Be Amazed

This Spring’s Bible Study for the women of CCEA delved into the messages God gave the Minor Prophets, Hosea, Jonah, Habakkuk and Malachi. What have I seen in this study? I have seen an Amazing God displayed through His Amazing Love!

Our study, taught by Connie Grosse, was called “BE AMAZED: RESTORING AN ATTITUDE OF WONDER AND WORSHIP.” Little did Connie know how God would use this portion of Scripture to bolster our faith—and confidence in our faith! Sometimes God gives word pictures in Scripture with the intent we may see more clearly what He is saying. I believe God has inserted us into one of those “word pictures” today that we may understand even more how much we need our hearts to be right with Him.

In some ways, I feel I have had a taste of living in the days of Habakkuk and Malachi. The same issues of their nation showing no honor or regard to a holy God and seeing the results of lawlessness and evil rising in its place are playing out before our eyes in the world today. We have lost so much of our normal routines, first with the virus threat and now with riots—lawlessness, violence, and looting—in our streets day after day. Curfews have been ordered in many cities, only to be blatantly ignored. Personally, I am thankful for a President who upholds the Constitution and the rights of the people. I am most grateful for God’s blessing of a President who expresses faith in God during this time, and isn’t afraid to show it or support people of faith. I pray God leads and strengthens our President—and all people of faith—as we face the grip of national social and emotional unrest. I pray God enables our nation to survive these deep divisions as our Presidential elections come later in this year. Our nation needs a return to God more than ever.

Yet, studying these Minor Prophets has only steadied my faith more in WHO my God is. He brings correcting judgment and He withholds His blessings that we may repent with sincere hearts and return to Him, for it is His ways that lead, protect, and give us an eternal hope for the future. I am resting and restored in His love, His grace, His mercy, and His promises given to those who trust in Him. I know Whose I am! I know the One who holds all my days in His hand! One day He Will judge the evil, the proud and arrogant, and all the wickedness we see in this world. He has shown, through His Word we have studied, the way He will judge those who persecute and inflict their wickedness upon others. We worship the all-victorious God of the universe—the God of all Creation—and He will, in the last days, right the wrongs and restore His Kingdom. Our future is secure in our never-changing God!

As I looked once again at each of the Minor Prophet books we studied, I found God’s amazing love the same, but each highlighted a bit differently. In Hosea, God’s love is shown to me as His Redeeming Love—a love that seeks out His own in restoration. In reading verses 1-9 in Chapter 14, God speaks to His nation, “Israel, return to the LORD your God for you have stumbled in your iniquity.” Charles Spurgeon commented on verse one: “Behold the judge, instead of putting on the black cap to pronounce doom of death, stretches out His hands to the condemned and, in tones of pity, cries, ‘Israel return!’” Verse two: ”Take words of repentance with you and return to the LORD.” Verse four: “I will heal their apostacy: I will freely love them for my anger will have turned from him. Hosea’s final verse, says.

“Let whoever is wise, understand these things and whoever is insightful, recognize them. For the ways of the LORD are right, and the righteous walk in them, but the rebellious stumble in them.” Hosea 14:9

Oh, may we be among those who are insightful and understand these things of God that we would be the righteous who choose to walk in them that we may not stumble!

In Jonah, I saw God’s love shown as Love For All. Jonah was sent to the wicked Assyrian Capital, Ninevah, that they might humble themselves and repent that God would not destroy them. God reached out His saving grace to these citizens and they indeed repented and did not receive the punishment they deserved. The last verse of Jonah speaks to me of God’s heart to all:

“But may I not care about the great city of Ninevah, which has more than 120,000 people who cannot distinguish between their right and their left, as well as many animals?” Jonah 4:11

God’s amazing love shown to include the Gentile with the Jew for His salvation!

In Habakkuk, I saw the Correcting Love of a holy and righteous God.

“The LORD answered me; write down this vision; clearly inscribe it on tablets so one may easily read it. For the vision is yet for the appointed time; it testifies about the end and it will not lie. Though it delays, wait for it, since it will certainly come and not be late.” Habakkuk 2:2-3

On these verses, Charles Spurgeon wrote, “In order to separate the precious from the vile, God used the winnowing fan of affliction so that the chaff might be blown away and the pure wheat remain.” In verse 4 we read how the righteous are to live: “The righteous one will live by His faith.” Again, Spurgeon wrote: “This is what living by faith meant—a faith that does without anything—a faith that can take nothing and be content with it because it finds everything in God—faith under the worst conceivable conditions. This is how the just are to live.” And this is how Habakkuk set that example down in Scripture:

“Yet, I will celebrate in the LORD; I will rejoice in the God of my salvation! The LORD my Lord is my strength; He makes my feet like those of a deer and enables me to walk on mountain heights!” Habakkuk 3:18-19

May we, too, learn the importance of walking by faith and not by our sight. May our feet also become like those of a deer!”

