Love God, Not Religion

Love God, Not Religion

Hosea 8:11-14

Read "Israel has built many altars to take away sin, but these very altars became places for sinning! Even though I gave them all my laws, they act as if those laws don't apply to them. The people love to offer sacrifices to me, feasting on the meat, but I do not accept their sacrifices. I will hold my people accountable for their sins, and I will punish them. They will return to Egypt. Israel has forgotten its Maker and built great palaces, and Judah has fortified its cities. Therefore, I will send down fire on their cities and will burn up their fortresses." (Hosea 8:11-14)

Reflect Spiritual disciplines can open a door for God to work and can nourish a relationship with him. But spiritual disciplines can decline into legalistic rituals when we remove our heart from the practice. If a person's heart is far from God, these disciplines become meaningless motions. Spiritual disciplines are only helpful if they are motivated by love for God. God didn't want the Israelites' rituals. He wanted their hearts. The people's sacrifices had become mere ritual, and God refused to accept them.

Respond We have disciplines, too: attending church, observing a regular quiet time, celebrating Christian holidays, and praying before meals. Because they are repeated often, they can drive God's lessons deep within us. But rituals can be abused. We should not reject the disciplines of our worship, but we must be careful to remember why we do them. Why do you worship? What is the motive behind your sacrifices and offerings?

Our Daily Bread For 01-30-14

READ: Psalm 116

Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints. —Psalm 116:15

In response to the news that a mutual friend of ours had died, a wise brother who knew the Lord sent me these words, “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints” (Ps. 116:15). Our friend’s vibrant faith in Jesus Christ was the dominant characteristic of his life, and we knew he was home with God in heaven. His family had that assurance as well, but I had been focused only on their sorrow. And it’s appropriate to consider others during their grief and loss.

But the verse from Psalms turned my thoughts to how the Lord saw the passing of our friend. Something “precious” is something of great value. Yet, there is a larger meaning here. There is something in the death of a saint that transcends our grief over their absence.

“Precious (important and no light matter) in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints (His loving ones)” (The Amplified Bible). Another paraphrase says, “His loved ones are very precious to him and he does not lightly let them die” (The Living Bible). God is not flippant toward death. The marvel of His grace and power is that, as believers, our loss of life on earth also brings great gain.

Today we have only a glimpse. One day we’ll understand it in the fullness of His light. —David McCasland

So when my last breath
Shall rend the veil in twain
By death I shall escape from death
And life eternal gain. —Montgomery

Faith builds a bridge across the gulf of death.

Bible in a year: Exodus 23-24; Matthew 20:1-16

Wonders and Whispers

1 Kings 18:36-39, 19:9-13

Scene 1: Elijah is on Mount Carmel (1 Kings 18:16-39). The prophet has declared a test. He and the prophets of Baal will each erect an altar and call to their respective gods. The one who sets the altar on fire will be revealed as the one true God (1 Kings 18:24).

The prophets of Baal holler to their god all day, even slashing themselves with knives to get his attention. But the altar stands untouched (1 Kings 18:28-29). Then Elijah drenches his altar with water and calls on the Lord. Soon fire falls from heaven and burns the soaking altar to a cinder. The people fall prostrate in awe (1 Kings 18:38-39).

Scene 2: Elijah is on Mount Sinai, this time alone (1 Kings 19:1-13). He’s told to get ready for an appearance from God. A powerful wind rushes past, splintering rocks and shaking the mountain. Surely this is God! But it’s not (1 Kings 19:11). An earthquake comes next and then a fire (as on Mount Carmel), but God is in neither. Then, as things grow quiet, Elijah hears a gentle whisper. He covers his face in awe (1 Kings 19:12-13).

One man, one God, and two very different spiritual experiences. I think this story has a lot to say to us today. Some of us seek God through dramatic wonders. We like large gatherings with loud worship, and we call on God to work miracles every Sunday. If Sunday comes and a miracle doesn’t occur, some “wonders” people question why God didn’t “show up.”

Others of us like quietness and order. Our spirituality emphasizes the hearing of God’s gentle whisper. When a wonder comes, some “whispers” people get suspicious, or they dismiss the miraculous altogether.

But Elijah encountered God in both wonders and whispers. A balanced spirituality for us means being open to both.

— Sheridan Voysey

Read Luke 5:16-26 to see Jesus seeking the Father’s whispers (Luke 5:16) and then enacting the Father’s wonders.

Are you more prone to seek God’s wonders or whispers? Why is it important to acknowledge both?

Positive Thought For 01-29-14

But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life.

