighter planes.  No matter how hard Homino fought, they could not stand against the power of Skotos.

One day, an emissary from the great king of Ouranos came to visit Homino.  “I can help you,” he promised.  “If you will swear your allegiance to our king, he will take you as part of his kingdom.  He will protect you and give you weapons more powerful than any your enemies have.”  The people of Homino wanted that very badly, so they agreed to swear fealty to the King of Ouranos, and became part of his kingdom.  They were excited to see the new weapons they had been promised.

The king was as good as his emissary’s word.  Each soldier in Homino received body armor that would protect them from all the weapons of Skotos.  The king sent them the most modern weaponry.  He supplied them with an air force; with fighters that could evade Skotos’ fighters and shoot them down.  The new bombers had the most sophisticated smart bombs which could target the enemy and destroy them.  The people of Homino were amazed at the arsenal put at their disposal by the King of Ouranos and were excited to see what a difference they would make in their battle.

The next day, they were attacked by Skotos.  The army of Homino quickly gathered its bows and arrow, its swords and spears and went out to battle.  They were soundly defeated.  Day after day, the same thing happened.  They went to battle against the army of Skotos armed with their primitive weapons while the powerful weapons given them by the king sat idle.  Day after day, they returned from battle in defeat.

Some of the commanders of Homino’s army gathered to confront the emissary of the king of Ouranos.  “Nothing has changed,” they complained.  “Since we gave our loyalty to your king, we have not won a single battle.  All of your promises are empty.  In spite of all you have promised us, we are still defeated.”

The emissary shook his head slowly.  “My friends, the king’s weapons do no good unless you use them.  He has given you body armor, but still you face the armies of Skotos unprotected.  He gave you powerful weapons to fight them, but still you use your swords and spears.  You have an Air Force with the most sophisticated warheads in the universe at your disposal, but the only thing that flies is your bows and arrows.  The king has given you every weapon you need to defeat the forces of Skotos but you do not use them.”

Suddenly, it clicked.  They were supposed to use the king’s weapons in the battle.  The next day, when Skotos attacked, the people of Homino took up the weapons of the king.  They were shocked at what happened.  The armor the king gave them deflected every bullet fired by their enemies.  They bounced off harmlessly.  Their new weapons overcame the enemy and their bombers strafed them until they fled in terro.  For the first time, the forces of Skotos were defeated.

Today, in Homino, the battle still rages but the outcome is very different.  Sometimes, the people forget themselves and pick up their old weapons.  When they do that, they are defeated.  But more and more now, they are remembering to take up the weapons given them by the Great King of Ouranos.  And when they do, the bullets fired at them bounce off harmlessly.  Their weapons send their enemies fleeing every time.

And every time, they stop to give thanks to the king for the weapons of victory.

Father, may I never shy away from fighting the good fight of faith, and may I always fight with the weapons of warfare you have given to me!

A Cheerful Giver? September 24, Readings: Isaiah 58-59, 2 Corinthians 8:16–9:15, Psalm 107:29–35, Proverbs 23:24–25

Links to Today's Readings

It was at one time a tradition in Baptist churches that annually the pastor would preach a stewardship sermon in which he begged, pleaded, and cajoled the membership to tithe. It was called "Stewardship Sunday." When you read 2 Corinthians 8 and 9 you see a completely different attitude about giving than was often on display on Stewardship Sunday. There were no rules, no emotional manipulation, no guilt trips, just a passion to invest in the work of God's kingdom.

In 2 Corinthians 8 and 9, Paul holds up the giving patterns of the Macedonian church (Philippi was chief among them). Out of overwhelming poverty the Spirit produced in them a rich generosity. They gave as much as they were able and even beyond their ability.

Why? Did someone put the pressure on them to give? No. They had a deep and sincere love for Jesus Christ and gladly gave their money and possessions to help others in Jesus' name and to further the spread of the gospel of Jesus Christ. They gave themselves completely and unreservedly to Jesus Christ and their earthly possessions naturally followed.

Christians today don't have a giving problem, they have a heart problem. When people don't give it is not a money management issue, but an issue of spiritual priorities. When we love our own lives and our comforts more than we love Jesus, we will be stingy and resist sacrificial giving. It's all about the heart.

