The deceitful heart of man - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in 1 Samuel 5:7,

"When the people of Ashdod saw what was happening, they said, 'The ark of the god of Israel must not stay here with us, because his hand is heavy on us and on Dagon our god.'"

After the Philistines had captured the ark, the Lord brought his judgement upon whatever city the Philistines put it in. It went from Ashdod, to Gath, to Ekron. Eventually the Philistines sent the ark back to Israel.

While the ark was at Ashdod, they placed it in an idol's temple, "Dagon". The morning after they placed the ark in this temple, they found the idol fallen on its face on the ground. The Philistines put Dagon back in his place (some god!) and the following morning the same thing happened with the statue's head and hands broken off, a poignant turn of events displaying the fact that a worthless stone idol can't use it hands or its head.

The verse quoted above demonstrates just how irrational people become as they pursue things other than God. These Philistines should have been able to recognize the worthless state of their worship of the false deity Dagon, something only existing in their minds. The other thing they should have been able to recognize, and they did to an extent, as they recognized God's heavy hand on them while they possessed the ark, was that the God of the Israelites is the one and only true God."

Their concern was for themselves "his hand is heavy on us" as well as for this figment of imagination they called their "god", Dagon, "his hand is heavy ... on Dagon our god." Why not dump this worthless notion of a "Dagon" god and worship and serve the Creator of all people, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob? Why settle for this second rate nothing to worship?

As we read in Jeremiah 17:9, "The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?" Such was the heart of the Philistines in that day and such is the heart of so many today.

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.

Trevor Fisk

trevor.fisk@gmail.com

Using God - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in 1 Samuel 4:3,

"Why did the Lord bring defeat on us today before the Philistines? Let us bring the ark of the Lord's covenant from Shiloh, so that he may go with us and save us from the hand of our enemies."

The Israelites acknowledged they were routed by the Philistines because the Lord was against them. Yet, here they are, scheming as to how they might use the things of God to bring them success. They sent for the ark of the covenant from Shiloh to use, in hopes it might bring them success. Rather than appealing to the heart of God, seeking what he wanted, looking to him, the Israelites grabbed for whatever might bring them a victory in what they wanted.

Taking the ark of the covenant into battle with them was an effort at "by all means necessary" as opposed to trusting in God for direction and victory. It proved to be of no avail as the the Israelites were defeated once again, Eli's sons were killed, and the ark was taken by the Philistines. We are told, "The slaughter was very great; Israel lost thirty thousand foot soldiers. The ark of God was captured, and Eli's two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, died." Verses 10b-11.

It seems there have always been those who, rather than seeking God's heart in a matter, attempt to use the things of God in efforts to gain what they desire. I can think of many examples of this today... and I bet you can as well. In the end, it did not work out well for the Israelites. I'll bet folks today, who engage in such things, find a similar outcome when it is all said and done.

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.

Trevor Fisk

trevor.fisk@gmail.com

A famine of revelation from the Lord - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in 1 Samuel 3:1b,

"In those days the word of the Lord was rare; there were not many visions."

Sometimes it is easy to assume that the Lord communicated continuously through his prophets back in the day. It is an easy thing to assume because when we read the Scriptures, we find they were always produced during a time when the Lord did communicate to his people, or shortly afterward.

However, it really isn't the case that there was a continual flow of communication from the Lord in Israel's history. The production of Scripture is best to be thought of as happening in clusters with gaps in between. For instance, there was a lot of time between the account of Joseph and the Israelites moving to Egypt and the accounts of Moses (almost a half millennium), with nothing we know of coming from the Lord. We have the same thing between the prophetic ministry of Malachi and the prophetic ministry of John the Baptist. Again, nothing much from the Lord in the interval (other than the production of Jewish apocryphal writings.) The observation is made in 1 Samuel 3:1b that the word of the Lord was rare, "not many visions." My assumption is that would be in comparison with the prophetic activity of the Lord at other times the writer was aware of. This famine of revelation from the Lord would be at the time of the end of the period of the judges.

lt should be no surprise we have no or little recognized prophetic activity from the Lord in our day, looking back to the close of John's writings. Jesus came as God's premiere revelation of himself, to set the stage for his program of redemption, which he launched, following his death, burial and resurrection, through his apostles. Having provided all we need in the New Testament, little is needed from the Lord as he builds his kingdom through his gospel message.

