September 8 - Tell Me What I Want to Hear!

 Read today’s texts first: Jeremiah 42-44; Psalm 48; Revelation 13

MAXIMize YOUR DAY

When hearing from God, avoid selective listening
and responding with, “tell me anything but that!” 

No wonder Jeremiah is called the weeping prophet – no one listened to him. This passage started off as a possible exception, with the people promising to do whatever Jeremiah said. They were finally ready to do God’s will, no matter what. Ten days later Jerry returned with a surprisingly upbeat message: God promised to be their defense if they didn’t return to Egypt. Egypt represented their former life – a life of bondage to foreign rulers and false gods.

It seemed like a reasonable request to me, exactly like the one they were offered 900 years earlier right after they had escaped Pharaoh’s armies and were poised to enter their promised land. But that same fear of the unknown and comfort with their old life (how soon they forgot what it was really like) produced the same response. We’ll do anything You want Lord, except that. Tell us what we want to hear.

It seems like such a stupid response. Hadn’t they learned by now how trustworthy God is? Why didn’t they get it? While I was shaking my head at their faithlessness, I began thinking about my own. I remembered my own fear of the unknown when God first called me into ministry – “anything but that Lord! I want to be a successful businessman and have the gift of giving. I can do more by supporting others who are better suited for full-time ministry. Tell me what I want to hear.”

“Lord, I know that was a long time ago and I’ve grown up a little since then, but I still struggle with selective listening. Forgive my sporadic faith. I really do want to listen to everything You have to say to me, and I really do want to obey. May what is said of the die-hard remnant in Revelation be true for me: this calls for patient endurance and faithfulness on the part of the saints” (10).

September 7 - The Overcome and the Overcomers

 Read today’s texts first: 2 Kings 25; 2 Chronicles 26; Jeremiah 40-41; Revelation 12 

MAXIMize YOUR DAY

We can be an overcomer only when Jesus
is our Saviour, our source and our story.

This seemingly random collection of passages has surprising continuity. I love the chronological approach of this Bible reading plan. The OT readings focus on the final moments leading up to the capture of Jerusalem and the deportation of God’s people to Babylon. We read how Israel and Judah wanted to be like the other nations. Well, they got their wish – they were all so full of pride God had to bring every last one of them to their knees. The overcomers were now overcome!

Fast forward to Revelation and we find God’s people again, this time getting it right.  While facing the fiercest opposition in history, Satan himself leading an all-out attack on believers in the Great Tribulation, the remnant prevail. They overcome, not with superior Bible knowledge, not with good looks, charm or brilliant military strategies – they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony (12:11). The blood refers to their need for a Savior; their testimony articulates that need.

We cannot overcome Satan and his forces with human strength. Our only hope at overcoming comes through a dependence on God and one another. That is a lesson for every potential church leader. I worked with young leaders for most of my ministry and they were often smart, good-looking, and talented. But the best thing we can teach them is that none of those things factor in the conflict they will face. What matters most is that they never forget their need for a Saviour and for each other – the secret to our invincibility.

“Lord, I need You more than ever. Be my Saviour, my source and my story as I live out this day and those still remaining.”

September 6 - Timber!

 Read today’s texts first: Ezekiel 29-32; Revelation 11

MAXIMize YOUR DAY

Like a tree, our health and productivity is dependent
on where and how deep we extend our roots. 

Ezekiel has the most to say about Israel’s arch enemy, Egypt.  Four chapters are devoted to bringing down this undisputed world power.  The analogy Zeke uses is a cedar of Lebanon, which he first applies to Assyria and then to Egypt.  I was intrigued by the tree illustration because I always thought a strong tree by deep springs was a good thing, not an example of pride poised for a fall.

The problem with the cedar in this analogy was its flashy foliage, beautiful branches and lofty attitude.  This tree was more concerned about how high it towered over other trees than how deep its roots were. Comparison is the theme of this story, found in the introduction (31:2), middle (5-6), and the conclusion (8-9).  Note the descriptors: “who can be compared”, “overshadowing”, “towered higher”, “rival”, “equal”, “compare”, “match” and “envy”.

This towering tree is an illustration of pride and Egypt was about to discover what Assyria had already learned – pride precedes destruction.  The application for me and all of us is simple: a tree remains healthy when it develops deep roots and stays connected to its source of nutrients and life-giving water.  The height of its trunk, the reach of its branches and the abundance of its fruit is incidental, the natural result of an unobstructed root system.

“Lord, You are my source.  Help me identify any infestation of pride in my life that might undermine my relationship with You.”

September 5 - One “Man” Turns Many Nations

 Read today’s texts first:  Ezekiel 25-28; Revelation 10

MAXIMize YOUR DAY

When we resist God’s will and try to assert
our own independence, we actually become
puppets in the hands of Satan. 

This passage includes a series of prophecies about specific cities and nations that had rebelled against God and attacked His people.  Having studied the historical accuracy of these detailed predictions (biblical prophecy is history written in advance) I now know you don’t mess with God.  He says what He means and does what He says!