In 2 Corinthians 9:6-8 Paul gives the basics of New Testament giving. It's not about rules or coercion or guilt. It's about joy and about Jesus.

The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 7 Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.

Paul emphasizes three things in this passage. First of all, though this passage is badly abused by televangelists and word of faith practitioners, Paul affirms that the principle of reaping and sowing is in effect in terms of giving. Those who give generously reap generously, not (only) financially but in all the blessings of God. Those who are stingy and selfish reap sparingly.

In verse 7, the basis of giving is described. We are to decide in our hearts what we want to give, voluntarily and joyfully. Giving is to be an act of passion, a joy, an enthusiastic investment in the gospel and the kingdom of God. Giving is so much more than moving a decimal point and begrudgingly writing a check. It is giving all we can and even more to make Jesus known in this world.

Finally, verse 8 reminds us that God can take care of us when we give, even if we give sacrificially, to his work and to people in need. He can provide all we need so that we can do all he has called us to do. As he said to the Philippian church, God will provide all our needs (those who give generously) according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.

Father, fire my heart with a zeal for your kingdom that opens my wallet and focuses my life and my possessions on your kingdom work in this world. 

Fat, Lazy, Shepherds - September 23, Readings: Isaiah 56-57, 2 Corinthians 8:1–15, Psalm 107:22–28, Proverbs 23:22–23

Links to Today's Readings

I was preaching in Africa back in 1988, teaching Tanzanian church leaders basic principles of ministry. I was trying to explain the pastor's role to them, so I thought I would use an illustration they could identify with. "A pastor is a shepherd," I said. Jonathan, my interpreter, look at me quizzically. "In Swahili," he said. "They are the same word." If we spoke Swahili, I would be the Senior Shepherd of Southern Hills Baptist Church. That might be ba-a-a-a-d. (Sorry).

But the Bible has a lot to say about shepherds, both good and bad. Shepherds who lead their people faithfully are worthy of honor and respect. But in the Old Testament, God reserved his harshest words not for the sinful people of Israel and Judah but for the shepherds, the leaders, the false prophets and unfaithful priests who failed to shepherd the people in the ways of God. The judgment on the sinful nation was magnified and multiplied onto the shepherds, because they did not do their jobs.

Sheep are helpless prey and must be protected from the spiritual predators who wish to devour them. They must be fed and guided on the paths of righteousness. A godly shepherd must be unselfish, willing to sacrifice his own needs for the needs of the sheep, to give of himself, even to lay down his life for them.

Not so the shepherds of Israel. Look at Isaiah 56:9-12, in which God levels a series of charges against those who should have been leading Israel toward God, but had abandoned their duty. Verse 9 drips with sarcasm.

All you beasts of the field - come to devour. 

The chief role of the shepherd is to protect the sheep, but these "watchmen" were asleep on the job. Israel had become prey, a smorgasbord for anyone who would lead them astray. Too many pastors today are afraid to identify sin or expose false teaching. We've bought into the false message of tolerance that says we ought never criticize another's beliefs or doctrines. When we refuse to hold up the biblical standard of truth, we are inviting the beasts of the field to devour the flock of God.

Verse 11 vividly identifies the source of the problem.

The dogs have a mighty appetite;  

they never have enough.

But they are shepherds who have no understanding;  

they have all turned to their own way,   

each to his own gain, one and all.

A shepherd of God's people must be a man of understanding, one who operates on the Divine agenda for the good of God's sheep. But these are "dogs" - a word usually used to to describe people who operate by their instincts and passions. They seek to exploit the sheep instead of serving the sheep. They don't understand the will and ways of God, but only their own desires and passions. They serve their own needs, their own gain, 

And the end result of that is always disastrous. Israel suffered because its shepherds were selfish, without understanding of the ways of God, and unwilling to stand up to protect them from spiritual predators. They fell prey to sin. 

I realize that this lesson applies more to the author of this devotional than it does to most of the readers. But if you are a leader, serve God and serve the people. If you have a shepherd who serves faithfully, thank God and lift up that shepherd before the Lord. 

Raise up, O Lord, for the churches of this land, faithful shepherds to lead your people. 

