Isaiah 40:27 - 31 by Seth Dunn

Isaiah 40:27-31

In almost any Christian bookstore, one doesn’t have to look very hard to find these words from the prophet Isaiah:

“Yet those who wait for the Lord
Will gain new strength;
They will mount up with wings like eagles,
They will run and not get tired,
They will walk and not become weary.”

I’ve seen these words imprinted on everything from a bookmark to a bronze statue of an eagle. The language of this passage is clearly figurative, but it is no less encouraging. These words are powerful. We live in a world that is wrought with injustice, befuddled by confusion, and besieged with weariness. The hopeful words from the prophet Isaiah communicate to the children of God that these maladies will ultimately be overcome by those who wait upon the Lord, who is just, understanding, and strong. 

If we are not careful, we can misunderstand and misapply the meaning of this passage. This passage is not axiomatic. This passage is not something to read off of a motivational poster for a pick-up on a day when we haven’t gotten enough sleep. It’s not a passage to pray over when it’s 4^th and goal with 3 seconds left in the game and our running back is playing on an injured leg. This passage is not a proverb.

This passage is a prophecy.

When Dr. Don Hataway, Senior Pastor of Tabernacle Baptist Church in Cartersville, preaches from the book of Proverbs, he often prefaces the reading of a saying from that book with the following sentence, “It’s a proverb, not a promise.”  In other words, the sayings from the book of Proverbs aren’t necessarily guarantees. They are sayings from Wisdom literature…truisms.

Isaiah is not a book of truisms.  Isaiah is a book of prophecy. Isaiah didn’t give us proverbs, he gave us promises. Some of them, like the coming of the Lord Jesus, have already come to pass. Others are yet to come. Those who wait upon the Lord will gain new strength and never grow weary. This is a prophecy and a promise from God. It will happen in the eschaton and we can look forward to and rejoice in that day.

Lord, give us the patience to wait upon you
Thank you for the savior you have given us in Christ
Thank you for the life you will give us in the resurrection.

Colossians 1:15-20 by Seth Dunn

Colossians 1:15-20

A&E’s Duck Dynasty, a reality show, is currently one of the highest rated programs on television (of any type).   On February 27, 2013, its season three premier drew 8.6 million viewers.   This was a record for an A&E show, though the ratings were hardly a surprise.  Despite the show’s formulaic format, Duck Dynasty’s popularity has only risen since its debut in in March of 2012.  Its soaring popularity is due mostly to viewer interest in the show’s colorful “cast” of “characters” from the Robertson Family, owners of the Duck Commander brand and subjects of the show.

One of these characters is family patriarch, Phil Robertson.  Almost every show ends with Phil asking a blessing over a family meal.  In his prayer, Phil usually utters the words, “Thank you Lord for another day on planet Earth.”  People unfamiliar with the New Testament might hear these words and think little if anything about them.  After all, what is so special about another day on planet Earth that God should be specifically thanked for it?  Phil is a millionaire with a large family and he’s thanking God for just another day?!?!  Surely waking up, going about one’s day, and eating one’s dinner isn’t anything special.  It happens every day.  It’s not a miracle, it is?

It is a miracle.  Phil’s prayer exhibits an understanding of a deep theological truth.  All things hold together in Christ.  (Colossians 1:17).  Every second of every day, Christ is sustaining existence itself.  Every day on planet Earth is a gift of God to be appreciated.   All things were created through Christ (John 1:3) and it is He whole perpetuates our existence.  We should thank God every day for that.

Dear God, thank you for Jesus and another day on planet Earth.

Job 1:1-12 by Seth Dunn

Job 1:1-12

“Have you considered My servant Seth?”

I wonder if God will ever ask Satan this question about me. On the one hand, it would be an indicator that I was living a blameless and upright life before the Lord. On the other hand, it would be an indicator that Satan was about to be put me through the wringer.

Long ago, God asked Satan, “Have you considered my servant, Job.” Job, a very wealthy man, lost all his worldly possessions when God removed the hedge of protection He had placed around Job and allowed Satan to affect Job’s life. Job even lost his wife and children to the devices of the devil. Satan took everything from Job but his very life.
The Bible says, “Through all this Job did not sin nor did he blame God.”

People have a tendency, when calamity befalls them, to blame God and even act out in a sinful manner. They also have a tendency to wonder if God is punishing them for some heinous sin they have committed. (John 9:2). But who among us ever affixes the blame for our misfortune to Satan?

As in the days of Job, Satan is roaming the earth seeking whom he may devour. (1 Peter 5:8). Satan is on a clear mission to steal, kill, and destroy. (John 10:10) Maybe he has already destroyed something in your life. But one thing he cannot destroy or devour, if you have placed your faith in God through his son Jesus Christ, is your life itself. 

It is your life that Jesus came to save, not your possessions. Find your value in serving God and not in the things that Satan can take away.
Praise be to the name of the Lord

Abide by Jessie Holmes

“Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself,
unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. 
I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, 
he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” 
– John 15:4-5

What does/should my relationship with Jesus look like? Jesus is not some far off distant being sitting on a throne looking at us. Jesus Christ is the Son of God who died on the cross, who rose again from the dead, and the vine with which we must be connected. We need Him. We can’t do anything without Him. We are empty, lost, confused, and useless without Jesus. Therefore, our relationship with Him should be defined by one word: Abide.

Do you get what Jesus is saying? Jesus is proclaiming that He desires an intimate and personal relationship with us. He wants us to abide in Him! This is more than a quick quiet time or prayer every once and a while. Jesus is describing a relationship where we are dwelling in Him. Why? Because we need Him. We can’t do anything without Him. He is our all in all and in Him we live.

This type of relationship is what we should not only desire, but grow towards. It’s a process. Our time with Jesus should be a time we long for. We are called to abide IN Him. So, dwell in Him. This may look different for you than it does for me, but the results will be the same. Let your personal relationship with the Father always be on the forefront of your mind. Let His word and love be the things that strengthen, motivate, and rule your heart. When we are truly abiding in Christ, the results of that relationship will be knowledge of the Truth, fruit, love, freedom from sin, and conformity to His image.

Matthew 13:1-23 by Seth Dunn

Matthew 13:1-23

I was very blessed today to witness six baptisms.  Five of the people getting baptized were adults.  If you are familiar with salvation statistics, you know how rare it is for a person to come to faith in Christ after age 17.  So seeing God work in the hearts of older people was an extra special blessing.  

The baptisms were done in river at the Lake Alatoona day use area here in Cartersville.  As the final baptism was performed, an alarm sounded.  The dam up river was opening to let more water pass through.  The pace of the current was quickening and the water was level was rising.  The erstwhile catechumen and the pastor hurried out of the river away from danger.

What a picture of what may come in this life.  As Jesus illustrates in the Parable of the Sower, persecution and worry don’t necessarily end when we finally grasp the gospel, thereby subverting the devious machinations of Satan.  I pray that these new Christians will abide firmly within the Father’s hand, bearing fruit one hundred fold. 

Let’s all take time to consider that the great commission doesn't end with baptism but includes discipleship and accountability within Christian community. Praise Jesus for the increase to his kingdom today.