John 4:14, NLT | View in context

Real Repentance

Real Repentance

Hosea 6:1-11

Read "Come, let us return to the LORD. He has torn us to pieces; now he will heal us. He has injured us; now he will bandage our wounds. In just a short time he will restore us, so that we may live in his presence. Oh, that we might know the LORD! Let us press on to know him. He will respond to us as surely as the arrival of dawn or the coming of rains in early spring." "O Israel and Judah, what should I do with you?" asks the LORD. "For your love vanishes like the morning mist and disappears like dew in the sunlight. I sent my prophets to cut you to pieces— to slaughter you with my words, with judgments as inescapable as light. I want you to show love, not offer sacrifices. I want you to know me more than I want burnt offerings. But like Adam, you broke my covenant and betrayed my trust." (Hosea 6:1-7)

Reflect The people of Israel did not understand the depth of their sins. They did not turn from idols, regret their sins, or pledge to make changes. They thought that God's wrath would last only a few days; little did they know that their nation would soon be taken into exile. Israel was interested in God only for the material benefits he provided; they did not value the eternal benefits that come from worshiping him. They offered rituals like sacrifices without true repentance. God wasn't fooled, however. He answered his people, pointing out that their profession of loyalty, like mist and dew, evaporated easily and had no substance. Rituals can help people understand God and nourish their relationship with him. That is why God instituted circumcision and the sacrificial system in the Old Testament and baptism and the Lord's Supper in the New Testament. But a ritual is helpful only if it is carried out with an attitude of love for and obedience to God. If a person's heart is far from God, ritual will become empty mockery. God didn't want the Israelites' rituals; he wanted their hearts.

Respond Why do you worship? What is the motive behind your "offerings" and "sacrifices"? Many find it easy and comfortable to maintain the appearance of being committed without deep and sincere loyalty. If you profess loyalty to God, back it up with your actions.

Our Daily Bread For 01-29-14

READ: Philippians 1:12-21

According to my earnest expectation and hope that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ will be magnified. —Philippians 1:20

I once asked a counselor what the major issues were that brought people to him. Without hesitation he said, “The root of many problems is broken expectations; if not dealt with, they mature into anger and bitterness.”

In our best moments, it’s easy to expect that we will find ourselves in a good place surrounded by good people who like and affirm us. But life has a way of breaking those expectations. What then?

Stuck in jail and beset by fellow believers in Rome who didn’t like him (Phil. 1:15-16), Paul remained surprisingly upbeat. As he saw it, God had given him a new mission field. While under house arrest, he witnessed to the guards about Christ, which sent the gospel into Caesar’s house. And even though those opposing him were preaching the gospel from wrong motives, Christ was being preached, so Paul rejoiced (v.18).

Paul never expected to be in a great place or to be well liked. His only expectation was that “Christ will be magnified” through him (v.20). He wasn’t disappointed.

If our expectation is to make Christ visible to those around us regardless of where we are or who we are with, we will find those expectations met and even exceeded. Christ will be magnified. —Joe Stowell

Lord, forgive me for making my life all about what
I expect and not about glorifying You regardless
of my circumstances. May Your love, mercy,
and justice be magnified through me today.

Make it your only expectation to magnify Christ wherever you are and whoever you are with.

Bible in a year: Exodus 21-22; Matthew 19

Glory & Authority

John 2:1-22

John records for us two events that occurred at the beginning (probably in the first few weeks) of Jesus’ public ministry. Jesus performed the first of his 35 recorded miracles at a wedding in Cana, turning plain water used for ceremonial washing into top-quality wine (John 2:1-11). More than just showing us a tender and compassionate Jesus helping an embarrassed, newly married couple whose wine ran out too early, we’re offered a taste of His transforming power!

John then shows us a totally different and intolerant Jesus. Enraged and with a physical display of anger, Jesus made a whip from some ropes and threw all the traders out of the temple compound (John 2:13-22). Turning water into wine revealed Jesus’ glory (John 2:11), and throwing out the hawkers showed His authority (John 2:18).

John put these two events back to back to give us a balanced view of Jesus. We need to see both His tender kindness and His holy wrath, that the Lamb of God is also the Lion of Judah. The qualities of a lamb—gentleness and tenderness—indeed are found in Christ, but so are the majesty and ferocity of a lion.

We welcome His power in our lives, especially if that power is used for our benefit. We have no difficulty basking in Jesus’ glory, but we resist His authority over us. We welcome Jesus’ action of turning water into wine but we resist when He turns our lives upside down, inside out, and right-side up. We don’t want Him to interfere with how we live.

We need to pay heed to what Jesus’ mother told the servants: “Do whatever he tells you” (John 2:5). Jesus’ glory and authority demands our obedience and submission. Will you do whatever Jesus tells you to do?

— K.T. Sim

Read Matthew 21:12-13, Mark 11:15-17, and Luke 19:45-46 for the second and later cleansing of the temple.

Jesus wants to change you. How are you resisting Him? What will it mean for you to submit to His authority today?