Hosea

Hosea is divided into 2 distinct sections. Ch. 1-3 describe Hosea's plight with unfaithful Gomer, while Ch. 4-14 seem to be a) God's indictment of Ephraim's idolatry but b) His earnest invitation for repentance.

I think God is purposeful in using Hosea's marriage with Gomer as an analog of His relationship with His people. Our relationship with Him ought not to be characterized by rituals and good deeds. Salvation is not the completion of an arbitrary checklist but the reawakening of a dead spirit to now love the Creator. God doesn't want us to humor Him with duty: "For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings"(6:6). It's easy to imagine a loved one to say those words right? "I desire love, not duty. Get to know me, don't just humor me"

Through Hosea we see that idolatry is disgusting. We easily play the whore when we abandon our sole love for God for something offers us bread, water, wool, flax, oil and drink (2:5). We swell with pride in our own successes.

I was shocked at the consequences of idolatry: "You are not my people, and I am not your God" (1:9).

Yet, in his steadfast patience and love God promises that: "in the place where it was said to them, 'You are not my people,' it shall be said to them, "Children of the living God" (1:10)

Father, thank You for Jesus.

I am so easily enticed with the things of this world.

Those things that offer me comfort and consumption.

Yet, because of Jesus I can return to You.

May my mouth, just like Hosea's, speak of this saving truth.

To make much of Christ, Amen.

2 Timothy

D.A. Carson said that people won't remember everything you say, but they'll remember what you are passionate about. So, I take a careful ear while reading 2 Timothy because they contain the few final words of a dying man-- words that are passionate, poignant and focused. What is it that Paul wants Timothy (and his readers) to remember?

Share in the suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him...Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth (2:3-5, 15) 


Walking in a manner worthy of the Gospel is no child's play. It requires blood, sweat and tears and yields persecution and suffering. Yet it is all worth it: "I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory" (2:10).

FOCUS.

We have been entrusted with the Gospel and Paul warns us that there is no time for us to be lazy and self-centered. Prepare through the Word (3:16-17) and be ready always (4:2).

All through the power of the Holy Spirit (1:8).

Application: Meditate on God's word day and night. Get in a "training" rhythm.

Father, I am humbled at this tall order: to share in suffering for the Gospel.

Please forgive me for the many times that I've grown apathetic, lazy and comfort-loving.

Yet, even when we are faithless, You remain faithful.

I pray that I'll remember that Your Spirit is of power, love and self-control.

Through which I may live wholly for the proclaiming of the Gospel.

Through Christ, Amen.

Philippians 4:4-7

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

I said something really stupid. Something that undeservingly hurt someone else's feelings, to the point that the person was reconsidering their God-given convictions. Words that were a discouragement to someone that is sacrificing for the work of the Lord. Other people that I dearly care for were also hurt.

I think I was particularly distraught, not only for my deep love for this person, but also because my struggle with taming the tongue. That's what one of the things I (thought I) had learned from India2K8 - that words are the overflow of the heart, that we are commanded edify, and we ought to keep ourselves from using our words loosely.

Although it was discouraging to see my continued struggle with my words, it was a good wake up call to really be mindful of each word that comes from my mouth. Talking to much has been a fruit of my pride for a long time. Yet, Piper also notes that the vast majority of our lives is not mediated through intentional thought, but we live our lives in spontaneous action. What I need is a change of heart.

During the Super Saturday hike, we had some time to do our personal devos and I turned to Philippians. Oh, what words of hope I found in chapter 4: The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer...

The nastiness of my words, and in turn my heart will be healed. I need only to rest and depend on God through prayer. Broken relationships, now and in the future will be restored. I need only to pray.

So application is simple: Pray about EVERYTHING. Particularly for the condition of my heart, that it would overflow in God-honoring speech.

Father, thank You for listening to our prayers.

I want to turn from my sinful words.

Please renew my mind and heart.

That I would be a sign of the Kingdom.

For Your glory, because of Christ. Amen.

Ecclesiastes

My church in Seattle is about to begin a series on Ecclesiastes, so I decided to review it before listening to the sermons. So far, blogging and reflecting on God's Word has been such a delightful exercise. I am so thankful that my heart is growing in joy in the meditation of God's Word through this blog.

Ecclesiastes is a humbling book. And it was a sharp blade for me, in light of my realization a few days ago on pride and knowledge. After reading Ecclesiastes I realized:

I know nothing.

