​Key Verses
9 “On the Sabbath day, two male lambs a year old without blemish, and two tenths of an ephah of fine flour for a grain offering, mixed with oil, and its drink offering: 10 this is the burnt offering of every Sabbath, besides the regular burnt offering and its drink offering.
 
Meditation
“Once and for all” is a repeated phrase in Hebrews to emphasize the finished work of Jesus. The sacrifice of goats and bulls cannot cleanse us of sins “once and for all” as does the sacrifice of Jesus (Hebrews 10:2). Believers are cleansed for all time, “once and for all” by faith (Hebrews 10:14), eternally secure because Jesus enters the most holy place “once and for all” on our behalf (Hebrews 9:12).
 
Numbers celebrates God’s grace by looking forward to life in the promise land, how God’s people can live in God’s promises through worship and sacrifices. In today’s reading, various appointed offerings are described (vv. 3-8) including weekly (vv. 9-10), monthly (vv. 11-15), and annual offerings (vv. 16-25). Worship and sacrifice are at the center of God’s people responding to God’s grace and living in God’s promises.
 
The directions for sacrifice are personal and urgent. Personal because God calls the sacrifices “My offerings,” the possessive pronoun repeated three times in verse 2. Urgent because the second wilderness generation has a new beginning under Moses and Joshua. The weight of the moment leaves the reader longing for greater provision.
 
“Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” Is how Jesus is introduced by John the Baptist (John 1:29). The greater sacrifice as final provision for sin is the death of Jesus. Only in Jesus can we be forgiven and free “once and for all” so to not need bloody altars hosting daily, monthly, or annual sacrifices. There is no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus!
 
Today’s Reading
The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 2 “Command the people of Israel and say to them, ‘My offering, my food for my food offerings, my pleasing aroma, you shall be careful to offer to me at its appointed time.’ 3 And you shall say to them, This is the food offering that you shall offer to the Lord: two male lambs a year old without blemish, day by day, as a regular offering. 4 The one lamb you shall offer in the morning, and the other lamb you shall offer at twilight; 5 also a tenth of an ephah of fine flour for a grain offering, mixed with a quarter of a hin of beaten oil. 6 It is a regular burnt offering, which was ordained at Mount Sinai for a pleasing aroma, a food offering to the Lord. 7 Its drink offering shall be a quarter of a hin for each lamb. In the Holy Place you shall pour out a drink offering of strong drink to the Lord. 8 The other lamb you shall offer at twilight. Like the grain offering of the morning, and like its drink offering, you shall offer it as a food offering, with a pleasing aroma to the Lord.

Sabbath Offerings
9 “On the Sabbath day, two male lambs a year old without blemish, and two tenths of an ephah of fine flour for a grain offering, mixed with oil, and its drink offering: 10 this is the burnt offering of every Sabbath, besides the regular burnt offering and its drink offering.

Monthly Offerings
11 “At the beginnings of your months, you shall offer a burnt offering to the Lord: two bulls from the herd, one ram, seven male lambs a year old without blemish; 12 also three tenths of an ephah of fine flour for a grain offering, mixed with oil, for each bull, and two tenths of fine flour for a grain offering, mixed with oil, for the one ram; 13 and a tenth of fine flour mixed with oil as a grain offering for every lamb; for a burnt offering with a pleasing aroma, a food offering to the Lord. 14 Their drink offerings shall be half a hin of wine for a bull, a third of a hin for a ram, and a quarter of a hin for a lamb. This is the burnt offering of each month throughout the months of the year. 15 Also one male goat for a sin offering to the Lord; it shall be offered besides the regular burnt offering and its drink offering.


Passover Offerings
16 “On the fourteenth day of the first month is the Lord's Passover,17 and on the fifteenth day of this month is a feast. Seven days shall unleavened bread be eaten. 18 On the first day there shall be a holy convocation. You shall not do any ordinary work, 19 but offer a food offering, a burnt offering to the Lord: two bulls from the herd, one ram, and seven male lambs a year old; see that they are without blemish; 20 also their grain offering of fine flour mixed with oil; three tenths of an ephah shall you offer for a bull, and two tenths for a ram; 21 a tenth shall you offer for each of the seven lambs;22 also one male goat for a sin offering, to make atonement for you.23 You shall offer these besides the burnt offering of the morning, which is for a regular burnt offering. 24 In the same way you shall offer daily, for seven days, the food of a food offering, with a pleasing aroma to the Lord. It shall be offered besides the regular burnt offering and its drink offering. 25 And on the seventh day you shall have a holy convocation. You shall not do any ordinary work.

