Jonah Bible Sketch

Don’t run away and hide from God.

 

Run to Him in honesty.

Gracious God knows exactly how rebellion hurts people.

A few examples of human rebellion are to

• fail to love God and the people He created
  
• act in ways which tempt others to worry or misbehave
  
• fret over things that are not ours to control
  
• ruminate on past failures which have already been confessed and absolved
  

Jonah 2:1

…“I called out to the Lord, out of my distress, and he answered me… Jonah 2:1

“Jonah deserves death, not deliverance. Yet the Lord graciously rescues him by miraculous intervention. Jonah recognizes the greatness of the Lord’s compassion and expresses his thanks in prayer. The apostle Paul, like Jonah, once felt that he had “received the sentence of death,” but the God “who raises the dead” delivered him… All sinners deserve the sentence of everlasting death. But the God to whom salvation belongs has, in Christ, rescued us and given us new life. • Gracious God and Father, thank you for redeeming me from sin, death, and the power of the devil. Move my tongue to glorify you in praise and witness. Amen.” The Lutheran Study Bible

“No God, no truth. Know God, know truth.” author unknown

Apart from Christ…

• grace and mercy seem too good to be true
  
• human arrogance takes priority over Christ’s humility
  
• there’s no regret when integrity fails
• outlook is hopeless and negativity sets in
  

Light reminds us we cannot hide darkness, nor can we fix it on our own. 

God created us to instinctively know right from wrong. God knows motives. Darkness of our own and others proves no one can always make things right. Neglect, isolation, doubt, and lies damage or wreck healthy attitudes and emit oppression, estrangement and unjust blame onto others and toward God.

God pursues us to save us with His goodness.

Christ’s goodness became ours when He took our own mistakes upon Himself at the cross and brings us into His Light. Patiently, He points us to recognize the reality of sin, run from evil, and turn toward Him. In mercy, He forgives believers who fear Him; He saves sinners from the of punishment and condemnation reserved for those who continually reject the Holy Spirit’s work of repentance.

God infinitely keeps His promise in Christ.

The loving-kindness of our Lord is higher than our finite minds can comprehend. Scripture is a fountain which pours goodness into the empty cracks and depressed pits of our imperfect lives. The Word softens hearts and shapes minds with wisdom for grace-filled communication—power to confess, receive confessions, forgive and receive forgiveness. Confidence and gratitude flow from reception of the Word of Truth. 

While we muddle through the confusion of this life, it is necessary to grasp the abundant opportunities to regularly hear the Word. Worshiping alongside other sinners sitting in the pews, we receive gifts of pardon and peace which come to us in Baptism and the Lord’s Supper. Together, we are reminded we may trust Jesus who bled for and shields us from danger. We worship Him with music and prayer.

“Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it. For since the message declared by angels proved to be reliable, and every transgression or disobedience received a just retribution, how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was declared at first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard, while God also bore witness by signs and wonders and various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will. … For he who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one source. That is why he is not ashamed to call them brothers,” Hebrews 2:1,11

Everyone messes up—knowingly or not. Everyone will face damaging, disturbing, confusing, goofed-up, unhealthy situations in one form or another.

Consequences we own, guilt we carry, distress we combat, things gone wrong we fail to fix throughout life—Jesus compassionately knows every hardship, weakness and screw-up. 

Christ humbled Himself to love, cleanse and heal us and our enemies.

God’s own Son was forsaken to leave His place of glory, come to us through Mary’s womb to grow up perfectly obedient, willingly suffer, be executed, lay in a tomb for three days (where he left our sin in the belly of the earth) and rise from the dead! He spoke, prayed, wept, ate, and walked among us. His painful, sweaty, bloody work paid the price to rescue us from hell and give us peace. Jesus ascended to live with God the Father who hears confessions through Christ’s intercessions for us. His gracious merciful love for us allows us to openly lay our burdens down at the foot of His cross. The sacrifice He made covers believers with grace, forgiveness and redemption. His benediction is spoken in church.

God’s desire is to restore and nurture. Everyone who receives His blessing trusts Him and lives joyfully now with certain hope of forever.

Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to counsel and comfort us in this life until the next. He listens to the people He created who trust Him and answers according to His will. As God sent Jonah to preach to sinners, the Holy Spirit empowers believing sinners to be there with and for others, to take the first step toward sharing the Gospel. Jonah didn’t expect things to turn out like they did. We don’t always completely understand why God allows the suffering He does, nor His tough-love plans, nor His perfect timing and will. Outcomes of His plans sometimes become clear, yet, they might not always be revealed in our lifetime. By God-given strength, we tell of the preservation and protection given to us, honestly look at what repentance truly is, and trust Him to refresh and renew us despite our weakness. Only God knows the heart of those with whom we share our peace and if they will receive or reject His gift of faith.

“Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 1 John 4:11

“Our soul waits for the LORD; he is our help and our shield.” Psalm 33:20

Why is God’s Word so important to take seriously? It is the power to believe Christ’s atonement for all sin is 100% necessary for salvation.

Faith in Christ comes by hearing, so, listen! On the Last Day He will return to…

• receive faithful believers to live forever with Him in perfect peace and glory—where all types of illness, weakness, sin, confusion, pain, distress, tears and even death will no longer exist, ever!
• separate from Himself unfaithful people who reject the Truth; unbelievers will suffer forever. 
  

It is a mystery that we won’t sleep; we will be changed in a moment.

“When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: ‘Death is swallowed up in victory.’”
1 Corinthians 15:54

More on Jonah

• Visual introduction
  
• Chapel sermon
• The Call to Nineveh: Jonah’s and Ours
  
• Speaking of Do-overs
• Speaking of Ridiculous 
• Speaking of Satire 

Obadiah Bible Sketch

Judgement will be a day of accountability.

 

Because of sin, all people die. God determines every person’s eternal destiny.

 

Believers in Christ have God’s mercy. Apart from Christ, it will be a day of wrath. 

God warns us to not neglect His Word or cover up the reality of our sin. God didn’t create robots. He allows His people to make good and poor choices. We make both kinds. God patiently offers grace and spiritual maturity to all who seek Him. Grieved over spiritual rebellion and corruption, eventually, His wrath brings down destruction on the high and mighty—the prideful and the oppressor. To blame others, hide, justify, or minimize the seriousness of one’s own wrongdoing, is, by one’s own choice, to throw away God’s precious gift of forgiveness and to reject His redemption. In and of ourselves, we are hungry, empty, and aren’t able to be fruitful. Energy depleted, we become cold, angry, distracted, anxious, troubled and selfish. We can’t trust ourselves. We constantly need to be filled and nourished by the Word.

Who will deliver me?

Holy Baptism and the Word bring on a free gift of faith. With any gift, there are two choices: 

1. receive it [good]
   
2. reject it [bad]

God creates and perfects faith because He cares. Faith believes and depends on God’s mercy in the work of His Son Jesus who endured our shame. He died for us on the cross, bodily rose from the dead, ascended and lives with God the Father. His compassionate Spirit cleanses, defends, and empowers us to face and grow through difficulties of life. Faith in us prompts a desire to repent and helps us to walk in the Light with the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Even when God’s people have a loss for words to pray, there is One who intercedes for us to rescue and deliver us from evil. Loyal to love and tirelessly lavish forgiveness and restoration, Christ’s redeeming work at the cross saves all who receive the faith to fear God. We trust Jesus the Savior who offers protection from God’s harsh judgement.

Obadiah 15, 17a

“For the day of the Lord is near upon all the nations. As you have done, it shall be done to you; your deeds shall return on your own head.… But in Mount Zion there shall be those who escape, and it shall be holy,” Obadiah 15,17a

 “Now we know that whatever the law says it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be stopped, and the whole world may be held accountable to God. …but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. ” Romans 3:19, 5:8-9

Learn more

Listen to a Bible study discussion about Obadiah.

Obadiah tells of God’s harsh judgment. Watch an illustrated overview.

Zion is the name of the church I attend. I hope you find a similar church in your area. There’s more behind the meaning of Zion in the Bible—not only a mountain, it generally refers to the people of God and another name for the Holy Christian Church of all believers in Christ.

