My People December 6, 2014 Year B These verses compose a set of prophetic statements about Israel. Israel, the people of God were declared “not my people” by the prophet Hosea. Now, there will be a reversal of fortune. God will be their God, and they will be His people (Ezekiel 36:28). Then God describes how He will make them His people. God will take them from the nations (Ezekiel 36:24) God will gather them from all the countries (Ezekiel 36:24)... Read more
Receiving Comfort Through the Goodness of God December 5, 2014 Year B God’s goodness can give us comfort. There is a voice which comforts us, a voice that speaks about the goodness of God. ““Comfort, comfort My people,” says your God.” (Isaiah 40:1, HCSB) Another voice tells us to get ready to receive that comfort. In order to do that, we have to prepare for God come to us. God does not just give us His comfort because of who... Read more
The One Who Will Rule Over Israel Micah 5:2-3 These verses identify five characteristics of Jesus Christ as “The One” Who will rule over Israel. 1. He will come (be born) from Bethlehem Ephrathah (the Bethlehem in the south) – He will be born as a man (5:2a). 2. Although He will be “born” in Bethlehem, Jesus’ origin is from eternity (He is God) (5:2b). 3. He will leave (abandon) for a certain amount of time. This is a prophecy... Read more
God’s Work In Our Salvation December 4, 2014 Year B The psalmist recalls God’s work in salvation. The subject of salvation is God. He is the author, the worker, and the finisher of salvation. God brings prosperity to the people and shows favors to the land (Psalm 85:1). Why? God does His work in our salvation. He took away guilt (Psalm 85:2) and covered sin (Psalm 85:2). He withdrew and turned His anger (Psalm 85:3). He abandons His displeasure (Psalm... Read more
Don’t Underestimate What God Wants to Do in Your Life December 3, 2014 Year B “I chose you before I formed you in the womb; I set you apart before you were born. I appointed you a prophet to the nations. But I protested, “Oh no, Lord, God! Look, I don’t know how to speak since I am only a youth.” Then the Lord said to me: Do not say, “I am only a youth,” for you will go to... Read more
God of our salvation, help us — for the glory of Your name. Deliver us and atone for our sins, because of Your name. Psalm 79:9 (HCSB) November 29, 2014 Help Me for the Glory of Your Name When you hear someone ask for God’s help, it is usually for personal selfish reasons. Any number of prayer requests come with the disclaimer “help me.” These selfish reasons are not wrong because they are usually attached to needs: food, water, provision,... Read more
God Heals My Spiritual Injuries “On that day— this is the Lord’s declaration— I will assemble the lame and gather the scattered, those I have injured. I will make the lame into a remnant, those far removed into a strong nation. Then the Lord will rule over them in Mount Zion from this time on and forever.” (Micah 4:6–7, HCSB) December 1, 2014 Year B At a future time, God will bring everyone HE has injured and bring them together.... Read more
People Pottery November 30, 2014 Yet Lord, You are our Father; we are the clay, and You are our potter; we all are the work of Your hands. Isaiah 64:7 (HCSB) People who use clay to make all kinds of vessels and instruments are called potters. They take ordinary clay and they form it into bowls, plates, instruments of all kinds, ornaments, or even just paperweights. The end result is limited only by the imagination of the potter. The... Read more
Food of Tears “You fed them the bread of tears and gave them a full measure of tears to drink.” (Psalm 80:5, HCSB) November 28, 2014 Year B Tears are the food of a prayer tortured soul. I have heard one time that tears are a blessing from God. But one wouldn’t think that from this verse. The psalmist describes a prayer scene full of anguish and pain. He is asking God to restore them. The reason is because the psalmist feels... Read more
The Season of Advent The Season of Advent starts an early New Year. It is the beginning of a new liturgical year for those churches that follow the lectionary readings. A new cycle of scriptural readings begins. The season of Advent is a wonderful time when the church celebrates the beginning of the church year. In many churches, it will last forty days (and four Sundays. Each Sunday concentrates on a specific element of the Advent season. For some Christian traditions, each... Read more
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