Yesterday, I wrote a (emo, sigh) note on Tumblr that went something like: a loving relationship is not maintained through a formula. Now I realize that NOTHING functions according to a predetermined formula. Reality is not a formula. No matter how much I think I have it down, I know nothing.

Let your words be few

The passages that were particularly rebuking were 5:1-3 and 9:17, both revealing that the wise man has few words. I should be wise enough to keep quiet in the presence of God. Dang, this totally owns my petty arguments and complaints to God.

Against the: "Don't judge me"syndrome

Yes, there is freedom in Christ and His grace:

Rejoice, O young man, in your youth, and let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth. Walk in the ways of your heart and the sight of your eyes. But know that for all these things God will bring you to judgment. (11:9)

Ecclesiastes can be a very depressing book, but we know that even in the midst of life's randomness, there is hope in God's unchanging goodness. So,

Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God wil bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil. (12:13-14)

Through the Gospel, we are privy to the promise that: all things work together for good (Rom 8:28).

Application: Pray each moment as an expression of dependance.

Father, You are to be feared.

Not in terror, but because You are God.

Thank You for Your sovereignty and grace over all things.

Please forgive my insolence and pride.

Would I seek You in humility, knowing that I am just a man.

For Your glory. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Jonah

Today I realized how much I like the book of Jonah. God reveals Himself as just (the ship and an unrepentant Nineveh) and sovereign (the waves, the appointed fish and worm). However, closest to my heart are these words that are always so sweet to hear: "You are a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and relenting from disaster" (4:2). This reminder leads me to share Jonah's own reflection: "Those who pay regard to vain idols forsake their hope in steadfast love" (2:8). We hope because we know of His unchanging goodness.

Yet, instead of praising God for His compassion, Jonah sees it as a source of displeasure and anger towards Him. For some reason it reminds me of Romans 2:4 - "Or do you presume on the riches of His kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance."

I like this book because it is straight-up missional. It is sickening to witness Jonah's exceeding gladness for the plant. What are those comparatively insignificant plants (4:5-8) that keep us from being faithful to God's call to go to our Nineveh? If God had withered the comforts of our lives (career, school, "The Office"), we would certainly chide: "It is better for me to die than to live" (4:8). Yet should we not see our own pettiness and have pity when all around the world there are persons who do not know their right hand from their left? (4:11)

The Gospel is surely rest, but also a call.

Father, thank you for Your steadfast love.

Yet, I am saddened at my exceeding gladness that leads to apathy. 

Apathy in my love for You and apathy in my love for my neighbors.

I ask that Your heart of boundless compassion would be my heart as well.

You are worthy of praise and affection for Your unchanging goodness.

In Christ, reconciled. Amen.

1 Timothy

I am always amazed when God relentlessly speaks to me in one focused manner. It is especially cutting when the message comes from many different places. For a few days I've been convicted to resume writing daily devos because I kept hearing:

Knowledge Puffs Up.

Pride has a tendency to lead towards a lack of self-discipline and lazy assumptions.

There's one thing Linda Mun said that I'll never forget: "We need to renew our minds daily through the meditation of the Word. Who do we think we are in assuming that we have it down?"

What ever happened to Psalm 1: the righteous man meditates on the law day and night?

Remember Eve? She had a subtle, yet fatal misunderstanding of God's Word.
And in 1 Tim 1:6-7, I hear the same beat. Have I wandered into vain discussion, desiring to be a teacher of the law, without understanding either what I'm saying or the thing about I make confident assertions?

Self-Discipline
The most sickening thing is that I see the fruits of the flesh in my lack of self-discipline. But Paul calls Timothy to "train yourself for godliness" (1 Tim 4:7), "toil and strive"(1 Tim 4:10) and "immerse yourself in them" (1 Tim 4:15). Throughout his letters, Paul constantly encourages his readers to train, fight and toil like an athlete running a race. He ends his letter for Timothy: "Fight the good fight of faith" (1 Tim 6:12).

In the KCM Reader there is a great John MacArthur article challenging people to practice self-discipline in the small things. It really is scary when it is tough to fight against even these small things.

Application: Meditate on God's Word daily and deeply - use this blog as a tool.

Jesus, thank You for your perfect patience

Please forgive my lack of self-discipline and apathy;

my lack of desire to spend time with You.

Thank You for Your Word.

May I fight the good fight each day, even in the small things.

In Your name, in grace, Amen.

on hiatus - i'll be @ tumblr.

i'll be on leoham.tumblr.com