Prayer of the Day

  “Almighty God, unto whom all hearts are open, all desires known, and from whom no secrets are hidden, cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of Your Holy Spirit that we may perfectly love You and worthily magnify Your holy name; through Jesus Christ our Lord. (211)” Treasury of Daily Prayer

Amos Bible Sketch

How can there be justice in my mess?

No matter what my or your mess is, Truth defeats lies of the devil, the world, and our fallen human nature. 

 

Righteousness is promised in the Word. 

God’s justification is where His peace enters the life of a sinner in the form of a divine gift. God creates faith to believe in Jesus. Thankfully, He knows us better than we know ourselves and His love for us doesn’t change upon circumstance or His Divine Knowledge of how depraved we are.

 “For I know how many are your transgressions and how great are your sins” Amos 5:12

The difficult things God allows are for His purpose to bring people to contrition, confession, and change for their own (or another person’s) present or eternal good. In an act of grace, His Spirit supports people through the process of confession and life of faith. Still, God’s good grace is a gift which can be received or rejected.

“Let love be genuine; abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good.” Romans 12:9 read the chapter

We cannot save ourselves from the messes we make, nor those we protest.

Jesus died and was raised to forgive and clear us from our disordered position. All who receive His righteousness grow in knowledge, strength, trust, and joy! His perfect work heals and saves—it blesses and reverses the curse for the life to come.

Our Creator tenderly and constantly is doing reconciling work in our lives. 

The earth’s groaning in earthquakes and hardships are reminders to repent and turn to God for mercy. Beware of complacency. We do not deserve anything, yet forgiveness is made possible by the powerful, everflowing stream of Christ’s compassionate understanding, love and grace. His Spirit encourages us to serve Him and others by blessing us with words at the right moments—opportunities God provides for us to share this life-saving Good News. In gratitude, we share with others and cherish others who connect with us regarding the Gospel.

Amos 5:24

But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream. Amos 5:24

God wants justice for the oppressed. 

Injustices are constant in the world. Integrity is doing what God says when we allow Him to guide us.

“God’s people are to produce justice continually and swiftly, like the flow of a river. Just as plants and animals need a steady supply of water to survive, so also human communities can flourish only when justice and righteousness prevail.” The Lutheran Study Bible

God’s commands are to show our need for Him; also, to help us love Him and each other. He wants us to have right relationships. He will take actions to correct injustice. God confronts evil for His purposes to have mercy on us and restore us to walk in newness of life.

God and God Alone 
by Steve Green

God and God alone created all these things we call our own

From the mighty to the small, the Glory in them all is God’s and God’s alone

God and God alone reveals the truth of all we call unknown

and the best and worst of man won’t change the Master’s plan it’s God’s and God’s alone

God and God alone is fit to take the universe’s throne

Let everything that lives reserve its truest praise for God and God alone

Listen to a Bible study discussion about how God works through means, even uncomfortable ones. 

Read a Christian perspective on the decision by the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) Dobbs v. Jackson reversal of Roe v. Wade, stating the Constitution does not confer a right to abortion and returning the issue to the states. This positive action makes pro-life faithful people thankful for potential measures to protect lives of the most vulnerable. We pray individuals and states would step up and take responsibility to protect unborn babies.

Read more about

• Racism
• Disability
• Child Abuse
• Human Trafficking
• Domestic Violence
• Life
• Immigration
• Persecution
• Marriage
• Sexuality
• Religious Liberty

Amos Links

• Introducing Amos by Pastor Bryan Wolfmueller
• Watch an Illustrated Summary of Amos

Joel Bible Sketch

Return to the Lord.

 

He is gracious.

 

He is merciful.

He is slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.

Joel 2:13

 

and rend your hearts and not your garments.” Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love; and he relents over disaster. Joel 2:13

 

God wants us to honestly turn to face Him with our own sin.

Original sin and its consequences exhibit our desperate need for confession and absolution in Christ.

• poor spiritual, emotional, mental, physical health
  
• relational and political divisions—abuse, coercion, war
  
• natural disaster of floods, wildfires, earthquakes, tornadoes
• death
  

Christ is the Way to escape being irreparably damaged or harmed by sin. 

