Your Faith Has Saved Thee; Go in Peace

DAY 73
Luke 2:1-Luke 9:62
(Focus Passages: Luke 7:36-50; Luke 8: 43-48)












Two women, two different stories, same results.

Luke 7:50 Jesus said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace"
Luke 8:48 And He said to her, "Daughter, your faith has saved you; go in peace"

Both verses contain the same Greek words that are transliterated as:
"pistis sozo se poreuomai eis eirene"

1) The Evidence of Faith

So what does the common ground of faith look like. Let's look at each woman's story.

In the first story, the sinful woman kneeled down at his feet and with tears in her eyes wiped His feet with her hair, kissed His feet, and poured perfume on them. And the scripture tells us her sins were forgiven because she loved much.

In the second story, the sick woman touched the fringe of Jesus's garment. When asked who touched Him, the woman came trembling and fell down at his feet. And the scripture tells us she was healed.

So what was the evidence of Faith? Tears, Trembling, Kneeling, Humility, Service, and Love. To be quite honest, I haven't seen much of that in my own life lately. And I haven't seen an abundance of that in our churches.

But the faith that saves, is the one that is continuously humbled in the presence of Jesus. It is the faith that is brought to tears by our sin and the thought of those dying in the world. It is a faith that trembles in the presence of the Lord. It is a faith that kneels in submission to God's authority. It is a faith that serves the Lord's purpose and plan. It is a faith that comes from a love for God and our neighbor. That is the common ground of faith.


2) The Product of Faith

The sinful woman received more than just forgiveness of sins, and the sick woman received more than just healing. They both received peace. And peace is more than just a tranquil feeling, or the absence of hosility. It is freedom to be with God.

The Greek word for peace (eirene) comes from the verb "eiro;" which means "to join." And the word we translate "go" (poreuomai) means to "walk" or "journey" in a continuous manner. Both women received the gift of "joining with God" and "walking with God" because of their faith. Romans 5:1-2 tells us that this faith in Jesus gives us access to God and His grace. It also gives us joy and hope.

"Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God."

And the same peace is given to all those who have faith in God to save. We have access to a "walk with God." We have the ability to stand in His presence because of His grace through Jesus Christ. We have a hope that our sinfulness and sickness can be cured. We have a joy because the glory of God is made manifest in His Son. And His Son, Jesus sits at His side to make intercession for us. Faith brings more than forgiveness and healing, it joins us in a journey with a loving God.

Two women, two different stories, same results.
What did they do the same?

They both reached out for Jesus in faith that He could save.
And they both received more than they could ever imagine; a walk with God.

Descending into Greatness!

DAY 72
Mark 9:14- Luke 1:80

Mark 10:43-45 "But it shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

There are numerous things in our lives that out of nowhere change the direction we are taking. Some of these are called "significant emotional events." Some of these are a death in the family, a car accident, a major injury, a loss of a job, a major geographical move, or our conversion experience.

Other things aren't so major, but still have a major impact on our lives. A talk with a parent, advice from a friend, a new church, and even a book.

One of these major experience for me happened in 1996 when someone handed me a copy of Bill Hybels Descending into Greatness, which is a commentary on Phillipians 2. For today, I thought I would share a few quotes from that book.

"What concerns Him (God) is upward mobility as defined by the world: to promote ourselves, to advance our own cause, to push our own agenda at the expense of others. The end goal is to arrive at the top of the heap with enough money, power, and material possessions to feed one's main objective: self indulgence." (p.20)

Self-indulgence. It is an attitude (and sin) that affects and infects all of our lives. It consumes every action and choice we make. Have you ever caught yourself saying, "Well, I deserve this." Especially when it comes to recognition or a possession. Even when it comes to "Christian" things self-indulgence creeps in. We want to be the one making the decisions. When we go to church, we want to be served instead of serve.

In this very passage of scripture, James and John are wanting to sit on the right and left of Jesus in glory. Too many times we want to be the head of the table, instead of the one doing the dishes. In many parts of scripture, Jesus points to a different way of life. Instead of going up, He wants us to go down.

"Greatness is not a measure of self-will, but rather self abandonment. Descending into greatness seems absurd" It involves "demotion, anonymity, servanthood, downscaling, decreasing, losing, and dying" (p.17)

"He challenged His followers to embrace their uniqueness and pursue the dreams God had given them. But losing does mean that we allow God to determine what needs are legitimate. Losing means to yield our desires and passions to His guidance; to invite Him to chip away the rough edges of our personalitites; to use our gifts without seeking applause; and to allow Him to conform our dreams to His will." (p.21)

Unfortunately, very few of us find this downward spiral into greatness. The truth is that God has called each one of us to surrender our self-indulgence - to die to ourselves. He has called each one of us to serve Him for His glory. He has called each one of us to serve a lost and dying world by ministering to their needs.

Can you imagine how that could change a church, a community if there were an abundance of servants? If every need that was expressed, was met. It would look at lot like the early church in Acts.

Measure by the Gallon and Not the Teaspoon!

DAY 71
Matthew 26:57 - Mark 9:13
(Focus Passage Mark 4:21-25)

And he said to them, “Is a lamp brought in to be put under a basket, or under a bed, and not on a stand?For nothing is hidden except to be made manifest; nor is anything secret except to come to light. If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.” And he said to them, “Pay attention to what you hear: with the measure you use, it will be measured to you, and still more will be added to you. For to the one who has, more will be given, and from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.” (ESV)

Most of us have heard of this parable and the one in Matthew 5:14-16 many times before. But there are a few things that I would like to share.

First, we must consider the fact that lamp in our day would mean candle. And a candle has no light on its own, it must be lit. In a similar way, we must come to realize that we have no light in ourselves, nothing to shine in the darkness of the world. When we come to the Light of the World, Jesus, He starts our flame. And we are responsible for sharing the Light (the knowledge of Jesus) to a dark world.

