Category: Minor prophets
Reward in the new world!
Scripture reading for August 11th: Hosea 11-13, Matthew 19
Key Scriptures: Matthew 19:27-30 “Then Peter said in reply, “See, we have left everything and followed You. What then will we have? Jesus said to them, “Truly, I say to you, in the new world, when the Son of Man will sit on His glorious throne, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands, for My Name’s sake, will receive a hundredfold and will inherit eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”
The rich young man who had come to Jesus inquiring about eternal life, left dejectedly after he heard Jesus’ answer. Jesus told His disciples how hard it was for rich people to enter the kingdom of heaven, and they asked Him about their own sacrifice to follow Him. Jesus promised them a throne of judgment in the new world and eternal life. Those in this life who are prominent because of wealth will be last, and those who renounce riches in this life and follow Jesus will be blessed with eternal reward.
Faith confession and prayer: Lord, I have chosen to follow You and leave this world and its riches for a greater riches in knowing You. Help me to keep walking with You, waiting on You, and calling on You. I want to hold fast to Your love and justice and never turn back.
Hosea 12:6 “So you, by the help of your God, return, hold fast to love and justice, and wait continually for your God.”
Decisive break from sin!
Scripture reading for August 10th: Hosea 7-10, Matthew 18
Key Scriptures: Matthew 18:7-9 “”Woe to the world for temptations to sin! For it is necessary that temptations come, but woe to the one by whom the temptation comes! And if your hand or your foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life crippled or lame than with two hands or two feet to be thrown into the eternal fire. And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into the hell of fire.””
Jesus had some hard teachings. In this passage he was warning His disciples of the dangerous consequences of leading innocent others into sin with your walk, actions, or what you are watching. Sin is serious business and has eternal destructive consequences–the ‘hell of fire!’ Jesus wasn’t teaching mutilation, but was illustrating the urgency and necessity of dealing with sin and leading others into sin that believers must have to avoid judgment.
Faith confession and prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for delivering me from myself and the penalty and consequences of sin. Help me to be quick to depart from sin and to bring my body under Your control to avoid leading others into sin.
Hosea 10:12 “Sow for yourselves righteousness; reap steadfast love; break up your fallow ground, for it is time to seek the Lord, that He may come and rain righteousness upon you.”
Third day hope!
Scripture reading for August 7th: Hosea 4-6, Psalm 58, Matthew 17
Key Scriptures: Matthew 17:22-23 “As they were gathering in Galilee, Jesus said to them, “The Son of Man is about to be delivered into the hands of men. And they will kill Him, and He will be raised on the third day.” And they were greatly distressed.”
Jesus shared a deep truth with His disciples concerning His coming appointment with death. He shared how He would be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be killed. He also shared that on the third day after this terrible event, He would be raised from the dead. This truth surely concerned these disciples. Scripture records “And they were greatly distressed.” Hope would come alive on the third day!
Psalm 58:10-11 “The righteous will rejoice when he sees the vengeance; he will bathe his feet in the blood of the wicked. Mankind will say, “Surely there is a reward for the righteous; surely there is a God Who judges on earth.”
Faith confession and prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for Your truthfulness with Your disciples concerning coming events. Your mercy through Your death and resurrection on the third day brings hope of eternal reward.
Hosea 6:1-3 “”Come, let us return to the Lord; for He has torn us, that He may heal us; He has struck us down, and He will bind us up. After two days He will revive us; and on the third day He will raise us up, that we may live before Him. Let us know; let us press on to know the Lord; His going out is sure as the dawn; He will come to us as the showers, as the spring rains that water the earth.””
“You are the Christ!”
Scripture reading for August 6th: Hosea 1-3, Matthew 16
Key Scriptures: Matthew 16:15-19 “He (Jesus) said to them (disciples), ” But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter Replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father Who is in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My Church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.””
Jesus was questioning His disciples at a location in Israel known for its idolatry. He asked them who people said He was and then who they said He was. Peter answered boldly: “You are the Christ, Son of the living God.” Jesus confirmed his answer as a revelation from God, and stated that the declaration would be the ‘rock’ on which He would build His Church! Hell and idolatry would not prevail against those who proclaimed “Jesus is the Christ!”
Faith confession and prayer: Lord Jesus, I believe You are the Christ, Son of the living God! I thank You for revealing God to me, building Your Church, and protecting it from Hell’s domination. Use me to share the Good News that Jesus is the Christ!
Hosea 2:19-20 “And I will betroth you to Me forever. I will betroth you to Me in righteousness and in justice, in steadfast love and in mercy. I will betroth you to Me in faithfulness. And you shall know the Lord.”
Real Food for the hungry!
Scripture reading for August 5th: Amos 7-9, Matthew 15
Key Scriptures: Matthew 15:32-37 “Then Jesus called His disciples to Him and said, “I have compassion on the crowd because they have been with Me now three days and have nothing to eat. And I am unwilling to send them away hungry, lest they faint on the way.” And the disciples said to Him, “Where are we to get enough bread in such a desolate place to feed so great a crowd?” And Jesus said to them, “How many loaves do you have?” They said, “Seven, and a few small fish.” And directing the crowd to sit down on the ground, He took the seven loaves and the fish, and having given thanks He broke them and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. And they all ate and were satisfied. . . .”
Jesus had compassion on the crowds of people that had followed Him and were with Him in the wilderness to hear God’s Word. He was concerned for their welfare and asked the disciples to feed them physically as He had given them a spiritual feast of God’s Word. There were few resources, but Jesus took what they had and blessed it, giving thanks and breaking it to give to the disciples. They, in turn, broke it again and gave it to the people! The bread and fish multiplied in their hands and all needs were met! They even had left-overs!