An Old Testament Gospel - September 22, Readings: Isaiah 54-55, 2 Corinthians 6–7, Psalm 107:15–21, Proverbs 23:19–21

Links to Today's Readings

The entire prophecy of Isaiah is filled with messianic prophecies, verses that are familiar because they are applied to our Lord and Savior in the New Testament. Isaiah 7's "Immanuel" prophecy. Isaiah 9 and the names of Jesus. Dozens of others.

But the pinnacle, perhaps, is reached in chapters 52 and 53, which gives a remarkable prophecy of the death of Christ by crucifixion. Chapters 55-56, our readings for today, continue this theme by emphasizing, in a prophetic way, some of the elements of the gospel.

Isaiah 55:1 speaks to the principle of grace.

“Come, everyone who is thirsty, come to the waters; and you without money, come, buy, and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost!”

The root of the gospel is the recognition of sin. Jesus said that it was the poor in spirit who would be blessed. To experience the goodness of God, we must recognize our sin, our absolute inability to provide our own spiritual sustenance. We must recognize our thirst and hunger for God and come to him for what only he can give. 

This is a beautiful picture of grace. We buy what we need to survive, but we buy it "without cost." That which we need for righteousness and eternal life is ours in Christ - and it doesn't cost us a thing. Why? Because "Jesus paid it all!"

Verses 6 and 7 are an OT invitation. 

Seek the Lord while he may be found;

    call upon him while he is near;

let the wicked forsake his way,

    and the unrighteous man his thoughts;

let him return to the Lord, that he may have compassion on him,

    and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.

Throughout the New Testament, sinners are admonished to do two things - repent and believe. Here, sinful Israel is called on to seek God with all their hearts and to abandon their sin in repentance. Whether for sinners coming to faith in Christ or for believers who are seeking greater intimacy, repentance is a necessary part of the process of seeking God. 

The proverb says that there is a way that seems right to a man, but it ends in death. It seems to us that we should earn the favor of God, that our good works should contribute to things. We have all sorts of human assumptions about the way of the world that we make. But Isaiah 55:8-9 (one of my favorite passages) says, 

For my thoughts are not your thoughts,

    neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord.

For as the heavens are higher than the earth,

    so are my ways higher than your ways

    and my thoughts than your thoughts.

God is smarter than we are and has designed a system of salvation and sanctification based on his logic, not ours. My destiny is not based on my good works (or sins) as I naturally think it should be, but only on the grace of God, who does for me what I cannot do for myself. 

There is one more part of this passage we need to remember, extending to tomorrow's reading. Isaiah 56:10, which reveals the heart of God. 

“This is because my Temple will be called 

    a house for prayer for people from all nations.”

God's work in us always has an international focus. He saves us because of his love for us, but also because of his love for the entire world. The temple was supposed to be a house of prayer, but not just for me and mine - for the NATIONS! God has his eyes on the world. And our lives, redeemed and sanctified by the grace of God are called to reflect God's heart for the whole world. 

Father, I thank you that I am saved by your grace and made holy in it. May I live by your wisdom and let my life be a beacon to the world. 

Forgiven, Recreated, Released - September 21, Readings: Isaiah 52-53, 2 Corinthians 5, Psalm 107:8–14, Proverbs 23:15–18

Links to Today's Readings

Seldom do we pack two such powerful passages into one day's readings!

In Isaiah 52-53 we have one of the great passages of the Old Testament, a prophetic tour of the Cross of Christ. It is hard to imagine that a passage written hundreds of years before Christ was born could so accurately describe the sufferings of Jesus as he bore our sins so that by his stripes our sins could be healed.

Surely he has borne our griefs    and carried our sorrows;yet we esteemed him stricken,    smitten by God, and afflicted.But he was pierced for our transgressions;    he was crushed for our iniquities;upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace,    and with his wounds we are healed.All we like sheep have gone astray;    we have turned—every one—to his own way;and the Lord has laid on him    the iniquity of us all. Isaiah 53:4-6

I committed the sin, he took the punishment. 

He was wounded, I was healed. 

I went astray, he brought me to the Father in peace. 

It is the most amazing story of grace, love, mercy and restoration ever, and it was promised to Israel and to us hundreds of years before the events took place. 