In Malachi I saw God’s Unchanging Love for an unrepentant people.

“Because I, the LORD, have not changed, you descendants of Jacob have not been destroyed.” Malachi 3:6

In the beginning of Malachi, God speaks to His people and reminds them of His love for them—“I have loved you”. Their response to God was: “How have You loved us”? I think of the amazing love of our amazing God—Holy, Righteous, God of all Creation, the God Most High—willing to lean down and answer these insolent, prideful, even challenging questions from His people that they would see their need to repent. Who are we that God would do this? We are His creation, made in His image, the ones for whom He would send His Son to die on the cross of Calvary so we could have our sins forgiven and a right relationship with our Creator God restored! His love is so great for His people. We were worth dying for! Think about that and praise Him as our Kinsmen Redeemer! His love endures and it is unchanging from one generation to the next.

In Malachi 3:8 we read the people were robbing God by withholding their tithes and offerings and they wondered why they received no blessings from Him. In verse 10, God spoke to them:

“Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse so that there may be food in My house, and test Me now in this, says the LORD of hosts, if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you a blessing until it overflows.”

We are called to obey God’s commandments first and then to trust Him with the results. We are told in Malachi 3:16-18 that God takes notice of those who fear Him. In the midst of all that is sinful and wrong with this nation, there is a faithful remnant who fear God! He gives attention to them and a book of remembrance has been written before Him for those who give praise to His name and revere Him. We read their future is secure as they are called His own possession—His special treasure—and that God will spare them as a man spares his son who serves him. May we also prove to be His faithful remnant!

The choice is before us this day. Choose God or let your love grow cold and deny Him. In Matthew we read:

“And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.” Matthew 24:12-13

Increased lawlessness will come upon us as the Day of the LORD approaches and with it will also come a recognizable distinction between the righteous and the wicked. We will find ourselves on one side or the other—there is no middle ground.

Choose this day whom you will serve, said Joshua. Will we be found with those who serve the Lord or those who make the choice to not serve Him?

Oh, may we be counted among those who choose to live by faith—trusting and resting in God’s amazing love—because we truly serve an amazing God! May our wonder and worship be restored and kindled afresh from this day forward for whatever lies before us. May we forever be amazed by our Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ! His love is truly AMAZING and worthy of all praise!

“In peace I will lie down and sleep, for You alone Lord, make me dwell in safety.” Psalm 4:8

By Pat Tingwall

Pray And Do Good

“But I say unto you, ‘Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; . . . In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:44 (KJV) and Matthew 5:45a (NLT)

I remember growing up, starting the school day out by saying the pledge of allegiance:

“I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God indivisible, with liberty and justice FOR ALL.”

The pursuit of this goal has been a value which American citizens claim. But it has to go beyond justice for me and mine. I must value and pursue justice for my neighbor.

My first and ultimate allegiance is to God. What does He say?

“He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God.” Micah‬ ‭6:8‬ ‭

Speaking of kindness... this verse has been in my mind:

“So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.” Galatians 6:10

Sometimes “doing good” is not the sweet sugary experience we associate it with. Sometimes it’s inconvenient or uncomfortable. But we ought to do good for every one—regardless of race, class, age, gender, profession, or immigrant status. Doing good is not to be confused with condoning or promoting wrong, destructive—and harmful—activities or attitudes.

For now—from where I am—I pray . . . for my African American friends . . . for my police officer friends . . . for justice on all sides . . . for justice in due process . . . for safety and wisdom and insight and healing and peace.

By Janine Alvarado, CCEA Missionary to Japan

Hope

“It is of the LORD’S mercies that we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; great is Thy faithfulness. The LORD is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in Him. The LORD is good unto them that wait for Him, to the soul that seeketh Him. It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD.” Lamentations 3:21-26

Worldwide pandemic of Covid 19. Fear. Mandatory orders to stay at home. Businesses closed, perhaps lost forever. Lives changed. Death rates publicized daily. Conflict between man and the law with tragic outcome. Outrage. Protests. Curfews. Riots. Destruction. Despair. Overwhelming, dark “what ifs?” Hopelessness.

