August 9

RUTH 2
Boaz proclaimed, “The LORD repay your work, and a full reward be given you by the LORD God of Israel, under whose wings you have come for refuge.” The Moabites were relatives and arch enemies of the Israelites. The book of Ruth took place in the time of the Judges. There were times during the Judges when the Moabites treated the Israelites severely. Moabites were not friends of the Israelites. In the law of Moses the Moabites were banned from the assembly of the Lord up to the 10th generation. Even the Lord’s enemies may receive refuge under the wings of the Lord if they will return to Him with all their heart. I am so glad that He has given me refuge! Indeed we serve a glorious King. Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john

PSALM 39
I still think I am young. Walking around Israel with my son makes me realize that I am getting toward the end of my life. He has much more stamina than I, or maybe I am much more out of shape, or maybe it is both. I pass mirrors, and I see an older man, and then I realize the older man is me. Where did the time go? My children were just born yesterday, but now they have children. How did that happen? Do the math. My oldest is now 32. Biologically, he is almost old enough to be a grandfather. That makes me biologically old enough to almost be a great-grandfather—unlikely but possible. How did the time slip away? Okay I am 57. If the average life span is 76, and I live just an average life, then I have finished 75% of my life. I am beginning the back stretch, if I get to finish it. “LORD, make me to know my end, And what is the measure of my days, That I may know how frail I am. Indeed, You have made my days as handbreadths, And my age is as nothing before You; Certainly every man at his best state is but vapor.”
Fifty-seven is starting to get to be a long life, certainly well past the middle. To the Lord it is just a vapor. Vapors last for just a little time. He is from eternity. So what is the glory in that? To Him He sees me lying in a crib when I was born, playing marbles with my friends at recess in school, learning the ropes of a new school in junior high, trying to tame the awkwardness of high school, overcoming the challenges of college, rejoicing in finding a wonderful woman, struggling to provide for kids, now growing old. What have I done with my life? Life is just a vapor. What will last? Only that which brings glory to Him. What will the last quarter produce? Lord, let it be a fountain of glory for You! Indeed we serve a glorious King. Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john

EZEKIEL 8
One like fire appears to Ezekiel. Fire is normally a symbol judgment or purification. Obviously from the visions that follow, here it is a symbol of both. The judgment about to be poured out upon Jerusalem is designed to bring about a purification of the nation from idolatry. The nation had come to think that the Lord did not see their situation. They had ceased what little trust they had in Him. They had turned to other gods, fertility gods of the nations surrounding them, gods whom they thought would increase their security, their wealth, their livelihood. They knowingly erected these gods even in the temple where the glory of God had been designed to dwell.
Oh Lord, keep me from pursuing gods which I think will increase my security, my wealth, my livelihood, my glory! Help me to pursue only Your Glory, Your wealth, Your life, Your security. Indeed, we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john

ROMANS 10
Christ is the end of the law for righteousness. – Whoever calls on the name. God indeed has a standard of righteousness. As I write this I am in Mexico. Their standards and methods of construction are very different from ours. Even with the difference I see that within their systems, they do not seem to have inspectors that demand a certain code enforcement as we have here. Consequently when one buys a house it is a “buyer beware” situation. The house you buy may not meet the necessary quality to last a lifetime(s). I am thankful for standards in the U.S. and building inspectors. It insures that my house is safe and will last a lifetime—if I take care of it.
God’s law insures that His holiness remains holy. His law demands perfection from us. Try as I may I cannot attain to His standard of perfection. I’ve already missed the standard. That’s where His mercy comes in. Jesus is the end of the law in two ways:

1. The law was designed to show us our need of righteousness. The law forces us to see that we have no righteousness. Once the law shows us our need of a Savior it has completed its task—in that sense Christ is the end of the law. Just as a path from one place to another ends when you get to the destination, so also, the law takes us from thinking we are holy to Christ—we see a need of a savior.
2. When Christ comes it is no longer my trying to meet a standard but resting in His already having met it—even in me. The law does not cease. It is still there. But Jesus fulfills it in me!

Isn’t that wonderful?
Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor John