Category: Bible Study

The Zeal of the Lord Almighty

Isaiah 8-9

Psalm 110

Revelation 5

-Devotion by Daniel Smead (MN)

Isaiah eight and nine are sometimes seen as part of a bigger chunk in Isaiah, between his commissioning (six), and a set of oracles against nations (from thirteen on). During this time King Ahaz ruled in Judah (2 Kings 16). In 734 B.C. Judah was attacked by King Pekah of Israel (capital, Samaria) and King Rezin of Aram (capital, Damascus), who were allied against Assyria. Judah had not joined their alliance, and they may have been trying to force Judah to do so, or to remove a potential local threat. They failed to take Jerusalem (Isaiah 7:1), and afterward Isaiah met with Ahaz. Isaiah tried to convince Ahaz that if he was calm, and stood firm in faith, all would go well. In that talk Isaiah predicted the birth of Immanuel (meaning “God is with us”), as a sign related to the fall of Samaria and Damascus. We tend to think more about the second fulfillment of that prophecy which has been revealed to us, in the birth of Jesus. Ahaz simply ignored the sign, and became Assyria’s vassal.

Chapter eight predicted the birth of a son for Isaiah whose name meant “Quick to the plunder, swift to the spoil,” referring to Assyria’s soon-coming attack. In this case Isaiah said the king of Assyria would plunder Damascus and Samaria before the child could say “my father” or “my mother.” The name of the boy’s brother, which meant “A remnant will return,” offered hope that a remnant would return to the land, but it was only hope for those who first accepted the prediction of being exiled. Isaiah knew that in all this God was using his family as illustrations, he even commented: “Behold, I and the children whom the Lord has given me are for signs and wonders in Israel” (8:18). Isaiah kept on giving a mix of messages about current issues, and ones for centuries down the line – even prophecies that are not yet fulfilled. The fulfillment of his short-term predictions gave added weight to his words about later issues.

Several verses in the chapters are more familiar due to being quoted in the New Testament, but I want to key in on some of the best known, in Isaiah 9:6-7: “For a Child will be born to us, . . . And His name will be called . . . ” It is hard for us to imagine how the original recipients of this prophecy would have felt about it. They were being offered a ruler who would establish justice and righteousness. Someone who would be known for bringing peace. Perhaps they knew about the promise of David’s throne, and the rule of his family, lasting forever (2 Samuel 7:16) but now they are hearing that a single descendant will be able to fill that role. Through the history of Judah, the Bible’s descriptions of its kings only show about a fourth of them coming out as basically positive. The rest get negative judgments, sometimes abysmally bad. (The northern kingdom had it worse, not one of their kings ended up with a positive description. Though while kings are influential, their influence is not complete. In Elijah’s time, with very poor leadership of Israel, God reported having seven thousand in the nation who hadn’t worshipped Baal; 1 Kings 19:18.) But here we are told of a king who would be as positive as these verses declared and then never need to surrender his role.

These are beautiful, and astonishing, promises to receive in any time. They make a huge contrast with men like Ahaz, who even looted the Temple to help him pay tribute to Assyria, and busted apart its furnishings. How would all of this come about? “The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.” (9:7b) Actually that statement appears twice in Isaiah, here and in 37:32, where it refers to the restoring of a remnant in the land of Judah. What is this zeal? My Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew and English Lexicon tells me this word means “ardour, zeal, jealousy,” apparently it can be somewhat negative when used about human behavior, but has a different feel when applied to God’s actions. The definition also says “from colour produced in face by deep emotion”; we are talking about someone getting worked up about things. I like that.

How is it that the world was changed, for Isaiah 9:6-7 to come true? Because God is passionate about the Messiah.

How is it that a remnant always is restored, maintaining continuity and carrying forward the work of God’s servants? God is passionate about the people of the Messiah.

How is it that you can trust in forgiveness, renewal, being given purpose, and placed in the family of God? God is passionate about you.

Prayer

Lord, thank you for the passion you have shown in reaching out to us. You took the first step – and you probably took the second as well, and maybe on through the thirtieth. There were so many things that had to be set in place for us to get to where we are, and you zealously saw to it. You put in the effort, took the time, and made the plans. You even gift us with strength to help us do our parts. You are such a blessing. Help us to approach you with freedom, and confidence. Please help us to feel a proper zeal in those areas of our lives where that is appropriate, to be strengthened with your power, guided by your wisdom, and always encouraged in your love. In the glorious name of Jesus, Amen.  

REflection Questions

  1. Do you find that it adds meaning for you to consider Old Testament prophecy alongside the history it relates to? Can you imagine receiving a similar message about current situations, and how it might be treated?
  2. For hundreds of years many people, who knew Hebrew quite well, read texts like Deuteronomy 6:4 alongside Isaiah 9:6-7 and apparently were unfazed. For them not to see a conflict does not prove what meaning any text has, but we should be able to pause before rushing into (or trying to rush someone else into) a position. What possibilities do you normally consider when confused about a scripture? (I would include even looking at multiple versions of the Bible.) Are there methods you think you should consider incorporating? Others you consider less justifiable, or off limits? In what situations would you feel that you must seek someone else to think about the text alongside?
  3. Are there areas in your life where you think you need the gift of God’s zeal? Are there any changes you need to make so that you are more ready to receive it? Who are you prepared to cooperate with, zealously?
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The One on the Throne

Isaiah 6-7

Psalm 109

Revelation 4

-Devotion by Daniel Smead (MN)

Revelation four shows John’s vision-state resuming. He sees an open door in the heavens, and hears the voice like a trumpet which marked the launch of his vision in chapter one. It says “Come up here,” which sounds like a summons. It doesn’t seem like this was meant to convince John to do anything, though, as he doesn’t get an opportunity to. Rather, John simply passes into the next scene, which he then describes. The impact of John seeing the open door, and hearing the words, is that he thinks of the new scene as positioned “above” where he had been, in heaven. Really John hasn’t moved, since all of this is in a vision. (Seeing something like that “open door” might be a somewhat normal part of visions about heavenly matters. They say things like “the heavens were opened,” I think we just don’t normally ask what that looked like; Ezekiel 1:1, Acts 10:11.)

The new scene John enters often is referred to as “God’s throne room,” but we aren’t even told if it has walls. We do know that it centers on a throne. We are sure it is God’s throne, but the vision refers to “the one on the throne.” Later the vision sometimes describes individuals and objects as “in front of God’s throne,” but it never says “God” is in “God’s throne.” (In 21:5-8, “the one on the throne” at last speaks and acknowledges being “God.”)

The scene introduced in chapter four is the dominant one for John’s vision. Much of the activity in Revelation takes place or begins near the throne, and many announcements also come from there. John doesn’t spend the whole vision in one spot, but when he does move it seems that often this central location remains in his view.

Everything else in the scene is positioned relative to the throne. Twenty-four elders and their thrones encircle it. Four creatures covered in eyes, with six wings each, are also around the throne (similar to ones described in Ezekiel 1 and 10, with faces like a man, an eagle, a lion, and a calf/cherub). Before the throne there is something like a sea of glass, clear as crystal (see 1 Kings 7:23ff, especially v. 38; the “sea” expanded on the bronze basin used when there were few priests, in the Tabernacle, Deuteronomy 30:17ff). Also before the throne are seven burning lamps which are “the seven spirits of God.” That is the only detail in the chapter John offers any explanation for, but it isn’t extensive (1:4; 3:1; 5:6).

I haven’t addressed the description for “the one on the throne,” but seeing that figure would certainly grab your attention (well, in a vision – in person that would kill you). God seems to be a glowing, jewel-toned figure, surrounded by a halo with rainbow qualities. Lightning, thunder, and rumbling roll out from the throne. And any question one might have about the significance of that figure is shoved aside by seeing the attention paid from all else present. Elements of the vision seem to mirror other scenes in the Bible, like Isaiah 6, Ezekiel 1 and 10 (including the crystal sea, 1:22ff), Daniel 7, and God’s manifestation at Sinai in Exodus 19:16-18. This scene intensely shows God’s majesty and power – John speaks of how everyone present repeatedly sings praise to God, most of them after falling on the ground. And we hear nothing about John’s response to the scene. Over the whole vision we learn that John fell to the ground three times (twice to angels, by mistake; 19:10, 22:8) and wept once. He was not a stoic; I think what he experienced in his vision brought many responses from John which he simply did not record for us.

Of great significance is something absent from this text. Jesus. Spoiler alert, if you have not yet read Revelation, Jesus will be on the scene soon, and his presence changes things. I’m not sure how long John watched before the events of chapter five began, perhaps it was only a few seconds. John wrote about the pattern of praise offered by the living creatures, but probably not based on watching them for days. It might be through the kind of dream-logic knowledge that lets people “just know” certain things. Chapter four does not portray a particular moment in history, it reflects the idea of God, enthroned in majesty, receiving praise. But my mind wants to balk at the idea of separating out the glory of God from God making plans to save the world through Christ.

