Those Who Call... Joel 3:23-32

You really should go ahead and read all of Joel to get the full effect of this passage, which is the last part of the prophecy.

As I read, I found myself vascilating between fear and hope as the prophet began with the promise of destruction and ended with this glimmer of hope for those who call upon the name of the Lord. Our God is a mighty God and you don't want to find yourself standing in opposition to him.

Joel 3:23-32
23 Be glad, O people of Zion,
rejoice in the LORD your God,
for he has given you
the autumn rains in righteousness.
He sends you abundant showers,
both autumn and spring rains, as before.
24 The threshing floors will be filled with grain;
the vats will overflow with new wine and oil.
25 "I will repay you for the years the locusts have eaten—
the great locust and the young locust,
the other locusts and the locust swarm —
my great army that I sent among you.
26 You will have plenty to eat, until you are full,
and you will praise the name of the LORD your God,
who has worked wonders for you;
never again will my people be shamed.
27 Then you will know that I am in Israel,
that I am the LORD your God,
and that there is no other;
never again will my people be shamed.
28 "And afterward,
I will pour out my Spirit on all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy,
your old men will dream dreams,
your young men will see visions.
29 Even on my servants, both men and women,
I will pour out my Spirit in those days.
30 I will show wonders in the heavens
and on the earth,
blood and fire and billows of smoke.
31 The sun will be turned to darkness
and the moon to blood
before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD.
32 And everyone who calls
on the name of the LORD will be saved;
for on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem
there will be deliverance,
as the LORD has said,
among the survivors
whom the LORD calls.

Questions
1. What did you learn about God from this passage?
2. How does that affect how you approach life?
3. Can God make a square circle? (just seeing if you were paying attention)

Secure Salvation! 1 Peter 1:3-9

Our inheritance is secure and so is our salvation! That's good news if I've ever heard any. Read this passage and see how God is at work in his people, protecting them even in difficult trials. You may find that God is doing the same work in you. All of a sudden it's ok that you're going through difficulties because it means God is at work in you, testing your faith to show you and the world what it means to fully trust him.

1 Peter 1:2-9
3Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade—kept in heaven for you, 5who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. 6In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. 7These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. 8Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, 9for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

Questions
1. What did you learn about God?
2. What did you learn about yourself?
3. What do you think you should change?

Want to read more? Click here for the rest of 1 Peter 1.

Salvation Comes From the Lord. Jonah 2:1-10

I love this passage because the same God that banished Jonah to the sea was the God that redeemed him from the belly of the fish, and Jonah knew that. He knew that he had every reason to be cast into the sea and also to meet his end there, but God had mercy. God had a plan for Jonah and it didn't end in the depths of the sea.

Wherever you are in life it's reassuring that God knows you are there. Not only does he know you're there, but he has a plan for your life. He has the ability to lift you up out of the pit, and he will answer you when you call.

Jonah 2:1-10
1 From inside the fish Jonah prayed to the LORD his God.
2 He said:
"In my distress I called to the LORD,
and he answered me.
From the depths of the grave I called for help,
and you listened to my cry.
3 You hurled me into the deep,
into the very heart of the seas,
and the currents swirled about me;
all your waves and breakers
swept over me.
4 I said, 'I have been banished
from your sight;
yet I will look again
toward your holy temple.'
5 The engulfing waters threatened me,
the deep surrounded me;
seaweed was wrapped around my head.
6 To the roots of the mountains I sank down;
the earth beneath barred me in forever.
But you brought my life up from the pit,
O LORD my God.
7 "When my life was ebbing away,
I remembered you, LORD,
and my prayer rose to you,
to your holy temple.
8 "Those who cling to worthless idols
forfeit the grace that could be theirs.
9 But I, with a song of thanksgiving,
will sacrifice to you.
What I have vowed I will make good.
Salvation comes from the LORD."
10 And the LORD commanded the fish, and it vomited Jonah onto dry land.

Questions
1. What is a consequence you've seen in your life due to disobedience?
2. What did you learn about God?
3. Is there anything you need to change in light of this passage?

Don't Worry. Philippians 4:4-9

Sometimes life is heavy. It could be that you have about a hundred different things going or it could be that you've just been thrust into a tragedy. Whatever the case is, it's reassuring to know that God is in control. Not only is he in control, but he listens to us, hears our prayers. So if you're starting to feel the weight of the world remember, there's peace in Christ because he hears our prayers.

Philippians 4:4-9
4Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

8Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

Questions
1. What do you worry about?
2. What did you learn about God in regards to worrying?
3. How do you think this will help you in the future?

Want to read more? Click here for the rest of Philippians 4.

Knowing Jesus' Voice. John 10:

Yesterday we looked at a passage that explained what it meant for us to know Jesus, and today we're going to look at one that shows how Jesus knows us. Jesus has a vested interest in us, so much so that he was willing to lay down his life for us. He is trustworthy and true. His voice is sweet and familiar to those that know him. The shepherd knows his sheep and the sheep follow the shepherd.

John 10:7-18
7Therefore Jesus said again, "I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. 8All who ever came before me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. 9I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture. 10The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

11"I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12The hired hand is not the shepherd who owns the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. 13The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.

14"I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— 15just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd. 17The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again. 18No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father."

Questions
1. What does it mean to know Jesus' voice?
2. Why is it comforting to know Jesus is your shepherd?
3. What did you learn about Jesus in this passage?

Want to read more? Click here for the rest of John 10.

Know Him. 1 John 2:3-6

Here's a very simple passage for us today. The point is clear: obey Jesus. If you say you know him you will obey him. If you don't obey him then you don't know him. This statements cuts deep for those of us who live in rebellion to God but want to put on a "Christian" mask. The mask says, I'm a Christian while the person behinds it lives in disobedience. This cannot be. We must walk in the light as he is in the light, no longer gratifying the desires we had when we didn't follow Jesus. It's a difficult task trying to be two different people and I'm certain the better life lies in following him.

1 John 2:3-6
3We know that we have come to know him if we obey his commands. 4The man who says, "I know him," but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 5But if anyone obeys his word, God's love is truly made complete in him. This is how we know we are in him: 6Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did

Questions
1. What did you learn about God?
2. What do you think he wants you to change?
3. Why is obedience so important?

Want to read more? Click here for the rest of 1 John 2.

Wait for the Lord. James 5:7-11

In the Old Testament days they didn't always know how the Lord would finally vindicate them or save them. However, since Jesus left after the resurrection Christians have been waiting in eager anticipation for one thing and one thing alone: the return of the Lord.

We know exactly what to expect and we even have a good idea of how it's going to happen. What we don't know is when. So we wait. But we don't wait with hands folded, we wait in obedience, we wait while acting out the commands of our Lord before his ascent. Though it may be difficult at times, there is a blessing in store for the one who waits.

James 5:7-11
7Be patient, then, brothers, until the Lord's coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop and how patient he is for the autumn and spring rains. 8You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord's coming is near. 9Don't grumble against each other, brothers, or you will be judged. The Judge is standing at the door!

10Brothers, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. 11As you know, we consider blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job's perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.

Questions
1. What does it mean to wait?
2. What are some qualities you think are helpful when it comes to waiting?
3. Why is it so difficult to wait?

Want to read more? Click here for the rest of James 5.