Jesus took our sin upon Himself to make us right so that we may ask God to intervene to strengthen us to withstand temptation.

“The Lord wants inner sincerity, not just outward show…let your conversion be a genuine one and show this by the fruits worthy of repentance. It is God’s nature to forgive; thus, He forgives because of who He is, not in exchange for our repentance.” The Lutheran Study Bible (Joel 2:13)

Loving Truth brings humility, repentance, trust, and restoration. Christ, relents over disaster, rescuing His faithful. By grace, His merciful work for us on the cross offers certain hope of salvation which is comfort to all who receive God’s gift of faith. Constant spiritual growth fueled by His Word and Sacrament helps the faithful live boldly, contently mindful of Him in the temporal and eternal. It sparks joy and Light to share with others.

Joel

“The book of Joel describes the Day of the Lord through locust swarms, battles, and powerful imagery so that readers can understand its magnitude.” Watch short video from the Bible Project

Hosea Bible Sketch

Do you want to grow in love that cannot fail?

 

God is true love.

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from God.

 

As a farmer’s daughter, I notice agricultural themes throughout Scripture such as this post of 26 Bible Verses for Farmers. Seed is tenderly cared for, protected, and planted in prepared soil. With loving patience, light, and nutrients, God makes it grow for a bountiful harvest!

“Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.” Colossians 2:6-7

Hosea 10:12

Sow for yourselves righteousness; reap steadfast love; break up your fallow ground, for it is the time to seek the Lord, that he may come and rain righteousness upon you. Hosea 10:12

Uncultivated fallow ground is hard thirsty soil. By itself, it is unfruitful. Harsh thorny weeds poke, scratch, hurt, dehydrate and kill tender plants.

“By nature we are dead in sins, unable to help ourselves.” Rev. Herbert C. Mueller, LW

Irrational thinking, excessive entitlement mentality, and arrogant attitudes—unchecked—lead to damaging behaviors. Toxic actions choke out voices of others in an attempt to control them by insensible manipulation, unjust punishment, and unrelenting rigid harshness. 

Foolishness carelessly twists truth to avoid responsibility.

Personal wrongs are minimized or rationalized—unrealistically and carelessly understated as not so bad, good, excusable, or someone else’s fault. Defamation is output. Various forms of abuse covered by a pile of lies, suffocate life out of self and others. Such tricky deceit may be obviously seen in others, yet, is difficult to recognize or admit in self. Like famine which cause crops to wither and die, human resilience wears down, confused by sins from which we cannot free ourselves. Stubborn, prideful refusal to humbly repent as well as unwillingness to forgive, result from failure to gratefully receive and practice God’s gracious gift of Truth. 

Even so, God’s steadfast love remains available throughout the seasons we are in until His final harvest on the Last Day!

People look at God’s gift of faith from vantage points such as these…

1. Egotism prevails over receiving insight on matters of salvation. The choice to not rely on Christ is made based on refusal to believe a Savior is needed. 
2. Unbelief that Jesus has done all that is necessary for salvation, some people falsely think their own decision, obedience or achievements play a part in their deliverance. Gifts don’t make sense when falsely believing that pardon is earned by self.
   
3. Believers in God’s true love are able to trust Jesus by the faith—the gift given in baptism and by strength given in the Word. They learn to become meek, honest and brokenhearted about their own failures and weaknesses. Extremely grateful to be redeemed by Christ’s blood which gives righteousness, they live joyfully in grace, sharing God’s mercy and peace with others.
   

Even before God created us He knew our name. Knowing we would fall short of the perfection He designed for us, He had a merciful plan to save us. The Holy Spirit is available to all and is present within believers here and now.  

Jesus will return, in person, to judge. Those who believe in Him alone for salvation, His faithful people, will be restored to perfection and joined together with Him to live forever. Those who reject Him, unbelievers, will suffer forever separated from Him.

Freedom is complete dependence on Jesus who cancels the debt of sin. 

This is wonderful Truth!

