Today's Worship: God yearns for all.

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him in James 1:9-10,

 

"The brother in humble circumstances ought to take pride in his high position. But the one who is rich should take pride in his low position, because he will pass away like a wild flower."

 

God loves all people. It matters not whether they are held in high esteem in this life. Indeed, in 2:5 James makes a point that God has sought those who are poor in this life. This world seeks the attractive, the powerful, the wealthy and the strong. God is not moved by these things. We are told in 1 Corinthians 1:25-29, "The foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man's strength. Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him."

 

What God does desire is that we turn to him. Perhaps it is easier to turn to God when we find a need for him in this life. The reality is that we all desperately need him, it is just that some fail to recognize that need. Paul knew something of this, and in his efforts with the Gentiles, it was his hope that as his own people, the Jews, saw the Gentiles turning to God it might cause a sense of envy and develop within them a desire to have what the Gentiles were receiving. "Inasmuch as I am the apostle to the Gentiles, I make much of my ministry in the hope that I may somehow arouse my own people to envy and save some of them." Romans 11:13-14.

 

In that God has chosen for himself all who will embrace him in faith, whatever it takes to bring about that faith when the gospel message is presented is useful for the purposes of God.

 

The wonderful thing of God's heart displayed in all this is that his heart yearns for all. Not a select few, not just the attractive, not just the rich, not just the strong, he wants us all, "This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth." 1 Timothy 2:3-4.

 

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share your thoughts of worship with us from your Bible reading today. We'd love to hear from you!

Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com

Today's Worship: The Lord desires his beauty reflected in his people!

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him in James 1:19-21,

 

"My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires. Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you."

 

God has a desire regarding the way we live our lives, the choices we make. It is his desire that we live a "righteous life". There is that which is righteous and that which isn't. There is that which God desires and there is that which isn't.

 

What is a "righteous life"? What does that look like? Our concept of "righteous" is that which is consistent with God's own character and nature. In defining what is righteous or holy versus the profane or sinful, we recognize it is that which reflects our Creator's heart is what is righteous and that which is not, is not.

 

That God wants us to live a righteous life is found in verses such as Romans 8:29, "For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers." Being conformed to the likeness of Jesus Christ involves bringing "about the righteous life that God desires."

 

The beauty of this is found in the character and nature of our Lord Jesus Christ. As Paul speaks of the "fruit of the Spirit" it is just these very things that make up the righteous life that God desires for each of us. "The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control." Galatians 5:22-23. Here are the qualities that we find so wonderful and compelling. We find ourselves drawn to those who emulate them - because they emulate the beauty of the Lord himself!

 

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share your thoughts of worship with us from your Bible reading today. We'd love to hear from you!

Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com

Today's Worship: The Lord transforms lives!

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him in James 2:1,

 

"My brothers, as believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, don't show favoritism."

 

James admonishes his readers to keep from favoritism. As our faith is tested to bring maturity and completeness to our lives, verse 1:4, it should have an impact on us. Here is but one way our lives should change.

 

The author of this letter is not the James whose brother was John that we read so much of in the gospel accounts. That James was a part of Jesus' inner circle, along with his brother John and Peter. If you recall, he was the first apostle that was martyred prior to this letter being written, Acts 12:2. This James is the Lord's own half brother. We see him listed with his other siblings, Joseph, Simon and Judas, Matthew 13:55.

 

What is striking to me is how James had changed so much following the death of Jesus Christ. On one occasion the contempt of Jesus' half brothers for him was evident as they taunted him John 7:1-9. But following the Lord's resurrection we see James in this passage call Jesus, "our glorious Lord Jesus Christ".

 

As James tells us of maturity and completeness in the Lord and about "religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless", 1:27, he knows of what he speaks. James is a changed man. It isn't that James is wonderful - it is the Lord that brought transformation to the life of this man. This is what the Lord does: he transforms lives!

 

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share your thoughts of worship with us from your Bible reading today. We'd love to hear from you!

Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com

Today's Worship: God's law brings freedom!

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him in James 1:25,

 

"The man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it—he will be blessed in what he does."

 

The law was given to Israel through Moses three and a half millenia ago. It's purpose was to reveal to the Israelites, and through them to the whole world, that man has a fatal problem: sin. From the beginning God has made clear that sinfulness brings the judgment of eternal death. Paul says, "The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 6:23. We deceive ourselves all to easily and so to help us recognize our sinful condition, God provided the law, "The law was put in charge to lead us to Christ..." Galatians 3:24. Its purpose, therefore was to show us our need of the Savior.

