How long, O Lord, must I call for help?
But you do not listen!
“Violence is everywhere!” I cry, but you do not come to save.
Must I forever see these evil deeds?
Why must I watch all this misery?
Wherever I look, I see destruction and violence.
I am surrounded by people who love to argue and fight.
The law has become paralyzed, and there is no justice in the courts.
The wicked far outnumber the righteous, so that justice has become perverted. – Habakkuk 1:2-4

Have you ever prayed a similar prayer? I definitely have. The news can be so discouraging and I ask God where He is in all of it. I ask Him to see all of the sorrow and injustice, as if He isn’t already looking. I tell Him my heart is breaking, as if His heart isn’t even more broken than mine.

190 teachers were pink-slipped in Peoria’s District 150 yesterday…
14 students were wounded at a Texas community college yesterday when a student went on a stabbing rampage…
Media have stopped their coverage of the trial of an abortionist accused of murdering seven babies and one woman…
Women have the right to abort but teachers do not have the right to pray aloud in their classroom…
Teenagers can obtain an abortion without parental consent but the government is considering taking away the right of parents to homeschool…
Increased spending, tax hikes, social security cuts…
Access to emergency contraceptives becomes a right for children, teens and women while the right to own and carry a gun is at risk…

God help us. See what is happening all around us. Where are you God? Are you listening?

“Look around at the nations; look and be amazed!
For I AM DOING SOMETHING in your own day, something you wouldn’t believe even if someone told you about it.” – Habakkuk 1:5

God answer: Look around! There is evidence of my movement all around! I am never without a plan. Don’t try to fix the world around you of your own strength – trust in ME. Look for ME and seek MY plan. Be willing to do what I ask you, instead of depending on yourself. Be a part of MY plan instead of forcing your own.

“But they are deeply guilty, for their own strength is their god…
Look at the proud!
They trust in themselves, and their lives are crooked.
But the righteous will live by their faithfulness to God.” – Habakkuk 1:11b, 2:4

Let’s make Habakkuk’s prayer in chapter 3 our prayer today, speaking it from our own hearts:

Lord, we have heard all about you and we are filled with awe by your amazing works.
In our time of deepest need, help us again just as you have in years past.
In your anger, remember your mercy.
We see YOU moving!!!
Was it in anger that you struck the rivers and parted the sea?
Were you displeased with them?
No, you were sending your chariots of salvation!
Lord, may your action save us and save our nation instead of destroying us for our sins.
Oh God, we trust in you!
Even though the fig trees have no blossoms, and there are no grapes on the vines;
Even though the olive crop fails, and the fields lie empty and barren;
Even though the flocks die in the fields, and the cattle barns are empty,
Yet will I rejoice in the Lord!
I will be joyful in the God of my salvation!
The Sovereign Lord is my strength!
He makes me as surefooted as a deer, able to tread upon the heights. Amen.

We see in the book of Nahum that the city of Ninevah again turned to wickedness. The prophet Nahum declared God’s judgment on the city – the city that was rich and appeared to the world as beautiful, but was full of evil. A city of murder and lies!

What sorrow awaits Nineveh, the city of murder and lies!
She is crammed with wealth and is never without victims.
Hear the crack of whips, the rumble of wheels!
Horses’ hooves pound, and charioteers charge past!
There are countless casualties, heaps of bodies – so many bodies that people stumble over them.
All this because Nineveh, the beautiful and faithless city, mistress of deadly charms, enticed the nations with her beauty.
She taught them all her magic, enchanting people everywhere.

“I am your enemy!” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.
“And now I will lift your skirts and show all the earth your nakedness and shame.
I will cover you with filth and show the world how vile you really are.
All who see you will shrink back and say, ‘Nineveh lies in ruins. Where are the mourners?’
Does anyone regret your destruction?” – Nahum 3:1-7

Scriptures like this convince me that God will someday put an end to the abortion industry. They glamourize themselves and collect their riches, but God sees that they are surrounded by those they have killed – He hears the cries of the babies who never had the chance to be born. He hears the cries of the men and women who have been deceived and lied to.

The Abortion Industry has convinced society to consider abortion socially acceptable, a good option for women. The government pours money into their pockets. Good organizations like Susan G. Komen have been caught in their web of deceit and cannot get out unharmed. Every year, well-meaning individuals raise money for the cause of breast cancer research, only to have their money go to an industry that profits from the death of 1.3 million babies a year in the US.