One thought is clear: God has provided us everything we need to know to join his kingdom, his family. We have all we need and we have received that progressively, where the word of the Lord built upon itself, adding to what had been given at an earlier time.

How wonderful it is that the Lord has communicated with us!

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.

Trevor Fisk

trevor.fisk@gmail.com

Hannah's prayer: what real worship looks like - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in 1 Samuel 2:2,

"There is no one holy like the Lord; there is no one besides you; there is no Rock like our God."

Worship is a term used loosely today for all kinds of things. Much of it looks nothing like the worship we find in the pages of Scripture. Hannah's prayer in 1 Samuel 2:1-10 provides us a view of what richly endowed worship looks like. I say "endowed" because her worship of the Lord flowed from a heart that had both endured hardship and difficulty as well as the Lord's deliverance. Hannah knew the Lord and had experienced the riches of his love, his kindness and his mercy from his acts in response to her plea to him for help. What Hannah saw in the Lord is both instructive to us in what we can know about the Lord, as well as a wonderful expression of her heart in real worship. Always, in the pages of Scripture, worship springs from the acknowledgment of the Lord's character and nature as well as his wonderful (and frightful) acts.

Here are some observations we glean about the Lord from Hannah's worship:

The Lord brought Hannah strength ("in the Lord my horn is lifted high"), verse 1.

The Lord brought Hannah deliverance, verse 1.

There is no one holy like the Lord, no one at all like the Lord, verse 2.

The Lord is a "rock", (solid, dependable, unchanging), verse 2.

The Lord knows everything and judges what people do, verse 3.

The Lord humbles the strong and strengthens the weak, verse 4.

The Lord answered her prayer for children, and humbled her adversary, Peninnah,  verse 5.

The Lord brings death and makes alive, verse 6.

The Lord reduces some to poverty while making other rich, he humbles and exalts, verse 7.

The Lord raises up the poor and the needy, and provides them with honor, verse 8.

The Lord is our Creator of all things (why would Hannah seek help from any other?), verse, 8.

The Lord guards his faithful servants but punishes the wicked, verse 9.

The Lord is transcendent in his sovereignty, thundering from heaven and bringing his judgment, verse 10.

The Lord gives strength and exalts those of his choosing (his king, his anointed one), verse 10.

How important is it to know these things? How important is it to acknowledge these things? How important is it to express these things to the Lord in the company of other believers in worship? I think it very important. I also feel if these are the kinds of things that are missing from our worship, then we need to begin to rethink what it is we are doing when we set ourselves to worship.

Acknowledgement of the wonderful, fearsome and fascinating things of the Lord to him before the assembly is what our worship is to be.

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.

Trevor Fisk

trevor.fisk@gmail.com

Connecting the dots when the Lord is afoot - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in 1 Samuel 1:6,

"Because the Lord had closed Hannah's womb, her rival kept provoking her in order to irritate her."

Hannah's rival was her husband's other wife, Peninnah. Peninnah had provided Elkanah (the husband of both of the women) children, but we are told the Lord had "closed Hannah's womb."

Some regard this comment, about the Lord "closing Hannah's womb" as a general way of saying that she was simply barren, without intending to infer God's active intervention in her life causing her barrenness. Sort of a common type phrase referencing that since God gives life, any barren woman would said to have had her womb closed by the Lord.

I think this misses the point of this part of Samuel's story. I take the phrase, "the Lord had closed her womb", verse 5, as literal and straight forward. I believe the Lord actually intervened in Hannah's life to keep her from getting pregnant for a long time.

In the account, we are told that due to Hannah's prolonged barrenness and suffering at the continued provocation of her rival, she prayed to God in "deep anguish", verse 10, and promised the Lord that if he would allow her to have a son, she would dedicate him as a Nazarite to serve the Lord at the tabernacle all his life.

Later, in verse 19b-20 we read, "Elkanah made love to his wife Hannah, and the Lord remembered her. So in the course of time Hannah became pregnant and gave birth to a son. She named him Samuel, saying, 'Because I asked the Lord for him.'"

The Lord often uses us in differing ways and engages us in the things he plans to do. Samuel would become Israel's kingmaker as a prophet of God. In preparing and grooming him for this very important task, having Samuel dedicated to the Lord and serve at the tabernacle, both prepared him for the job and positioned him strategically. Having Samuel dedicated as a Nazarite devoted to God for life accomplished this effectively.

How was Hannah to know these things in her barrenness for those years she suffered her humiliation? Yet, because of what she endured, Israel now had a king-maker the Lord used in mighty ways.

I suspect that oftentimes we endure difficulties and hardships without realizing the Lord may be afoot in our lives as he prepares things in some seemingly non-connected way to accomplish his purposes through us. We all may find we have a few surprises in the next life to learn as to how the Lord was using us in this life!

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.

Trevor Fisk

trevor.fisk@gmail.com

Darkness and light - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in Revelation 22:1-5,

"Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever."

Here is the last view in the Scriptures the Lord has left us of eternal life that awaits those who have embraced him in faith. It is seen as the restoration of the garden of Eden with all that God originally intended for mankind. In this description we are told there will be no more night, no more darkness. No need for a lamp or the sun to provide light, because the Lord God will provide light - he will be within the midst of mankind, "Look! God's dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.", 21:3.

I also read in  21:23-25, "The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp. The nations will walk by its light... On no day will its gates ever be shut, for there will be no night there."

This world we live in today is quite different. The Scriptures picture us as living in a darkness that rules our lives. Indeed, when Isaiah prophesied about the coming Savior seven centuries before it happened, we are told, "The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned." Isaiah 9:2. This darkness causes the people of the world to stumble around relative to spiritual things, "Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates a brother or sister is still in the darkness. Anyone who loves their brother and sister lives in the light, and there is nothing in them to make them stumble. But anyone who hates a brother or sister is in the darkness and walks around in the darkness. They do not know where they are going, because the darkness has blinded them." 1 John 2:9-11.

When Jesus was here he claimed, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." John 8:12. He told Nicodemus, "This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God." John 3:19-21.

This world today exists in a darkness, a spiritual darkness that shrouds reality and the things of God. In the next age, those who have chosen to join God's family will never live in a darkness again as they bask in the light that God himself provides as he dwells among his people!

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.

Trevor Fisk

trevor.fisk@gmail.com

God's judgment: a horror like no other - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in Revelation 18:9-10,

"When the kings of the earth who committed adultery with her [Babylon the Great] and shared her luxury see the smoke of her burning, they will weep and mourn over her. Terrified at her torment, they will stand far off and cry: 'Woe! Woe to you, great city, you mighty city of Babylon! In one hour your doom has come!'"

I realize there are those who teach that these verses about "Babylon the Great" are about Rome and its empire back in the day, "Babylon" being used as a reference to Rome. This would place this horrific judgment in the past. Others identify "Babylon" as the Roman Catholic church with its excesses, placing this horrific judgment as yet to come. For others who see this judgment as yet to come, the United States is seen as a possible identification as this "Babylon" due to the great economic stature and standing in the world Babylon here is described by. This "Babylon" has to be a world superpower to fit the description provided in chapter 18.

What captures my thoughts this morning, however, is the nature of the judgment. It is not simply some "economic downturn" or some minor challenge to its status on the world stage. It is a wholesale, sudden and total destruction that leaves those who where economically tied to her "terrified at her torment." Verse 15. When the smoke of her burning is seen, those who traded with her "will throw dust on their heads, and with weeping and mourning cry out: 'Woe! Woe to you, great city, where all who had ships on the sea became rich through her wealth! In one hour she has been brought to ruin!'"

I am reminded that when the Lord loves, he loves like no other, and when he brings his judgment, it is like none other. "Horrific", "terrifying", "appalling", "frightful", "horrendous" and "shocking" are all words that may fail to bring justice to its description.

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.