 

The Mosaic law, which the New Testament calls the "Old Covenant" prepares us for the gospel message. We might say God's message is, "First the bad news: you are sinful and facing eternal death. Now the good news: embrace my Son in faith and receive eternal life." The writer of Hebrews tells us that God instituted a new covenant, "For if there had been nothing wrong with that first covenant, no place would have been sought for another. But God found fault with the people and said: 'The time is coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah.'" Hebrews 8:8 He goes on to say, "For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance—now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant." Hebrews 9:15.

 

Paul explains that those who have identified themselves with Jesus Christ have, figuratively, died with him and are released from the law. Indeed, when it comes to serving God, he says, "But now, by dying to what once bound us, we have been released from the law so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code." Romans 7:6.

 

However, we are told by James to live by the "royal law", "If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, 'Love your neighbor as yourself,' you are doing right." James 2:8. John says, "Dear friends, I am not writing you a new command but an old one, which you have had since the beginning. This old command is the message you have heard. Yet I am writing you a new command; its truth is seen in him and in you, because the darkness is passing and the true light is already shining." 1 John 2:7-8.

 

This, we are told by James is law that brings freedom! We are now no longer condemned by the law that brought death, but now through the gospel we have freedom. Freedom from God's condemnation, free to serve him in a manner that is pleasing to him! We are now free from having to serve that sinful nature and live lives that are pleasing to him.

 

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share your thoughts of worship with us from your Bible reading today. We'd love to hear from you!

Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com

Today's Worship: The righteous perfection of our God.

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him in James 1:13-14,

 

"When tempted, no one should say, 'God is tempting me.' For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed."

 

We live among others who are often driven by motives that are not always transparent and worthy. All too frequently it is our own selves we are less than  honest with as we make choices and pursue the things we do. The contemporary proverb, "Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me." is predicated on the perception (perhaps I should say "reality") that so much we encounter from one another is suspect. Our hearts are simply deceitful as we all struggle with an abiding sin nature that dwells within us in this life.

 

As a race of people, we long for that which we instinctively sense is missing in what Solomon would call life "under the sun". Life was never designed to be lived apart from our Creator. We were made to live with One whose pristine and flawless character is missing in a world estranged from its Creator. It is no wonder so many find disappointment and despair in this life. It is God's very nature we yearn for and often look for in those around us. As such, we are often disappointed as we find what we are looking for in others is compromised by the influence of sin, no matter how well veiled or hidden.

 

Not so our God! Nothing can tempt our God nor does he tempt anyone as James tells us. Indeed, the very definition of sin is that which is at odds with his character. When we say God is holy and righteous, what we are saying is he is completely consistent with his own character and nature: perfectly consistent, with nothing in him that would cause him to be any other way at any opportunity.

 

As the psalmist says, "As for God, his way is perfect: The Lord's word is flawless; he shields all who take refuge in him." Psalm 18:30.

 

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share your thoughts of worship with us from your Bible reading today. We'd love to hear from you!

Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com

Today's Worship: The gift of the crown of life!

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him in James 1:12,

 

 "Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him."

 

In a number of places in Scripture we are told that perseverance is a mark of salvation. As John warned against false teachers, his readers would know who they were because they would abandon the faith. "They went out from us, but they did not really belong to us. For if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us; but their going showed that none of them belonged to us." 1 John 2:19.

 

"The crown of life"... promised! Once given, the gift of salvation is a promise that the Lord will keep. We read that the Lord himself guarantees our safe trip home to him based on his own faithfulness. "Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come." 2 Corinthians 1:21-22. Also, "He will also keep you firm to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, who has called you into fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord." Verses 8-9.

 

Here is gift that is like no other. Last night my friend Dave told me of his thoughts of receiving gifts, wrapped in gift wrap with ribbons and bows, and how wonderful it is to receive gifts from those who love us. And to think, the Lord himself has a gift for those who embrace him in faith! A gift beyond our wildest dreams, a gift given with certainty, with God's promise standing behind it! A gift we have received, which we open, which we delight in and which will be ours throughout eternity! I share in Dave's delight and wonderment over this gift beyond all others: the crown of life!

 

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share your thoughts of worship with us from your Bible reading today. We'd love to hear from you!

Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com

Today's Worship: God, the giver of every good and perfect gift!

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him in James 1:17-18,

 

 "Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created."

 

In order to shore up a theology lacking coherence, some teach a bizarre doctrine that the new birth, being "born again" or what is known as "regeneration" is something God does to a select few that they will place their faith in him. Much like a date rape drug, a select few, apart from their own choice are manipulated into becoming Christians, and like robots obeying a command, now embrace God in faith. The concept is regeneration precedes repentance. All others, literally, will go to hell. No one has a choice and no one has the free opportunity to choose God's wonderful gift of the new birth. It all happens apart from any exercise of our will that we all thought God had gifted us with.

 

Nothing could be further from the truth. Salvation is by faith, not by appointment and in this wonderful passage James presents us with the beauty of the God who is so giving, the giver of "every good and perfect gift". As James tells us, salvation is for those who love God, verse 12, and who respond to the gospel message, "the word of truth". This is the gift of God, the offer of eternal life with him offered through the gospel message.

 

Paul speaks of this in Romans 10:17, "Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ." That message contains a wonder offer of love with the gift of righteousness for any individual who will embrace him in faith. The offer is made to all men, "This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth." 1 Timothy 2:3-4.

 

What a love this is! Jesus Christ died on the cross for the whole world, paying the penalty for the sins of every person who has ever lived, and offers all mankind the opportunity to spend eternity with him if they but embrace him in faith, place their trust in him. The invitation is to all mankind and the offer contained within the gospel message provides a wonderful gift that no one could ever match, the gift of righteousness, the gift of salvation! "... 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 is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God... " Ephesians 2:7-8.

 

"The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 6:23. How wonderful is our God, from whom "Every good and perfect gift" comes!

 

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share your thoughts of worship with us from your Bible reading today. We'd love to hear from you!

Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com

Today's Worship: God's love the midst of rebellion.

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him in Hosea 4:7,

 

"The more priests there were, the more they sinned against me; they exchanged their glorious God for something disgraceful."

 

Although there were plenty of priests to represent Israel to God, plenty of opportunity to express themselves to the Lord, Israel turned from God. As the opportunities increased to meet with God, for Israel to taker her concerns to her Maker, to seek out his forgiveness for straying from him and seek his help, his blessing and to take comfort in him, they nevertheless turned from him. Opportunity was not in any way a limiting factor for Israel's faithfulness to the Lord. Having more than what might be needed with the priesthood, as custodians of God's word in the Scriptures, with the heritage of the faithful patriarchs, the temple and the temple worship, Israel "exchanged their glorious God for something disgraceful."

 

In his letter to the Romans, Paul speaks of the advantages Israel had,  "Theirs is the adoption as sons; theirs the divine glory, the covenants, the receiving of the law, the temple worship and the promises. Theirs are the patriarchs, and from them is traced the human ancestry of Christ, who is God over all, forever praised! Amen." Romans 9:4-5. Israel certainly had every opportunity to remain faithful to their Lord. Such is the sinful nature of man. In spite of every opportunity, mankind retains a rebellious and deceitful heart.

 

So too, today, we have every opportunity. With Bibles available, gathering dust on coffee tables, with the gospel message going to every corner of the world, with the perspective of a 20/20 hindsight of the things of God from today's historical perspective, with the legacy of God's apostles and prophets from the infancy of the church, with the presence of the Holy Spirit in the world to bring conviction, many today reflect the same sinful proclivity to turn from God when given every opportunity to turn to him.

 

And yet, it is within this miserable state of rebelliousness and sin that our loving heavenly Father sent his Son to die a horrible death on our behalf! How could it be that our Creator has such a love in his heart that in his great kindness and compassion he should do such a thing for us?! To think of the length he has gone to bring us into his family is mind-boggling!

 

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share your thoughts of worship with us from your Bible reading today. We'd love to hear from you!

Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com

Worship for Today: The Lord is grooming us!

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him in James 1:2-4,

 

"Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."

 

James begins his letter by pointing out the importance of the trials, the difficulties we encounter  in life. Where our natural inclination is to find difficulty something to avoid, something to view with disdain, James tells us it plays an important role in bringing us to maturity in our faith.

 

Difficulty in life can be debilitating, disheartening and discouraging when we don't know the Lord. For those of us who do know him, all we encounter has a positive, constructive purpose in our lives, even difficulties. Paul tells us, "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters." Romans 8:28-29. This includes the difficulties that come our way. God uses them to fashion us into the image of his Son, Jesus Christ. I find this amazing!