The stench of death surrounds us and the world continues to shout their praises. But God, God will sweep over his enemies in an overwhelming flood. He will pursue his foes into the darkness of night (1:8).

The Lord is a jealous God, filled with vengeance and rage.
He takes revenge on all who oppose him and continues to rage against his enemies!
The Lord is slow to get angry, but his power is great, and he never lets the guilty go unpunished…
In his presence the mountains quake, and the hills melt away;
The earth trembles, and its people are destroyed.
Who can stand before his fierce anger?
Who can survive his burning fury?
His rage blazes forth like fire, and the mountains crumble to dust in his presence. – Nahum 1:1-3a,5-6

Lord, we thank you for being a God of power – a God aware of the hurts, pains and injustices of this world. Lord, forgive us as a nation who allows and promotes the death of those who cannot defend themselves. Strengthen us and equip us to protect with the power of Your love and to speak Your truth to this lost and dying world. Expose evil empires that veil themselves as if to appear beautiful. Lord, break our hearts over what breaks yours and calm our troubled hearts. Oh God, we trust in You for You are the God of love and the God of justice. Amen.

The Lord is good, a strong refuge when trouble comes.
He is close to those who trust in him (1:7)

Up! Begone!
This is no longer your land and home, for you have filled it with sin and RUINED it completely (Micah 2:10).

God had made a covenant with His people and they had ignored their promises and His faithfulness. He brought them out of Egypt to the land of Canaan, yet they chose to walk away from His plan for them. They REJECTED God and demanded an earthly king. He told them to serve Him only and to have no other gods before Him, yet they worshipped false gods and bowed to idols. They put themselves on the throne where God was meant to reign. The result – RUINS!

I will bring you to RUIN for all your sins.
You will eat but never have enough.
Your hunger pangs and emptiness will remain.
And though you try to save money, it will come to nothing in the end…
You will plant crops but not harvest them.
You will press your olives but not get enough oil to anoint yourselves.
You will trample the grapes but get no juice to make your wine…
I will make an example of you, bring you to complete RUIN (6:13-16a).

God’s people used His covenant with them as an excuse to sin. They said, “No harm will come to us for the Lord is here among us” (3:11). Micah’s response to them, his call to RIGHTEOUSNESS – not their own effort to save themselves but their submission to God’s call to be righteous:

“Listen, you leaders of Israel! You are supposed to know right from wrong, but you are the very ones who hate good and love evil…Then you beg the Lord for help in times of trouble! Do you really expect him to answer? After all the evil you have done, he won’t even look at you!” – Micah 3:1,4

God had a message for His people – one of REBUKE and REDEMPTION:

“O my people, what have I done to you?
What have I done to make you tired of me?
Answer me!
For I brought you out of Egypt and REDEEMED you from slavery.
I sent Moses, Aaron, and Miriam to help you.
Don’t you REMEMBER…
REMEMBER your journey…
When I, the Lord, did everything I could to teach you about my faithfulness.” – Micah 6:3-5

The response of God’s people was REMORSE. They REPENTED of their sins and inquired of the necessary RETRIBUTION:

What can we bring to the Lord?
What kind of offerings should we give him?
Should we bow before God with offerings of yearling calves?
Should we offer him thousands of rams and ten thousand rivers of olive oil?
Should we sacrifice our firstborn children to pay for our sins? – (6:6-7)

No, O people, the Lord has told you what is good, and this is what he REQUIRES of you:
to do what is right,
to love mercy,
and to walk humbly with your God. – Micah 6:8

But among the RUINS was a RAY OF HOPE – a promise that God would again RESCUE and RESTORE His people:

“Someday, O Israel, I will gather the remnant who are left.
I will bring you together again like sheep in a pen, like a flock in its pasture.
Yes, your land will again be filled with noisy crowds!
Your leader will break out and lead you out of exile, out through the gates of the enemy cities, back to your own land.
Your king will lead you; the Lord himself will guide you.” – Micah 2:12-13

I love this RESPONSE to the hope given by God:

As for me, I look to the Lord for help.
I wait confidently for God to save me, and my God will certainly hear me…
Though I sit in darkness, the Lord will be my light.
I will be patient as the Lord punishes me, for I have sinned against him (7:7-9).