Trevor Fisk

trevor.fisk@gmail.com

Its all over when the Harvester goes to harvest - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in Revelation 14:15b,

"Take your sickle and reap, because the time to reap has come, for the harvest of the earth is ripe."

An angel comes out of the temple (indicating he has orders from the Father on his throne) and calls out "in a loud voice", verse 15a, (indicating a final and authoritative command from the Father) to "one like a son of man with a crown of gold on his head", verse 14, to reap. It is time for the harvest of the earth, the harvest of mankind. Those who have embraced Jesus Christ in faith will be awarded their place in God's family and bestowed with the wonderful riches of the lavish inheritance God blesses them with. The remainder of mankind will be thrown "into the great winepress of God's wrath." Verse 19.

As I think of this "harvest", this metaphor of the judgement of mankind brings to mind some realities that are sobering. Not the least of which is that there will be a "harvest" at some particular and specific time. Just as a farmer watches his crop, the weather, the market and all the other factors involved, he makes a decision at some point: "this is it." He looks no longer for additional growth, for a bigger harvest, but makes his call and goes out to harvest, bringing the growth of the crop to a close.

So, too, is the kingdom of heaven. At one point there will be that one very last soul that embraces Jesus Christ in faith, and this age, with its opportunity to join the family of God will be over… forever. No more new believers, no more new souls to win, no more evangelism, no more prayers for lost loved ones, no more hope for the lost to turn to, no more life to look forward to, no more chance for eternal life, no more choice to make.

It will all be over when the great Harvester goes out to harvest!

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.

Trevor Fisk

trevor.fisk@gmail.com

By God's design: the end of the age - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in Revelation 6:15-17,

"Then the kings of the earth, the princes, the generals, the rich, the mighty, and everyone else, both slave and free, hid in caves and among the rocks of the mountains. They called to the mountains and the rocks, 'Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! For the great day of their wrath has come, and who can withstand it?'"

The end of this age will be tumultuous. Every aspect of the events that transpire will be planned, arranged and carried out by God. It will be frightful, and a time, apparently misunderstood by the "left behind" crowd, when the church will experience a terrible slaughter. "When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God and the testimony they had maintained. They called out in a loud voice, 'How long, Sovereign Lord, holy and true, until you judge the inhabitants of the earth and avenge our blood?' Then each of them was given a white robe, and they were told to wait a little longer, until the full number of their fellow servants, their brothers and sisters, were killed just as they had been." Revelation 6:9-11.

What captures my attention is the detail about how these events unfold. Jesus Christ, the Son of God, will open the seals of a scroll, initiating what is to take place next. The description of six seals being opened by the Lord are found here in chapter six of Revelation, and a seventh, the final seal's opening, is described in chapter eight.

These earth-shattering events at the end of this age are all planned  and executed by God. Within them we see, not just the horrific slaughter of saints, but also the judgment of God against the wicked of the earth. "They called to the mountains and the rocks, 'Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! For the great day of their wrath has come, and who can withstand it?'"

It is during this time of upheaval that I see the final fulfillment of Psalm 2:1-6, "Why do the nations conspire and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth rise up and the rulers band together against the Lord and against his anointed, saying, 'Let us break their chains and throw off their shackles.' The One enthroned in heaven laughs; the Lord scoffs at them. He rebukes them in his anger and terrifies them in his wrath, saying, 'I have installed my king on Zion, my holy mountain.'"

What a dramatic time to witness!!

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.

Trevor Fisk

trevor.fisk@gmail.com

What is the risen Jesus Christ like? - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in Revelation 2:1,

"These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands."

"Him" in the above verse is Jesus Christ. He holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands. In the previous chapter we learn that the seven stars Jesus holds in his right hand are the angels of "the seven churches". The golden lampstands are those churches. In chapters two and three a letter is written to each of the churches from Jesus Christ himself. Each letter ends with the admonition, "Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches."

In each of these letters Jesus, now resurrected and in heaven at the Father's right hand, reveals something about himself. I think these things have importance and sheds light on Jesus Christ as our risen Savior.

To Ephesus: Jesus holds the angels of the seven churches in his right hand and "walks" among theses churches. To me this indicates his authority over these churches, the angels that attend them, and that he is actively involved in them.