Offerings for the Feast of Weeks
26 “On the day of the firstfruits, when you offer a grain offering of new grain to the Lord at your Feast of Weeks, you shall have a holy convocation. You shall not do any ordinary work, 27 but offer a burnt offering, with a pleasing aroma to the Lord: two bulls from the herd, one ram, seven male lambs a year old; 28 also their grain offering of fine flour mixed with oil, three tenths of an ephah for each bull, two tenths for one ram, 29 a tenth for each of the seven lambs; 30 with one male goat, to make atonement for you.31 Besides the regular burnt offering and its grain offering, you shall offer them and their drink offering. See that they are without blemish.
 
Richly Dwelling
-What aspects of worship and sacrifice stand out to you in today’s reading? Why?
 
-Is it hard to believe that the “once and for all” sacrifice of Jesus is enough, for all time, to cover your sin so there is no condemnation for you in Him?
 
-Where do you need to claim this eternal forgiveness, apply forgiveness from the sacrifice of the Lamb of God, and embrace the freedom to begin again? Be specific.
 
Key Verses
9 “On the Sabbath day, two male lambs a year old without blemish, and two tenths of an ephah of fine flour for a grain offering, mixed with oil, and its drink offering: 10 this is the burnt offering of every Sabbath, besides the regular burnt offering and its drink offering.

BONUS: As I begin posting second draft meditations in Luke, I realize my Sunday sermon on Luke 6:20-23 helps flesh out the paradigm established in today's meditation (I prepare meditations 3 weeks in advance). It was great to be back in Indonesia to worship and reconnect with our KPC family! This sermon (@ 36:01) will empower understanding of how the eternity of God bursts into our humanity to reframe reality and redirect faith to our eternal God and His eternal  purposes.

​                                           Key Verses
“30 And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David,”
 
                                   Meditation
God’s eternal purposes explode our personal plans and expand our perspective.
 
Sociologist Charles Taylor describes humanity living in our secular age with what he calls “an immanent frame.” For the secularist person, all phenomena are explainable within this frame without divine or supernatural intervention. “A race of humans has arisen which has managed to experience its world entirely as immanent” (see especially chapter 15 of his book, A Secular Age). Two implications are important for this meditation. First, our world has eliminated the eternal, transcendent perspective. Second, the purposes and plans we make are based solely on what we feel, experience, can measure, or explain. Today’s reading explodes our immanent frames with God’s infinite and eternal plan centered on the person and work of Jesus.
 
Zechariah and Elizabeth were defined by the immanent, unable to birth a baby due to barrenness. Mary was too, a teenage, unmarried, virgin. Both were visited by an angel sent from outside their perception to change their plans, faith aligning their hearts with God’s eternal plan of salvation. God’s eternal plan to send a redeemer, our savior sent to seal God’s covenant love, exploded into Zechariah’s, Elizabeth’s, and Mary’s experiences. Zechariah struggled to believe God’s eternity could break into our humanity. Mary believed. What about you?
 
The angel Gabriel announced God’s plan to give Mary’s child “the throne of his father David” (v. 32) is fulfillment of His covenant with David (see 2 Samuel 7) and fullness of God’s eternal, covenantal, purposes. Faith in Jesus sees Him as eternity breaking into our immanent, exploding our personal plans and expanding our perspective. 
 
                          Today’s Reading
In as much as many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the things that have been accomplished among us, 2 just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word have delivered them to us, 3 it seemed good to me also, having followed all things closely for some time past, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, 4 that you may have certainty concerning the things you have been taught.

Birth of John the Baptist Foretold
5 In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah, of the division of Abijah. And he had a wife from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. 6 And they were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and statutes of the Lord. 7 But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and both were advanced in years.

8 Now while he was serving as priest before God when his division was on duty, 9 according to the custom of the priesthood, he was chosen by lot to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense. 10 And the whole multitude of the people were praying outside at the hour of incense. 11 And there appeared to him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense. 12 And Zechariah was troubled when he saw him, and fear fell upon him. 13 But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. 14 And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, 15 for he will be great before the Lord. And he must not drink wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother's womb. 16 And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God,17 and he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared.”

18 And Zechariah said to the angel, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years.” 19 And the angel answered him, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news. 20 And behold, you will be silent and unable to speak until the day that these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time.” 21 And the people were waiting for Zechariah, and they were wondering at his delay in the temple.22 And when he came out, he was unable to speak to them, and they realized that he had seen a vision in the temple. And he kept making signs to them and remained mute. 23 And when his time of service was ended, he went to his home.

24 After these days his wife Elizabeth conceived, and for five months she kept herself hidden, saying,25 “Thus the Lord has done for me in the days when he looked on me, to take away my reproach among people.”

Birth of Jesus Foretold
26 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, 27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin's name was Mary. 28 And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!” 29 But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. 30 And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”

34 And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?”
35 And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God. 36 And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. 37 For nothing will be impossible with God.” 38 And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.
 
Mary Visits Elizabeth
39 In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a town in Judah, 40 and she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. 41 And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, 42 and she exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! 43 And why is this granted to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 For behold, when the sound of your greeting came to my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. 45 And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord.”

Mary's Song of Praise: The Magnificat
46 And Mary said,
“My soul magnifies the Lord,
47     and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
48 for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant.
    For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed;
49 for he who is mighty has done great things for me,
    and holy is his name.
50 And his mercy is for those who fear him
    from generation to generation.
51 He has shown strength with his arm;
    he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts;
52 he has brought down the mighty from their thrones
    and exalted those of humble estate;
53 he has filled the hungry with good things,
    and the rich he has sent away empty.
54 He has helped his servant Israel,
    in remembrance of his mercy,
55 as he spoke to our fathers,
    to Abraham and to his offspring forever.”
56 And Mary remained with her about three months and returned to her home.

The Birth of John the Baptist
57 Now the time came for Elizabeth to give birth, and she bore a son. 58 And her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her. 59 And on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child. And they would have called him Zechariah after his father, 60 but his mother answered, “No; he shall be called John.” 61 And they said to her, “None of your relatives is called by this name.” 62 And they made signs to his father, inquiring what he wanted him to be called. 63 And he asked for a writing tablet and wrote, “His name is John.” And they all wondered. 64 And immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, blessing God. 65 And fear came on all their neighbors. And all these things were talked about through all the hill country of Judea, 66 and all who heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, “What then will this child be?” For the hand of the Lord was with him.

Zechariah's Prophecy
67 And his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied, saying,
68 “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has visited and redeemed his people 69 and has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David, 70 as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old, 71 that we should be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us; 72 to show the mercy promised to our fathers  and to remember his holy covenant, 73 the oath that he swore to our father Abraham, to grant us 74     that we, being delivered from the hand of our enemies, might serve him without fear, 75     in holiness and righteousness before him all our days.

76 And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways, 77 to give knowledge of salvation to his people in the forgiveness of their sins, 78 because of the tender mercy of our God,  whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high 79 to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death,  to guide our feet into the way of peace.” 80 And the child grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in the wilderness until the day of his public appearance to Israel.
 
Richly Dwelling
-What stands out to you from today’s reading, especially God’s eternal plans breaking into humanity’s experiences?
 
-Where do you identify with Taylor’s immanent frame, living solely by what you see, measure, experience, and can prove? How does that define your plans and sense of purpose?
 
-How does the explosion of God’s eternal plans into the human experience through the person and work of Jesus challenge how you see God, the world, and His purposes for you? How does it reveal His love for you and change the plans you have for your life? Be specific.
 
Key Verses
“30 And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David,”

​Key Verse
12 (This was the promise of the Lord that he gave to Jehu, “Your sons shall sit on the throne of Israel to the fourth generation.” And so it came to pass.)
 
