for the birds

Posted on March 25, 2013 by Jefferson Vann

baptism 155Psalm 84

I used to always think of this psalm when attending Maranatha Bible Church in Cagayan de Oro city, Philippines.  The large building had steel bars on some of its upper windows and its walls, which freely let in the local birds.  It was awesome to see the birds flying around, almost as if they wanted to join in worship with the singers and tambourine dancers.

This psalm speaks of the temple in Jerusalem, how comforted it was to think that the God of that awesome temple still had time to take care of the birds.  Is your church for the birds?  God is.

LORD, thank you for caring for the little things.  Your grace is amazing.

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tithing the tithe

Posted on March 24, 2013 by Jefferson Vann

baptism 142Nehemiah 10

The people swear an oath of loyalty to the covenant, agreeing to do what the law requires.  Among the requirements of this commitment was to give a tithe, and a tithe of the tithe went to the chambers of the temple storehouse. 

Tithing is not required under the new covenant, but it is a great idea if you can afford it, and most can.  One of the blessings of regularly giving a percentage of what you make is that you can see in your tithe check a visual reminder of how well the Lord is taking care of you.  As your income increases, your tithe increases.  The local church I attend in Williamsburg tithes the offerings, and that goes to missions.  What a great way to say thank-you to the LORD – helping to bring others into his church.

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silencing the noise

Posted on March 24, 2013 by Jefferson Vann

baptism 123Psalm 83

The noise is deafening. It is the noise of a people clamoring to destroy God’s people.  The psalmist asks the LORD to silence them, to make them perish instead.  There are only two eternal destinies: eternal life through Christ or eternal death after judgment.  Your choice.

LORD, your judgments are true, and sure.  We run to you for life instead of the death we deserve.

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true confessions

Posted on March 24, 2013 by Jefferson Vann

baptism 122Nehemiah 9

This long confession gives readers insight into what God wants of us when we come to him.  Often our confessions seem empty and selfish.  We know more about our failures and needs than God’s desires.  After hearing God’s word read and explained, the returning Israelites were able to confess their true situation.  They confessed God’s grace, and how they had rebelled against it. 

LORD, teach us how to confess the truth, not just our truth.

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the gods are mortal

Posted on March 23, 2013 by Jefferson Vann

baptism 113Psalm 82.  Most commentators are quick to put quotation marks around the word gods in this psalm.  They take this as a prophecy against unjust human rulers.  They claim that Jesus implied this in John 10:34-35. But Jesus only claimed that the subjects of this psalm heard the words of God, not that they were human.  This psalm is a lament, pleading for God to judge the earth (8), and rescue it from the gods who are destroying it by ruling it selfishly. These gods are angelic beings who are abusing their power by showing partiality to the wicked, not giving justice to the weak and fatherless, and not rescuing the weak and needy (3-4).  These sons of the Most High had been appointed as gods among men, but the LORD is going to remove them from their thrones, and destroy them.  Like men, they will die, and fall like any prince (7).  They are not immortal like God is. Only God is immortal.

LORD, we trust in you to destroy all your enemies, and to bring justice to the earth.

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joy through understanding

Posted on March 23, 2013 by Jefferson Vann

baptism 109Nehemiah 8

Restoration is not possible without being confronted by the revelation – God’s word, his law.  Yet the LORD never intends those who will be involved in restoration to stop at the mourning phase.  When God intercedes by his grace, we will feel sorry for our sins and shortcomings, but the end result should be joy.  Key to getting back our joy is the ministry of explaining the sense of the Scriptures.  Knowing the scriptures clearly brings joy.

LORD, restore to us the joy of your salvation.

Posted in discipleship, encouragement, joy, Nehemiah | Tagged | 1 Comment

honey from the rock

Posted on March 22, 2013 by Jefferson Vann

baptism 108Psalm 81

One does not normally get honey from a rock.  That is why this image speaks of the extent to which the LORD will go to take care of those he loves.  All he asks of us is single-hearted devotion.  He wants us to get rid of our strange gods. 

LORD, we want to follow you alone.  Reveal to us those gods that are keeping us from you.

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transition time

Posted on March 22, 2013 by Jefferson Vann

baptism 097Nehemiah 7

This chapter is mostly made up of a list that already appeared in Ezra.  It fits in Nehemiah’s story because it records the people who came back from exile.  After the construction of the wall for defense, it was time to transition to focus on the people.  While the land is important because of God’s promises, it is the people of God who will inherit it. 

Our church in Williamsburg, VA has been going through an ordeal for months because we have outgrown the space where we gather, and have been seeking a larger building.  So far, the Holy Spirit has prevented us from getting one.  Along the way, we have discovered that our most urgent need is not a building, but ways to meet the needs of people. 

LORD, help us to focus on loving the people who need you, and training the people who know you.

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a shining face

Posted on March 21, 2013 by Jefferson Vann

baptism 087Psalm 80

Israel is described as a vine which had grown out as far as the Euphrates River.  Then God had allowed the protective wall of the vineyard to be broken down, so that passers-by could take of the vine’s fruit at will.  The psalmist pleads for God to let his face shine on his people once again.  A shining face is a blessing face, a face of grace.  Grace restores.  Have you met the God of grace?  Come to Jesus.  He will make his face to shine on you, and restore you.

LORD, Let your face shine, that we may be saved.

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non-stop

Posted on March 21, 2013 by Jefferson Vann

baptism 084Nehemiah 6

Nehemiah speaks here of numerous attempts to make him afraid.  The non-Israelite leaders of the land were themselves afraid that God would empower Nehemiah to lead a rebellion.  They also feared the policy against intermarriage which had been enforced by Ezra.  They wanted the rebuilding to stop, and they tried everything short of all-out war to top it.  Nevertheless, the wall was finished.  It was a lesson in faithfulness amid conflict for the Jews, who did this thing with the help of their God.

LORD, keep us faithful to our calling regardless of the attempts to stop us.

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