To Smyrna: Jesus is "the first and the last." He died and then rose from the dead. This speaks to me of the unique place the Son of God holds in all creation. There is no other, no need to look elsewhere, he is the first and the last, the beginning and the end of all things. This is amply verified and authenticated in his resurrection from the dead. Death could not keep a grip on him.

To Pergamum: Jesus has the sharp, double-edged sword. In John's vision of Jesus in chapter one, John saw Jesus as having a sharp, double-edged sword coming out of his mouth. This speaks to me of the revelation of God Jesus has made of himself. It speaks to me of the origin and transmission of the Scriptures. We read in Hebrews 4:12, "For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart." Jesus Christ himself is the source of what we read in our Bibles.

To Thyatira: Jesus eyes are like blazing fire and his feet are like burnished bronze.

To Sardis: Jesus holds "the seven spirits of God" or, the seven-fold spirit of God. He also holds the seven stars (the angels of the seven churches).

To Laodicea: Jesus is "the Amen", the faithful and true witness and the ruler of God's creation.

To Philadelphia: Jesus is holy and true, he holds the key of David. He controls all things, has authority over all things, "What he [Jesus] opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open." Revelation 3:7b.

Each of the seven letters from the risen Jesus Christ to these seven churches provides us with a view of various aspects of the Son of God himself. These are a rich treasure-store for anyone wanting a further view of Jesus Christ in both his character and nature as well as the things he does.

These are amazing letters from heaven itself!

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.

Trevor Fisk

trevor.fisk@gmail.com

God cares for us! - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in 1 Peter 5:7,

"Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you."

Here is a simple statement that should hold great significance for us all. We do not have to stew in our anxieties - God cares for us!

We read in Proverbs 19:22a, "What a person desires is unfailing love..." Our challenge in this life can often be that we simply do not find the care and concern we seek in those around us as we look in all the wrong places. Knowing that God cares for us and has our very best interests at heart and is capable of making all things turn out the way he desires should bring to us a great solace, let alone simple relief from anxiety. 

Peter reminds us that we are God's "special possession" as we are "the people of God", 1 Peter 2:9-10. As such we should celebrate this very special place God holds for us in his heart as we consider the care he has for us!

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.

Trevor Fisk

trevor.fisk@gmail.com

Jesus Christ suffered for me (and you!) - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in 1 Peter 3:18a,

"For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God."

As Peter speaks of the appropriate response believers should greet suffering with, he offers Jesus Christ's suffering on our behalf to consider as our example. He suffered for our sins. He who was righteous suffered for us... for us, who are unrighteous, who are sinful. 

Jesus Christ paid the penalty for all of our sins, everybody's sins, for all time! His suffering and death on that cross is full payment for our iniquity in the courtroom of God. Why did he do such a thing? To bring us to God! God loves us and Jesus Christ made possible the opportunity for us to spend eternity with God as a member of his family, his kingdom. All he asks of us is to embrace him in faith.

Here is the unfathomable love of God on display! Where we were once destined for God's judgment for the sins we have committed (and, we have all sinned!), Jesus Christ set himself to suffer on our behalf, to take our punishment upon himself, that we might be united to God. To me, this is an incomprehensible act of love that simply transcends my understanding. God the Son, dying a miserable death on my behalf that I might be united with him, brought into the community of love he shares with God the father!

Simply breathtaking to consider!

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.

Trevor Fisk

trevor.fisk@gmail.com

You are a priest - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in 1 Peter 2:4-5,

"As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him— you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ."

The priesthood was established by God in the nation of Israel. Aaron and his descendants were appointed by God for the priesthood. One of the primary functions of the priest was to offer sacrifices to God.

Where the temple worship with its sacrifices and offerings no longer takes place, Peter here tells us that believers in Jesus Christ are members of a holy priesthood offering spiritual sacrifices that are acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. What are these sacrifices?

I am reminded of Romans 12:1-2, "Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind." The sacrifices of the believer, among other things, is the denying of our sinful, worldly nature. This is done by no longer conforming to the pattern of this world, but being transformed through the renewing of our mind, living a life pleasing to God.