But the story continues in 2 Corinthians 5. That same work that was prophesied in Isaiah 53 is discussed there. Paul speaks not only of the fact that we have been reconciled to God through the forgiveness of sin, but he tells us in verse 17 that we have been made new in Christ. 

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

The work of Christ in us makes us brand new people, new creations. Not only that, but Paul says in verse 18 that being new creations, reconciled to God, gives to us the ministry of reconciliation. God saves us through the blood of Christ, makes us new, then assigns us the duty of making that blessed news known in this world. 

Thank you, Father, for the truth of these passages, and the joy of being forgiven, made new in Christ, and given the ministry of reconciliation in this world. 

Jars of Clay & Treasures of Christ - September 20, Readings Isaiah 50-51, 2 Corinthians 4, Psalm 107:1–7, Proverbs 23:13–14

Links to Today's Readings

Do you have a favorite passage of Scripture? I've always maintained that the Mt. Everest of the Bible is Romans 8. There are other great chapters as well - Psalm 23, Acts 2, 1 Corinthians 13, too many to count. But in my book, 2 Corinthians 4 deserves a place in any listing of great passages of Scripture, especially if you include chapter 5 with it. There are so many amazing truths in this passage.

Normally, I try to focus on one passage in these devotionals, one thought, one idea, one application. Today is going to be a little different. We will just note some of the great truths to be found in 2 Corinthians 4. The list will not come close to being exhaustive - no one could extract all the truth from this deep well. But here are some thoughts.

1) "But we have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways"(4:2)

Other translations talk about "secret, shameful things." The church is all too often filled with secret things - behind the scenes power struggles, manipulation by leaders, phone calling campaigns to enlist support, lies, gossip, schemes. The life of faith rejects all of these. We trust in God and do what is right. There is no need for church politics or manipulation, because we trust the Holy Spirit to do his work.

2) "In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ." (4:4)

Ever gotten frustrated because someone you care about just won't receive the gospel? You share and share but they just don't get it. They find the gospel ridiculous or are unwilling to yield their lives to Christ. It is sad when that happens, but it ought not be a surprise.

This world is governed by a sinful mindset, one that is under the dominion of the lies of Satan. Unbelieving minds are enslaved by these lies until the Word of God comes to them and the Spirit opens their hearts. Pray that God's spirit will open the hearts and minds of those with whom you share. That is their only hope.

3) "The light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. (4:6) 

That is what God does in our lives; he shines the light of Christ in the darkness of our hearts. Christianity is not just a religion, or a set of doctrines, or a list of rules. It is the light of Jesus Christ shining in us and through us. It is Jesus, invading our lives with all of his glory.

4) "We have this treasure in jars of clay." (4:7) 

What a wonderful statement of true biblical self-esteem. We are simply clay jars. Simple, normal, average pots made of clay. But inside of us is a treasure - the glory of God. Our worth, our value, our esteem comes not from who we are but who dwells within us.  We are not treasures, but as believers we contain a treasure. Jesus dwells in us.

5) "Persecuted but not forsaken; struck down but not destroyed."  (4:9)

Those who understand that they are jars of clay indwelled by the treasure of Jesus Christ are able to hang on and persevere, even when evil people or unfortunate circumstances attack their clay. Life, for the believer, is not about the comfort of the clay but the display of the glorious light of the treasure within. So, when suffering comes, the jar of clay continues for the sake of the treasure within.

6) "For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison." (4:17)

What an amazing statement, especially when you consider that Paul's afflictions would be called light by no one who understood them. He was pursued, persecuted, beaten, abandoned, and worse. But he had also been granted a visit into heaven and he knew that the glory of that place would make the suffering of this world seem insignificant for those jars of clay containing the treasures of Christ.

7) Therefore we do not lose heart. (4:16) 

Though this is actually out of order, it is perhaps the key teaching of this entire chapter. We don't give up, don't lose heart when the hard times come, because we know we contain the treasure of Christ and we await an incomparable weight of glory that will be eternal.

You are probably thinking right now, "Dave, you missed the best one!" I might have. I admitted from the start that this would not be exhaustive, but incomplete. Feel free to share your insights in the comments.

Father, thank you for placing in me, a simple jar of clay, the treasure of Christ. May I remember who dwells in me and live in light of that. I long for that day when the eternal weight of glory will be mine. 