The LORD gave this message to Jonah son of Amittai: “Get up and go to the great city of Nineveh. Announce my judgment against it because I have seen how wicked its people are.” But Jonah got up and went in the opposite direction to get away from the LORD. He went down to the port of Joppa, where he found a ship leaving for Tarshish. He bought a ticket and went on board, hoping to escape from the LORD by sailing to Tarshish. – Jonah 1:1-3

Why do we think we can outrun God? He creates this perfect plan for our lives and we whine, complain and argue that there is a better way. We expect God’s plan to look one way and then there is what seems to us to be a change of plans and we rebel. We were content doing what He had asked us to do where He had asked us to do it, but now He is moving us to a new ministry, a new home, a new call. We hope to escape from what He is asking us to do but God pursues us because He loves us!

But the LORD hurled a powerful wind over the sea, causing a violent storm that threatened to break the ship apart (1:4).

God stood between Jonah and Jonah’s alternative plan and got his attention. After trying everything else, the crew on the ship threw Jonah overboard at his suggestion, for all of them knew that Jonah was running from the Lord. God had a plan, God intervened in Jonah’s life and now God had a way to get Jonah back on track. Granted this was probably not a way Jonah would have chosen but Jonah was the one who was on a sidetrack from the Lord’s will.

Now the LORD had arranged for a great fish to swallow Jonah. And Jonah was inside the fish for three days and three nights (1:17).

Jonah recognized God’s intervention and prayed from inside the belly of the fish. Jonah was still not where he wanted to be and still not in a comfortable place in life, yet he knew God was at work and thanked Him for hearing his cry for help. He promised God that he would once more look toward God’s holy temple instead of running the opposite direction.

“I cried out to the LORD in my great trouble,
and he answered me.
I called to you from the land of the dead,
and LORD, you heard me!
You threw me into the ocean depths,
and I sank down to the heart of the sea.
The mighty waters engulfed me;
I was buried beneath YOUR wild and stormy waves.
Then I said, ‘O LORD, you have driven me from your presence.
Yet I will look once more toward your holy Temple.’ – Jonah 2:2-4

The Lord ordered the fish to spit Jonah out onto the beach. As he promised, Jonah went to Ninevah and preached a message of judgment on the city of Ninevah. The people, including their king, started fasting and putting on burlap to show how sorry they were for their sins. God again changed the plan on Jonah. He forgave the people of Ninevah and did not carry out the destroy the city.

This change of plans greatly upset Jonah, and he became very angry. So he complained to theLORD about it: “Didn’t I say before I left home that you would do this, LORD? That is why I ran away to Tarshish! I knew that you are a merciful and compassionate God, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. You are eager to turn back from destroying people. Just kill me now, LORD! I’d rather be dead than alive if what I predicted will not happen.”

The LORD replied, “Is it right for you to be angry about this?” – Jonah 4:1-4

Once again Jonah whines, complains and argues with God because he is not happy with God’s plan. He is more consumed with how this change in plans will make him look, more disappointed that the people will not be punished than he is thankful for God’s redemption. He goes outside of the city and sits under the shade of a plant to feel sorry for himself but God sends a worm and the plant dies, which angers Jonah. God asks him a very direct question that is a good question for me today – a question for all of us.

Then God said to Jonah, “Is it right for you to be angry because the plant died?”

Then the LORD said, “You feel sorry about the plant, though you did nothing to put it there. It came quickly and died quickly. But Nineveh has more than 120,000 people living in spiritual darkness, not to mention all the animals. Shouldn’t I feel sorry for such a great city?” – Jonah 4:9-11

Oh the heart of a God who loves His creation! Lord, fill us with this same kind of love for others. Bring us to our knees in prayer for those who are lost. Get our attention. Forgive me when I whine and complain over Your plan because I like my plan better. Lord, no more running in the opposite direction. I embrace Your plan and Your way. Amen.

The book of Amos was not an easy book to read this morning. At one point, I wondered if there would be anything significant to pull out of it – I questioned whether or not God would have a message in it for me or for anyone else who might be sharing this morning coffee with me today. But God is faithful and His Scriptures are never insignificant.