“We cannot produce the fruit of holy living on our own anymore than we can turn a radish seed into a radish. Only God can make the soil productive. Only He can send the rain. Only He can warm our hearts with the life-giving Son-shine of His love. He wants to do that. He wants us to have the joy of harvesting acres and acres of righteousness in our lives. … Like that runaway, we come with empty hands and an empty heart. We bring only words—the words Hosea recommends: ‘Take away all iniquity; accept what is good’ … We need not try to earn our Father’s favor by proving we’re sorry enough—we can never be sorry enough. We need not offer to make up for the pain caused—we can never make it up. We simply admit our responsibility and our need. God will do exactly what He has promised—He will heal us and love us freely. … He will refresh us. … He will make us beautiful and stable and fruitful. … What promises! What are you waiting for?” Jane L. Fryar, Today’s Light Devotional Bible

The seed farmer prepares soil by plowing, cultivating and applying fertilizer. When we dig deeper and apply the inspired Scripture, we acquire a warm heart toward others. God allows us to live safely among “weeds” which are motivated to take over and ruin our faith. Under His care, we participate in opportunities to grow in His Word. 

The Holy Spirit encourages and helps to:

• plant kindness, fence out cruelty
  
• maintain carefully, not disengage
• cooperate, not estrange
  
• grow, not stagnate
• bear fruit, not poison
  
• lift up, not devastate
  
• share, not isolate
  
• enjoy, not discontent
• be peaceful, not unfriendly
• have compassion, not slander
  
• graciously forgive, not condemn
  
• trust, be grateful, be loyal to our Creator—not doubt, complain or be unfaithful
  

 “If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.” 1 John 1:10

Repentance and growth in the faith are from our Creator. Even while we are sinners, He desires everyone to receive Water and Light. We have freedom to absorb or repel the gifts He provides.

To overturn our sin, the devil, the world, and death, God lowered Himself to become human. Jesus lived perfectly, suffered, died and rose to save us from punishment we deserve. 

Soil which is cultivated is tenderly tilled and turned over. Likewise, Scripture shows us our sins and shows us our Savior. It prepares us sinners for repentance so that we may to turn to Jesus and ask for mercy He supplies for salvation. 

To thank God, we confess to Him and people we’ve hurt. A confession might sound something like, “I did [this bad thing] and I didn’t do [that good thing]. I’m sure I don’t even realize how sinful I am. Thank you for caring enough to help me learn. I am responsible for myself—I do not blame you or anyone—there is no excuse for my failure. I need help to overcome temptations. I need guidance into proper ways. I need to be surrounded with people who can help me. Gracious Lord, deliver me from evil.” We pray and go to the Church to receive guidance and sacraments for forgiveness and to be transformed by grace.

“But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, although a wild olive shoot, were grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing root of the olive tree, do not be arrogant toward the branches. If you are, remember it is not you who support the root, but the root that supports you. Then you will say, “Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.” That is true. They were broken off because of their unbelief, but you stand fast through faith. So do not become proud, but fear. For if God did not spare the natural branches, neither will he spare you. Note then the kindness and the severity of God: severity toward those who have fallen, but God’s kindness to you, provided you continue in his kindness. Otherwise you too will be cut off. And even they, if they do not continue in their unbelief, will be grafted in, for God has the power to graft them in again. For if you were cut from what is by nature a wild olive tree, and grafted, contrary to nature, into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these, the natural branches, be grafted back into their own olive tree.” Romans 11:24

“For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.” Isaiah 55:10-11

We thrive on life-saving nutrition faith feeds us in the work of Christ’s unfailing love. God reveals Himself in His unchanging inerrant Word which does many wonders for making us grow and live forever!  

God…

• picks rocks—removes the stony heart and replaces with a heart of flesh
  
• plants tiny seeds of faith, then perfects it
  
• records truth in the Bible 
  
• plows reproof and turns us back to truth
  
• produces wholesome growth and fresh livelihood
• adopts us and calls us His own 
• grafts branches into the tree of life
• uproots and transplants
• bled, died and rose to save us from being burned with weeds
  
• prepares our dirty soil to trust that Jesus provided perfect humility for us because we cannot
  
• knows our limitations, weaknesses, and sin committed against us
• grieves with us
  