Second, the bushel and the bed may sound like funny places to hide a light, but many seem to think that they represent two areas of our life: work and home. We must be careful not to hide our faith because of obligations at work or home. If a candle is hidden it will eventually go out because of a lack of oxygen. In the same way, if our light is not out in the open sharing Jesus, then the understanding that God gave us can be taken away.

Lastly, I want focus on a key phrase in the passage.
"with the measure you use, it will be measured to you"

It can be a frightening statement. Do you ever wonder why sometimes we can't grasp some of the truth in the Word of God. Sometimes, it is because God chooses not reveal them to us. However, at other times it is conditional based on what we have done with the truth we have. This verse makes it extremely clear. If we are stingy with the knowledge that God gave us, then we may not be given more. What's worse it that He may take away what we already have because we don't use it. On the other hand, if we are generous with the gospel message God will be generous in adding more understanding to us.

It is also practical for how we live our lives. How can we who have been given so much grace and mercy, not pour it out on our brothers and sisters in Christ? How can we not extend that same grace and mercy to the world around us. And we wonder why more people wait in line to get tickets to a movie than at the doors of the church. It's because most of us measure by the teaspoon instead of the gallon when it comes to our living our faith.

“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven." (ESV)

If we want renewal and revival, this is the place to start. All the grace, mercy, hope, and love that has been bestowed on you because of Jesus Christ needs to be the same with how we treat each other. Throw out the measuring spoons and cups and start using something much larger, like a dumptruck.

Then people may start lining up at the doors.

Who do you say that I am?

DAY 70
Matthew 16:1-26:56


Matt 16:13-20
Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?”And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

"Who do you say that I am?"
It is the question each one of us is asked today, and will be asked in the world to come.

"Who do you say that I am?"
It is the question each of us should be asking those that are in our families, workplaces, and city.

"Who do you say that I am?"
It is the one question that everyone will have to answer correctly.

C.S. Lewis shared these thoughts in "Mere Christianity"

"I am trying here to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him: "I'm ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don't accept His claim to be God." That is the one thing we must not say. A man who said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic--on a level with the man who says he is a poached egg--or else he would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God: or else a madman or something worse. You can shut Him up for a fool, you can spit at Him and kill Him as a demon; or you can fall at His feet and call Him Lord and God. But let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about His being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to."

"Who do you say that I am?"
Jesus himself claimed to be the Messiah, the Son of God. He left us with only one option. Either we believe He is God who became flesh, or we do not.

By God's grace, may we all say "You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God."

External Link: This is an excellent website from Campus Crusade for Christ.
http://www.whoisjesus-really.com/main.htm

Yesterday's Post: Three Discourses

DAY 69
Matthew 5:1-15:39
(Vincent Van Gogh's Parable of the Sower)


There are five major discourses in the Gospel of Matthew
1) The Sermon on the Mount-Morality: Chap 5-7
2) The Missionary Discourse-Mission: Chap 10
3) The Parable Discourse-Kingdom of Heaven: Chap 13
4) The Community (or Church) Discourse-Relationships: Chap 18
5) The Apocalytic (Eschatological, or Olivet) Discourse: Chapt 24-25

The first discourse connects the Old Testament and the levitical system of morality to Jesus. Jesus tears away all the misconceptions between religion and faith. He describes what God requires; a heart that is pure. And anyone reading it will quickly realize that the righteousness needed is way beyond our human capability.

Between the first and second discourse, Jesus performs many miracles. The healing of the leper, centurion servant, Peter's mother-in-law, the paralytic, the bleeding woman, two deaf men, and a mute. He casts out demons from the two men at Gadarenes and raises the ruler's daughter from the dead. And we find something new. That many outside of Israel will join the feast in the kingdom of Heaven with the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. (8:11) And before He sends out the disciples we see "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into His field." (9:37)

When is the last time that you and I looked up from our "busy" lives and even looked at the fields and saw the harvest? When is the last time you and I prayed to send out workers to the field? When is the last time we said "Here am I, send me?"

The second discourse involves instructions for Jesus' disciples as they go our to the harvest. It tells us to be on guard against the wolves of this world that would seek to devour us. It tells us to be as shrewd as snakes and innocent as doves. It reminds us that the Holy Spirit will provide us with what to say. It explains to use that "Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven" (10:32)

Between the second and third discourses we see the beginning of the rejection of Jesus as King and Messiah. The Pharisees begin to plot against Him. Jesus reminds us that He "desires mercy, not sacrifice." and that "A wicked and adulterous generation asks for a miraculous sign! But none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth." (12:39-40)

The third discourse, which is found in Matthew 13 concerns the "kingdom of heaven." And it describes the time from the beginning of the church until Jesus' return. There are eight parables.
1) Parable of the Sower (1-23)
The relationship of the gospel message of the kingdom of heaven to those that hear it. The hearts of those that hear it will be like the path, the rocky ground, thorny ground, and the good soil. And those that are good soil will produce different actions.

2) Parable of the Weeds (24-30, 36-43)
The relationship of the gospel message to the devil and to the end of time. It explains that Jesus is the one that is responsible for determining those followeres that are true or false.

3) Parable of the Mustard Seed (31-32)
How the effects of the gospel message can transform one life into something that can be used for God's purposes.

4) Parable of the Yeast (33-35)
How the effects of the gospel message can spread when it is lived out in the world.

5) Parable of the Hidden Treasure (44)
The gospel message is precious like something that was hidden but now revealed.

6) Parable of the Pearl (45)
The gospel message is precious like something that is sought after and finally found.

7) Parable of the Net (47-50)
At the end of time, how those that responded to the gospel and those that did not will be separated.

8) Parable of the Homeowner (51-52)
Every disciple has a responsibility to share the knowledge of Jesus Christ and not keep it hidden in the storeroom's of their heart. We have the responsibility to share the full revelation of God.

He who has ears, let him hear.

Matthew: Jesus as the Messiah

DAY 68
Zechariah 11:1 - Matthew 4:25


As we start into the New Testament, I want to commend everyone on their progress and encourage each person to continue to the end.

In the gospel of Matthew, one of the major themes is presenting Jesus as the promised Messiah from the Hebrew Scriptures. As we go through Matthew, we will try to point out those portions that fulfill the scriptures.

Matt. 1:1-17:The Genealogy
The genealogy of Matthew has two primary purposes; to identify Jesus as a descendant of David and as a descendant of Abraham.
Gen. 18:18 "Abraham will surely become a great and powerful nation and all nations on earth will be blessed through him."
Isa.9:7 "Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this."

Matt 1:18-24:The Virgin Birth
Isa.7:14 "Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel."

Matt 2:1-12 Born in Bethlehem
Mic.5:2 "But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from ancient times."

Matt 2:13-23 Flight into Egypt and Death of the Children
Jer.31:15 This is what the Lord says: "A voice is heard in Ramah, mourning and great weeping, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because her children are no more."
Hos.11:1 When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son

Matt 3: 1-12 John the Baptist
Isaiah 40:3 says: A voice of one calling: "In the desert prepare the way for the Lord; make straight in the wilderness a highway for our God."

Matt 4:1-17 The Temptation of Jesus
The temptation of Jesus is also a fulfillment of the Israelites failure to trust God as they left Egypt. Each temptation and response has a mirror image passage found in Deuteronomy.

"Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God."
This is a quote from Deut 8:3, which is a commentary on the Israelites failure to trust God in Exodus 16.

"Do not put the Lord your God to the test." This is a quote from Deut 6:16, which is a commentary on the Israelites failure to trust God in Exodus 17:1-7

"Worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only." This is a quote from Deut 6:13, which is a written because of the Israelites failure to trust God in Exodus 32- 33:6.

There is an excellent sermon on this at the following website with application for us today.
http://www.kings.cam.ac.uk/chapel/services/2005-2006/JeffreyJohn05Mar.html

Something That You Would Not Believe!!

DAY 67
Habakkuk 1:1 - Zechariah 10:12

As we get toward the end of the Old Testament. Can you feel the desperation? A nation so full of promise. A people that had the hand of God providing and protecting them, yet turned their back on the deliverer. And because of His holiness and love, the Lord chastened His people. O, how the mighty have fallen! Israel taken into captivity by Assyria. Judah taken by Babylon. A small remnant remains, and a smaller remnant will return from Persia.

"How long, O Lord must I call for help, but you do not listen?" (Hab 1:2)

The types and shadows are slowly coming to an end. There will be a time of silence from God when His people will call out for help, but there will be no answer. It is the quiet before the storm. But there is a ray of hope for the line of David and for the descendants of Abraham by faith.

"Look at the nations and watch - and be utterly amazed. for I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe, even if you were told" (Hab 1:5)

Something special is coming; rather someone that you would not believe. Even though you have been told for generatons, you will be amazed at the revelation of God's plan. The former temple will pass away and a living tabernacle will be among them. And in that new house, will be the true Sabbath rest.

"The glory of this present house will be greater than the glory of the former house, says the Lord Almighty. And in this place, I will grant peace." (Hag 2:9)

"See, your king comes to you, righteous and having salvation, gentle and riding on a donkey. (Zech 9:9)

"They will look on me, the one they pierced, and they will mourn for Him as one mourns for an only child" (Zech 12:10b)

And a small seed will be planted. It is the seed of faith. That seed will be a conviction in God's love and power to save. And there will be a return to faith in the Lord God to fulfill all He has promised.

"For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea." (Hab 2:14)

"The Lord your God is with you, He is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing." (Zeph 3:17)

That seed will grow into a vine because of their trust in God's revelation. That vine will produce fruit because they will humbly give their lives to their God. They will know that God is their refuge and shelter.

"But I will leave within you, the meek and humble, who trust in the name of the Lord." (Zeph 3:12)

"Seek the Lord, all you humble of the land, you who do what He commands. Seek righteousness, seek humility; perhaps you will be sheltered on the day of the Lord's anger" (Zeph 2:3)

And something that we would never believe, happens. The promised King is not one for political power or national gain; but one of humility of spirit. The righteousness God seeks is not external, but internal. The sacrifices that the Lord wants are not animals, but a life lived by faith.

"But the righteous will live by his faith" (Hab 4:4)

"Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord Almighty." (Zech 4:6b)

And tomorrow, something you would not believe will happen.

In our reading, a new life will be born.

In our own lives, faith will be strengthened.

In the world around us, someone will be asking "How long must I call for help, before someone answers?"

And you can say. "Look here and be amazed, God is mighty to save and has done something you won't believe."

It's Not About a Big Fish

DAY 66
Amos 9:11 - Nahum 3:19

Just down Route 66 in Catoosa, Oklahoma, is the Blue Whale. The park closed in 1988 and the blue whale fell into disrepair because of neglect. However, ten years later it was restored and made a landmark along Route 66.

Today's reading takes us through the books of Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, and Nahum. It would have been easier to just stick with Jonah and the fish, but the messages that each of these prophets can give us is more along the neglect and restoration that the Blue Whale on Route 66 went under.

Obadiah
It is the shortest book in the Bible with only 21 verses. It is a message for Edom, the descendants of Esau. It's message speaks about "the pride of your heart has deceived you" because Edom stood by and watched Judah and Jerusalem fall into destruction. In verse 15 the prophet states, "The day of the Lord is near for all nations. As you have done, it will be done to you; your deeds will return upon your own head."

It could just as well be a message to you and I. We stand by and watch while the world falls into destruction because of sin. We stand by and watch while the "prince of this world" and those that follow him, lead the world down the path of lies and into the darkness. It is a reminder that the "day of the Lord" is near. And that we will be responsible for our neglect of the poor, the lame, and the hurting souls in the world.

Jonah
This book is about God sending a warning to Nineveh, to turn from its wicked ways. "Those who cling to worthless idols forfeit the grace that could be theirs" (2:8). But those that repent will be shown compassion by God. "I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity". (4:2)

It is the message that we all want to hear, that God relents from his judgment of sin to those that lay down their worthless idols, cry out in our distress from the depths of the pit, and rely on His salvation. (that He has provided through His son)

Micah

This prophet was concerned about Samaria and Jerusalem. "Woe to those who plan iniquity" (2:1) because "They will cry out to the Lord, but He will not answer them. At that time He will hide His face from them because of the evil they have done." (3:4) Our sin keeps us from a holy God, but the Lord did not leave us helpless in our iniquities. "Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives the transgressions of the remnant of his inheritance? You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy. You will again have compassion on us; you will tread our sins underfoot and hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea" (7:18-19).

Oh, how amazing is God, because he pardons the sins of the remnant who are in Christ Jesus. They receive the inheritance of life in the presence of God. Because, even in the judgment of Samaria is a promise from God. "But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times." (5:2) and "He will stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God. And they will live securely, for then his greatness will reach to the ends of the earth. And he will be their peace" (5:4-5) He is our peace with God.

Nahum

Last, but not least we return to Nineveh. We find that for awhile they heeded Jonah's call for repentance, but once again they have turned to their wicked ways. We are shown that sin leaves a wound that cannot heal and an injury that is fatal when people ignore and turn away from God. But for those that have faith in God, we know that "The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in Him." (1:7)

It is not about a big fish.

It is about a God who is good, compassionate, gracious, merciful, powerful, and abundant in love for those that trust Him. It is about a Saviour that will be our peace. It is about a King who will rule forever. It is about a God who relents for those that repent and trust in Jesus.

The Days are Coming

DAY 65
Hosea 13:7 - Amos 9:10


The message of Joel and Amos is a warning of impending judgment. The Lord God has set the plumb line and the Israelites have been found untrue. (Amos 7:7-9) The Lord has set out the basket of fruit, and the time is ripe for judgment. (Amos 8:1-2).

The message of Joel and Amos is a call to repentance. It is a “call to the sacred assembly” to consecrate themselves before God.

But, there is also a message of restoration, when God talks about “repairing the broken places” and “restoring the ruins” (Amos 9:11)

Amos 8:11-12
“The days are coming,” declares the Sovereign Lord, “when I will send a famine through the land—not a famine of food or a thirst for water, but a famine of hearing the words of the Lord. Men will stagger from sea to sea and wander from north to east, searching for the word of the Lord, but they will not find it.”

This prophecy points to the inter-testament period when the word of God was absent from Israel, before the coming of the Lord. It also points to the time before the second coming. Notice that the famine is in the “hearing” of the words of the Lord. The Word of God is here, both the written word and living Word; but people will not be able or willing to hear it.

According to 2 Timothy 4:3-4; people will turn their ears from the truth. And Matthew 4:4 reminds us “Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.” Without the words and Word of God, there is no life.

The “days are coming”, and may already be here, when there is a famine of hearing the words of the Lord in our world.

Joel 2:28-32a
“And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days. I will show wonders in the heavens and on the earth, blood and fire and billows of smoke. The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord. And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved;

These voices point to the crucifixion, Pentecost, and the last days. It Matthew 27:24 we are reminded that the world went dark from the sixth to the ninth hour while Jesus was on the cross. Later in Act 2, Peter stands up at Pentecost and speaks these verses in describing the disciples when the Holy Spirit came upon them.

At the end of Peter’s message, he says “Repent and be baptized, every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”

The “days are coming”, and may already be here, when the Holy Spirit will be poured out again much like Pentecost and a vast number will call upon the Lord to be saved.

Joel 2:12-13
“Even now,” declares the Lord, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning.” Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity.

It is the call for repentance.
It is the call for an emotional rending of our hearts; to weep and mourn over our sins; to weep and mourn over the lost.
It is the call for action; to fast, to pray, to proclaim the gospel.
It is the call for remembrance of the grace, compassion, and love of our God.

The “days are coming”, and may already be here, when a remnant will rise up, rend their hearts, and serve the Lord.

It is your call.

The Gomer in All of Us

DAY 64
Daniel 9:1 - Hosea 13:6

Tucked away in the latter half of the Old Testament, is an amazing illustration of God's love found in the book of Hosea.

It is the story of Hosea and Gomer, the love of a man for his adulterous wife. It is the story of God's love for the adulterous Israel. It is the story of the bridegroom Jesus' love for His adulterous bride, the church. It is the story how much God loves His children. It is the story of a loving God, a faithless follower, and the alluring deceptions of the world.

Notice that God told Hosea that his wife would be unfaithful before he married her. An interesting reminder that God knew you and I would be unfaithful, but He still loved us.

It is a story about the alluring affects of the world we live in and how faithless we are. Just like Gomer, we "go after lovers" who give us things that we desire. Just like Gomer, we fail to "acknowledge that God was the one" who provided for us. And just like Gomer, we are adulterers of the heart. We have left the the Most High God who made a covenant of love with us. Just like Israel in Hosea 4:1 "There is no faithfulness, no love, no acknowledgement of God in the land."

Hosea follow's God's command and retrieves and redeems Gomer, purchasing her from another lover. And loves her again like the Lord loves Israel.