 

The writer of Hebrews tells us that God goes out of his way to shape us, to mold us into the thing of beauty he has in mind for each of us. "My son, do not make light of the Lord's discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son... No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it." Hebrews 12:5b-6, 11. Also Jesus, in his letter to the church in Laodicea said, "Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline." Revelation 3:19. In the book of Proverbs Solomon tells us, "My son, do not despise the Lord's discipline, and do not resent his rebuke, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in."

 

I don't know about you, but there is a lot in my life that needs the touch of the Master's hand to bring some maturity to it. Here is a wonderful and mystical aspect of our relationship with the Lord as believers: he is grooming us!

 

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share your thoughts of worship with us from your Bible reading today. We'd love to hear from you!

Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com

Today's Worship: The Lord is our helper.

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him in Hosea 13:9,

 

"You are destroyed, Israel, because you are against me, against your helper."

 

It appears very unseemly that Israel would turn their backs on the Lord who is their helper. Their existence, their place in the world, their subsistence, their fortunes were all due to the Lord, who calls himself their "helper".

 

I am reminded that the Lord is actually the helper of all peoples everywhere. In my mind, the existence of all peoples from moment to moment is directly due to the active work of God himself. The writer of Hebrews tells us, "The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word." Hebrews 1:3. Should God withdraw his hand in maintaining our universe, I am convinced it would spin out of control and cease to exist.

 

Paul tells us the orderly maintenance of the world through governments and authorities, while at times may drift from him, are established by him, "there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God." Romans 13:1b.

 

It is the Lord that provides for life and everything in it. The food we eat, the water we drink, the air we breath. When a nation is prosperous and blessed, it is at his hand. The Lord is the helper of us all.

 

I am astonished at the fools today who reject the very notion of the existence of their Creator. They fail to recognize the source of all they have in life as did Israel who had turned her back on her "helper". Woe to any people who do likewise!

 

May we all say, as the Psalmist, "The Lord is with me; he is my helper. I look in triumph on my enemies."

 

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share your thoughts of worship with us from your Bible reading today. We'd love to hear from you!

Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com

Today's Worship: The kindness and sternness of God.

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him in Hosea 14:4-7,

 

"I will heal their waywardness and love them freely, for my anger has turned away from them. I will be like the dew to Israel; he will blossom like a lily. Like a cedar of Lebanon he will send down his roots; his young shoots will grow. His splendor will be like an olive tree, his fragrance like a cedar of Lebanon. People will dwell again in his shade; they will flourish like the grain, they will blossom like the vine— Israel's fame will be like the wine of Lebanon."

 

What a contrast! The Lord calls to Israel to return to him, to take a change in direction. When the time comes that they seek the Lord and ask him to "Forgive all our sins and receive us graciously..." the Lord responds to them with these wonderful blessings.

 

What a contrast to the horrors of God's judgment proclaimed in the previous chapter, "I will have no compassion, even though he thrives among his brothers. An east wind from the LORD will come, blowing in from the desert; his spring will fail and his well dry up. His storehouse will be plundered of all its treasures. The people of Samaria must bear their guilt, because they have rebelled against their God. They will fall by the sword; their little ones will be dashed to the ground, their pregnant women ripped open." Hosea 13:14b-16.

 

What a difference is made in the fortunes of a people when they turn from rebellion against God. God's severe judgment is turned into wonderful blessings as he responds in his forgiveness, mercy and kindness. I am reminded of Paul's words in Romans 11:22-23, "Consider therefore the kindness and sternness of God: sternness to those who fell, but kindness to you, provided that you continue in his kindness. Otherwise, you also will be cut off. And if they do not persist in unbelief, they will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again."

 

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share your thoughts of worship with us from your Bible reading today. We'd love to hear from you!

Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com

Today's Worship

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him in Hosea 2:23,

 

"I will plant her for myself in the land; I will show my love to the one I called 'Not my loved one.' I will say to those called 'Not my people,' 'You are my people'; and they will say, 'You are my God.'"

 

As the Lord brings his indictment against Israel and tells of the judgment he will bring upon her, he speaks of a future time, a time when he will establish a new covenant. Within the bounds of this new covenant things will be different. It will be a day when God's people will refer to him as "my husband", verse 16. Idolatry will no longer exist, wars will cease and in righteousness, justice, love and compassion the Lord will wed himself to his people, verses 18-20.

 

I note that God says he is going to do these things for himself, "I will plant her for myself..." This passage in Hosea is used by Paul to demonstrate that God foresaw the day when he would reach out to the Gentiles to join them together with Jews as a new people that we call the church: all those who respond to the gospel message by embracing the Lord in faith. Romans 9:25-26.