• prunes to promote fullness
  
• transforms us by the renewal of our mind
• tests that we may discern what is His will, what is good and acceptable and perfect
• produces a humble, gracious, healthy attitude 
• mulches to protect from wind and inhibit weeds
• manages predators and pests
• covers sin with forgiveness
  
• cultivates us that we confess our sin and forgive others
• applies His balm of peace to soothe and heal blisters, callouses and scratches
  
• motivates to aspire to live quietly and mind our own affairs
• establishes work for our hands to earn a living and leave a portion for others
• sings over us
• delights in us
  
• provides confidence He fully covered our insufficiency to save ourselves so we don’t unrealistically demand perfection of others
• cleanses us and give us a pure heart—in, with, and under Christ’s Divine Gifts mercifully given for us at the Church’s worship services
• blooms contentment
• blossoms patience
• works out our salvation for us
• disciplines carefully and lovingly
  
• offers forgiveness and absolution
• redeems us in safety from oppression, violence, transgressions, and the pit
  
• begins wisdom 
• encourages us to gently love each other
  
• brings insight to resist temptation, apathy, ignorance, and rejection of the faith
  
• wants a relationship with us 
• reconciles us with Himself
• allows whatever He chooses to help us become teachable and hungry for the Word
• carries our burdens and helps us imitate Him for others 
• instructs for physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual healthy living
  
• hydrates us with energy
• fills us with trustworthiness
• compassionately warms hearts
• increases grace and rich benefits
• comforts when we need Him the most
• heals wounds
  
• restores vitality
• empowers joy

 

God promises to keep loving and healing us!

“It is he who remembered us in our low estate, for his steadfast love endures forever; and rescued us from our foes, for his steadfast love endures forever; he who gives food to all flesh, for his steadfast love endures forever. Give thanks to the God of heaven, for his steadfast love endures forever.” Psalm 136:23-26

Hosea

• The Absurdity of Hosea by Erick Sorensen
  
• Mercy and not sacrifice by David H. Petersen
• Hosea posts at KFUO

Daniel Bible Sketch

Who is your wise star?

Do you want to shine like the brightness of the sky above?

 

Reflect the Word—Christ, our righteousness!

Carrying a child is a high honor. Baptism and instruction in the faith are the most important things that can be done for anyone. Grandma reflected Christ to Mom who reflected Him to me, then, I resolve to shine the joy of the Word in my children’s lives. Grandmothers, mothers, and daughters are imperfect women, as are all humans who inherited sin. We must not idolize or unrealistically elevate anyone. All of us fall short of the glory of God. Our Creator lovingly carries and equips His people with faith to share. We thank God for those who’ve passed on their trust in Christ’s compassionate work to forgive and save believers. Of the three sin-tarnished, yet, Spirit-polished women mentioned, I will be next to be called home to a wonderful eternal life with Almighty God!

Light reflected into each generation is from Christ. His gifts are given during worship where Holy Scripture is consistently and faithfully presented in the divine service of the Church. 

Truth for life and peace is in Christ alone. Not approving darkness, Jesus perfectly kept the law of God, unjustly suffered, died, bodily rose from the dead and victoriously ascended to heaven. He defeated sin and death for us. Faith, hope and love are His merciful gifts we want to reflect in our lives with others. God’s created people may humbly turn away from darkness, selfishness, and oppression toward brighter days in the gracious protection of our forgiving Lord.

Daniel 12:3

And those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky above; and those who turn many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.
Daniel 12:3

Thankfully, Christian moms have the gift of prayer.

We faithfully pray our children, and the children of our friends, grow strong to resist temptations, withstand trials, and let go of doubts which may lead them to fall away and reject their gift of faith. Only in the painful scars of Christ, we look forward to perfect healing and the promise of no more tears in eternal Paradise.

The book of Daniel

“This twelve-chapter book has profoundly influenced how Christians understand prophecies concerning Christ through the rest of the Bible. And its practical message of remaining faithful to God despite the surrounding culture is powerfully relevant for us today.” Three of the Best Commentaries on the Book of Daniel—CPH blog

Bible Studies from KFUO

Introducing the Books of the Bible: Daniel by Bryan Wolfmueller

Pray

Lord, thank You for clarity to see bright stars and help to focus on Your wisdom. Give me stamina to rightly shine the energetic power of Your love. Amen

Ezekiel Bible Sketch

An invitation to turn and live!