Peter's observation of believers being a holy priesthood offering sacrifices that are acceptable to God flows from the context in his letter admonishing us to "rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good." These are the sacrifices we as believers offer to our God who has demonstrated an incomprehensible love for us by sending his Son to die a miserable death to pay for our sins.

How well am I carrying out my responsibilities as a priest today?

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.

Trevor Fisk

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Experiencing the blessings of the gospel? - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in 1 Corinthians 9:23,

"I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings."

Paul speaks of sharing in the blessings of the gospel. It may do well to examine just what these blessings are, but for now, just knowing that these are the expressions of the lavish love and gratitude of God our Father for those who follow Paul's example will do.

In this chapter, Paul speaks of his right, as an apostle, to financial help from the flock his ministry has created. However, he tells us he has forsaken this right in order to be as productive as possible for the gospel of God's kingdom. He says, "But we did not use this right. On the contrary, we put up with anything rather than hinder the gospel of Christ."

In this vein, Paul points out he, although a free man, made himself a slave to everyone to "win as many as possible." Verse 19. He became like a Jew to win the Jews, he became like one under the law to win those under the law. He became like one not having the law so as to win those without the law. He became weak to win the weak. "I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some."

These are the things Paul gave himself to that he might share in the blessings of the gospel.

What am I doing today to experience these blessings?

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.

Trevor Fisk

trevor.fisk@gmail.com

The dramatic death of Jesus Christ - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in Matthew 27:50-54, 

"And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit. At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split and the tombs broke open. The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. They came out of the tombs after Jesus' resurrection and went into the holy city and appeared to many people. When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, 'Surely he was the Son of God!'"

One of the most profoundly dramatic events that the world has ever experienced was the death of Jesus Christ. Matthew's account here is nothing short of breathtaking. I am reminded of Psalm 116:15, "Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his faithful servants." Certainly, of all mankind, the Son of God was the greatest of any faithful servant to God. 

The death of Jesus Christ was a singular event to take place two millenia ago. Nothing before or after it holds the impact this death has had for the human race in all its history. Through the death of Jesus Christ a payment was made that satisfied the justice of God the Father for all the sins of all mankind for all time. His death has made it possible that we can have an eternal life filled with all that God originally intended for mankind - in a state of being spotless, blameless and holy in God's eyes.

In God's court, our sins can be paid for by another. Jesus Christ, the only man who had never sinned was the only person ever qualified to pay for our sins, and that is exactly what his death accomplished on that miserable cross.

Where would I be without the suffering and death of Jesus Christ on that cross? How I thank God for him, and his willingness to die for me!

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

"If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.

Trevor Fisk

trevor.fisk@gmail.com

The prayer of faith - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing,
majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of
him and what came to my heart and mind in Matthew 21:21-22,

"Truly I tell you, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can
you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this
mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and it will be done. If
you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer."

Here is an amazing statement Jesus made about faith in prayer. If we
have faith, whatever we ask in prayer will be given. I am reminded of
James 5:16b, "The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and
effective."

People of faith are tuned in to what it is God is doing in the world
today. People of faith know what it is God wants to accomplish. They
know his agenda and they know his priorities. Faith brings
righteousness and the prayers of those who act in that righteousness
receive what they ask for.

All too often we may ask for that which God does not intend to do, nor
will he be compelled to do. Faith brings wisdom and prudence and
informs us as to what we need to be seeking from God and it is from
the position of a righteous person asking God in wisdom and
understanding that we find our answers to prayer as well as an
amazement as to how God may chose to act on our behalf!

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share
what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to
hear from you!

If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send
me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are
receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just
respond and let me know.

Trevor Fisk

trevor.fisk@gmail.com

The distraction the trappings of this life brings - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in Matthew 19:20-22,

"'All these (the commandments) I have kept,' the young man said. 'What do I still lack?' Jesus answered, 'If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.' When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth."

A young man approached Jesus and asked him what "good thing" he needed to do to receive eternal life. His approach betrays his misunderstanding, prevalent with most Jews (as well as prevalent in many churches today), that he could earn his way into God's family. He just wanted to know what good deed it was that would procure a ticket for him into eternal life.

