Saturday
Rejoice For Jerusalem, And God’s Unfailing Love
This is what the Lord says: “I will return to Zion and dwell in
Jerusalem. Then Jerusalem will be called the Faithful City, and the
mountain of the Lord Almighty will be called the Holy
Mountain.” (Zechariah 8:3 NIV)
God will always love Jerusalem, even when they are ignoring Him. God
will always love you, even when you ignore Him. He has promised to one
day lift Jerusalem up as a great city of God where He will dwell. You are
blessed in that His Spirit, as a follower of Jesus Christ, dwells in you right
now! Yay! He has promised to be together with you for eternity and that
is a promise that will never be taken away. You cannot separate yourself
from God’s love (Romans 8:37-39). Celebrate that love today. Have a
cupcake with God.
A One Week Devotional
Week of 05 June 2016
This devotional was created to coincide with the message heard this past
Sunday at Summit Trace Church. It is meant for people who are pressed
for time to do a daily devotional. Each daily reading is intentionally short,
so that you can read it, think about, and pray in five minutes.
© Copyright Dan Housam 2016
Monday
Sunday
Live The Full Life
I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. (John
10:10 NIV)
Jesus came so that we can have a full life, not just a long one (eternal life,
get it?). He wants to be with you this very day and help you make the
most of the day! Listen to Him. It is that simple. Turn your attention and
check in with Jesus and ask Him, “What do You want me to do today?”
Live like God is king not just of your eternity, but that He is also king of
your right now. Right now, glorify your God by doing what He is asking of
you. Praise God today by following Your King and living the full life.
Love Jerusalem, The Beautiful City
Beautiful in its loftiness, the joy of the whole earth, like the heights
of Zaphon is Mount Zion, the city of the Great King. (Psalm 48:2
NIV)
Jerusalem was a beautiful city in the time of King David. Around 600 BC,
the Babylonians laid siege to the city. They tore down the walls and
destroyed the temple. After their Exile, the Jews returned to Jerusalem
and men like Ezra and Nehemiah led Israel to rebuild the city and temple.
In the first century BC, Herod the Great took to doing construction
projects to make his name great. He turned the city of Jerusalem and the
temple into a splendor. In Jesus day, Jerusalem was a magnificent city. It
was a point of pride for Israel. As you consider Jesus weeping over
Jerusalem (Luke 19:41), think of the beautiful city that He loved.
Jerusalem was special to Jesus, and it should hold a special place in our
hearts as well. Pray for Jerusalem and the Jews that live there today.
Tuesday
Thursday
Respect Jerusalem, Chosen By God
Weep For Jerusalem, Disciplined By God
Respect Jerusalem, Chosen By God
If you do not listen, I will weep in secret because of your pride; my
eyes will weep bitterly, overflowing with tears, because the Lord’s
flock will be taken captive. (Jeremiah 13:17 NIV)
For the Lord has chosen Zion, he has desired it for his dwelling.
(Psalm 132:13-14 NIV)
Zion (or Mount Zion) is a hill that is just outside the old city walls of
Jerusalem. When you read the word ‘Zion’ in the Bible, it is a reference to
the city of Jerusalem. Jerusalem is God’s favorite place on earth. It is
where He wants to dwell here on earth. Jerusalem has a special place in
Gods heart. If it is God’s favorite place, it deserves our consideration as
well. Pray for Jerusalem today. Pray for its protection. Pray that the
Temple of God would be rebuilt. Pray that the Israelites would all come
to recognize Jesus as their forgiver and leader.
Wednesday
Concern For Jerusalem, Visited By The Son Of
God
“Now you dwellers in Jerusalem and people of Judah, judge between
me and my vineyard. What more could have been done for my
vineyard than I have done for it? When I looked for good grapes,
why did it yield only bad?” (Isaiah 5:3-4 NIV)
When Jesus came to earth, He intentionally ministered to Jerusalem. The
Israelites had a history of drifting away from God’s will for them.
Eventually, to get their attention, God sends His very own Son to draw
them to Him. For as much as God loves Jerusalem and Jesus desired good
things for the city, they rejected Jesus. Jesus came and gave them a faceto-face chance to turn to God and accept Him and His Son. They did not.
As a result, God would need to take more drastic measures to get their
attention. When the Jews, or ourselves, ignore God in our midst, He will
ramp up the effort to get our attention, including disciplining His beloved
children. Pray that you would take serious God’s efforts to get your
attention. Spend time focused on Him and what He has to say to you.
Around 600 BC the Babylonians overran and destroyed Jerusalem. It
happened again around 70 AD when the Romans destroyed the city. This
destruction did not go easy. According to the Jewish historian, Henry
Milman, the loss of life in the siege was brutal and extensive. Jesus wept
over Jerusalem (Luke 19:41) because He knew what discipline was coming
their way. Jesus attributed this destruction to the Jews not recognizing
God’s coming to them (v. 44). Soberly reflect on the consequences of
ignoring God. God removed His protection from Jerusalem because they
did not recognize His Son. As His children, we will not be ultimately
punished – we will still end up in heaven. However, we can make our
time here on earth difficult for ourselves if we ignore our Father in
heaven. Pray that you would humbly seek and follow your Father’s will.
Friday
Reflect On Jerusalem, Is Their Journey My
Own?
“My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose
heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines the one he
loves, and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.” (Hebrews
12:5-6 NIV)
As His dearly loved children, God desires the best for us. Just like any
earthly Father would. When children stray from paths that are good for
them, father’s discipline their children. When it is done correctly, it not
out of hate or evil, but out of love and concern for the well being of the
child. Our heavenly Father does the same thing. He wants to guide us
away from destructive habits and toward habits that build us up to be
more like Christ. Do not ignore God’s efforts to instruct you. Ignoring
God is at the root of all sin. At some point, we knowingly choose
something else over God’s will – that is sin. Pray that you be aware of
God’s loving discipline. If He is asking for change, follow His lead.