 

What captures my heart this morning is that God says he is saving people for himself. Certainly we are the beneficiaries of God's plan of redemption, but knowing he is doing it for himself brings to mind that God desires us. He doesn't just "accept" us but he wants us! This brings with it some comforting thoughts. One is that God intends we arrive in his presence one day and is looking forward to that happening. That day will be a day of joy, not just for us but for the Lord as well. I love Jude's doxology as it expresses this so well, "To him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy—  to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen." Jude 24-25.

 

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share your thoughts of worship with us from your Bible reading today. We'd love to hear from you!

Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com

Today's Worship: God's tenacious heart!

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him in Hosea 7:1,

 

"Whenever I would restore the fortunes of my people, whenever I would heal Israel, the sins of Ephraim are exposed and the crimes of Samaria revealed."

 

The "whenever" in this verse speaks to the Lord's repeated desire to embrace Israel and bless her. Over and over, the Israelites turned from God. Over and over, his people rejected him and went their own way. Over and over, the Lord sought to embrace his people in his love and "restore the fortunes of my people". Over and over, they were unwilling.

 

I am reminded of the proclamation of Jesus to Israel seven millenia after Hosea, "Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing."

 

What a tenacious heart our Lord has for his people! It is this very yearning in his heart that prompted him to send his Son to redeem us from his judgment, to make us his own, to provide a place for us at his table! This is a love that transcends my ability to see its full scope, its full depth. All I know is, is that our God so loves us he sent his Son to die a miserable death for each of us.

 

What a heart! What a God!

 

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share your thoughts of worship with us from your Bible reading today. We'd love to hear from you!

 

Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com

Today's Worship: God's heart of compassion in judgment.

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him in Hosea 11:8,

 

"How can I give you up, Ephraim? How can I hand you over, Israel? How can I treat you like Admah? How can I make you like Zeboyim? My heart is changed within me; all my compassion is aroused. "

 

Admah and Zeboyim were towns local to Sodom and Gomorrah. As cities of the plain where Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed, they suffered the same fate when the Lord brought his judgment, Genesis 10:23-29. As the Lord contemplates his destruction of Israel, he asks how he can treat Israel like the plain of Sodom and Gomorrah.

 

After recounting his tender love for his people, likening himself to a loving parent teaching a child to walk, treating them with "cords of human kindness" and "ties of love", the contemplation of bringing his horrific judgment to his people who have rejected him brings a stirring of conflict to his heart. He says his heart is changed, that all of his compassion is aroused.

 

These are not words that sit well with the theology of many today. Yet, they form the expression of the innermost feelings of our God. His heart is changed within him and he experiences the arousal of his compassion as he speaks of the judgment he contemplates for Israel.

 

I marvel at the way God reveals the intimate emotions he experiences as he interacts with his people. Our God is a real person with real emotions and a real heart. We are but a reflection of what God is like as we are made in his image and so it is not surprising to find him wrestle with his emotions as he reveals to us here. I don't suggest that God was conflicted about what he intended to do, just that he reveals how the turn of events impacts his heart.

 

This causes me to think of the great white throne judgment,at the end of the age, where all who have not embrace him in faith will be cast into a fiery lake of burning sulfur. The very ones he loved so much that he sent his Son to die for, to pay the penalty of sins for, he will cast into an eternity of torment. I suspect that on that day our God of both justice and loving kindness will again experience the same emotional conflict as he does here in Hosea.

 

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share your thoughts of worship with us from your Bible reading today. We'd love to hear from you!

Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com

Today's Worship: God is a "black and whiter".

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him in Hosea 4:10-11,

 

"They [the Israelites] will eat but not have enough; they will engage in prostitution but not flourish, because they have deserted the Lord to give themselves to prostitution; old wine and new wine take away their understanding.".

 

The people of Israel abandoned the Lord and will suffer the consequences of their choice. Here we read the Israelites deserted the Lord to pursue sin. Pursue the Lord or pursue sin, both cannot be done. God makes clear through Hosea he is a "black and whiter".

 

Many today see the varying shades of gray to consider in an issue. From the lofty perch of enlightened education and reason, these folks feel free to weigh the multiple shades of gray to be considered as choices befall them. Those who tend to see only black and white in an issue are looked on with contempt by these "enlightened" ones, with the accusation that the finer nuances to an issue have escaped these "black and whiters". Apparently they lack the enlightened reason these erudite intellectuals possess. Somehow, these shades of gray seem only to offer grounds to pursue that which appeals to the baser instincts of the sinful nature of mankind.

