Community Devotions

September 3, 2016

Sanctified by Sabbath

SCRIPTURE

I gave them statues and made know to them my rules, by which, if a person does them, he shall live. Moreover, I gave them my Sabbaths, as a sign between me and them, that they might know that I am the LORD who sanctifies them. But the house of Israel rebelled against me in the wilderness. They did not walk in my statues but rejected my rules, by which, if a person does them, he shall live; and my Sabbaths they greatly profaned. (Ezekiel 20:11-13)

OBSERVATION

Ezekiel 20 is a history lesson recapping of God’s grace & provision, Israel’s rebellion, and God’s restoration of his people. After redeeming them from slavery in Egypt, God provides them the Sabbath with the twofold purpose: 1) Sign of intimate relationship between God & Israel. 2) Experiential knowledge of God’s sanctifying work. Just as my wedding ring is a symbol of my love and devotion to my wife Renee, God lovingly gave the Sabbath as a sign of His provision, sustenance and grace. Through the Sabbath the people of God did not have to work, strive, labor and produce to stay alive—God demonstrates his faithfulness and love to sustain his people. Through the gracious means of resting God’s people would be set apart and experience the provision of God. Yet God’s people chose to profane God’s provision by working and striving. Their rejection of the Sabbath cost them their witness, they lost their saltiness and light.

APPLICATION

No more rationalization of breaking the Sabbath. Enough of justifying and making excuses because things need to get done. I worked this past Monday on my Sabbath and I have been lethargic all week. I am not the Lord of the Sabbath—Jesus is. I am not the head of the church—Jesus is. It is His will being done and his kingdom coming. I need to rest and trust that he is working even when I am not. I need to be strategic and diligently do all my work before my Sabbath and rest. Get chores, laundry, honey do’s and errands done before or after Sabbath NOT during.

PRAYER

Heavenly Father,

Thank you for sanctifying me through your Sabbath. May I always trust you and rest in your promises. Please forgive me for profaning the Sabbath. Holy Spirit please strengthen my faithful and solidify my work ethic so that I can take my Sabbath rest. I love you. Maranatha!

Posted by John Danganan with

August 20, 2016

in Missions

Let the Nations Be Glad!

Let the nations be glad and sing for joy, for you judge the people with equity and guide the nations upon earth. Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you! - Psalm 67:4-5

Psalm 67 differs from most Psalms largely due to it’s missiological emphasis. Whereas a bulk of Psalms deal with Israel as God’s people or David crying out to the Lord, the 67th chapter of Psalm focuses on the people and nations of the earth. It is a plea for God’s grace, blessing and saving power to be shown over the earth so that the peoples praise God (vv. 1-3). There is a genuine emphasis of joy, gladness, and praise because of God’s rule over nations.

If you take into account the previous chapters of today’s reading in Jeremiah 48-49 where God judges the nations (Moab, Ammon, Damascus, Kedar & Hazor, and Elam) it can get pretty overwhelming. Add to that the viral photo of a boy from Syria (Omran Daqneesh) reminding of the horrors of war in Syria. It can get pretty hopeless pretty quick. Yet there is hope because Psalm 67 declares that God judges the people of the earth with equity and he guides the nations of the earth. God is right thick in the middle of the nations. He is neither distant or absent but rules with equity and guides with righteousness. I choose hope this morning. I hope in the unseen that God is ruling in the affairs of the nations. I choose hope that the nations be glad and that they will sing for joy because God is God of the nations.