And it is a symbol of how our God pursues. The Lord states His plan: "Therefore I am now going to allure her; I will lead her into the desert and speak tenderly to her" and "In that day, declares the Lord, you will call me 'my husband" Just like Homer, He redeems his people and pays for them with the sacrifice of His Son.

And those that return to the Lord, He says to them:
"I will betroth you to me forever; I will betroth you in righteousness and justice, in love and compassion. I will betroth you in faithfulness, and you will acknowledge the Lord." (2:19-20)
and
"I will heal their waywardness and love them freely" (14:4)

There is a Gomer in all of us, we have all been unfaithful and adulterous to our God. But because of His compassion and love, He has redeemed us with His Son. And because of Jesus, we are faithful and righteous. Because of Jesus, the Lord God says "You are my people" and we can say "You are my God."

A Fiery Furnace and a Den of Lions

DAY 63
Ezekiel 47:13 - Daniel 8:27

Daniel 3 (Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the Fiery Furnace) and 6 (Daniel in the Lion's Den) are familiar stories that we are taught since childhood.

They have similar beginnings. In each situation, the men were asked to do something that required obedience to man, but disobedience to God. When they did not obey the king's rules, then those that were plotting against them turned them in for their devotion to God.

Because of their obedience to God's laws and decrees instead of man they both met the same fate. They were placed in their respective trials, the fiery furnace and the lion's den. Notice the response of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego to their situation in Daniel 3:17-18

"If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and He will rescue us from your hand, O king! But even if He does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold that you have set up"

What confidence they displayed in God. I think that there are two things in their response that we can live by. First, the sovereign God of the universe has the power, authority, and ability to save you from any circumstance.

The second is sometimes God chooses not to save us from a trial. He didn't remove the trial from these three young men or Daniel. But just like them we need to have our hearts and minds made up before we enter the trial, that no matter what happens we will continue to serve the Lord.

In both situations, God's protection and presence were provided. Don't miss this wonderful assurance from God. God provided His presence by means of the fourth person(who was likened to the son of God) or the angel. He protected each one from harm in the midst of the trial. They were neither consumed by the fire, or devoured by the lion.

In both scenarios, God is given the glory.

King Nebuchadnezzar said "No other god can save this way"

King Darius stated “For he is the living God and he endures forever; his kingdom will not be destroyed, his dominion will never end. He rescues and he saves; he performs signs and wonders in the heavens and on the earth. He has rescued Daniel from the power of the lions.”

What a testimony!

My question for you is when was the last time you were in a fiery furnace or a lion's den.

If we are being obedient to God, we should find ourselves there more often. And it would benefit our faith, if we have our decisions already made. That regardless of what God chooses to do in the trials of life, that we would continue to serve Him faithfully.

So remember, when the fires are hot and the lions are mean, you are not alone. God is right there with you. And our God rescues, saves, protects, and provides His presence.

The Valley of Dry Bones

DAY 62
Ezekiel 36:1 - 47:12


This is another woodcut by Gustavo Dore. More of these can be found at the http://catholic-resources.org/Art/Dore-Prophets.htm

The Valley of the Dry Bones is one of those interesting visions that Ezekiel had.

Ezekiel 37:2-5

"The hand of the LORD was upon me, and he brought me out in the Spirit of the LORD and set me down in the middle of the valley; it was full of bones. And he led me around among them, and behold, there were very many on the surface of the valley, and behold, they were very dry. And he said to me, "Son of man, can these bones live?" And I answered, "O Lord GOD, you know." Then he said to me, "Prophesy over these bones, and say to them, O dry bones, hear the word of the LORD. Thus says the Lord GOD to these bones: Behold, I will cause breath to enter you, and you shall live. And I will lay sinews upon you, and will cause flesh to come upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and you shall live, and you shall know that I am the LORD."

Ezekiel 37:11 "The whole house of Israel says "our bones are dried up and our hope is gone, we are cut off"

It's the questions the world still has today,
"Can these dead bodies be made alive again?"
"Is there hope left in the world?"
"Are we cut off from God?"

And here is God's response: "Prophesy and Preach the Word of God to the dry bones"

When Ezekiel began to prophesy, the bones came back together and formed a body (37:7-8) It is the same today, when the Word of God is preached then the dead in faith begin stirring and the hopeless see that there is hope. There is no greater call to a believer than to preach the Word of God. Because the Word stirs the dead in faith.

Next, God gave them breath "And breath entered them and they came to life" (37:10) After the Word of God is preached, those that hear the Word and are stirred, God gives them life. And they stand on their feet made alive, full of hope, and connected to God.

This Valley of Dry Bones can be found in the New Testament also.

It is found in Ephesians 2:1, 4-8 "As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins. But because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions - it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with Him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages He might show the incomparable riches of His grace, expressed in His kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God."

May Ezekiel remind us of our responsibility to Preach and Prophesy the Word of God to a dying world. May it also remind us that because of God's mercy and kindness, He provided the breath of life throught faith in His Son, Jesus. So that we would no longer be a Valley of Dry Bones, but a vast army of Spirit-filled believers.

The King of Tyre (and the King of Babylon)

DAY 61
Ezekiel 23:20 - 35:15

Focus Passges
Ezekiel 28:11-19 and Isaiah 14:12-17
(Illustration of the Devil provided for Paradise Lost by Gustave Dore)

The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis
"There are two equal and opposite errors into which our race can fall about the devil. One is to disbelieve in their existence. The other is to believe, and to feel an excessive and unhealthy interest in them."

As a result, we tread lightly on this subject with God's direction and protection.

The Hebrew word for Satan comes from a verb that means adversary, which is one of the ways he is portrayed. The most common Greek word is diabolos which means devil, adversary, or accuser. He is referred to as the tempter (Matt 4:3), Beelzebub (Mark 3:22), enemy (Matt 13:39), evil one (1 John 2:13), adversary (1 Peter 5:8), deceiver (Rev 12:9), great dragon (Rev 12:3), and father of lies (John 8:44). (Christian Theology, Millard Erickson)

On purpose, God chose to reveal only a little information concerning Satan, or the devil, and the fallen angels in the Bible. So far in our reading he has appeared in the Garden of Eden as the serpent and in the book of Job in the presence of God. Although not all theologians agree, a considerable number believe that the King of Tyre in Ezekiel 28:11-19 and the King of Babylon in Isaiah 14:12-17 are references to Satan.

From these two passages we might infer that Satan was created perfect in beauty and wisdom, in the garden of Eden, adorned with precious stones, a guardian cherub angel, walked in God's presence, and blameless from the day he was created. We know that his beauty and wisdom were his downfall. That he was consumed with pride and wanted to take the place of the Most High God. And because of that he and his followers were cast out of heaven.

Satan's fall and mankind's fall aren't much different. They are both the result of pride. Adam and Eve believed that their wisdom was better than God's wisdom. They essentially tried to take God's place by making decisions that were against His will. They two were cast out of God's presence and away from Eden.

And so the same result happens with each person. We in essence believe that we can make decisions better that God. We allow our pride to consume us and attempt to take the throne... at least in our own lives. The sin of pride is the foundation of all other sins. And each of us are cast out of God's presence because of it.

But as we seen through scripture, God created a plan to allow us back in His presence. That while we were still His enemies, He sent His Son to die on a cross for our pride and sin. That whosoever believes in Him would not perish, but have eternal life. That by faith his blood is applied to a believer's life. And the Holy Spirit writes the will of God on our hearts and minds so that we are able to follow Him.

May we take a lesson from the King of Tyre, the King of Babylon. Pride is the fall, God through His Son is the answer and deliverer.

The Soul that Sins shall Die, but ......

DAY 60
Ezekiel 12:21 -23:39

Ezekiel 18:4 "For every living soul belongs to me, the father as well as the son—both alike belong to me. The soul who sins is the one who will die"

Ezekiel 18 is an interesting chapter of the Bible. And it speaks plainly about the consequences of sin. The consequences of sin is death.

Later in verse 20, the writer explains in more detail.

"The soul who sins is the one who will die. The son will not share the guilt of the father, nor will the father share the guilt of the son. The righteousness of the righteous man will be credited to him, and the wickedness of the wicked will be charged against him."

It explains the each person is responsible and accountable for their own sin. While the consequences of our sins may affect future generations, we alone are accountable to God for the sin itself. But we know from Isaiah 64:6 that we are all unclean, and that our righteousness is like filthy rags.

As a result, we have a problem. Our own righteousness is not good enough. We have not been careful to keep all the decrees of God. Therefore, our wickedness will be charged against us. And the soul who sins is the one will die.

As we read further we find the character of God in verses 23.

"Do I take any pleasure in the death of the wicked? declares the Sovereign LORD. Rather, am I not pleased when they turn from their ways and live?"

God doesn't take pleasure in the death of any of His children. He would rather see them repent, turn from their ways and live.

In verses 30-32, God even explains what is needed to live.

“Therefore, O house of Israel, I will judge you, each one according to his ways, declares the Sovereign LORD. Repent! Turn away from all your offenses; then sin will not be your downfall. Rid yourselves of all the offenses you have committed, and get a new heart and a new spirit. Why will you die, O house of Israel? For I take no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Sovereign LORD. Repent and live!

A new heart and a new spirit! That is the solution to our problem. And the only one that can give you a new heart and a new spirit is God himself.

Ezekiel 36:26 "A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh."

So we need somebody else's righteousness, a new heart, and a new spirit!
It sounds like we need a gift from God.

Romans 6:23 "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord"

And with that gift comes a righteousness that fulfills God's requirements.

Romans 3:20-24 "But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus

And with that righteousness comes a new heart full of mercy and grace.
And with that righteousness come a new spirit that will be eternal.

The Soul that Sins shall Die, but if the righteousness from God through faith in Jesus is applied then your are justified and given a new heart and a new spirit.

The Watchman and God's Favor

DAY 59
Lamentations 2:1-Ezekiel 12:20

The picture is an illustration of Ezekiel 2:9-10. However, there are two thoughts into today's reading that I would like to point out.

The first is found in Ezekiel 3:17-19.
“Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; so hear the word I speak and give them warning from me. When I say to a wicked man, ‘You will surely die,’ and you do not warn him or speak out to dissuade him from his evil ways in order to save his life, that wicked man will die for his sin, and I will hold you accountable for his blood. But if you do warn the wicked man and he does not turn from his wickedness or from his evil ways, he will die for his sin; but you will have saved yourself."

It's about the responsibility we have (those that have received and heard the word of God) to our neighbors and fellow man. The illustration points to the responsibility we have of sharing the gospel to the world. If we do not share the gospel to those without Christ and warn them about the penalties of sin, then they will die and suffer the penalties. We will also be held accountable. If we share the truth and they choose not to follow, then we are not accountable.

The second point is an illustration of when God withdraws his favor from a nation. It is found in Ezekiel 5:11 "Therefore as surely as I live, declares the Sovereign LORD, because you have defiled my sanctuary with all your vile images and detestable practices, I myself will withdraw my favor; I will not look on you with pity or spare you."

We only have to look at history to see the patterns. You can see all the nations that ruled the Middle East around Jerusalem in 90 seconds. http://mapsofwar.com/ind/imperial-history.html

History continues to repeat itself. Nations have a spiritual revelation that draws them to truth about God. Those nations enjoy spiritual and earthly blessings while they follow God, or as the gospel gets shared. After the nation becomes successful and enjoys abundance, it later becomes complacent, self-centered, and apathetic. Especially concerning the truth about God. Eventually the nation falls into an abundance of sin and no longer follows God. Either a revival or hard times draws the nation back to God, or God removes His blessings and favor.