The scene, cut off where it is, strikes me a bit like a practice problem in a physics text which, in order to simplify issues, tells you to ignore the effects of friction, and also place all the events at sea level, so that the calculations you work out can focus on just one rule. In this case – God is great. But trying to picture heavenly matters without Jesus’ involvement, in the Church age, feels like this scene wants to show God’s majesty unaffected by God’s merciful plans for humanity, not having them come into play until chapter five.

Well, in my personal physics God is the mass of the universe (God is even more than that, still, grant me my metaphor, please). And if God is the mass of my universe, Jesus is the gravity by which I relate to all that is around me. Pulling them apart simply will not do. (Although the further you go from a center of mass, the less you feel the influence of gravity.)

Prayer

Lord, please open my eyes to your glory. I say I respect and honor you, and sometimes my mind is set on you, but at times I veer off and take my own course. If I were to see you, once, how great a difference that might make (if I survived). Help me to commit myself more closely to you without that step. Open my eyes, and let me recognize more fully the true importance of things I have not seen, but someday will. Thank you for your son, who has been such a help to me, and allow me to be of better service to him, and to you. Amen

Reflection Questions

  1. The book of Revelation contains several passages of praise, from angels, creatures, saints – declaring how mighty and worthy they found God and Christ to be. Have you ever tried using these in your private worship?
  2. We should be careful about basing a deep discussion of the relationship of God and Christ on a metaphor (a fully accurate metaphor wouldn’t be a metaphor). But you might use the following texts to consider how close you think John viewed God’s relationship with Christ as being:

“Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.” (Revelation 7:10b)

“The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ; and He will reign forever and ever.” (Revelation 11:15)

“Then I looked, and behold, the Lamb was standing on Mount Zion, and with Him 144,000 who had His name and the name of His Father written on their foreheads. . . . These have been purchased from mankind as first fruits to God and to the Lamb.” (Revelation 14:1, 4b)

“I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. And the city has no need of the sun or of the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God has illuminated it, and its lamp is the Lamb.” (Revelation 21:22-23)

“And he showed me a river of the water of life, clear as crystal, coming from the throne of God and of the Lamb” (Revelation 22:1)

3. John was recording this vision while an exile, and relaying it to people in churches at risk of persecution – some at risk of death. Do you think they had a different view on the practice of offering worship to God than we normally do today?

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Difficult Texts (?)

*Esther 1-2

Psalm 91

*Hebrews 1

-Devotion by Jeremy Martin (IN)

            Hebrews 1 is one of those chapters that’s often used by our brothers and sisters with a more “complex” understanding of God as a proof text, and we’ll look at it closely today and with love in our hearts acknowledge the few instances that could seem to point to a more difficult reading, while also examining the majority of the verses that tend to point toward a more simple reading, verse by verse.  I was once told by a man I love as a father that “To take any verse by itself as a basis for one’s theology is a mistake.  The entirety of scripture should be weighed and measured and the most likely reasonable interpretation based on all scriptures should be the preferred understanding.”  With that in mind, and keeping also in mind that we are all human and fall short of the glory and wisdom of God, let’s proceed.  I’ll be using the ESV translation primarily, since it’s a pretty mainstream “standard” version that lots of folks use.

Hebrews 1:1- Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets,   There’s really nothing difficult in interpretation here, but I did want to point out the constantly recurring scriptural theme and concept of God interacting with His creation through “agents” or “shaliah”: the prophets, in this instance.

Heb 1:2- but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. We now see that same concept of agency (or shaliah) applied to Jesus (in the same exact sense as the prophets) for God to speak to us, the son whom God “appointed heir of all things”.  This is a double point for our specific understanding, because Jesus is being used as an agent (by God) to speak to men, and God has appointed him “heir of all things” (ie, Jesus received that position because God gave it to him).  The “through whom also he created the world” is a bit problematic on first reading, but I’d like to point out that the actual word for “world” is “aeonas“, which is more applicable to an “age” or “time”.  This word is used 102-128 times in scripture (depending on the manuscripts used) and about half of that time in your bible it’s translated as “age”.  The actual strongs translation is: From the same as aei; properly, an age; by extension, perpetuity; by implication, the world; specially a Messianic period. It really depends on your translational bias, so while we can acknowledge in fairness that this could be a difficult text, it seems more likely when considering the entirety of the verse to indicate the simpler understanding that God created this current “age” through Christ.

Heb 1:3 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,  (ESV)

This is the verse that “more complex” interpreting folks lean into and go “aha! There it is!”, but I’d suggest that the translational bias slip is showing again.  The word for radiance here is “apaugasma” (A light flashing forth (from)) which implies a reflection of light rather than an origin.  The “exact imprint” is translated from the word “charakter” (From the same as charax; a graver, i.e. engraving, the figure stamped, i.e. An exact copy or representation) and could be (and is) also translated as reflection or image in different versions.  It should be noted that being the image of something precludes you actually being that something generally, but let’s look at a few other mainstream translations and compare:

(NASB) And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power. When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high

(NET) The Son is the radiance of his glory and the representation of his essence, and he sustains all things by his powerful word, and so when he had accomplished cleansing for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.

The elephant in the room, of course (for our more “complex” interpretation folks) is: if Jesus sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high (God), and if you believe that Jesus is literally God (and not God’s agent), then is God currently literally sitting beside Himself?  That’s confusing, and would on the face of it contradict Deut 6:4 and Mark 12:29-31.  I personally opt for a simpler reading, and think the NET translation did a better holistic job of translating into english (this time).

Heb 1:4 -Heb 1:7  are pretty non-controversial, so for the sake of brevity I’ll skip a commentary.

Heb 1:8 But of the Son he says, “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, the scepter of uprightness is the scepter of your kingdom.

Right now, our more “complex” interpretation brothers are going: “Aha!  There!  It clearly says “but of the Son” and then “Your throne, “O God”!”, THERE IT IS!”.  Granted, that could be a difficult text, by itself, particularly if you are thinking like a modern day English speaking person and assume that the bible was written originally in English (it was not).  Dig a little in the original languages, and you’ll see there’s a very good reason there are multiple translations in English.  I would propose that to the ancient Jewish mind, any throne or kingdom that God establishes is God’s throne or kingdom, regardless of whom God chooses to rule it.  It’s understood (and stated) that the authority to rule is granted by God, and the one who is sent by God acts with the authority of His name and on His behalf (shaliah).  This simpler and culturally accurate reading seems like a much better reading particularly when you combine it with the following verse below:

Heb 1:9 You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness beyond your companions.”

Because the Most High God, by definition, doesn’t have a God.  He is the “Most High God” (it’s in the name).  Jesus did have a God (John 20:17).  We see further that “God has anointed you”…do you recall what “Christ” means?  It’s simply, “The Anointed”: anointed by God, your God.  God is the anointer, Jesus is the anointee.  God is the ultimate authority and power, and He has appointed (see v2) the Christ as the heir of all things.  It’s a much simpler and less confusing reading.

Heb 1:10 And, “You, Lord, laid the foundation of the earth in the beginning, and the heavens are the work of your hands;

The “and” here above indicates a transition in subject, we’re now speaking of God again, the creator of heaven and earth, as the following verses also seem to indicate.

            Heb 1:11-11:14 are also pretty straightforward, so for the sake of brevity again, I’ll skip a commentary.  So looking back over the fullness of Heb 1, I personally don’t find anything with such a difficult reading that I feel the need to alter my beliefs.  Any texts that I’ve heard used as proof texts to espouse a different doctrine have variant readings that seem simpler and to make more sense, taken holistically.  Please keep in mind, I’m just a human being so I absolutely accept that I could be mistaken.  I sit under the authority of scripture and not over it, but digging into these scriptures and examining them closely I feel about 90% confident that I have made a correct interpretation in this instance.  I think it’s important to deeply search the scriptures and to be honest with yourself with what you find.

            Before we leave today, I’d be remiss if I didn’t at least give a polite nod to our Esther reading, because Esther 1-2 is what I’ve mentally labelled in my mind “The Cautionary Tale of Queen Vashti” as an example of how not to act.  We have been given great blessings and favor undeservedly by our God, let’s make sure we don’t get demoted due to our own arrogance and self importance, and removed from our position (Like Queen Vashti was).

REFLECTION QUESTION

When you read scriptures, do you rush through it quickly or dig deep and compare translations and alternate meanings or complexities? Why?

PRAYER

Father God, thank you for giving us Your word.  Please grant us the wisdom to understand what You have spoken, and the sense to listen.  In Jesus name, amen.

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Who is Our God?

Deuteronomy 17-18 

Psalm 28 

Mark 12

– Devotion by Pastor Haroon Yacoob Masihi

From Tom Siderius from Church of God Blanchard, Michigan – Pastor Masihi is the chairman of the Unitarian Mission of Pakistan and is very active and vigorous in his teaching of One God truth and Unitarian belief there.  I have been privileged to help with teaching there via zoom as has Jon Welch, Jerry Wierwille,  and others from  COG churches.  I asked him for a sermon that he has given there in Urdu which could be adapted to a Seek Grow Love devotion for us to read.  I have edited it for structure but the content is his.  Please read with him and pray for their mission there and the fellowship that we can have with them.

Hello brothers and sisters,  very important topic of who our God is. For hundreds of years the teaching of the Trinity that God is three persons in one: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit; has been seen as a core belief within Christianity.

Yet this teaching has been assumed to be taught in the scriptures, not directly taught. What does God’s word show about Himself? Is the teaching of the trinity true? Who is the God of the Bible? I hope to answer these questions today.

Thus says Yahweh, your Redeemer, and the one who formed you from the womb, “I, Yahweh, am the maker of all things, Stretching out the heavens by Myself And spreading out the earth all alone,” — Isaiah 44:24

Whoever God is, he is the only God. There are not multiples. There is only one and He has revealed Himself by a name, this name is Yahweh, and He alone is God.

And God furthermore said to Moses, “Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, ‘Yahweh, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you.’ This is My name forever, and this is My memorial-name from generation to generation. Go and gather the elders of Israel together and say to them, ‘Yahweh, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, has appeared to me, saying, “I indeed care about you and what has been done to you in Egypt.— Exodus 3:15-16

When God revealed Himself to Moses, He identified Himself to be the God that Abraham, Isaac and Jacob believed in. These men were the ancestors of the Israelites. The God of the Bible is the same as their God.

“Hear, O Israel! Yahweh is our God, Yahweh is one! You shall love Yahweh your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall speak of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as phylacteries between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.”— Deuteronomy 6:4-9

This passage is at the core of the Jewish faith. In a world where many people have said there are many gods, Yahweh God revealed himself to all of Israel as the one true God. This is the one God that they taught their children and who is the creator of us all.

“And when one of the scribes came and heard them arguing, he recognized that He had answered them well and asked Him, “What commandment is the foremost of all?” Jesus answered, “The foremost is, ‘Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is one Lord; and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.’”— Mark 12:28-30

Jesus, who is a Jew, held to the same God as his ancestors. He said this is the most important commandment of all to love this one and only true God. This is the God of Jesus. The Trinity teaches that Jesus is God or a part of God, yet Jesus acknowledges he has a God.

“Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe Me, an hour is coming when neither in this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father. You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews. But an hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers.”— John 4:21-23

There have been claims that Jesus came to reveal and teach the God of the Trinity. That Israel did not fully understand God. But is that true? Jesus here acknowledges that the Jews knew God, and that their God was the true God. Israel did not believe in a trinity. They understood who God was because he had revealed Himself to them.

“For even if there are so-called gods whether in heaven or on earth, as indeed there are many gods and many lords, yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and we exist for Him, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we exist through Him.”— 1 Corinthians 8:5-6

Paul confirms his belief in one God, also called the Father. He believes in this one God and in the one Lord, Jesus. If this God of the Trinity was revealed by Jesus then why does Paul not acknowledge that? Paul acknowledges the one true God and the son that God sent, Jesus.

“There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all.”— Ephesians 4:4-6 

There is only one faith and this faith is in this one God, the Father. There is no mention of three beings of a trinity God. Only the Father, He alone is God.

Jesus also confirms this is his God and the only true one.

“And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.” — John 17:3

Jesus says our salvation is dependent on knowing the true God, and to also know His Messiah, Jesus. Jesus does not put himself as that true God, but that we have to believe in his God.

“Jesus said to her, “Stop clinging to Me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to My brothers and say to them, ‘I ascend to My Father and your Father, and My God and your God.’” — John 20:17

Our God and Father is Jesus’s God and Father. There was not a revealing of a new God or a new understanding of that God. But the same God that Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob believed in is the same God that our Lord Jesus believes in and serves.

“He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the sanctuary of My God, and he will never go out from it anymore. And I will write on him the name of My God, and the name of the city of My God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God, and My new name.” — Revelation 3:12 

Here, Jesus is now in heaven at the right hand of God. And he still speaks of his God. Again, the teaching of the Trinity is not revealed, but only the one God, the same God of Jesus.

This is the God that Jesus pleased when he was a child

And Jesus was advancing in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men. — Luke 2:52

This is the God that brought about Jesus through His power upon Mary at the right time according to Gods plan.

The angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; and for that reason the holy Child shall be called the Son of God.— Luke 1:35

But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, so that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. — Galatians 4:4-5

God brought about Jesus and it was the same God that Jesus worshipped. God did not come down or become man, He chose a man with a very special job.

“Men of Israel, listen to these words: Jesus the Nazarene, a man attested to you by God with miracles and wonders and signs which God did through Him in your midst, just as you yourselves know— this Man, delivered over by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, you nailed to a cross by the hands of lawless men and put Him to death. But God raised Him up again, putting an end to the agony of death, since it was impossible for Him to be held in its power.” — Acts 2:22-24

Often it is questioned then, who is Jesus? If he is not God or a part of God, then who is he? Peter shows who he is. He is a man chosen by God. God gave great power to and a very special role to this man, Jesus. It was not God who came down to do this mission, but a man like you and me who was chosen for this mission.

“Therefore having overlooked the times of ignorance, God is now commanding men that everyone everywhere should repent, because He has fixed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness through a Man whom He determined, having furnished proof to all by raising Him from the dead.”— Acts 17:30-31

God is using this man and showed everyone by raising him from the dead. This was not God who died, because God cannot die, or God who raised himself, but a man who was raised by God to eternal life. And it is this man who is in heaven with our God and his God.

“This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the full knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself as a ransom for all, the witness for this proper time. For this I was appointed a preacher and an apostle (I am telling the truth, I am not lying) as a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.” — 1 Timothy 2:3-7

There is only one true God. Jesus is a man who mediates between us and this one true God. Jesus could not meditate between God and men if he himself was God. He represented God to us, and represents us to God.

So what does God’s word show about Himself? Is the teaching of the trinity true?

God has revealed Himself in His word as the only true God. He has given us His name as Yahweh, the God that Abraham and all Israel believed in. The God from the beginning is the same God Jesus worships.

The god of the trinity is not revealed in scripture. The trinity is a teaching that does not hear the words of our savior Jesus who has shown the only true God. So let us all praise and worship the one true God and Father of us all, the God of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Reflection Questions

  1. Whether you are hearing these thoughts for the first time, or you have spent your whole life believing them, or somewhere in the middle – what makes sense to you today about these verses from Scripture? What do you currently have questions about?
  2. What do you love about Jehovah God? What does He reveal about Himself in Scripture?
  3. What do you love about the Son of God, Jesus Christ the Messiah? What do we learn about him in Scripture?

Prayer:

My heartfelt prayer is that Jehovah God will reveal His truth to all Christians. And that all Christians will know the one God Jehovah the Heavenly Father and the Son of the Father, Jesus Christ. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, Amen.

Blessings, Your brother in Christ, a servant, Pastor Haroon Yaqoob Masihi

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A New Bible Reading Plan for the New Year!

Our SeekGrowLove Bible reading plan for 2026 will cover the entire Bible in a year with 3 readings each day: Old Testament, Psalm/Proverbs and New Testament. We will read two gospels at the start of the year and two at the end. Proverbs will be read both in January and again in December. Most of the Psalm and Gospel chapters will be read at least twice, on consecutive days. Re-reading is a great practice to help us soak in the truths of God’s word.

Visit SeekGrowLove.com to subscribe and receive daily emails with devotions following the Bible reading plan. We thank the 44 people we heard from in 2025 who shared the daily Scriptures with us in order to teach, rebuke, correct and train in righteousness. We look forward to more in the year ahead. God bless you all as together we Seek, Grow, and Love!

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The Perfect Son of Man

Hebrews 1-3

Devotion by John Tullis (OH)

One of the great truths of the Bible is the humanity of Jesus Christ.  Jesus, our Lord and Our Savior, was born of the virgin Mary through the power of God’s Holy Spirit.  Our God created Jesus to be His messiah – God’s chosen One to save his people and rule as King in His future kingdom.  Jesus always existed in the mind of God.  In the beginning was the Word (John 1:1).  The Word, or Logos in Greek, is the eternal program of salvation and restoration through Jesus Christ.  It is the wonderful plan of God to make a way for believers to enjoy fellowship with Him in the eternal coming Kingdom.  As such, at a time of God’s choosing, He created his messiah.  He brought his great plan of salvation, the Logos, into reality.  Our Lord Jesus was born into the world, a little baby, born of the virgin Mary and celebrated as our Lord and Savior.  He was born into the world through God’s power to be fully human, and fully God’s son.  He is the begotten one (first among everything). 

