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Today we will read Colossians 1:19-20. These verses say, 

“For God was pleased to have all His fullness dwell in Him and through Him to reconcile everything to Himself by making peace through the blood of His cross whether things on earth or things in heaven.”

Every religion worships. But I wonder, how do they know how? What is God like? There are many things we can deduce without a bible - that God creates, and is all-powerful if we even understand what “all-powerful” means. We are in fact hopelessly limited.

That is, unless God shows us what He’s like. These verses succinctly say what the whole Bible is about. That Jesus is the fullness of God in a way we can best understand. What is God like? Look at Jesus. What does God feel? Look at Jesus. What does God do? Look at Jesus. Jesus is the interface between 4 dimensional humans, and inter dimensional deity. He is the absolute fullness of God and man. 

Do you understand this? Neither do I. But should it surprise you that God would reveal Himself in such a way? Why not? In order to communicate at all it must be in a way that humans can understand. Why not as a human? God is thorough in every other way - why not in His communication?

And what did Jesus do? He reconciled, or restored friendly relations, with… with what? With EVERYTHING on heaven and on earth. Everything? It’s what it says. What does it mean? I suppose it means everything. And why shouldn’t it? God is God of all!

“God, my mind races with thoughts of all You are and all You’re doing. I don’t have a clue but I’m excited for You! You are the hero and I get to watch as You reconcile all things. Praise Your Name!”

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Today we will read Philippians 1:6. This verse says, “I am sure of this, that He who started a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” 

Who is responsible for You? You might say yourself. And in most ways we ask the question, you’d be right. But if we get a higher view, there is Someone Who has taken responsibility for you long ago. That’s God. God is the One Who began a work - and not any work - a good work - in you. And it is on Him, not you, to complete it. 

Let’s acknowledge then a couple things. First, it’s not complete yet. You may have noticed that you still struggle. Perhaps you struggle more or less with the same things you’ve struggled with for years or decades. You may wonder if God is through with you. Far from it! God will see to it that the good work is completed until the Day of Christ Jesus! Perhaps we’ll ponder what that Day is another time.

Our second acknowledgement is that we are once again thrown onto the altar of God’s character. If God had a limit, a governor, a measure of patience, then we’d have for sure maxed out. But we are dealing with a Being of infinite resource. The good work He is seeing to is based on Who He is - not who we are. While mysterious, we can allow this reality to fill us with confidence (not in ourselves) but in Him. He is our confidence.

“God there are days I’m ashamed to even show up here. But no matter, You are the One doing the good work. You took this responsibility on Yourself. You are the Hero - not me. You’re amazing! I want to be receptive to the good work you are doing in and around me.”

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Today we will read 2 verses. Proverbs 18:10 and then verse 11. “The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are protected.” And then verse 11, “A rich man’s wealth is his fortified city; in his imagination it is like a high wall.”

These may not seem like a pair at first glance. But maybe they are. The name - YAWHEH - is a strong tower. Those who run to it are “protected?” Literally it means they are lifted up. They are elevated out of harms way. What is the Lord’s Name? Our names are combinations of arbitrary sounds. But not YAHWEH. When He revealed His “name” to Moses it was more of a description. “Yahweh is compassionate, gracious, slow to anger, rich in faithful love. Forgiving wrongdoing but also One Who brings justice.” This is a good God - and if we’re honest, we wouldn’t want Him to be any different.

The righteous run to this Name. Do you? Are you willing to believe God is this self-description? How does that affect how you approach Him? Contrast that with verse 11. “A rich man’s wealth.” It’s his fortified city - he believes it to be a high wall. A high wall - lifted up - protected.

What protects you? Is it wealth? If you have wealth is your faith in it? If you don’t have wealth, do you pursue it as though it will protect you? Of course, money is something - it isn’t nothing. But it only takes a small accident, a tragedy, a funeral, even a birthday party, to realize that money is powerless ultimately. 

But God - God is the real power. He has all resource. He has all time. And He is good. Run to Him. Take refuge in Him. “God I believe this. I don’t exactly know how to take refuge in You except to say that I believe You. I lean on You to be my protection and my provision. I need You.”

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Today we will read Proverbs 15:24. “To the discerning the path of life leads upward, so that he may avoid going down to Sheol.”

The Old Testament doesn’t say a lot about the afterlife. And it would be impossible to know exactly what the writer of this proverb intended. No matter. This was written for our benefit and to instruct. There is a path that leads “upward”. This path is opposite and opposed to the path that leads “downward” to Sheol - the shadowy abode of the dead.

And what separates these two paths? Discernment. It’s the discerning who take the path upward. Does this surprise you? You might think sinless perfection, or righteousness, or religious observances are what lead you to God. Apparently not. It’s this magical word “Discernment.”

If we looked at the whole of Proverbs, discernment, wisdom, knowledge…these seem to be synonymous. And they have one source - God Himself - and specifically - fear of the Lord. No, you cannot earn God’s favor in yourself. But You can receive God’s favor by appealing to God Himself. This is discernment.