The prophet Amos…well, that’s actually a good place to stop because Amos would not have considered himself a prophet. Amos was simply a shepherd with a heart open to doing anything God asked him to do, even if he felt unqualified for it. Here is what Amos had to say about his call from God:

“I’m not a professional prophet, and I was never trained to be one. I’m just a shepherd, and I take care of sycamore fig trees. But the Lord called me away from my flock and told me, ‘Go and prophesy to my people in Israel.’ – Amos 7:14-15

I love his heart! I love how Amos was just minding his own business, doing his thing, when God called him away to do his work, and Amos responding with a willing heart. This is in direct contrast to what was happening among God’s people at that time. Amos’ call was to speak of God’s judgment on His people. Here was God’s accusation against His people.

The behavior of God’s people, the nation of Israel & Judah as well as 6 other nations, could be narrowed down to three words – arrogance, selfishness, and pretense. The put their own selfish desires for luxury before the needs of others around them. They were abusive and oppressive to those who had less than they did – the weak, the needy, and the poor. They ignored the needs of others and filled their hunger for earthly possessions. Because of this, God’s judgment was going to fall HARD on these people.

This should be of significance for those of us who have been blessed with so much. God was clear in Amos’ prophecies that He was done with the arrogance of a nation who felt they were better than others. He was going to punish this selfish generation who put their own needs ahead of the needs of others. He was bringing judgment on those who continued to go through the motions of worship and the rituals of sacrifice but who were not living a lifestyle of sacrifice and worship.

God did not choose judgment before first drawing His people to Himself, but they would not listen.

“I brought hunger…but still you would not return to me…
I kept rain from falling when your crops needed it the most…but still you would not return to me…
I struck your farms and vineyards…but still you would not return to me…
I sent plagues…but still you would not return to me…
I destroyed some of your cities…but still you would not return to me…
THEREFORE I will bring upon you all the disasters I have announced. Prepare to meet your God in judgment, you people of Israel!” – Amos 4:6-12

God is not part of this world and cannot be manipulated by it. He determines how people can come to him. Attending church regularly, paying tithe and going through the rituals of being a believer are not substitutes for a GENUINE heart.

“I hate all of your show and pretense – the hypocrisy of your religious festivals and solemn assemblies. I will not accept your burnt offerings and grain offerings. I won’t even notice all your choice peace offerings. Away with your noisy hymns of praise! I will not listen to the music of your harps. Instead, I want to see a mighty flood of justice, an endless river of righteous living.” – Amos 5:21-24

“You sing trivial songs to the sound of a harp and fancy yourselves to be great musicians like David. You drink wine by the bowlful and perfume yourselves with fragrant lotions. You care nothing about the ruin of your nation. Therefore, you will be the first to be led away as captives. Suddenly, all your parties will end.” – Amos 6:5-7

God’s people had a false notion of privilege. They continued to live a life of self-indulgence and spoke of how they were looking forward to the day of the Lord but they did not realize that the Lord was coming not to absolve their sinfulness but to punish them. They believed that the covenant God had made with His people allowed them to live as they pleased – arrogance, selfishness and pretense – but God required righteous living. They lived as if God owed them salvation and eternal life because of a decision made a long time ago. But God does not ignore sin (7:8). He calls His people to “Do what is good and run from evil so that you may live!…Hate evil and love what is good; turn your courts into true halls of justice” (5:14-15).

Lord, forgive us for our moments of arrogance when we think too much of ourselves and too little of others. Forgive us for living comfortably with all you have blessed us with while others around us are in need. Forgive us for our attitudes of privilege and expectations of rewards because of a decision we made a long time ago when we have not continued to live the righteous life you have called us to. Open our eyes and call us out of our own agendas for today. We desire to respond to your call on our lives and do whatever you are asking us to do. Thank you for being a God who loves us enough to draw us to Yourself. Thank you for your love and for your justice. Amen.

Tell your children about it in the years to come, and let your children tell their children. Pass the story down from generation to generation. – Joel 1:3

This hard time that you are going through, this time of loss and mourning over what you used to have, pay attention for this is a time you need to tell your children about and they need to tell their children. For generations they will have this story of how the Lord is going to provide for you and bring you out of this valley of trouble, for it is a gateway to hope (Hosea 2:15).

The grapevines have dried up, and the fig trees have withered. The pomegranate trees, palm trees, and apple trees – all the fruit trees – have dried up. And the people’s joy has dried up with them. – Joel 1:12

Everything that has sustained you and all that has given you pleasure is being taken away from you, it is drying up, and with it, your joy. You begin to wonder, “Is God really a merciful and loving God? Am I being punished for something?” God responds to your need for answers and confirms His identity to you. He instructs you on how to respond to this difficult time – this time of uncertainty.