Meditation
An unanchored boat will be taken by the tide and damaged on the rocks. A building with a faulty foundation will crack before it crumbles. The book of Hebrews compels Christians to “pay careful attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it…” (Hebrews 2:1-3). Jesus compels the wise person to build on the foundation of God’s word (Mathew 7:24-27).  All of us must learn from history and respond to God’s grace faithfully.
 
Today’s reading details the drift of Israel’s kings towards destruction, sandwiched by Judaean kings on either end (neither with a remarkable rule). Cracks in the kingdom are clear: Azariah had leprosy (v. 5) and Jotham sees storm clouds of foreign powers gathering on the horizon (vv. 35-38). Structures built on a foundation other than God’s word will crumble when storms come.
 
As the king drifted, so too the nation. Depravity is displayed through bloodshed, losing land to foreign kings, and seeing the slow shipwreck of nations. Idolatry lead to the litany of failure the five kings present. Exile is near.
 
Jesus is our perfect King who died on the cross so believers can live. The storm of judgment fell on Jesus so we can sail in His grace and anchor with hope in Him.  Jesus was exiled by taking our sin, separated from the Father, so we can find a home in God’s love. Christians must heed the warnings, to not drift away or build our lives on faulty foundations! We must respond to God’s grace by returning to God’s word and God’s ways.
 
Today’s Reading
In the twenty-seventh year of Jeroboam king of Israel, Azariah the son of Amaziah, king of Judah, began to reign. 2 He was sixteen years old when he began to reign, and he reigned fifty-two years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Jecoliah of Jerusalem. 3 And he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, according to all that his father Amaziah had done. 4 Nevertheless, the high places were not taken away. The people still sacrificed and made offerings on the high places. 5 And the Lord touched the king, so that he was a leper to the day of his death, and he lived in a separate house. And Jotham the king's son was over the household, governing the people of the land. 6 Now the rest of the acts of Azariah, and all that he did, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah? 7 And Azariah slept with his fathers, and they buried him with his fathers in the city of David, and Jotham his son reigned in his place.

Zechariah Reigns in Israel
8 In the thirty-eighth year of Azariah king of Judah, Zechariah the son of Jeroboam reigned over Israel in Samaria six months. 9 And he did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, as his fathers had done. He did not depart from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, which he made Israel to sin. 10 Shallum the son of Jabesh conspired against him and struck him down at Ibleam and put him to death and reigned in his place. 11 Now the rest of the deeds of Zechariah, behold, they are written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel.12 (This was the promise of the Lord that he gave to Jehu, “Your sons shall sit on the throne of Israel to the fourth generation.” And so it came to pass.)

Shallum Reigns in Israel
13 Shallum the son of Jabesh began to reign in the thirty-ninth year of Uzziah[c] king of Judah, and he reigned one month in Samaria. 14 Then Menahem the son of Gadi came up from Tirzah and came to Samaria, and he struck down Shallum the son of Jabesh in Samaria and put him to death and reigned in his place. 15 Now the rest of the deeds of Shallum, and the conspiracy that he made, behold, they are written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel. 16 At that time Menahem sacked Tiphsah and all who were in it and its territory from Tirzah on, because they did not open it to him. Therefore he sacked it, and he ripped open all the women in it who were pregnant.

Menahem Reigns in Israel
17 In the thirty-ninth year of Azariah king of Judah, Menahem the son of Gadi began to reign over Israel, and he reigned ten years in Samaria. 18 And he did what was evil in the sight of the Lord. He did not depart all his days from all the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, which he made Israel to sin. 19 Pul[d] the king of Assyria came against the land, and Menahem gave Pul a thousand talents of silver, that he might help him to confirm his hold on the royal power. 20 Menahem exacted the money from Israel, that is, from all the wealthy men, fifty shekels of silver from every man, to give to the king of Assyria. So the king of Assyria turned back and did not stay there in the land. 21 Now the rest of the deeds of Menahem and all that he did, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel? 22 And Menahem slept with his fathers, and Pekahiah his son reigned in his place.

Pekahiah Reigns in Israel
23 In the fiftieth year of Azariah king of Judah, Pekahiah the son of Menahem began to reign over Israel in Samaria, and he reigned two years. 24 And he did what was evil in the sight of the Lord. He did not turn away from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, which he made Israel to sin. 25 And Pekah the son of Remaliah, his captain, conspired against him with fifty men of the people of Gilead, and struck him down in Samaria, in the citadel of the king's house with Argob and Arieh; he put him to death and reigned in his place. 26 Now the rest of the deeds of Pekahiah and all that he did, behold, they are written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel.

