from my perspective

Isaiah lived during the decline of Israel. The armies of Assyria are at the door. The Holy Spirit of God speaks through Isaiah to a people who were “deaf and blind” to the commandments of the LORD (see 6:10); a people who refused to listen to the LORD’s warnings of looming disaster. The sin of the people is further exhibited by worship to idols of false gods and a disregard for the care of the widows and orphans as commanded by the LORD. For their sins, Judah would bring God’s judgment. And yet Isaiah also declared that God is sovereign and would use Cyrus the Persian to return them from exile.

Furthermore, the LORD speaks through Isaiah of a “servant,” a “man of sorrows,” who would “bear our grief,” “carry our sorrows.” be “pierced for our transgressions,” accomplishing God’s purposes of salvation (52:13–53:12).

John the Baptist prophesies the fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy in Jesus, “someone … who is greater than I am...He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.”

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King Hezekiah prays for deliverance from his enemies that surround him. The Psalmist praises the LORD for a faithful king and victory over Israel’s enemies. Jesus prays blessings for those the poor, the hungry, the mourning, and the oppressed. For all the saints of all time the prayers are the same, the challenges and joys are the same.

Today we remember the saints. The Greek word (hagios) is translated as saints 62 times in the New Testament; it is also translated as ‘holy’ or ‘holy one’ 165 times. The humble have difficulty in seeing themselves as saints but that is what faithful Christians are referred to in Paul’s letters and John’s Revelation.

Today we thank God for all the saints of the past and pray that we may be faithful like them; following in their walk with Christ. Such a day reminds us especially of important truths. 1. The saints of the past have given us examples of Christ-like living. 2. The saints have given us confessions, psalms, prayers and creedal statements and hymns. 3. We are on a journey through this life to a greater life with Christ. 4. Humankind’s relationship with God and one another is the same yesterday, today and in the future. 5. No oppression, situation or circumstance can overcome the love of God in Christ Jesus. 6. No philosophy or political initiative will overcome the light of Christ or overcome the LORD on His throne.

So, with all the saints we take courage from the words of Jesus, “Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28–30, NRSV)

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King Hezekiah prays for deliverance from his enemies that surround him. The Psalmist praises the LORD for a faithful king and victory over Israel’s enemies. Jesus prays blessings for those the poor, the hungry, the mourning, and the oppressed. For all the saints of all time the prayers are the same, the challenges and joys are the same.

Today we remember the saints. The Greek word (hagios) is translated as saints 62 times in the New Testament; it is also translated as ‘holy’ or ‘holy one’ 165 times. The humble have difficulty in seeing themselves as saints but that is what faithful Christians are referred to in Paul’s letters and John’s Revelation.

Today we thank God for all the saints of the past and pray that we may be faithful like them; following in their walk with Christ. Such a day reminds us especially of important truths. 1. The saints of the past have given us examples of Christ-like living. 2. The saints have given us confessions, psalms, prayers and creedal statements and hymns. 3. We are on a journey through this life to a greater life with Christ. 4. Humankind’s relationship with God and one another is the same yesterday, today and in the future. 5. No oppression, situation or circumstance can overcome the love of God in Christ Jesus. 6. No philosophy or political initiative will overcome the light of Christ or overcome the LORD on His throne.

So, with all the saints we take courage from the words of Jesus, “Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28–30, NRSV)

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Restoration, redemption and rebuilding are never a simple matter. In Nehemiah 6 the adversaries attempt to pull Nehemiah away from God’s plan of restoration by first attempting to lead him away from his work; secondly by tempting Nehemiah’s co-workers to stop the work and lastly by using intimidation to scare Nehemiah resigning his leadership and retreating into the temple as a priest.

The LORD calls us to follow in His ways and to live out His will. Holy Scripture reveals how we should love God and our neighbor. Through that paradigm we mature to see where the LORD is working and join Him as His hands and feet and voice. This might be called “Living for Christ”; Living in His example to bring His healing power to a broken world.

The Adversary and his followers attempt to lead disciples away from Living for Christ by various methods. All of which seem small individually but collectively reveal a pattern based in deceptive, false expectations.

Some have described this as “spiritual warfare.” Martin Luther deeply desired to follow Christ and found his thoughts being bent by Satan away from Christ. He battled Satan all night long. This type of spiritual warfare may be foreign to many Christians who try to serve the LORD in thought, word and deed.

Have you had times where temptation to ‘do the right thing’ was difficult? Or times when breaking a destructive habit was difficult? For Nehemiah the temptation was to give into the words of his adversaries and walk away from the project. What works of the LORD have you been tempted to leave because you have encountered opposition?

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The books of Ezra and Nehemiah tell of the restoration of the repentant children of God; a people who had turned away from the LORD and His protection, provision and promise to worship false gods of pleasure, desire and excitement. Today we continue with Nehemiah, a man sent by the high King of Babylon at the LORD’s bidding, to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. What purpose do the walls have? Who or what treasure do they to protect?

Jesus taught that He is the “bread of life” come from Heaven. In the Gospel of Luke chapter 12 Jesus strings together pearls of wisdom contrasting living for the kingdom of God and living for the kingdom of earth. “Where your treasure is, there you heart will be also” Jesus taught. (Mt. 2.11) A wise man once said, “What you think about you become.”

The irony of modern living is that we are very conscience of the purity of water and food but we allow all kinds of pollution to enter our mind and thoughts.  The Bible teaches us to guard our thoughts and minds just as we would any treasure from God. Therefore, following the allegory of the parable, “What’s in your barn? What “treasures” are you protecting and storing up?”

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