God, this discernment, the ability to see things for what they are, to recognize that which is true, comes from You - and how badly we need it. I appeal to You for it. Give me Your wisdom, Your understanding so that I can experience You and live this day successfully. 

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Today we will read a passage from Ezekiels vision of God. This is Ezekiel 1:26-28. “The shape of a throne with the appearance of sapphire stone was above the expanse. There was a form with the appearance of a human on the throne high above. From what seemed to be His waist up, I saw a gleam like amber, with what looked like fire enclosing it all around. From what seemed to be His waist down, I also saw what looked like fire. There was a brilliant light all around Him. The appearance of the brilliant light all around was like that of a rainbow in a cloud on a rainy day. This was the appearance of the form of the Lord’s glory. When I saw it, I fell facedown and heard a voice speaking.”

What does God look like? And what does that even mean? Our eyes only take in the thinnest frequency band of energy and interpret that as color. But we know that there is “light” or “energy” far far beyond what we can see. And then our knowledge of energy comes to an end. So does God “look” like anything? He is Spirit. Paul says He is invisible. 

And yet here, and in numerous other passages, we get glimpses of God. Rather, we get a glimpse of how He is willing to present Himself in a moment. And it is truly other-worldly. You may want to read the entire chapter to get the context of strange and magnificent creatures that attend to God. But always the most brilliance and gleam is reserved for God Himself. 

Notice the difficulty in the wording: “a form with the appearance of a human” - “this was the appearance of the form of the Lord’s glory.” Ezekiel is struggling to describe what he sees. This is the best he can do. Perhaps we can take away 2 things: first, God is beyond our wildest imagine. And second, God comes to us ultimately as human.

Are you willing to receive this as it is? Again, you don’t have to understand. Faith doesn’t understand. Faith believes. And like Ezekiel, we too fall facedown when confronted with God.

God, I do not pretend to have You figured out. But I delight in the beauty of Your glory. I wonder at Your love for humanity - Your love for me.

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Today we will read Jeremiah 1:5 which says, “I chose you before I formed you in the womb; I set you apart before you were born.”

What do you think about your life? Perhaps you’re like many today who believe your life is not valuable, or special, or important. But that’s not so. Not only did God form Jeremiah in the womb, but God chose him even before He formed him in the womb. How can this be? No one knows. But his life was important to God.

Not only was he chosen, but he was set apart. Set apart? Unique? Special? Yes! Why? Because God wanted it so.

And it’s the same with you. You ARE chosen. You ARE special to the only One Who matters - God. What are you chosen for? What are you set apart for? Only God can reveal that. And that is why you are here right now doing what you are doing.

God, I believe my life is special because of You. I want to realize the special calling and purpose You have for me. I trust that it is good. Perhaps not easy. Perhaps not simple. But good. I know that I can only realize it with You. Give me glimpses now.

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Today we will read Isaiah 40:15 which says, “Look, the nations are like a drop in a bucket; they are considered as a speck of dust in the scales…” 

Does the world around you seem overwhelming, loud, exhausting? You’re not alone. It’s easy to be swept up in the politics, pandemics, economics, technology, medicine, environment, society… what to do? And even if you could bring some sanity, where to begin?

And yet it is all a superficial film overtop the solidity of God. He says of the nations, not just our nation, but all the nations ever, that they are the dust on the scales. No they are not even the scales themselves. They are the inconsequential specks lying on the scales. They are a mere drop in a bucket. To God, there is no clamor, no stress, no fear, no lack of power, wisdom, or capacity.

You and I are mere mortals. But God is not. He has no limit. All that we fret about is real - that’s true. But it’s also beyond us. So why bother? Why not instead go to the one who holds the universe in His hands?

God, the things around me are too great for me. I admit it. But they are nothing for you. So here are my concerns. I give them to You. What I really need is You. And I trust You to deal with the realities of my life. Either address them, or empower me and give me the wisdom to deal with them. Either way, it’s all from You.

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Happy Passion Week. And thank you for listening to these classic replays as my family and I have been moving into our new home. New content will be coming tomorrow but for today, I hope you enjoy this last classic replay on “Sin.” Everything in the life of Christ led up to this week and to the cross in particular. It’s good to be reminded that dealing with sin is the entire reason Jesus came in the first place. Matthew 1:21 says “She will have a son, and you are to name Him Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.”

The name Jesus started as Yeshua. It’s well established that this is even how it was pronounced. So how did Yeshua become Jesus? The name Yeshua was common - the equivalent of Joshua. The name itself means “God saves” or “God delivers.” The Hebrew language doesn’t have vowels, and sometimes the Y was pronounced as a J. Therefore - Jehshua, or Jeeshua. Latin added an M, or an S. Jesum, Jesus.

However it happened exactly, what cannot be denied is that this God-man, named “God delivers” came to rescue us from our sin and through peacefully, lovingly, and radically ministering, ultimately dying a humiliating and bloody death, has utterly turned the world upside down. Every person owes it to themselves to take Jesus seriously and consider the implications in their own life. Thank you again for listening.