The book of Hebrews tries to explain why Jesus had to be made perfect and why he had to be a human – like you and me.  But why did Jesus have to be just like us?  Jesus was created by God to be His only Son.  In order to serve both God and mankind, Jesus had to be a special man – the sinless and perfect Son of man.  Both divine (Son of God) and human (Son of Mary) – He is the perfect one to exist as the “mediator between God and men, the man Jesus Christ” (1 Timothy 2:5).  Hebrews 2:14-18 teaches us that He had to be made with flesh and blood – he had to be a man.  This is so His death on the cross might break the power of the fear of death.  His resurrection is proof that a man can be raised up to eternal life.  He was created specifically to save Abraham’s descendants of faith (that’s you and me).  In being a man, he could be God’s High Priest, serving God and making atonement for the sins of the world (Hebrews 2:17,18).   

With Christmas coming very soon, we remember the birth of Christ.  That little child, born and placed in a manger, the son of Mary, would become the savior of the world.  In God’s great wisdom, He made a way for us to enjoy fellowship with Him forever in His coming Kingdom.  Thank Him for the gift of his Son, His human Son, the Christ Child who takes away the sin of the world. 

Questions for Discussion: 

  1. Why did Jesus have to be made perfect?  (2:10) 
  1. Why did Jesus have to be just like us? (2:17) 
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2025 Seek Grow Love Bible Reading Plan

Welcome to the 2025 Seek Grow Love Bible Reading Plan! We will be reading through the whole Bible in a chronological reading plan this year.

In our 2025 Bible reading plan we will read through the complete Bible chronologically.  The daily devotions will be written by a variety of people – from pastors and Bible college professors to high school students – all seeking to know God more and more, and willing to share their thoughts on God’s word with us.  Reflection questions are included to help us think further – and could be useful if discussing with a Bible reading buddy, family devotions, or a small group Bible study.  

Subscribe at SeekGrowLove.com to receive the daily email devotions and questions.  Print the full 2025 Seek Grow Love Bible Reading Plan booklet found below and share one with a friend or Bible reading buddy! Or, you can print just January on a full page to get started with a larger font (the other months will be available later).

God has wonderful things in His Word to show us in 2025!  Praying for you and your journey in His Word!

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Treasures and Worry

Old Testament: Genesis 13 & 14

Poetry: Psalm 4

*New Testament: Matthew 6:19-34

Treasures and worry – those two things go hand and hand so often. No matter how much treasure or money one has or doesn’t have it is common to grow anxious about getting more or protecting or hoarding what one already has. And I am guessing it isn’t just a modern problem, as Jesus so wisely blends his teaching on these two topics in the second half of Matthew 6. 

Today’s passage has so much wisdom! Make sure you read it for yourself – even multiple times – it is short. Jesus begins this section (Matthew 6:19-34) by warning about storing up wealth here on earth where all sorts of uncertainty can steal it away in a jiffy (and that was even before the stock market). He asks us to examine what we hold dear, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (6:21). And your heart can’t love and treasure both God and money. You have to choose which you will serve. Which will you go after? Which will you give your life to? 

It is recorded that immediately after saying, “You cannot serve both God and money.” Jesus said, “Therefore, I tell you, do not worry about your life…” Do you notice the correlation? If you choose to serve money – be prepared for the worry that goes along with that – do you have enough, will it buy what you want, will you look good enough, will it run out, what will you do if or when it does? But, if you choose to be wholeheartedly devoted to serving a great big God and keeping His first things first in your life, the rest of the worries of life practically dissolve as you put your trust in the One who cares for the birds of the air and the lilies of the field and loves you so much more. What comfort and peace comes to replace the worry and striving when we know that God knows what we need and He is the best at providing that and more when we seek Him first. 

Right now, we are half way into an anti-worry/money experiment at our house. About a year and a half ago my husband decided it was a good time to start looking for a new job. I was working hard at giving him my full support. And yet…there was a little cloud of uncertainty as to if this was the right timing – because anyone serving money would be quick to say it didn’t make any sense to change jobs then. At the time his current employer was an educational institution which generously paid out very healthy tuition benefits to the school of choice for our college age kids. It was a pretty good deal we had already benefitted from for several semesters and many college bills. But, we still had two in college and weren’t sure how in the world we would make up all the thousands and thousands of dollars we would not receive for their college bills for the next three years, while also not wanting them to graduate deep in debt. 