Announce a time of fasting; call the people together for a solemn meeting. Bring the leaders and all the people of the land into the Temple of the Lord your God, and cry out to him there. – Joel 1:14

This is why the Lord says, “Turn to me now, while there is time. Give me your hearts. Come with fasting, weeping, and mourning. Don’t tear your clothing in your grief, but tear your hearts instead.” Return to the Lord your God, for he is merciful and compassionate, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. He is EAGER to relent and not punish. Who knows? Perhaps he will give you a reprieve, sending you a blessing instead of a curse. Perhaps you will be able to offer grain and wine to the Lord your God as before. – Joel 2:12-14

God confirms who He is. Look back at all He has done for you over the years. Remember His faithfulness to you and know with confidence that He has more blessings to pour into your life.

Surely the Lord has done great things! Don’t be afraid, my people. Be glad now and rejoice, for the Lord has done great things. Don’t be afraid, you animals of the field, for the wilderness pastures will soon be green. The trees will again be filled with fruit; fig trees and grapevines will be loaded down once more. Rejoice, you people of Jerusalem! Rejoice in the Lord your God! For the rain he sends demonstrates his faithfulness. Once more the autumn rains will come, as well as the rains of spring. The threshing floor will again be piled high with grain, and the presses will overflow with new wine and olive oil.

The Lord says, “I will give you back what you lost to the swarming locusts, the hopping locusts. It was I who sent this great destroying army against you. Once again you will have all the food you want and you will praise the Lord your God, who does these miracles for you. – Joel 2:20b-26a

God is in the middle of all of this. None of this has caught Him by surprise. Remember His faithfulness and trust that He has great plans for your future, that your joy will not be dry forever but that you will rejoice again in how your God has provided during a difficult time. You will have a story of God’s provision and His redemption to tell your children and your children’s children.

God gave Adam & Eve an incredible opportunity to live in intimate relationship with their Creator. He blessed them generously, yet they chose to disobey. Even though He had greatly blessed them, they disregarded God’s plan, ignored God’s purpose in their creation and satisfied their own desires instead of faithfully following God.

God gave the nation of Israel this same opportunity. He rescued them from slavery and gave them Canaan – a land flowing with milk and honey. He showered them with spiritual and material blessings, asking them to stay on His path of righteousness and worship Him only. But they disregarded God’s plan, ignored God’s purpose and satisfied their own desires instead of faithfully following God.

Hosea the prophet’s life became an example of the unfaithfulness of Israel to their God. Hosea married a prostitute who continued to be unfaithful to him despite his generous love to her. Hosea’s anguish over his wife’s sins represents the heart of our God who grieves when we choose to love ourselves or something else more than we love Him. There were consequences to Gomer’s unfaithfulness coming from a heart full of mercy, just as God’s punishment and the natural consequences of our sins come out of mercy for the purpose of redemption.

She doesn’t realize it was I who gave her everything she has – the grain, the new wine, the olive oil; I even gave her silver and gold. But she gave all my gifts to Baal.

“But then I will win her back once again.
I will lead her into the desert and speak tenderly to her there.
I will return her vineyards to her and transform the Valley of Trouble into a gateway of hope.
She will give herself to me there, as she did long ago when she was young, when I freed her from her captivity in Egypt.
When that day comes,” says the Lord, “you will call me ‘my husband’ instead of ‘my master.’…
I will make you my wife forever, showing you righteousness and justice, unfailing love and compassion.
I will be faithful to you and make you mine, and you will finally know me as the Lord. – Hosea 2:8-20

God offers each one of us the incredible opportunity to live in an intimate relationship with our Creator – the one who knows everything about us and loves us more than we can imagine. He enters into a covenant relationship with us, requiring us to walk down a path of righteousness – following God’s plan, clinging to God’s purposes and living fully for Him. When we break that covenant by putting something else or someone else ahead of Him (idols), out of His great love and mercy for us He allows us to go through a time of judgment or punishment or consequences for our actions. This serve as His way of drawing us back to Him in order that He might restore us and reestablish His covenant with us. God’s hope always follows His judgment! He turns our valley of trouble into a gateway to hope.