The Secret of Our Success - September 19, Readings: Isaiah 49, 2 Corinthians 3, Psalm 106:42–48, Proverbs 23:11–12

Links to Today's Readings

As a pastor, I have been asked to write letters of recommendation frequently over the years - for a student applying to a college, for someone seeking a ministry position, for a variety of reasons. I write these letters of recommendation to (within the boundaries of honesty) extol the character and potential of the person who asked for the letter.

In 2 Corinthians 3:1-3, Paul describes his letter of recommendations. Even the early church had its problems with false teachers. Evidently there were men who went from church to church to teach their particular false doctrines, often carrying with them letters of recommendation to lend credence to his ministry when he would arrive.

Paul had a different idea about what comprises a true letter of recommendation for a servant of God.

Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Or do we need, as some do, letters of recommendation to you, or from you? 2 You yourselves are our letter of recommendation, written on our hearts, to be known and read by all. 3 And you show that you are a letter from Christ delivered by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.

Paul was not concerned about letters of recommendation from other people - it is nice if people think well of you, but ultimately that is not the opinion that matters. True, successful ministry cannot be measured by human approval, statistical analysis, fame, or any other human measure. Paul said that there was only one thing that validated his marriage.

It was the effect his life had on other people.

Christian success (an inherently dubious term) is measured by impact. Paul did not bring a recommendation letter to the Corinthians, but the memory of his service to them and the way that service had changed their lives. He had faithfully proclaimed Christ and brought them to him for his saving grace. He was commended to him by ministry, by service.

The measure of a man or woman of God is seen in the lives of others.

Father, may my life and ministry be a success, because you use me to make a difference in many people's lives!

When Jesus Triumphed over Me! September 18, Readings: Isaiah 47-48, 2 Corinthians 1:12–2:17, Psalm 106:35–41, Proverbs 23:9–10

Links to Today's Readings

Unfortunately, 2 Corinthians 2:14 is often misunderstood and misapplied, because we are not familiar with the background that would have immediately come to the minds of the people of Corinth when they heard these words.

But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere.

Sounds great, doesn't it? Life in Jesus is one victory after another; a life of triumph over every problem life throws at us. Maybe the televangelists were right after all. It's all about winning, about getting everything you want! Right?

Uh...no. The passage does not say that God always gives us everything we want or causes us win all the time. It says that he leads us in a "triumphal procession." What on earth is that?

When a Roman general would go off to battle and come home victorious, he would receive a "triumph" when he returned home, a victory parade. He would go on a celebratory procession through the town with crowds cheering him along the way. With him, in the parade, would be representatives of the defeated army, who would be marched through the town to their shame. Often, at the end of the triumph, they were executed.

A triumphal procession is a parade in which the conquering general leads the defeated armies through the city and receives honor and glory for his exploits. 

That leaves only the question, who are we in this scenario? Of course, we'd like to cast ourselves as the conquering general, but that's not what's going on. The conqueror is Jesus Christ, who through his death and resurrection conquered all of humanity's true enemies - death, hell, sin, and Satan.

But here's the key, folks. There was one other group defeated that day - sinful human beings! We had set ourselves against God, rebelling against his authority, but he defeated sin and death so that we could be restored to him.

Who are we in the "triumph?" We are the defeated army! That's right. I was defeated by Jesus. My sin was defeated. My rebellion. My wickedness. I was conquered by Christ. My stubborn and sinful will was subdued and brought under obedience to Christ. I was conquered by his love and now he is parading me through this world to display his glorious victory!

For the rest of my life and all of eternal my greatest joy, my eternal hope, my only glory is that I was defeated, conquered, beaten by Jesus! I was led to death, as the Roman generals often did to their defeated foes. I was crucified with Christ, but that is not the end of the story. But God's grace and power I have been raised to walk a new life in Christ!

Now, as I am paraded through this world, the second half of the verse takes place.

And through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere. 

As the triumphal procession went through the town, incense was lit to give off an aroma, so that even after the general and his caravan had passed, the aroma would remain and remind people of his glory.

That's what we are in this world! We are not only the defeated army brought under obedience to Christ, but we are the aroma of Christ in this world. Paul never minded mixing a metaphor, and here the defeated army becomes the fragrant incense.

