This year I have chosen to do my devotional Bible reading in The Message by Eugene H. Peterson. As Peterson says in the Introduction: “The Message is a reading Bible. It is not intended to replace the excellent study Bibles that are available.” I won’t be preaching or teaching from The Message. I won’t be using it as a study Bible. I will simply be using it for my devotional Bible reading at look forward to the fresh encouragement it will bring. I know I need it.

Scripture- Exodus 2:24-25 God listened to their groanings. God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob. God saw what was going on with Israel. God understood.

Observations- God listened to the cries of the people of Israel. He did not turn a deaf ear. God continued to be faithful in fulfilling his unconditional promise which he made to Abraham and reaffirmed with Abraham’s son Isaac and his grandson Jacob, who was renamed Israel–the namesake of a nation. God saw the very real pain of his people. He was not unaware.And God “got it”… he understood their pain.

Application- God listens to my prayers, even when it seems like nothing changes. God is faithful in his promises, even when it seems in the moment like I am all alone. God sees all that is going on in my life; whether I am suffering the consequences of my sin or whether I am sharin in Jesus’ suffering. God understands because Jesus endured temptation, rejection, and suffering–all in fulfillment of his Father’s will.

Prayer- Abba, I cry out to you because I know and trust in the fact that you hear my prayers… even my cries of pain and heartache. Abba, I know and trust in the fact that you are always faithful to your promises… the greatest of which is your promise to be with me. Abba, I know and trust in the fact that you see everything in my life. I can’t pretend with you and I never need to perform for you. You are aware of the self-inflicted pain of my poor choices and you are aware of the other-inflicted pain of life in this sin-scarred world. And Abba, you are not only aware of my pain… you understand it because your One and Only Son became flesh, lived, suffered, and died. He cried out and you heard. You “remembered” him when he was in the grave and faithfully raised him so I too have the hope of the resurrection.

Scripture- John 1:14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father,  full of grace and truth.

Observations- Jesus is “the Word”… the revelation of God in flesh. For a season the Word lived in space and time on the earth. Eyewitnesses saw Him in all His amazing person and deeds. The Word is God the Son and there is no other person like Him. He truly is the One and Only. The Son came on assignment from the Father. He was completely full of grace and completely full of truth. Real grace and real truth are not contradictory; they complement each other.

Application- Jesus came to fully reveal the grace of God and the truth of God. Only Jesus, the One and Only, can be truly full of both grace and truth. His sinless nature positions Him uniquely to extend grace since He owes no debt of sin. Jesus fully knows and fully reveals truth. He is the embodiment of truth. As I look to imitate Jesus, I look to be full of both grace and truth. I need to speak grace into the lives of those I encounter. I do not look to people to please me, to agree with me, or even to extend grace to me. I extend myself “in spite of”, fully imitating the One and Only. My extension of grace never requires me to compromise the truth of God’s Word. It requires me to “bear with”, to put aside my preferences, to humble myself, and to forgive; but not to withhold or compromise the Word of God. Grace and truth are not contradictory, but rather are complementary. May my life strive to be full of both grace and truth.

Prayer- Abba, may I seek to pattern my life after your One and Only. I won’t be fully like Him this side of heaven, but I commit my life to following His example.

Scripture- 2 Timothy 2:24 And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful.

Observations- Paul describes some traits of those who serve the Lord for his young protegé Timothy. There are 2 pairs of statements that make their point by using contrast. A servant isn’t argumentative, but instead treats everyone with kindness; even when that servant is treated unkindly. Instead of harboring resentment toward someone who has been unkind, the contrasting response is to teach the truth of God’s word. That teaching would include truth about unconditional love, acceptance, and forgiveness.

Application- I am not serving the Lord whenever I am unkind to anyone. Servanthood and a lack of kindness are mutually exclusive. In spite of the actions of others; I am called to serve them by teaching them the Word of God.

Prayer- Abba, please give me a servant’s heart of kindness as I boldly declare your truth. May I never use your Word as a weapon to attack and pierce, but always as a scalpel to heal. Thank you for using the scalpel of your Word to bring healing to my heart.

Scripture- Psalm 119:76 May your unfailing love (hesed) be my comfort, according to your promise to your servant.

Observations- God love is unfailing. The unfailing nature of God’s love is a trustworthy source of comfort. God’s promise is based on His unfailing love. The psalmist is willing to serve because of his trust in the unfailing love of God.

Application- When much of what I have looked to for comfort is crumbling around me, the truest source of comfort comes into clear focus. God’s hesed… His unfailing love… is the most dependable source of comfort. People can fail me. Economies certainly can fail me. Organizations can fail me. My own strength can fail me. But God’s love can’t fail me because, by definition, it is unfailing. A love that fails is not God’s love… it is a flawed substitute.

Prayer- Abba, I depend on your love for comfort because it is hesed… it is unfailing.

Scripture- Matthew 27:40 “You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself! Com down from the cross, if you are the Son of God!”

Observations- The people believed Jesus claimed He could destroy and rebuild the temple in Jerusalem all by Himself. The people believed that Jesus could not even save Himself. The people believed that a clear demonstration of Jesus being the Son of God would be to come down from the cross; but on the cross the Son of God was just where He belonged.

Application- Our sinful perspective as humans is distorted. We are focused on the material rather than the spiritual. We think that power is displayed in the relief of suffering, rather than the power displayed in perseverance through suffering. We think of Jesus as a victim rather than as a victor. We think God’s power should be seen in delivering Jesus from the cross, rather than the working of God’s powerful plan through the cross. We think somehow that Jesus on the cross was a failure and that the cross was certainly no place for the Son of God to be. But the Son of God is also a Savior; so giving His life on the cross was just where the Son of God belonged.