After telling the young man to keep the law, which would have demonstrated to him he was not fit for God's kingdom and needed to throw himself at the feet of God's mercy, Jesus found the man harbored the notion that he was good enough based on the law, that he had kept all the law.

Since Jesus' approach with him, based on the law, did not provide the traction needed, Jesus (not to be dissuaded) laid on him something he knew this young man would have a hopeless struggle with: give his wealth away to the poor. We are told the young man went away sad.

The trappings of this life bring spiritual demise and eternal death to so many! Jesus told Nicodemus that many would reject God's kingdom because they choose to cling to their sin. In this case it was wealth in this life that kept this young man from entering into eternal life.

I am reminded that this life is short (it sure seems to be at my age!), it is temporary, and it is not God's agenda for us to find our ultimate happiness, purpose, fulfillment and meaning in life by the trappings of this life. It is not the toys money can buy, it is not riches, it is not fame, it is not the trophy spouse, the career, the house we have, the degree behind our name that God intends to bring to us ultimate happiness, purpose, fulfillment and meaning in life. Our happiness, purpose, fulfillment and meaning in life is to be found in the next life, within the contest of God's family.

Everything else is just a sad, mistaken and poor choice.

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.

Trevor Fisk

trevor.fisk@gmail.com

Mere compliance, or our hearts? - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in Matthew 18:35,

"This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart."

Jesus spoke these words as the conclusion to his parable about an unforgiving servant. Because of the unforgiving attitude of a king's servant, he had the servant thrown into prison to be tortured. He likened that which happened to the king's servant to how our heavenly Father will treat us if we fail to be forgiving.

I note the kind of forgiveness Jesus talks of is that which is "from your heart." This is not the kind of thing one checks off his list of things to do in order to comply with the demands of a pastor's sermon on a Sunday. It is to be heartfelt. It is to be genuine. It is to be from the inside, from "the heart." This requires our lives to be changed from within through the regenerating power of the Holy Spirit.

Here is the problem do-gooders have. Compliance to a list is not the same thing as having a heart that is given to God. We read in the Scriptures that God wants our hearts and it is from deep within us that God seeks our fellowship. "He [God] who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God's people in accordance with the will of God." Romans 8:27. God is busy searching our hearts.

I am reminded of God's rebuke of his people, "The Lord says: 'These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is based on merely human rules they have been taught.'" Isaiah 29:13.

The kind of forgiveness Jesus spoke of is reflected in Paul's admonition, "Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity." Colossians 3:12-14.

God wants our hearts!

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.

Trevor Fisk

trevor.fisk@gmail.com

Jesus in his stunning glory! - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in Matthew 17:1-3,

"After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light. Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus."

What a spectacle! Jesus transforms into his glorious appearance! This glorious appearance was something that was shrouded from all who saw him during his earthy ministry two millenia ago. However, on one occasion, Jesus' "inner-circle", Peter, James and John, were allowed to witness the Son of God's in his glory. While in this state Moses and Elijah appeared and had a conversation with Jesus. Then a voice, the voice of God the father, spoke from a cloud, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!" Matthew 17:5.

At this, Peter, James and John fell face down to the ground in sheer terror! How might any of us react to such a spectacle? Breath-taking, terrifying, pure unadulterated amazement!

Far from the often lifeless, or, just as bad, theatrical productions often served up as "worship", the real things of God are astonishing, they are life-altering, breath-taking and stunning.

I am reminded the second coming of Christ will be the greatest of all events ever to be witnessed on planet earth. In a majestic, splendorous, fearful and stunning way, Jesus Christ will return to bring this age to a close and set up his kingdom from Jerusalem.

It matters not if we are Muslim, members of Wicca, Jews, atheists or agnostics. It doesn't matter if we are Catholics, Baptists or Presbyterians, we will all be stunned and amazed on that day! The Son of God will appear in all of his glory to take dominion over all the earth and place everything under himself!

What a glorious day that will be! What a glorious event to behold!

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.

Trevor Fisk

trevor.fisk@gmail.com