Our job is to go out in this world and smell like Jesus. 

We are to bring the fragrance of Christ into this world, that sweet, pleasing aroma of his love, his mercy, his holiness, his righteousness, his faithfulness, his goodness - every aspect of his character. Having been brought to Christ, we are to spread his fragrance in this world.

Everywhere we go and in everything we do, we are to be the aroma of Christ in this sin-polluted world. We must yield completely to him and represent him well.

Father, I thank you for defeating me. My sinful will stood in rebellion against you, but Christ crushed my sin with his glory and now I belong to you. May I spread the fragrant aroma of Christ in this wicked world. 

Comforted Comforters - September 17, Readings: Isaiah 45-46, 2 Corinthians 1:1–11, Psalm 106:28–34, Proverbs 23:6–8

Links to Today's Readings

Not only do I have a long way to go to be like Jesus, I have a long way to go to be like the Apostle Paul. He suffered so much for the cause of Christ. In today's reading we begin the book of 2 Corinthians, a book that contains a detailed description (in chapter 11) of the horrors inflicted on Paul in the service of Savior.

And I go into a fetal position when someone complains that one of my sermons was too long!

So many of Paul's teachings are about how God uses sufferings to grow us, strengthen us, and use us in his service. Even in the midst of pain and hurt, he was looking for a way to glorify God and spread the truth of Christ. He did not whine, moan, or turn aside; he relied on the strength of God in the weakness he felt.

In 2 Corinthians 1:3-4, Paul made another in his series of his astounding statements.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.

In the persecution, hardship and suffering he endured, Paul sought God the Father and found him worthy of praise. He is the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort who is the One who truly comforts us when we are afflicted. These were not just cliches for Paul; it was a testimony! He had experienced that comfort when he was beaten, when he was arrested, when they attempted to put him to death. He sought God and God comforted him with him presence and power.

But Paul's hope in that was not just that he would receive that comfort, but that he would pass the comfort he received from the Lord on to those who needed that same comfort. Paul was not only comforted for himself but also for those whom he could comfort as a result of what God had done in him.

This is a fundamental truth of Christianity. What God does in me is done not only for me but for those around me whom God will affect through me. God blesses me so that I will bless others. God comforts me so that I can comfort others.

Father, bless me so that I may be a blessing. Grant me your grace, your presence, and your strength so that I can be a source of your grace, your presence, and your strength in the lives of others. 

Living in a Dangerous World - September 16, Readings: Isaiah 43-44, 1 Corinthians 16, Psalm 106:21–27, Proverbs 23:4–5

Links to Today's Readings

There are some things that require detailed and complex instructions. But there are other times that a deep message can be delivered in simple words. Paul is known as the author of some of the longest and most complex sentences in the New Testament. But in 1 Corinthians 16:13, he delivers a simple two word instruction that is powerful and meaningful.

Be watchful. 

Keep your eyes open, brothers and sisters; there is danger all around. Paul was reminding the Corinthians that they live in a world of sin. This world was not their home, but a foreign land hostile to their values and loyal to their enemy. They could not afford to drift with the moral tide but needed to stand strong and firm for God and his kingdom.

That same, simple message is true for us today. We live in a world of snares and traps, temptations and trials. We must remain alert. The Christian who assumes that he is always safe and secure is a fool. We must walk continually in the ways of God, seek him, stay in the Word and in prayer and be constantly ready for everything the enemy may throw at us.

Father, too often I act as if I am living on easy street. Help me to be alert every day.

Let's Make a (BAD) Deal - September 15, Readings: Isaiah 41-42, 1 Corinthians 15:35–58, Psalm 106:13–20, Proverbs 23:1–3

Links to Today's Readings

They made a calf in Horeb

    and worshiped a metal image.

They exchanged the glory of God

    for the image of an ox that eats grass. Psalm 106:19-20

Horeb is the mountain of God, also known as Sinai, where the God revealed to Israel his Law, which was to be their guide. The cornerstone of the Law was the first commandments, that Israel was to have no other gods before the one true God, Yahweh. They were to love him, serve him and honor him alone as God, making no idols. 

While Moses was up on the mountain receiving the law, something different was happening down below. Almost as soon as he disappeared into the heights, into the presence of God, the people of Israel began to turn from him. They approached Aaron and demanded to forge a god for themselves, a Golden Calf. 