Prayer- Abba, please change my perspective to match yours. Show your power through difficulty, not just by sparing me from it. Give me a heart that is willing to stay just where I belong.

Scripture- 1 Corinthians 15:58 Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

Observations- Paul addresses members of the family of God. He commands them to be solid and unwavering and to allow no circumstance to weaken their stance. He also commands them to be “all in” as they participate in the work God is doing. They can risk it all because of their confidence in what God will do through them.

Application- I can’t hold back. I can’t try to protect myself or keep something “just in case.” My resolve to invest myself fully in the cause of God’s kingdom cannot waver no matter what the circumstances. God will not waste what I risk for Him. So, no holding back, I’m betting it all on Jesus!

Prayer- Abba, it is scary to risk it all! Give me courage rather than compromise. I don’t want to hedge my bet. I’m all in.

Scripture- Psalm 118:5 When hard pressed, I cried to the Lord; he brought me into a spacious place.

Observations- Feeling “hard pressed” is not an “if” but a “when.” The psalmist, most likely David, had this feeling of being hard pressed. It was not theoretical. The pressure cause his to cry out to God. He passionately sought God’s help. God “brought” the psalmist into this spacious place. He didn’t find it himself or go there through any effort of his own. In contrast to the constrictive place of being hard-pressed; the Lord brings the psalmist to a place with plenty of room to experience release.

Application- I am over-whelmed with the pressure of my circumstances, so the wise course of action for me is to cry out to God for help and then expectantly wait for his deliverance.

Prayer- Abba, I long for you to bring me to a spacious place.

Musings about what that “spacious place” is like:

• It is free from the pressure of people’s clamoring expectations that I cannot possibly meet.
• It is open and bright and clear.
• There is room to breathe.
• There is the contented freedom of God’s grace.
• There is the safety of open space, making physical, emotional, or spiritual collisions less likely.
• There is the room to breathe physically, emotionally, and spiritually.
• There is the room to walk or run without the fear of another disastrous or painful mis-step.
• A spacious place can be shared and enjoyed with grace-filled, encouraging friends.
• A spacious place can be walked with my greatest friend. “What a friend we have in Jesus, all my sins and griefs to bear!”

Scripture- Job 17:11-12 My days have passed, my plans are shattered. Yet the desires of my heart turn night into day; in the face of darkness light is near.

Observations- In the darkness of his loss and the discouraging words of his friends, Job found hope in the Lord. Job was grieving the loss of opportunities and dreams. Still his desires turned to God. Job knew that in the darkest days, God’s light is near.

Application- Despairing over lost opportunities and shattered dreams leads me to “dark nights of the soul.” At times the words of others only add to my despair. My thoughts can draw me into darkness. When circumstances and loss envelop me, the Holy Spirit indwelling me turns my heart toward the light of hope in the Lord. The Holy Spirit leads me out of darkness into the light. My heart knows that light is as near as God’s presence.

Prayer- Abba, my thoughts have been leading me to dark places of despair. I want to go where my heart is leading me… straight into the light and into your arms. Thank you for sending the Holy Spirit… the Comforter…. to dwell in me and draw me to the light.

Scripture- Nehemiah 9:17 But you are a forgiving God, gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love. Therefore you did not desert them.

Observations- The Levites were reviewing God’s story of faithfulness to the people as they gathered after rebuilding the walls in Jerusalem. This verse is a summary of the review of God’s faithful character. God is forgiving–not holding sins against His people. He is gracious–not basing His blessing on merit or performance, but on grace. He is compassionate–having genuine concern for the pain of His people. God is slow to anger–not responding in rage. He is abounding in love–overflowing with committed care and tender delight. God’s faithfulness in not deserting Israel flows from His faithful character.

Application- All of the faithful character traits listed here are traits that I can emulate. I can choose not to hold people’s sin against them and forgive them. I can deal with people graciously, not based on their performance. I can genuinely care for the pain of others. I can control my angry responses and instead let committed and tender love flow from me. I can display faithful character as I follow God’s example and let Him transform my character from the inside out.

Prayer- Abba, 10 years ago today the most faithful man I have ever known went to be with You. My dad showed me what it means to be a faithful man. He was faithful to Mom, to his children, to his employers, to his country, to his churches, and to his God. He was forgiving–he never held anything I ever did against me. He never demanded that I perform to gain his love and acceptance. He was tender whenever he knew I was in pain. He was controlled whenever he got angry, which was rare. His love for the people in his life silently flowed from him through acts of service.

Abba, I miss my earthly Abba; but will always cling to his faithful legacy in my life.

Scripture- Psalm 146:5 Blessed are those whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord their God.

Observations- Believers are blessed. They are blessed by God’s help. That help comes from the same God that helped Jacob–the deceiver who God helped by His grace–the grandson of Abraham in whom God fulfilled His covenant promise to build a nation–Jacob whose name was changed to Israel. Believers are blessed because their hope is in God who alone can save.

Application- I can’t depend on others for the help and hope I need. My help comes from God. He can and does save. My hope is in God. He will not fail me. My future rests solely on God’s promises. My present needs can be met by the power of God. He is my Help and my Hope.

Prayer- Abba, I need your help. I need for You to intervene in the things I am powerless to change. And you are my hope. People will fail me. I will fail. But You deserve trust. You will never fail.