Pekah Reigns in Israel
27 In the fifty-second year of Azariah king of Judah, Pekah the son of Remaliah began to reign over Israel in Samaria, and he reigned twenty years. 28 And he did what was evil in the sight of the Lord. He did not depart from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, which he made Israel to sin.

29 In the days of Pekah king of Israel, Tiglath-pileser king of Assyria came and captured Ijon, Abel-beth-maacah, Janoah, Kedesh, Hazor, Gilead, and Galilee, all the land of Naphtali, and he carried the people captive to Assyria.30 Then Hoshea the son of Elah made a conspiracy against Pekah the son of Remaliah and struck him down and put him to death and reigned in his place, in the twentieth year of Jotham the son of Uzziah. 31 Now the rest of the acts of Pekah and all that he did, behold, they are written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel.

Jotham Reigns in Judah
32 In the second year of Pekah the son of Remaliah, king of Israel, Jotham the son of Uzziah, king of Judah, began to reign. 33 He was twenty-five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Jerusha the daughter of Zadok.34 And he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, according to all that his father Uzziah had done.35 Nevertheless, the high places were not removed. The people still sacrificed and made offerings on the high places. He built the upper gate of the house of the Lord.36 Now the rest of the acts of Jotham and all that he did, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah? 37 In those days the Lord began to send Rezin the king of Syria and Pekah the son of Remaliah against Judah. 38 Jotham slept with his fathers and was buried with his fathers in the city of David his father, and Ahaz his son reigned in his place.
 
Richly Dwelling
-Which imagery grabs you personally, building on a faulty foundation or drifting toward destruction?
 
-How do the kings of these kingdoms act as a warning for Christians to pay attention? Where, specifically, do you need to head this warning?
 
-The grace King Jesus offers is astounding. How can you respond to God’s grace and return to the sure foundation of His love and word, anchoring your hope in Christ so you do not drift away?
 
Key Verse
12 (This was the promise of the Lord that he gave to Jehu, “Your sons shall sit on the throne of Israel to the fourth generation.” And so it came to pass.)

​Key verse
17 Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us, and establish the work of our hands upon us; yes, establish the work of our hands!
 
Meditation
Worship of God includes stewarding time for the glory of God. Every moment matters in service to King Jesus. Rather than scrolling or carried away in currents of streaming content, Jesus’ finished work awakens us to seek His work in every moment of time.
 
In 1 Corinthians 15:58, Paul encourages the Church to “know that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.” God’s sovereign grace transforms the frustration of work into fruitfulness for His glory.
 
God’s covenant name, “the Lord” (vv. 1, 17), frames today’s reading. Moses worships the Lord for His eternal, sovereign rule over history and time (vv. 1-2) and acknowledges finite humanity can lose time like sand in a hour glass or dust in the wind (vv. 3-4). God’s judgement is real, and the consequences of our sin and waste of time will be inescapable (vv. 5-10). Petition for God to renew life by establishing the work of our hands (vv. 13-17) is fear of the Lord gaining wisdom by learning to number our days (vv. 11-12).
 
Wisdom compels believers to see time as something to steward (v. 12), giving urgency to daily life and compelling us to drench our days in God’s steadfast love (v. 14). Gratitude grows from this satisfaction (v. 15) and God’s work is pushed to the front as the focus and fruit of our labor (v. 16). Stewardship of time is why Jonathan Edwards had 13 resolutions on how he wanted to redeem time and why we pray, “Lord, establish the work of our hands!”
 
Let us worship the Lord by faithfully stewarding the time He has entrusted to us.
 
Today’s Reading
Lord, you have been our dwelling place
    in all generations.
2 Before the mountains were brought forth,
    or ever you had formed the earth and the world,
    from everlasting to everlasting you are God.
3 You return man to dust
    and say, “Return, O children of man!”
4 For a thousand years in your sight
    are but as yesterday when it is past,
    or as a watch in the night.
 