Instead of dwelling in the glory of God, they made their own gods in the image of livestock that eats grass. You can hear the Psalmist's derision in this verse. 

On the one hand, there is the Creator God, the one who made and sustains the universe. He is sovereign over world affairs, who empowers his people to do his work and rewards those who serve him. He sent his Son to pay for our sins that we might have eternal life. 

On the other hand you have livestock. I like a good steak as much as the next guy, but I'm pretty sure that cows and oxen are not worthy of worship. 

It was the folly of Israel, evident in their first moments as a nation at the base of Horeb. It was a folly they continued throughout their existence as a nation during the years of the Old Testament. Time and again they exchanged glory for livestock, the worship of the One True God for idols. 

Today, we do not do anything so crass as to build and worship idols, but we are still guilty of Israel's folly. We turn from the pure worship of God to serve the pleasures of this world. We serve sex, or entertainment, or fun. We exchange the glory of God for the oxen of arrogance and self-centeredness and of greed and materialism. These are all as empty, as silly and as useless as the idol gods Israel worshiped. 

Father, forgive me for when I have exchanged your glory for livestock, for the empty and useless things of this world. 

Why Bother? September 14, Readings: Isaiah 40, 1 Corinthians 15:1–34, Psalm 106:6–12, Proverbs 22:28–29

Links to Today's Readings

• Why should I bother? 
• Why should I resist temptation? Sometimes sin is so appealing - it would be so much fun. And saying no to my flesh is so hard. Why should I bother? 
• Sometimes, people treat me badly. Why do I have to return good for evil, forgive them and seek to love even my enemies? That is really difficult. I want to lash out, strike back, give insult for insult. Why do I have to do what the Bible says? Why should I bother? 
• When things are hard and the road is difficult, why do I have to keep going? Through discouragement, through opposition, when I want to give up, why shouldn't I just give in? Why should I bother? 
• The Bible tells me I have to humble myself, deny myself, die to myself. Why do I have to do that? Why should I bother? 

The answer to all of these questions is found in 1 Corinthians 15, which tells us that there is something beyond this world. If this world was all that there was, if there is no resurrection, no heaven, no eternity, then why bother with the struggle of the Christian life, with saying no to my own desires and seeking to overcome them by the Spirit's power? Paul makes this clear in verse 19. 

If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied. 

Yes, there are blessings that are ours in Christ in this world - it is a joy to serve Jesus. But the foundation of our faith is the truth that this world is simply a preparation for eternity. We store up treasures in heaven instead of on earth because of eternity. We resist sin and seek righteousness because it pleases the God who rules eternally. We willingly suffer here on earth because of the crowns we will receive in glory.

The resurrection of Jesus Christ proves many things. It proves that the sacrifice he made was enough, and that sin and death were defeated. But it also opened the door to eternal life for all who believe. We live because Jesus lives. Death cannot hold us because it did not hold him.

And the only wise life we can live today is one that prepares us for eternity - faith in Christ, obedience to him, walking the Spirit, missional living. Because Jesus rose from the dead, our suffering, our struggles and our service are all worth it, not only now but in all eternity.

Father, I long for your glory. When life is hard in this world, when people are cruel, when things are breaking my way, I long for your glory. I thank you that Jesus rose from the dead and that our hope is eternal. 

The Perils of Pride - September 13, Readings: Isaiah 38-39, 1 Corinthians 14:26–40, Psalm 106:1–5, Proverbs 22:25–27

Links to Today's Readings

If I hadn't done the same thing so often myself, I would consider Hezekiah quite the moron!

In Isaiah 38, God grants this righteous king of Judah one of the great blessings any man has ever had. Told that he is about to die, he begs God for more time and God hears his prayers. God told him, in verse 6, that he would receive fifteen extra years of life.

Hezekiah was truly grateful and gave praise to God for the good things he had done. It was his intent to live out those fifteen years serving God as he had and praising God every day for the blessing he'd been given.

The Lord will save me,   

and we will play my music on stringed instruments all the days of our lives,   

at the house of the Lord. Isaiah 38:20

But something changed - the "something" that lurks in every one of us and is so prone to rising to the surface in me. Hezekiah became lifted up in pride. It seems so silly, but it is so common. Somehow, Hezekiah took pride in the gracious work of God in him, as if he deserved it, as if it happened because of how wonderful he was.