How are you holding up in modern day United States of America? Are you cautious about leaving home? Are you looking around the church parking lot to see if the authorities have come to arrest and remove your pastoral staff before your eyes? Do you wonder if your picture will be taken and your name recorded as a member of the congregation? Do you question how you are going to pay your bills? Feed your family? Did you ever think you’d see this happen in your lifetime—that evil would be called good and good evil? (Isaiah 5:20)

This morning the words of Jeremiah touched my spirit. He was known as the weeping prophet, a witness of Judah’s decline and capture by the Babylonian empire. The Temple, their place of worship and communion with God, was destroyed, and their homes reduced to rubble. The people had been removed, a meager remnant left to scrape the land. In the midst of Jeremiah’s despair and suffering, he penned the words that began this devotion, a remembrance of God’s faithful mercies and the hope that filled his sad heart.

Another witness of the Babylonian takeover was Habakkuk. Surely God wouldn’t destroy His people. But God revealed to him He would indeed bring evil against them for turning their backs on Him. The prophet asked him again for mercy.

“I have heard all about You, LORD. I am fiilled with awe by Your amazing works. In this time of our deep need, help us again as You did in years gone by. And in Your anger, remember Your mercy.” Habakkuk 3:2 (NLT)

In looking at God, the prophet came to the conclusion that, although things looked very bad for the nation, he would rejoice and trust in the living God.

“Yet I will 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.” Habakkuk 3:18-19

Fast forward to the last prophet recorded in the Old Testament, Malachi. The people have returned to the Promised Land. Temple worship has been restored, yet the people are hypocrites in their worship, wondering what’s in it for them. They don’t honor God and they don’t take care of those who are in need. In fact, they rob God by giving sacrifices that are spindly and blemished. They give what is easy and think they look good. So, God warns them . . . He doesn’t change. (Malachi 3:6) He will send His messenger (Jesus) to refine them and burn off the dross of self-focus and gratification. When they return to Him, He will return to them. He will judge the faithless, but bless the faithful.

“But for you who fear My name, the Sun of Righteousness will rise with healing in his wings. And you will go free, leaping with joy like calves let out to pasture.” Malachi 4:2

Remembering who God is, what He requires of us, and the blessing He promises for obedience gives us hope . . . hope that equips us to rise above the circumstances of our lives and walk the high places He has prepared for us. Like calves released from the confinement of a pen into a green pasture, our steps will be filled with joy.

Instead of asking you “What,” my question has become, “WHO is holding you up?”

“For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope. Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus: That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Romans 15:4-6

By Marilyn Allison

Seek the Kingdom

“Listen my beloved brothers, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs to the kingdom which He has promised to those who love Him?” James 2:5

“Blessed are those who are poor in spirit.” I get that, I know what it feels like to beg for a morsel of spiritual food . . . to be so thirsty for acceptance that I twirl around, looking for Living Water to quench my parched soul. I know those feelings well. I wonder to myself, why do I not turn immediately to Jesus? Instead I think I’m being selfish. There are greater needs out there, or . . . I deserve this.

“Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 5:3

In my poverty I see my need, and not just for today but everyday—every time my spirit takes a hit. The enemy loves to twist my need into making me believe I’m being selfish. But Jesus said:

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 5:6

Jesus Christ alone can fill the hole in my being. Christ alone has given me the Holy Spirit, the Helper, and every single time I need it He nourishes me. Through His word (The Bible). I am reminded of Who dwells in me. Through fellowship with other Christians—in church or through technology—worshipping and learning of Him, God satisfies my thirst for belonging and encouragement. He is present whenever we are together.

“For when two and three are gathered in my name I am there among them.” Matthew 18:20

I am not righteous, but I crave it. I crave Him and His kingdom.

“Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these will be added to you.” Matthew 6:33

My Lord,
Daily I need You. Moment by moment I want you to direct my steps. May I always give you glory and share the truths You have taught me.

By Eve Montano

Jonah in a Nutshell

“Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it; for their wickedness is come up before me.” Jonah 1:2

God said “Go.”
Jonah said “No.”
To Joppa he drove.
Wind started to blow.
The sailors cried “Oh!”
The boat tossed to and fro.
Jonah was down below.
They asked “What do you know?”
He said “Myself you must throw.”
The men tried to row.
They tossed the cargo.
They said “He must go.
Forgive our heave-ho!”
Into the water he dove.
Sank to his low.

By a fish he was swallowed.
Three days he was stowed.
Spit out like a volcano.
To Ninevah he tiptoed
Where God’s word he did sow.
To save them from woe.
The people his foe.

Repentance followed.
God’s judgment forgoed.
But Jonah’s heart was fallow
For his anger then showed
At the grace God bestowed.
“Take my life” he bellowed!

Praise God He uses those
Like mopey old Jo.

by Brittney Muus