Has American lost the favor of God? I don't know.

But I can guarantee that we will lose His favor if we continue to fail as the watchman by not speaking out in our nation about Jesus.

On November 2, 2006, John MacArthur gave a message based on Romans 1 called "Abandoned by God" at Southern Seminary. It contains numerous references to the Old Testament. It can be found toward the end of the page of chapel messages. http://www.sbts.edu/resources/Audio_Resources/Chapel_Messages/Fall_2006.aspx

Yesterday's Post: Lamentations

DAY 58
Jeremiah 48:1 - Lamentations 1:22
(Overview of Lamentation)

Lamentations is an interesting book. There are two books in the Bible that deal directly with suffering: Job and Lamentations. Job deals with personal suffering, while Lamentations deals with national suffering.

It consists of five distinct poems corresponding to the five chapters of the book. Just like a few of the Psalms, each of the five poems may be called an alphabetical poem, the first four being acrostic poems. Chapters 1, 2 and 4 each have 22 verses, the first verse beginning with aleph, the second with beth, and so on through the 22 letters of the Hebrew alphabet. In chapter 3 there are 66 verses, three to each of the letters in turn. In chapter 5 there is no planned sequence to the initial letters of the verses, but there are just 22 verses in the poem all the same, so that it too might rightly be called an alphabetical poem.

If we were to assign themes to the each poem they would be

Jerusalem is deserted and forsaken (1)
Divine judgment and call to repentance (2)
Prophetic lament and hope (3)
Zion past and present (4)
Prayer for divine mercy (5)

There will be times in our lives when we face communal suffering. It could be a family that loses a patriarch or matriarch. A church that suffers a division or disgrace. Other times it may be in a community due to national disasters like tornadoes, hurricanes, or earthquakes. Or due to man-made disasters like the Murrah Building and 9/11. Sometimes its affects a whole nation like during times of war. It's those times where we have community suffering that Lamentations can be a comfort, instead of a difficult book of the Bible to get through.

We can hide into our hearts for times of national suffering the encouraging words found in Lam 3:21-26.

21 Yet this I call to mind
and therefore I have hope:
22 Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed,
for his compassions never fail.
23 They are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.
24 I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion;
therefore I will wait for him.”
25 The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him,
to the one who seeks him;
26 it is good to wait quietly
for the salvation of the Lord.

The Recabites (Rechabites)

DAY 57
Jeremiah 33:23 - 47:7

In the midst of the judgement and destruction located in Jeremiah, there is a brief interlude about a faithful group of people. An example to you and me concerning a family of obedience and the blessings on that family that God provides.

It is the story of the Recabites in Jeremiah 35.

The Recabites, were descendants of the Kenites (1 Chron 2:55).
The Kenites were descended from Moses father-in-law (Judges 1:16).
Jehonadab (Jonadab), son of Recab, helped Jehu, King of Israel, destroy the prophets and temple of Baal. (2 Kings 10:15-28).
Another son of Recab, Malkijah, helped rebuild the temple walls after the Babylonian captivity (Neh 3:14)

From what little we do have about the Recabites, a definite pattern emerges about their faithfulness. Jeremiah has constantly called Judah back to repentance, to turn from their ways or to face the correction of God. Apparently fear wasn't working. Therefore, the Lord used Jeremiah and the Recabites to show them their shame and disobedience.

Jeremiah 35:13b--16

‘Will you not learn a lesson and obey my words?’ declares the Lord. ‘Jonadab son of Recab ordered his sons not to drink wine and this command has been kept. To this day they do not drink wine, because they obey their forefather's command. But I have spoken to you again and again, yet you have not obeyed me. Again and again I sent all my servants the prophets to you. They said, “Each of you must turn from your wicked ways and reform your actions; do not follow other gods to serve them. Then you will live in the land I have given to you and your fathers.” But you have not paid attention or listened to me. The descendants of Jonadab son of Recab have carried out the command their forefather gave them, but these people have not obeyed me.’

So the Recabites had been more faithful to their forefather's commands than the Israelites had been to God and his prophets. Because the Israelites did not listen, then Judah and Jerusalem would suffer every disaster pronounced against them.

Since the Recabites had been faithful, they would never fail to have someone serve God.

We can learn a little bit from the story of the Recabites. The first is that the Word of God teaches that there are consequences for disobedience. Now, I don't think that is suprising to most people. But, I do believe we forget that there are consequences for our actions. Not only for ourselves, but for our families as well.

The proof of that would be to look at the state of marriage in America. As a nation our warped priorities and sinful actions have affected the state of marriage, so that almost half of all marriages end in divorce. What is worse, is that even for church-goers, the statistics don't lag much farther behind. As we have drifted into a self-centered culture that places more importance on the individual instead of God, we are reaping the consequences of our actions.

The second lesson is this: that there are blessings for obedience. There is an interesting fact about this blessing that is different than many made in the Old Testament. This one happens not to be conditional. Because a family decided to obey their forefathers (who were faithful to God), the descendants of that family would always have someone serve God.

It works in a similar manner today. I know that through God's providence and design, I have had family that were faithful to God. Because of their actions, descendants in their families, inlcuding me, have served God. It may have been the same in your family. The responsibility is yours and mine to continue that blessing, to train our families in obedience to God.

If not, you can start a blessing for generations to come (or until the Lord returns). You could be the Jonadab, son of Recab, for your family. You could sow the seed of faithfulness and obedience to God, which is one of the greatest inheritances you could give.

May we continue the example of the Recabites to a world that looks a lot like Judah.

