awesome deeds

Posted on March 6, 2013 by Jefferson Vann

IMG_0586Psalm 65

At first, the awesome deeds of the LORD which he is being praised for seem to be the same natural wonders of psalm 19: nature declaring the glory of its designer.  But then, the psalmist paints a picture of wagons overloaded with harvest abundance, and valleys decked out with golden grain.  These too are God’s awesome deeds.  He gives the abundance that is the result of “our work.”  If he withheld his hand, all our toil would be useless. 

Thank you LORD, for performing your miraculous awesome deeds, and making our work accomplish your purposes.

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getting it done

Posted on March 6, 2013 by Jefferson Vann

IMG_0584Ezra 1

People attribute Cyrus’ decision to restore the holy cities beyond the Tigris river to good royal strategy – and it was.  But the writer of Ezra recognizes that the mastermind behind that good royal strategy is the LORD.  He intends to fulfill his promise to restore his city, and return his people.  He uses king Cyrus to begin that restoration.  At stake is more than a ruined city.  At stake is the glory of the LORD.  When God wants to do something, he will get it done.  If it takes turning the heart of a pagan king, that’s what he will do.  Pray for God to do something, and do not be surprised if he moves your heart to get it done.

LORD, make a difference in our community, and use us if you wish.

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secret strike

Posted on March 5, 2013 by Jefferson Vann

IMG_0588Psalm 64

If you have ever been in a place where you fear some secret invasion, or an attack from some unseen enemy, you can appreciate the imagery here.  The enemy has found a place to hide and pounce when the righteous one is not ready.  The psalmist asks God to catch his enemy by surprise and ambush him.  The result will be that people will wag their heads as if to say “he never saw that coming.”  The secret strike was the LORD’s, and the righteous one can rejoice.

LORD, we trust you.  We know you are watching when no one seems to be watching.

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the right choices

Posted on March 5, 2013 by Jefferson Vann

IMG_05872 Chronicles 36

We have followed the chronicler as he has retold the story of the kings of Judah.  He took us through the good and the bad – mostly bad – times.  Even the best of the kings did not look well when scrutinized by his omniscient-like reflection.  The human heroes of the works turn out to be two people who were not kings of Judah: Jeremiah the prophet who predicted restoration, and Cyrus, king of Persia whose spirit was stirred up by the LORD to allow it.  Both books are revealed to be less about the bad choices the kings of Judah made, and more about the opportunity that the readers have to make the right choices.

LORD, help us to make the right choices… ones that honor you and extend your kingdom.

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no more Mondays

Posted on March 4, 2013 by Jefferson Vann

IMG_0586Psalm 63

There are times when our worship is so sweet, and our experience in God’s presence is so real, that we cannot imagine it getting any better than this.  Then, Monday happens.  Hang in there, believers.  There will be a day when our LORD returns and sets up his presence among us in such a way that our souls will be eternally satisfied.  We can trust our LORD to remake this world in which we live in such a miraculous way that there will be no more Mondays.

LORD, we wait for your promise of eternally satisfied souls.

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an unexpected mouth

Posted on March 4, 2013 by Jefferson Vann

IMG_05852 Chronicles 35:20-27

We should not be surprised that the great reforming king Josiah would end his life in such an ignominious way.  His story is of one who dared to respond to the word of the LORD.  His only failure is that he did not recognize that word when it came from the mouth of the king of Egypt.  Had Josiah only been listening, as he had before, he would have been able to keep up his reforms, and might have spared his kingdom much misery.  May this be a lesson for believers to keep listening. It might be that the next word from our LORD will come from an unexpected mouth.

LORD, keep us willing to hear what you want us to know.

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sustaining grace

Posted on March 3, 2013 by Jefferson Vann

IMG_0584Psalm 62

This psalm celebrates the security that believers have in the LORD.  That security is not found in any other.  A man – even a good man – cannot be trusted the way God can be trusted.  The LORD is the believer’s rock, salvation, glory, and stronghold.  He sustains.

Thank you LORD, for your sustaining grace.

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looking back, looking forward

Posted on March 3, 2013 by Jefferson Vann

IMG_05832 Chronicles 35:1-19

In the same year that Josiah rediscovered the Book of the Law, he reinstituted the Passover, and celebrated it as none had ever done in his lifetime.  It was a tremendous celebration of God’s grace, which looked back to the time that the LORD rescued the Israelites from bondage in Egypt, and looked forward to the day when the Messiah would die on a cross to rescue all sinners from death.   Christians regularly remind ourselves of that grace when we partake of the LORD’s supper.  That feast looks back on our deliverance at the cross, and forward to the day when we celebrate his grace in the renewed earth that grace will make possible.

LORD, teach us to look back at your grace, and forward to its result.

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saved to serve

Posted on March 2, 2013 by Jefferson Vann

IMG_0582Psalm 61

This psalm combines elements of an individual lament and a royal psalm.  David can do this, because his need for God’s response and the preservation of God’s plans through the monarchy are the same purposes.  It is helpful for all of us to pray like this because our lives are part of God’s plan.  We need to seek his support not only to save our lives, but also because he wants to use our lives to reach the next generation for his eternal kingdom.

LORD, preserve us, and use us as you wish.

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new mission

Posted on March 2, 2013 by Jefferson Vann

IMG_05812 Chronicles 34

Josiah was already 18 years into his mission of reforming Judah when his servant found a book among the collected items in the temple.  Once he heard its words, he knew that it was the Law of the LORD, and that his people were going to be judged for failing to obey it.  He immediately humbled himself, and God assured him that he would not suffer the punishment because he responded correctly to the Law by seeking grace.

His mission grew from that time on.  Not only was he to see that all of the vestiges of the old idolatry were destroyed, he added to that mission the new mission of proclaiming the words of the Book of the Covenant, and made his people join in the covenant.

LORD, make us responsive to your word.  May proclaiming your word be our mission.

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