Today we will read 1 John 1:9 - If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

There are some who believe they have no sin (or perhaps very little). The next verse affirms this when it says “If we say ‘we don’t have any sin,’ we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.” These are the resistant. There are others who are so grief-stricken, so disappointed, so ashamed of themselves that they live their lives in a self-imposed prison. These are the hopeless.

But scripture offers a better way. Scripture acknowledges our sin. It doesn’t even apologize for doing so. There it is. In you, in me, in everyone. What to do with it though? Bury it, try better next time, punish yourself? 

No. Take it to God. Boldly and without hesitation. Confess to Him and He will forgive. And not only forgive, but cleanse you of all unrighteousness. God stands ready to forgive every wrongdoing, every misstep, every rebellion, the very worst deeds that you could possibly commit…He stands ready to forgive simply with a confession.

Does this sound too good to be true? Just because it’s incredible to you, doesn’t mean that it’s not true. God is far better than you or I think. God made all this possible in Jesus Himself. He will deal with the injustice of humanity in His own way and in His own time. But for now…you…if YOU confess YOUR sin… do it now.

God You are true. I am sinful. If I only judged myself by my own standard I miserably fail. But compared to You, I would be a liar to say I’m not sinful. But I confess to You and I receive Your forgiveness and Your cleansing of all my unrighteousness. I don’t even hesitate. I don’t wait until I feel better. I receive it now. I confess the following… 

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Today we will read Isaiah 43:18-19, and 21. These verses say, “Do not remember the past events, pay no attention to things of old. Look, I am about to do something new; even now it is coming. Do you not see it? Indeed, I will make a way in the wilderness, rivers in the desert. The people I formed for Myself will declare My praise.”

You may have heard the old adage, “The bible is written for you, not to you.” It’s good to remember that we are reading ancient literature for a particular time, people, and place. Exactly what the Jews thought when they heard this is unknown. But it’s important to recognize that this portion of Isaiah is in the “Servant” or better yet, “Jesus” passages of the book. 

When you think of God, do you see a being doing new things? Or do you see a distant, static being unmoved by our pain? Unwilling to take action? 

Here God is anything but. Not only are we told that God is doing a new thing, but it’s so new, so novel, so revolutionary, that we are to forget the past. This new is so new that there’s no room to remember the old. It’s that new.

“Do you not see it?” He asks. The text reads with a sense of frenzy. “I will make rivers in the desert” Rivers don’t flow in the desert. But when God does new things, the convention of the old becomes obsolete. The new is here! And God is doing it.

And what’s the result of this fury of new activity? The people will declare His praise. But not just any people. Not distant or insignificant people. These people have been formed by God, and for God. He made people for Himself. He seems to exult in doing a new thing and receiving praise from people. And He doesn’t even apologize for making people for His own sake. It’s you. You are His people! Are you willing? Are you willing to praise?

God I praise You! I use my mouth, my voice, my hands to declare that You are wonderful! You are active. Be active in and around me today!

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Today we will read Mark 16:1-6 which says, “When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, so they could go and anoint Him. Very early in the morning, on the first day of the week, they went to the tomb at sunrise. They were saying to on another, ‘Who will roll away the stone from the entrance to the tomb for us?’ Looking up, they observed that the stone - which was very large - had been rolled away. When they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a long white robe sitting on the right side’ they were amazed and alarmed. ‘Don’t be alarmed,’ he told them. ‘You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has been resurrected! He is not here!…”

What is the most important thing Jesus did? Is it even possible to answer that question? Everything Jesus has done, continues to do, and will do is absolutely perfect and totally consistent with His nature. It was in His nature to create the universe. It was in His nature to love humanity. It was in His nature to take on all the responsibility of reestablishing the lost relationship with us. It was in His nature to go the distance in dealing with sin all the way to the bloody cross. And it’s in His nature to live! Nothing can keep Jesus from doing exactly what He sets out to do.

Is resurrection hard to believe? It’s actually not complicated. All you need to do to perform a resurrection is to apply the perfect amount of energy, in the absolute perfect way, perfectly understanding all the variables, and with perfect wisdom. Nothing to it. For God that is. Doing things perfectly is simply what He does. And God lives. What is death compared to an infinitely energetic God? It’s an aberrant only here briefly to accomplish even more mysterious but perfect wishes of the King.

Resurrection in itself is hardly miraculous for God. He generates universes with such wisdom as to confound physicists. The science behind it is like breathing for God. The true miracle, if there is such a thing with God, is the fact that God is Who God is. We have a God Who wants to create, and pursue, and go the distance, and not cut a single corner along the way. Our God wants You, and our God will not stop until He has you. The resurrection is just one more indication of what He’s like. And He’s just getting started. The resurrection, like the cross, is not the end but simply the beginning. Jesus started it. But He’s taking us along for the ride. So buckle up. Because He is way more energetic, and way better than we could possibly imagine.

Jesus, praise Your name! You are alive. Nothing can hold you back. I worship You and celebrate You! Hallelujah.