God’s desire for an intimate relationship:

I want you to show love, not offer sacrifices.
I want you to know me, more than I want burnt offerings – Hosea 6:6

God’s generous blessings on our lives and our tendency to turn away from all He has for us:

But the richer the people get, the more pagan altars they build.
The more bountiful their harvests, the more beautiful their sacred pillars.
The hearts of the people are fickle; they are guilty and must be punished (10:1-2).

“I have been the Lord your God ever since I brought you out of Egypt.
You must acknowledge no God but me, for there is no other savior.
I took care of you in the wilderness, in that dry and thirsty land.
But when you had eaten and were satisfied, you became proud and forgot me.” – (13:4-6)

His call on our lives to live righteously:

I said, “Plant the good seeds of righteousness, and you will harvest a crop of love.
Plow up the hard ground of your hearts, for now is the time to seek the Lord, that he may come and shower righteousness upon you.” – 10:12

Out of His great mercy, God’s punishes us with the judgment or consequences to our unfaithfulness, for the purpose of restoring us to a right relationship with Him:

“Oh Judah, a harvest of punishment is also waiting for you, though I wanted to restore the fortunes of my people.

“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.” – Hosea 6:1-3

God’s judgment is always followed by the hope of restoration:

The Lord says, “Then I will heal you of your faithlessness; my love will know no bounds, for my anger will be gone forever…
My people will again live under my shade…
O Israel, stay away from idols!
I am the one who answers your prayers and cares for you.
I am like a tree that is always green; all your fruit comes from me.”

The paths of the Lord are true and right, and righteous people live by walking in them (14:9b).

Where are we on this path or journey? Are we enjoying an intimate relationship with God, resting in His plan and His purpose? Are we turning away from all of His blessings in our lives and continuing to search for something the world has to offer? Is God even now transforming our Valley of Trouble into a Gateway of Hope? Are we living once again under His shade, where the tree is always green and He is bearing fruit in our lives?

I have really enjoyed studying Paul’s letters over the last couple of months. This morning, I looked at one more. Paul’s letter to Philemon is the shortest of his letters. He was writing to Philemon and his church to let them know that his runaway slave, Onesimus, is returning home. Paul was in prison while writing this letter and perhaps that is where he met Onesimus. There are two strong messages in Paul’s letter to Philemon, Onesimus’ master – forgiveness and genuine love.

Paul is writing a letter of recommendation, sort of. He is sending Onesimus back to his master to ask for forgiveness and devote himself to him. Paul wants Philemon to see his slave as his brother in Christ and extend forgiveness to him. Paul speaks of Philemon’s faith in the Lord Jesus and his love for all of God’s people. He is trying to help Philemon identify his slave as one of God’s people to be loved in this same way, despite the way in which he has wronged his master.

And I am praying that you will put into action the generosity that comes from your faith as you understand and experience all the good things we have in Christ. Your love has given me much joy and comfort, my brother, for your kindness has often refreshed the hearts of God’s people.

That is why I am boldly asking a favor of you. I could demand it in the name of Christ because it is the right thing for you to do. But because of our love, I prefer simply to ask you…I appeal to you to show kindness to my child, Onesimus…Onesimus hasn’t been much help to you in the past, but now he is very useful to both of us. I am sending him back to you, and with him comes my heart (Philemon 6-12).

With today being Good Friday, our day to remember how Christ died on the cross for us, my mind goes to His example of forgiveness He displayed while on the cross. Jesus was between two criminals – one shouting out condemnation and insults to him, one begging for forgiveness and grace. Jesus set the bar high for us. Even while dying for this criminal’s sins, as well as for my sins and your sins, Jesus was willing to forgive this man and offer to him eternal life.

Two others, both criminals, were led out to be executed with him. When they came to a place called The Skull, they nailed him to the cross. And the criminals were also crucified – one on his right and one on his left.

Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.” (Luke 23:32-34a).

One of the criminals hanging beside him scoffed, “So you’re the Messiah, are you? Prove it by saving yourself – and us, too, while you’re at it!”

But the other criminal protested, “Don’t you fear God even when you have been sentenced to die? We deserve to die for our crimes, but this man hasn’t done anything wrong.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your Kingdom.”