Hide and Seek; Call and Answer

DAY 56
Jeremiah 23:9 - 33:22

Jeremiah 23:23-24
"Am I only a God nearby", declares the Lord, "and not a God far way?"
"Can anyone hide in secret places so that I cannot see Him?" declares the Lord
"Do not I fill heaven and earth?" declares the Lord.

Sometimes we live our lives like the game hide and seek. We actually go through our days either hiding from God, or acting like He can't see what were doing. I wonder why we do that. As believers, we not only have God the Father watching us, but also Jesus interceding for us, and the Holy Spirit in us to guide our way. But sometimes we sure don't live like it.

It's important to practice the presence of God in our lives. To live each moment with the knowledge of the Holy Spirit in our hearts. To pray without ceasing. Because if we make it a practice to constantly call on God, we are less likely to act like He is far away. And God promises He will answer us.

Jeremiah 33:2-3
"This is what the Lord says, He who made the earth, the Lord who formed it and established it - the Lord is His name: Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know."

It's a ray of hope in the middle of Jeremiah's prophecies of God's judgement and wrath.
It's a glimpe at restoration.
It's a promise that only God can make. Not only will He answer when you call on Him, but He will tell you some amazing things. God would tell you that

I provided a Way for you to enter my presence.

I provided a Life for you, so that you could live eternally.

I provided a Lamb for you, so your sins would be taken away.

I provided Bread for you when you are hungry.

I provided Light for you when it is dark.

I provided the Truth for you amidst all the lies.

I provided a Friend for you when you are lonely.

I provided a High Priest for you, to intercede on your behalf.

I provided a Counselor for you when your discouraged.

I provided a Helper for you when you are in trouble.

And I am the God nearby who sees you. There is no reason to hide. You can call on me and I will answer!

At the Potter's House

DAY 55
Jeremiah 10:14 - 23:8


In Jeremiah 18 and 19 we get to take a trip to the potter's house.

Jeremiah 18:1-6 "The word which came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying: 2 "Arise and go down to the potter's house, and there I will cause you to hear My words." 3 Then I went down to the potter's house, and there he was, making something at the wheel. 4 And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter; so he made it again into another vessel, as it seemed good to the potter to make. 5 Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying: 6 "O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter?" says the LORD. "Look, as the clay is in the potter's hand, so are you in My hand, O house of Israel!


We have heard this before in Isaiah.

Isaiah 64:8 But now, O LORD, You are our Father; We are the clay, and You our potter; And all we are the work of Your hand.

There are two things I want to share about the story of the potter.

The first is that God can take cracked, marred, and broken people and form them into someone good and with purpose. He can fix the brokenness. He can fix the loneliness. He can fix the life marred and stained by sin. He can fix the rough edges around the corners.

For whatever reason, sometimes God doesn't fix what we think is broken. I think it is a matter of perspective. Sometimes the things we most want God to take care of, are the things that draw us closer to Him. Maybe the odd shape of our pot is what brought us into a saving knowledge of Jesus, or a deeper dependence on God. I don't know the answers to why the potter fashions the clay in certain ways, but then again I don't have to.

Which brings me to my second point. God is the potter. That brings fear to some, but it should be peace to those that love and follow Him. I would much rather trust in the character of God to form and fashion me the way He pleases than depend on me or anyone else to mold the clay. And if we truly believe that God is holy, loving, and gracious; then the potter's wheel becomes not just a place for correction, but a place of comfort, rest, and beauty.

And when your at the Potter's house, you can sing:

HAVE THINE OWN WAY, LORD! HAVE THINE OWN WAY!
THOU ART THE POTTER, I AM THE CLAY!
MOLD ME AND MAKE ME AFTER THY WILL
WHILE I AM WAITING, YIELDED AND STILL

Broken Cisterns

DAY 54
Isaiah 66:19 - Jeremiah 10:13


This picture of the "broken-hearted prophet" Jeremiah was painted by Michelangelo and is located in the Sistine Chapel.

Jeremiah is also known as the weeping prophet. His message consisted of stern rebuke for the sins of Israel and of warning that divine judgement could not be averted. Through him God sought first to turn the hearts of the people back to Him during the reign of Josiah. And when Israel once again departed from the Lord, Jeremiah was used to secure their co-operation with His purpose in the Captivity, which came not as retributive punishment but as remedial discipline. He constantly wept over the sins of Israel and over the doom that threatened his beloved nation. Jeremiah had cause for weeping if any prophet ever had, but he bore his message faithfully.
(Parts of this summary of Jeremiah is from http://www.nisbett.com/summary/sum-o-21.htm)

Jeremiah 2:13
"My people have committed two sins: They have forsaken me, the spring of living water, and have dug their own cisterns, broken cisterns that cannot hold water."

The Hebrew people committed two sins: They chose not to serve God and they chose to serve themselves.

It's a flashback to the past with Joshua, "Choose you this day whom you will serve!", when Israel served the Lord. But with each successive king, Israel continued to choose to serve themselves instead of God. And Jeremiah is chosen to proclaim the future discipline and correction they will suffer.

It also points us to the future, when the voice of God would be quiet with His chosen people. For years, they would not hear his guidance. And their attempts to serve themselves became like cisterns that could not hold water. Their faith became dry and parched without the living water God provides.

It also points us to the picture of Jesus with the woman at the well.

John 4:13-14
Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”

Notice that the reference to God the Father and Jesus the Son are the same: they are the spring of living water, the spring of eternal life.

We all try to carry water in broken cisterns made from our own design. Attempting to create our own righteousness, our own truth, and sometimes even our own god. In the end we will just be left with an empty bottle because all our attempts are apart from God.

A life without God is an empty cistern, and a house built on shifting sand.

There is only one water fountain that contains the spring of living water. His name is Jesus. And just like the woman at the well, He is waiting for you to ask for a drink.