5 You sweep them away as with a flood; they are like a dream,
    like grass that is renewed in the morning:
6 in the morning it flourishes and is renewed;
    in the evening it fades and withers.
7 For we are brought to an end by your anger;
    by your wrath we are dismayed.
8 You have set our iniquities before you,
    our secret sins in the light of your presence.
9 For all our days pass away under your wrath;
    we bring our years to an end like a sigh.

10 The years of our life are seventy,
    or even by reason of strength eighty;
yet their span is but toil and trouble;
    they are soon gone, and we fly away.
11 Who considers the power of your anger,
    and your wrath according to the fear of you?
12 So teach us to number our days
    that we may get a heart of wisdom.
13 Return, O Lord! How long?
    Have pity on your servants!

14 Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love,
    that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.
15 Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us,
    and for as many years as we have seen evil.
16 Let your work be shown to your servants,
    and your glorious power to their children.
17 Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us,
    and establish the work of our hands upon us;
    yes, establish the work of our hands!
 
Richly Dwelling
-What stands out to you from today’s reading, especially the idea of stewarding time?
 
-Where do you struggle in stewarding time for the glory of God?
 
-Jesus entered time to redeem those of us who struggle to steward time for His glory. How can you repent and return to God’s steadfast love to steward time for His glory? Be specific in what you need to both stop and start.
 
Key verse
17 Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us, and establish the work of our hands upon us; yes, establish the work of our hands!

​Key Verse
5 Now, therefore, thus says the Lord of hosts: Consider your ways. 
 
Meditation
God’s grace awakens us to consider our ways. NOW is the time to seek Jesus and His Kingdom. The gospel stirs believers to serve Christ wherever we are and in whatever we are doing.
 
In today’s reading we meet Haggai, God’s mouthpiece to move God’s people into action. Preaching @ 520 BC, the prophet challenged project leaders appointed to rebuild the temple. The problem? The temple laid devastated for sixty-six years, including almost two decades after Israel had been sent home from exile and commissioned to rebuild the temple (v. 1). They had been stalling, saying “The time has not yet come to build…” (v. 2). God said, “It is time… consider your ways” (vv. 4-5).

The temple served as a place of sacrifice and a house for God’s glorious presence to dwell (v. 8). Israelites dwelled in paneled houses rather than building God’s house (vv. 5-6). Haggai called them to consider their ways and return to the Lord (ironically, they had gotten the opposite of what they were hoping for in personal pampering and prosperity- vv. 7-11). The people obeyed (vv. 12-13) and the Lord stirred their hearts to serve (vv. 14-15).
 
Like Haggai’s original audience, we too can prioritize personal prosperity at the expense of participation in God’s work. Yet God’s grace continues to compel us to consider our ways. The Spirit of Jesus stirs hearts to “seek first the Kingdom of God” (Matthew 6:33). The gospel compels believers to give all we have to build Christ’s Kingdom rather than, like the people Haggai was speaking to, make comfort and security our top priority.
 
Today’s Reading
In the second year of Darius the king, in the sixth month, on the first day of the month, the word of the Lord came by the hand of Haggai the prophet to Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest:2 “Thus says the Lord of hosts: These people say the time has not yet come to rebuild the house of the Lord.” 3 Then the word of the Lord came by the hand of Haggai the prophet, 4 “Is it a time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses, while this house lies in ruins? 5 Now, therefore, thus says the Lord of hosts: Consider your ways. 6 You have sown much, and harvested little. You eat, but you never have enough; you drink, but you never have your fill. You clothe yourselves, but no one is warm. And he who earns wages does so to put them into a bag with holes.

7 “Thus says the Lord of hosts: Consider your ways. 8 Go up to the hills and bring wood and build the house, that I may take pleasure in it and that I may be glorified, says the Lord. 9 You looked for much, and behold, it came to little. And when you brought it home, I blew it away. Why? declares the Lord of hosts. Because of my house that lies in ruins, while each of you busies himself with his own house. 10 Therefore the heavens above you have withheld the dew, and the earth has withheld its produce. 11 And I have called for a drought on the land and the hills, on the grain, the new wine, the oil, on what the ground brings forth, on man and beast, and on all their labors.”