And Jesus replied, “I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise.” – Luke 23:39-43

Jesus, thank you for giving your life for me. Thank you for your willingness to die for all of our sins in order that we might experience eternal life. Lord, may your Spirit reveal in me any unforgiveness or unresolved hurt or anger toward anyone. Thank you for forgiving me. Give me the strength to always extend that same forgiveness to others, even if they are not apologetic. Help me to forgive with a Good Friday kind of forgiveness. May my focus always be on You and not on me or on others. I love you, Jesus! Amen.

We have two more letters from Paul to look at – Titus and Philemon. There must have been similar issues going on in the church in Crete, because Paul wrote on many of the same issues. And consistent with all of Paul’s letters, he again touched on the fact that we are saved by grace not by works but saved to do good works and live a holy life.

For the grace of God has been revealed, bringing salvation to all people. And we are instructed to turn from godless living and sinful pleasures. We should live in this evil world with wisdom, righteousness, and devotion to God, while we look forward with hope to that wonderful day when the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ will be revealed. He gave his life to free us from every kind of sin, to cleanse us, and to make us his very own people, totally committed to doing good deeds (Titus 2:11-14).

This is a trustworthy saying, and I want you to insist on these teachings so that all who trust in God will devote themselves to doing good. These teaching are good and beneficial for everyone (3:8).

“When God our Savior revealed his kindness and love, he saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit. He generously poured out the Spirit upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior. Because of his grace he declared us righteous and gave us confidence that we will inherit eternal life.” – Titus 3:4-7

Last night we attended the Passion Play at Pekin First Church of the Nazarene. During the crucifixion scene, I had to focus on Christ and pull myself away from the actors. To consider what Jesus did for me on the cross, how He gave His life for me… How do we adequately express our thanks for that kind of love?

“not because of the righteous things we had done” and in spite of the large quantity of sins He had to wash away. Christ GENEROUSLY died on a cross so that I can walk away from my old self and allow Him to create within me someone new – a new life through the Holy Spirit. As a way of showing my gratitude and our surrender to His Lordship, I lay my life in His hands with a willingness to do whatever He calls me to do today.

Saved by grace…

Saved to a total commitment to do good deeds!

They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly. Stay away from people like that! – 2 Timothy 3:5

In Paul’s last letter, he speaks again of the holiness to which God has called each of us. He has given us the Holy Spirit, through whom we have the power to stop giving in to our sinful nature and start following the urgings of the Spirit. He warns believers not to live as if they have to sin, as if they cannot overcome sin. As we talked about yesterday, he calls us to recognize that the power of the cross is available to us today through the fire of the Holy Spirit.

In a wealthy home some utensils are made of gold and silver, and some are made of wood and clay. The expensive utensils are used for special occasions, and the cheap ones are for everyday use. If you keep yourself pure, you will be a special utensil for honorable use. Your life will be clean, and you will be ready for the Master to use you for every good work.

Run from anything that stimulates youthful lusts. Instead, pursue righteous living, faithfulness, love, and peace. Enjoy the companionship of those who call on the Lord with pure hearts (2 Timothy 2:20-22).

God has a purpose for each one of our lives and the pursuit of righteousness is what keeps us ready to be used by Him, for His purpose, in His time, in His way.

But you must remain faithful to those things you have been taught. You know they are true, for you know you can trust those who taught you. You have been taught the holy Scriptures from childhood, and they have given you the wisdom to receive the salvation that comes by trusting in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teach us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work (3:14-17).

I love this scripture because it reminds me of the change that takes place in me each morning as I sit down with my Bible and my cup of coffee and spend precious time with my God. His words I read on the page and His words I hear Him gently whisper change me each day. I don’t have to trust in my own ability to live a holy life but I can trust in Jesus to make changes in my heart and in my mind. When I read a verse or passage that convicts me, I have a choice. I can say, “That’s me. I’m sinful and I mess this up every day.” Or I can say, “Lord, you know I need your help in this area. Teach me to do the right thing. Prepare me and equip me for every good thing you want to use me for today.” I use grace not as an excuse or explanation for my sin, but as the power to clean me up and make me a “utensil for honorable use.”

It is believed that this is the last letter Paul ever wrote. He puts in one sentence a summary of how he looks back at his life – a testimony that I pray I can give at the end of my life.

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful. And now the prize awaits me – the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on the day of his return. And the prize is not just for me but for all who eagerly look forward to his appearing. – 2 Timothy 4:7-9

May the Lord be with your spirit. And may his grace be with all of you. – 2 Timothy 4:22