But there’s another powerful personality described within this prophetic passage.  Ezekiel shifts from the city of Tyre to the ruler of Tyre to the King of Tyre.  The language changes dramatically and it soon becomes obvious that the description within 28:11-19 is of Lucifer, aka Satan.  He was the anointed cherub whom God expelled from His presence because of pride.

Why is this unique passage (the only other one describing Lucifer is Isaiah 14) wedged between prophetic judgments of rebellious people groups?  I believe the connection is obvious – the King behind the human rulers of rebellious cities and nations is the source of all pride and rebellion.  Jesus made it clear that when we resist His will, as Peter did in Matthew 16:23, we are motivated by Satan.

“Lord, when I resist Your will in my life and try to assert my own independence, I actually become a puppet controlled by Satan and His cohorts.  Both Ezekiel and Revelation serve to remind me that You are the final judge and Your will will ultimately be done.  I choose to do Your will today.”

September 4 - Can One Man Turn a Nation?

 Read today’s texts first: Ezekiel 22-24; Revelation 9

 MAXIMize YOUR DAY

To be “outstanding” you need to
stand out from the crowd. 

I looked for a man among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land so I would not have to destroy it, but I found none (22:30).  God’s hand of judgment was often held back by an intercessor, be it Abraham, Moses or one of His prophets.  We often ask, “what can one man do to change their world?”  God’s answer – a lot!

To be outstanding you need to stand out from the crowd.  It’s not easy to be different.  Our insecurities cause us to conform, to try and fit in, to be like everyone else.  But our world has enough followers.  Like the lemmings, what looks like a walk on the beach can turn out to be deadly.  In my younger days, I often tried to justify wrong choices with the well-used “everyone’s doing it!”, to which my mom would predictably respond, “if everyone jumped off a cliff, would you jump too?”  Unfortunately, metaphorically and literally, that actually happens, every day!

To be the man in the gap doesn’t mean you have to dress weird, talk weird or act weird.  In fact, it requires just the opposite.  Turning around a nation, or even just your next-door neighbour, requires a rational and relational representation of Jesus.  When Jesus walked planet Earth He was that man in the gap, and sinners loved Him.  Our world is looking for leaders, for wall-builders, for intercessors – those who can point out the right way with confidence and clarity.

“Lord, change whatever You need to in me to make me that man!”

September 3 - How Do I Get There From Here?

 Read today’s texts first:  Ezekiel 20-21; Ps. 111; Revelation 8

MAXIMize YOUR DAY

The lost won’t turn around and follow you
if you’re heading in the same direction. 

I don’t normally connect my journal entries, but a theme of life’s journey is emerging from my first three readings this month.  After expanding our peripheral vision to include our past and future, it makes sense to figure out how we get where we are going.

The answer is not hidden in some Bible code or a DaVinci painting.  The basic rule of hermeneutics is simple - the plain things are the main things and the main things are the plain things.  What is obvious according to Ezekiel and the Holy Spirit is the recurring theme from chapter 20: I gave them my decrees and made known to them my laws, for the man who obeys them will live by them (20:11,13,21).  If you really want to live and fulfill your destiny, do it God’s way with God’s help.  Obedience is not an option!

Israel was delayed, derailed and ultimately deported because of chronic disobedience.  God diagnosed their problem: you say, “we want to be like the other nations, like the peoples of the world, who serve wood and stone.”  Get a clue!  How are you going to bring the nations to the true God if you want to follow their false gods?

That question comes back to me, because I’m often guilty of the same tendency.  “Lord, when I’m tempted to live like the world, remind me that they don’t even know what life’s all about.  They won’t turn around and follow me if I’m heading in the same direction.  You can’t get here from there!”

September 2 - Know Where You’re Going

 Read today’s texts first: Ezekiel 17-19; Revelation 7

 MAXIMize YOUR DAY

Living in the moment has no meaning
without an eternal perspective. 

While I’m a big fan of living in the moment, the moment has no meaning without an eternal perspective.  Our readings in Ezekiel illustrate the importance of our past; Revelation rounds out the big picture with a glimpse into our future.  When we need to be reminded of the meaning of life, it’s always a good idea to skip ahead to the closing chapters of the ultimate manual for life.

In chapter 7 we see the gathering around the throne.  Not only do we find the remnant of the 12 tribes of Israel, but we see representation from every other nation, tribe, people group and language, worshipping our God as one united family.  This is the end result of God’s incredible master plan – this is our final destination!

Israel’s purpose was the same as the church (compare Exodus 19:6 with 1 Peter 2:9 and Revelation 1:6).  As a kingdom of priests, they were to serve as representatives of God’s Kingdom on earth so that the nations could come to God.  Unfortunately, instead of being influencers, they were more often the influenced, wanting to be like the other nations.

The church at times has the same problem, and so do I!  “Lord, may my life be focused on one ultimate objective – extending your Kingdom to every nation.  When I’m tempted to backtrack and be like the rest of the world, remind me of my destination, to be with You, and my destiny, to be like You!”