 

A man's morality determines his theology. Looking for cover to pursue sin by finding the finer shades of gray in any choice is not just a facade, it is self-deception. The truth is that our Creator is a "black and whiter". Something is either holy or profane. A thing falls inside of what God finds acceptable or it does not. There is no "center ground", no place where we can bring the two sides together. We either pursue God, or, as the Israelites did, abandon God to pursue sin. As the Israelites engaged in their prostitution, they had to desert the Lord. You can't serve two masters. It is either sin or righteousness. I appreciate deeply how Paul put it in Romans 6:17-18, "Thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you wholeheartedly obeyed the form of teaching to which you were entrusted. You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness." We all will serve one or the other.

 

One of the wonder qualities I love about our Lord is that he is a "black and whiter". This quality of his does not spring from a presumed simple and flat perspective. Far from it, in a depth of pristine precision, wisdom and insight no man can approach or match, it leads right back to a simple clarity of black and white, right and wrong, holy and profane. I don't have to consult the intellectual elites and weigh all of the issues of gray. There is no shadow with our God. He has articulated quite clearly in the pages of Scripture the faith he is looking for in us to make us his people. He has provided simple and straightforward direction for those of us who have embraced him in faith. Those who find otherwise are simply missing a view of one of the many-splendored beautiful qualities of our Lord.

 

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share your thoughts of worship with us from your Bible reading today. We'd love to hear from you!

Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com

Today's Worship: God is the arbiter of all!

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him in Hosea 9:17,

 

"My God will reject them because they have not obeyed him; they will be wanderers among the nations."

 

Their disobedience to him earned Israel's rejection by God. So great will be the judgment of God, he says, "Even if they bear children, I will slay their cherished offspring." Hosea 9:16. In their rebellion, Israel managed to find the end of God's love and mercy, and will now discover his judgment. I note that God rejected Israel on his own terms. It mattered not a whit what Israel thought about their own actions. It doesn't appear that God was interested in what their intentions were. Had they repented of their turn from God perhaps history would have been recorded differently. The whole of Hosea's ministry as a prophet was to portray God as the broken hearted husband of an adulterous wife. God decided what was acceptable to him and what wasn't. He didn't confer with anyone and he didn't take the matter "under advisement".

 

We live in a day where many have determined to define for themselves what their responsibility is to their Creator. Indeed, many who say they believe in a "higher being" feel the freedom to define for themselves who and what this "higher being" is and how life should be lived in light of their own thoughts and ideas.

 

As Israel discovered, God will not be defined by anyone. He exists objectively and determines for himself what is acceptable among mankind and what isn't. He will be the only one to determine the fate of all. He maintains his own "Book of Life" and whatever one's theology, "belief system", position on abortion, homosexuality, promiscuity or whatever, will make no difference. God didn't appear to be interested in evaluating Israel's lofty thoughts on the issues of the day. They turned their backs on God and it has now come time to face the consequences.

 

I am reminded of what the writer of Hebrews had to say, "It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God." Hebrews 10:31. What a frightful place to find oneself in! How I thank the Lord Jesus Christ that, even though I deserve his judgment, God visited that judgment on him on my behalf, that I might have a place at his table!

 

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share your thoughts of worship with us from your Bible reading today. We'd love to hear from you!

Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com

Today's Worship: Fearing God brings wisdom.

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him in Hosea 4:6a,

 

"My people are destroyed from lack of knowledge."

 

Earlier in the chapter we read that the Israelites had ceased to acknowledge God, "There is no faithfulness, no love, no acknowledgment of God in the land." Hosea 4:3. As a result, the Israelites came to their destruction through a "lack of knowledge."

 

I am reminded of Proverbs 1:7, "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction." It is from God himself that true wisdom comes. Mere intellect and the acquisition of information is not wisdom. The ability to assimilate information in a way that results in a life well lived comes from God. It starts with not just recognizing that God exists, but having a healthy reverence for who God is, what he has done, and what he is capable of that brings the beginning of the knowledge that Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived, tells us of in Proverbs 1:7.

 

God is a willing source of wisdom. James, the Lord's half-brother, tells us that if we ask God in faith for wisdom, he gives it generously. "If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt... " James 1:5-6a.

 

The wisdom God provides is boundless. We are told that the foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom. 1 Corinthians 1:25. From our perspective we view the wisdom and knowledge of God as limitless resource, a resource he has made available to those of us who embrace him in faith. 

 

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share your thoughts of worship with us from your Bible reading today. We'd love to hear from you!

Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com