Again, I'd scorn Hezekiah if I hadn't done it myself. I come to the pulpit telling God that I just want to glorify him and communicate his truth. I admit that I am an unworthy vessel, a sinful spokesman for the kingdom. I stand before God's people and my prayers are answered. My mind is clear and my mouth is filled God's truth. As I sit down I think, "Wow, I was good today." How often do we tend to take credit for the great and gracious work of God in us? God does it but I act as if it was done by my own hand.

Hezekiah's pride got him in trouble. When envoys from Babylon came to call, he showed them through "his" kingdom, showing off all of his treasures. His pride not only brought a rebuke from Isaiah but led to great harm to the people. Some years later that same nation would remember the great treasures inside Jerusalem and would lay seige to the city, sack it, plunder it, and utterly destroy it.

Remind you of a verse in Proverbs? "Pride goes before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall." Maybe Solomon was prophesying to his descendant Hezekiah.

You and I would certainly do well to heed that warning. You've heard the ditty, "God is good all the time." Properly understood, that is true. But we need to remember that the goodness of God is based on his mercy and grace, not on our merit. Our pride can only inhibit and hinder the work of God, and bring the devastation of sin into our lives.

Father, remind me daily that your goodness is not based on my goodness, but on your grace. Protect me from the pride that hinders your blessing and devastates my life!

Ungodly Overconfidence - September 12, Readings: Isaiah 36-37, 1 Corinthians 14:1–25, Psalm 105:37–45, Proverbs 22:22–24

Links to Today's Readings

"God himself couldn't sink the Titanic." 

The story has been passed down since that fateful moment in April of 1912 when the Titanic hit an iceberg, began to fill with water and within hours was at the bottom of the Atlantic ocean. Someone, in typical human hubris, was supposed to have spoken those overconfident words as the Titanic launched on it's only voyage. It may or may not be a true story but it is completely in line with the workings of human self-confidence.

Too often, we leave God out of our calculations. We place our confidence in our own abilities, our advancements and technology, and we forget that this world operates on the dictates and according to the purposes of a sovereign God.

There is a prime example of this in Isaiah 36-37. Sennacherib, the king of Assyria, was threatening God's people and he sent his representative, known as the Rabshakeh, to deliver his challenge. This man brimmed with confidence - and well he should have. No reasonable person would have bet on Judah against Assyria. It was a mismatch of epic proportions. Hezekiah simply did not have the army to match up with Sennacherib and his forces.

Thus says the great king, the king of Assyria: On what do you rest this trust of yours? 5 Do you think that mere words are strategy and power for war? In whom do you now trust, that you have rebelled against me? 6 Behold, you are trusting in Egypt, that broken reed of a staff, which will pierce the hand of any man who leans on it. Such is Pharaoh king of Egypt to all who trust in him. 7 But if you say to me, “We trust in the Lord our God,” is it not he whose high places and altars Hezekiah has removed, saying to Judah and to Jerusalem, “You shall worship before this altar” 36:4-7

They could not trust in their allies, whom Assyria was crushing in battle. Egypt would be no help against the Assyrians. That much was true. But then he picked a fight he couldn't win. He ridiculed Hezekiah's faith in God. That is where the Rabshakeh made his fatal mistake. 

Never underestimate God and never leave him out of your calculations. 

We know "the rest of the story." God miraculously delivered Hezekiah and brought the king of Assyria down. The Rabshakeh's confidence was as misplaced as that of the person who supposedly pronounced the Titanic unsinkable, even by the hand of God. Every human calculation said that Judah could not defeat Assyria, but life isn't only about human calculations. There is a God in heaven and he acts in the affairs of man. He leads, guides, provides, and protects his people and anyone who assumes the inactivity of God is making a huge mistake.

The one who trusts in God can have true confidence. Oh, things might not always work out the way we want, but the God who loves us and runs this world will strengthen us by his mighty hand. He is a God his people can trust. 

Thank you, Lord, that you are faithful and good. Our enemies cannot do anything to stop your work in me, and in your people. Help me to always trust in you!