Faith confession and prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for Your great compassion and desire to empower Your disciples by Your Word. Help me to obey You and feed the people real ‘bread’, the Word of God!
Amos 8:11 “”Behold, the days are coming,” declares the Lord God, “when I will send a famine on the land–not a famine for bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the Words of the Lord.””
“Come!”
Scripture reading for August 4th: Amos 4-6, Psalm 55, Matthew 14
Key Scriptures: Matthew 14:28-33 “And Peter answered Him, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.” He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me.” Jesus immediately reached out His hand and took hold of him saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. And those in the boat worshiped Him, saying, “Truly You are the Son of God.””
Jesus had been alone praying while He had sent the disciples on ahead in a boat. A storm arose in the middle of the night and Jesus came to them, walking on the water. They were terrified, but Peter asked Jesus to have him come to Him on the water. Jesus issued the invitation and at His Word, Peter got out of the boat and began to walk on the water. The wind and waves then caught his attention and he began to sink. Crying out to Jesus, Jesus took his hand and rebuked him for his lack of faith.
Psalm 55:16 “I call to God, and the Lord will save me.”
Faith confession and prayer: Lord Jesus, I know all things are possible at Your Word. Help me to overcome doubt and get out of my boat of self-sufficiency and walk with You. You are the Son of God!
Amos 5:14-15 “Seek good, and not evil, that you may live; and so the Lord, the God of Hosts, will be with you, as you have said. Hate evil, and love good, and establish justice in the gate; It may be that the Lord, the God of Hosts, will be gracious to the remnant of Joseph.”
The great separation!
Scripture reading for August 3rd: Amos 1-3, Matthew 13
Key Scriptures: Matthew 13:47-50 “”Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was thrown into the sea and gathered fish of every kind. When it was full, men drew it ashore and sat down and sorted the good into containers but threw away the bad. So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.””
Jesus taught in parables so that those who heard would have to think and seek out the meaning. Those with ears would hear the truth and those with hard hearts would not understand or come to the wrong conclusion. This prophetic parable of the fishing net cast into the sea should have been easily understood around the Sea of Galilee. Good fish and inedible fish are caught in the net. They are sorted out and the good are kept and the inedible are cast away. The kingdom of heaven will catch men but not all will be “good.” The end of the age will bring a great separation!
Amos 3:7 “For the Lord God does nothing without revealing His secret to His servants the prophets.”
Faith confession and prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for prophetic truth in Your parables. Help me to cast a clear Gospel message and cast the net to bring men and women into the kingdom. May all receive Your grace through Jesus Christ so as not to be cast away!
Rest in Jesus!
Scripture reading for July 30th: Jonah, Matthew 11
Key Scriptures: Matthew 11:27-30 ““All things have been handed over to Me by My Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal Him. Come to Me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light.”“
Jesus had been telling His disciples about the work of the prophets and John the Baptist in preparing the way before Him. Some people had rejected the message of the prophets and John the Baptist as well. Jesus was revealing the Father through His ministry of miracles, healing and preaching Good News. He called to whoever would hear, giving an invitation to learn from Him, getting to know Him and finding rest. His yoke of discipleship was easy and His burden was light!
Faith confession and prayer: Lord Jesus, I am learning from You as I humbly take Your yoke of knowing and following You. Help me to rest in You alone for salvation and knowing the Father.
Jonah 3:8-9 “. . .but let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and let them call out mightily to God. Let everyone turn from his evil way and from the violence that is in his hands. Who knows? God may turn and relent and turn from His fierce anger, so that we may not perish.”
Not Peace but a Sword!
Scripture reading for July 29th: Joel, Matthew 10
Key Scriptures: Matthew 10:34-39 “Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. And a person’s enemies will be those of his own household. Whoever loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. And whoever does not take his cross and follow Me is not worthy of Me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.”
After observing Jesus ministering and healing, He sent out the twelve hand-picked disciples to do ministry with additional instructions concerning their reception. They were going out as sheep among wolves. There would be great persecution and even some loss of life–the sword would be raised against them! Their enemies would even come from among their own families. The Gospel message would offend and cause conflict between close relatives. These disciples must choose Jesus and take up their cross to find the life He offered: eternal life and everlasting joy!
Faith confession and prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for speaking plainly and laying out the choice of following You with our whole heart. I choose to follow You, losing my life for Your amazing life! Lead me onward today!
Joel 2:32 “And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls on the Name of the Lord shall be saved. For in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be those who escape, as the Lord has said, and among the survivors shall be those whom the Lord calls.”
The Invitation: “Come!”
Scripture reading for December 31st: Malachi 1-4 and Revelation 22
Key Scriptures: Revelation 22:17-20 “The Spirit and the Bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price. I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book, and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book. He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon.” Amen. Come Lord Jesus!”
Jesus Christ ends the Revelation given to John with three “I am coming soon!” declarations. The Holy Spirit and the Bride(Christ’s Church) all are calling out to all men to “Come!” The message is simple. It must not be added to or taken away from! Old and New Testaments agree!
Malachi 4:1-3 “For behold, the day is coming, burning like an oven, when all the arrogant and all evildoers will be stubble. The day that is coming shall set them ablaze, says the Lord of hosts, so that it will leave them neither root nor branch. But for you who fear My Name, the Sun of Righteousness shall rise with healing in His wings. You shall go out leaping like calves from the stall. And you shall tread down the wicked, for they will be ashes under the soles of your feet, on the day when I act, says the Lord of hosts.”
Prayer: Lord, I long for Your coming. Thank You that it will be soon! Help me to offer the invitation to all You send me to. Amen.