 

RSVP before the Last Day.

 

Only God the Father knows when.

 

Special events and party invitations may include a request to respond. Options to consider are: whether or not to plan to participate, plus, whether to reply or to ignore the RSVP. Acceptance requires a change of former plans and routine. Gratitude about the invitation, and the person who sent it, floods the soul. New actions and special efforts are made. When the day of the event arrives, plans have previously been carried out by the one who created the invitation. Trained people may have been called to help organize everything and prepare something to serve all who’ve replied with “Yes, I’m in, and thank you!”. Time together is shared and cherished as life is joyfully celebrated.

For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Lord God; so turn, and live.” Ezekiel 18:32 ESV

 

The special event process described is similar to God’s free gift of faith in Christ as Savior.

The gift is for everyone! Our Creator wants us all to live freely and have the life He designed! He created us as children to love Him, not to control us like robots. Plus, God desires that we love each other like He loves us and that we not expect to to control each other like robots. People receive, decline or ignore God’s invitation.

Life is communion with God who is love. Instructions written on our heart and throughout Scripture enable us to know Him. We are accountable to our Creator to live virtuously.

All of us sin. We should not blame God and others for our own sins. God wants us to turn from rebellion against Him. When we turn our back to God, the only thing He will remember is our sins. Rather than falling into arrogance, God wants us to be honest, get up, turn around, and ask Him to have mercy and cleanse us.

“Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy. Blessed is the one who fears the Lord always, but whoever hardens his heart will fall into calamity.” Proverbs 28:13-14

“And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.” Ezekiel 36:26

God doesn’t want anyone to die rejecting His Holy Spirit. Those who deny Him, are lost, misguided by Satan’s lies, evil in the world, and our own selfish nature… jealously, proudly, deceitfully enticing others to join in rebellion against the Word… fearlessly succumbing to temptations with no remorse or desire to give up or renounce a habit, way of life, false religion, or attitude of entitlement. 

God tells us to turn from sin and humbly ask for mercy in the Name of His Son so that we may have peace that when we leave this dark world, we will rest in the fulfillment of His promise to spare us from the destination of eternal suffering, apart from His glory. Almighty God knows all, is everywhere and has all authority as final judge.

Our loving God provides courage and tenacity for a life of repentance together with Him which He always prefers over death and separation from Him. In the grace-filled life we live right here and now, He offers opportunities to hear His Word. He gives saving faith in Christ. His Spirit leads to self-examination, confession of wrongs, and trust in perfect and gracious Jesus for mercy.

God won’t remember the sins of those who are turned toward Him. 

God wants us to participate where sinners gather to receive His gifts of forgiveness and strength at church. He doesn’t want us to push Him and others away. Jesus is the only Way to eternal life. He shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, He took our punishment. He died for us, rose from the dead and ascended to heaven so we may live. His gift of repentance fills us with His Holy Spirit so we can honor Him with our lives. By grace, I am in. I look forward to seeing faithful believers who’ve gone before me and hope to see you, soon, in the presence of Jesus in celebration of the Last Day!

Throughout the Bible, our loving God commands certain things for our own good and the good of others. He is our refuge and our help comes from Him. Ask, seek and knock are three imperatives for us to respond.

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.” Matthew 7:7-8

• About God
  
• Find a Church
• Find a School
• Find a University
• Find a Seminary 
• Listen to a discussion about  Ezekiel 18: The Soul Who Sins Shall Die
• Sing along to hymn In Adam We Have All Been One, LSB 569
• Introduction to Ezekiel
  
• Studies and Conversations about Ezekiel

“Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, You are a God who welcomes the weary. Thank you for giving your children the worship service: a place where we can come with our shaking hands and be steadied by Your certain Word. Thank you for Jesus, who poured Himself out for us, that we may have life in Him. Let His word be our strength and comfort when we are wounded and weary. Care for us, Lord, and make Your love for us overflow to others. In Jesus’ name. Amen.” Wounded Workers devotion