The People Obey the Lord
12 Then Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, with all the remnant of the people, obeyed the voice of the Lord their God, and the words of Haggai the prophet, as the Lord their God had sent him. And the people feared the Lord. 13 Then Haggai, the messenger of the Lord, spoke to the people with the Lord's message, “I am with you, declares the Lord.” 14 And the Lord stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and the spirit of all the remnant of the people. And they came and worked on the house of the Lord of hosts, their God, 15 on the twenty-fourth day of the month, in the sixth month, in the second year of Darius the king.
 
Richly Dwelling
-What stands out to you in today’s reading, especially Haggai’s challenge for the remnant to consider their ways and their obedient response?
 
-Where do you need to consider your ways, evaluating whether you are seeking after your own prosperity or participating in God’s work of redemptive restoration?
 
-Jesus saves us by grace and calls us to participate in His work of redemptive restoration. Where (specifically) can you seek Christ’s kingdom in your labor, life, and love?
 
Key Verse
5 Now, therefore, thus says the Lord of hosts: Consider your ways. 

Pictured Above: A worship service with Christian Leaders and Church Planters who benefited through the study of 3rdMil Seminary material  in San Antonio, Texas.
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Today we continue our short survey of the Doctrine of the Holy Spirit (Pneumatology) with a  guest post from my mentor and friend, Dr. Greg Perry. I first met Greg as a student in seminary. As my professor, Dr. Perry was my guide and teacher. As my mentor, Greg showed me how to lean into mercy ministry and lead the church in participation with God's mission in our neighborhoods and among the nations.   Currently, Greg serves as President of Third Mil Seminary (https://www.thirdmillseminary.org/) and VP of strategic projects for ThirdMil Ministry (https://thirdmill.org/). Gregg is the author of The Drama of Discipleship and has been a HUGE influence on my life. It is an honor to have him contribute to this series with a piece on the Holy Spirit's help for spiritual growth.  ​Listen to Dr. Greg  Perry talk about his passion for theological education, for the world, for free, HERE in this interview with Izzy and I.

The heart of Washington apple country is the Wenatchee Valley, where the region’s rushing rivers produce crisp, delicious and nutritious fruit. If you are like me, you feel the need for a snack around 3 in the afternoon most days. I’m learning to reach for an apple instead of a cookie because apples are mostly water, have only about 100 calories, and though sweet, contain no sodium or cholesterol. They boost blood sugar more slowly than other snacks taking our bodies right to the dinner table without the need for anything else. Because of a good parent’s efforts, most of us know that fruit is better for our bodies than processed foods, and regular exercise is vital for both our physical and mental health. But where do we find the power to change our habits, the power to choose life-giving, life-sustaining practices? 
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In this series on “Knowing the Holy Spirit” (pneumatology) we must confront a deeply entrenched but faulty assumption. How many times have you and I heard it? How many times have we said it ourselves?  "People never really change.” This assumption rings true to us because change is difficult, gradual, and not without discomfort, even some growing pains. Still, change is possible, especially if we have help, and, according to Jesus, the Holy Spirit is our helper. How does the Holy Spirit help us change? What does the help of the Holy Spirit look like in human bodies and communities? I would suggest that it looks something like apple orchards in the Wenatchee Valley of Washington State, if we look closely and maintain our gaze.

Though growth spurts can occur, most change is gradual and organic, which means the most benefit comes from what the Helper starts with and what the Helper constantly provides in an environment that encourages growth. When it comes to apples, you want to start with disease-resistant varieties like Heirloom or Antique. These apples have been around a long time and have developed defenses against common diseases and pests. The Helper starts change in human beings by planting a seed of life that does not come from us, it is God’s seed, God’s DNA, growing in and among us. This spark, this desire for eternal life in us is not from us. Christians are “born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or of a husband’s will, but born of God” (John 1:13). As Jesus explained to Nicodemus, “flesh gives birth to flesh but the Spirit gives birth to spirit” (3:6). Spiritual growth begins with God’s DNA, the seed of the Holy Spirit. But this is not true of us only, it is true of the orchard, which leads us to the Spirit’s ongoing help for our growth. 

Not only must apple growers start with good seed which produce good apples, they also must cultivate an orchard of pollination. Orchard keepers know that the presence and organic interaction of crabapple and other varieties of apples is vital for healthy growth and a productive harvest.  Likewise, our Helper, the Holy Spirit does not save us alone nor leave us alone but puts us in orchards of pollination, local churches. As Paul illustrated for the Corinthian Christians, “The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ. For we are all baptized by one Spirit into one Body—whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink” (1 Cor 12:12-13). Christians who live in the US tend to think of spiritual growth as an individual self-improvement program, a solo performance. But the energy and resources for change come from being part of an ensemble, from being a tree in an orchard or forest. Those who study forests have discovered that each tree is connected to an organic network of exchange. In like manner, those who have received the Spirit share the Spirit’s gifts, pollinating, encouraging, grace-infusing one another with nutrients for growth and power for change. Not only do we have a Helper in the Holy Spirit who we petition in prayer and whose voice we hear speaking through the Scriptures, but we experience the Spirit’s presence through the Spirit’s gifts and fruit expressed in each member of the Body of Christ. This is a difficult lesson for many of us, but we don’t have everything we need as individuals to change for the better on our own. While we can degrade through inactivity or malnourishment, we cannot grow without the pollination that comes from other trees in the orchard. Trees of different varieties have nutrients that we ourselves do not possess. We grow by being planted near them and interacting with them in the orchard of the Church.

Just like there is no perfect church, there is no perfect apple orchard. The trees themselves must be pruned and shaken. Early in the life of apple trees, orchard keepers pick the blooms off the trees to encourage the growth of the tree itself before it becomes fruit-bearing. Throughout the life of the tree, growers keep watch on the leaves and fruit for signs of disease or pests. Leaves and fruit, even branches are pruned to protect the overall health of the tree and encourage new, healthy growth. Jesus told us that the role of the Helper was to remind us of everything He has said to us: “When the Helper comes, he will expose the guilt of the world with regard to sin, and righteousness and judgment” (John 16:8). With the sharp power of God’s Word, God’s Spirit pierces our conscience, judging the thoughts and attitudes of our hearts to reveal sin and spark repentance (Hebrews 4:12-16). If we listen to the voice of the Spirit, speaking through the Scriptures, speaking through the exhortation of a brother or sister in Christ, and confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9). Pruning is not only about removing the leaves and branches, the poor habits and sinful patterns which are stunting our growth, it is also about how the Helper helps us replace them with good habits and life-giving patterns. “God has poured out His love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit” (Rom 5:5). The hunger is real, but you and I must reach for an apple not a cookie. The psychic pain is real, but you and I need true companionship and life-giving conversation with a Spirit-filled friend or counselor not a drink or a drug. 

Still, there are times, when the Helper shakes us with external trials and afflictions. When Japanese beetles descend on an orchard, the Orchard keeper goes out at night to shake the trees. Japanese beetles are heavy sleepers and the most effective way to confront them is by spraying leaves with soapy water during the day, then taking a tarp out at night, laying it below a tree and shaking it. The beetles fall on the tarp and can be gathered up and put in the soapy water to drown. The apostle James tells us to “count it pure joy when you face trials of various kinds, knowing that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish it work so you may become mature and complete lacking nothing” (James 1:3-4). Both here in James’ letter and in Paul’s letter to the Roman Christians where he tells them “God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit” (Rom 5:5), the apostles point out that God, in his goodness and power, uses suffering, even when it arises from evil, for our good. Suffering can also come from doing the right thing. When we choose to set our minds on what the Spirit desires, instead of the desires of our sinful nature, when we choose to put to death a habit of our old way of living-death, and to replace it with a habit of eternal life, we suffer pain. But this pain, like the intense pain of childbirth is generative, resulting in great joy. In sum, because of the Holy Spirit, we have God’s DNA, the seed of eternal life. Because of the Holy Spirit, we are part of an orchard of living, gifted, fruit-producing trees that pollinate on another for life. Because of the Holy Spirit, the pain and suffering which comes from the Spirit’s pruning, results in new, more productive growth. Because of the Holy Spirit, we can eat from the tree of life. Finally, the next time you read Genesis 3 about the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, take note that Moses never said it was an apple.