The unknown can be hard! Of course we want to provide for our kids and be wise with our finances and sometimes it’s hard to know what that should look like. But while wrestling with this decision: pursue a new job now or wait – a light-bulb moment gave me peace. My light-bulb said, “Marcia, you have been trusting (insert name of husband’s employer) to pay those college bills, but don’t you know that God can be trusted much much more?” And with that came peace, not all the answers of where the money was going to come from – but peace that my God was indeed much bigger than anything or anyone else I could put my trust in – and He knows what I need and He can provide it in ways I never would have thought of. 

So, we are half-way in. We had three years of college bills left and now we have just 1 ½ years. My husband DID start a new job and it has been a great change for us all! He likes his new employer and responsibilities a lot. And, he is able to work from home and my daycare kids and I love that! I have found I also enjoy tutoring and teaching sewing lessons and the people that has brought into my life, which I probably never would have thought to try if I hadn’t been searching for ideas to contribute a little bit more. And those college bills, they are getting paid. We aren’t even always sure how, but the money is there over and over again. Ask me again in 1 ½ years and I am sure I will have even more examples of God’s overwhelming faithfulness. 

Our Father loves to prove Himself true and reliable, but we will never know it and see it and experience it for ourselves if we keep serving and trusting in our man-made treasures and pleasures.

Keep Him first! He is big enough to provide what you need and more and He also knows what you don’t need. Keep your eyes on Him, His righteousness and His Kingdom. You don’t need a fast buck or a larger bank account. You need eternal life and your treasures on earth can’t buy that. Release your worry and grow in your trust in the God who creates, sustains, and makes all things new. 

-Marcia Railton

Reflection Questions

  1. Every life serves something or someone, sometimes self. Who or what are you trying to serve? Are there any instances where you are missing the mark or competing with mixed loyalties or masters? What corrections can you make? Will you? Why or why not?
  2. How has God shown Himself faithful in providing?
  3. How can you focus on God, His Kingdom and His righteousness? If you do that well, will this help you worry less? 

Looking for some more help on overcoming worry (especially over money)? I found very helpful a UPS driver illustration Rick McClain shared in a SeekGrowLove devotion in 2021 and have brought it to mind many times since. You can read it here. 

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The Lord’s Tests

Old Testament: Jeremiah 15 & 16

Poetry: Proverbs 11

New Testament: 1 Peter 3

And – here’s today’s devotion on Psalm 11

In school, I admittedly was never good about doing my homework. In fact, I could probably count on my hand how many assignments I got done at home while in high school. However, I felt confident enough in making up the lost points from a class when it came to the final tests given. I did fairly decently when it came time for testing, so I always felt justified in “slacking off” from my duties of homework. I mean, it was only 5% of my grade anyways, so why should I care about an insignificant grade?

God also tests us, but this testing isn’t a “one-time” thing; His testing stretches across our entire lifetime. And unlike a test in school, every “homework assignment” given to us in this life does count as part of the test. Psalm 11 tells us that “the LORD tests the righteous and the wicked” (verse 5), meaning that everyone is facing this test during their lifetime, being judged by how we respond in every situation. We cannot afford to “slack off” on any assignment that we are tasked with, but must do our best to do what is right in every situation, because God loves righteous deeds (verse 7).

Thankfully, we have a wonderful example of what we are supposed to do in every situation: Jesus. Although we should never “copy” another student’s answers in school, we can and are expected to copy what Jesus does. He has given us every answer that we need to “pass” this ultimate test of God’s: it’s our job to simply obey, and do that over and over again. Like Jesus, we must seek to do right in every situation, so that God will grant us the greatest grade you’ll ever receive, which ironically involves the missing letter of any grading scale in school: an E+ (eternal life).

Brothers and sisters, we cannot afford to slack off in any situation, but must always be ready to give an answer for the hope within us (1 Peter 3:15), and always be ready to do the right thing. What will you do today to copy Jesus’ example?

-Talon Paul

Reflection Questions

  1. Do you often remember that God is observing the whole earth – including you? What would He have recently seen from you that might not help your eternal grade? What could you have done instead that would have been copying Jesus’ perfect example?
  2. Do you often remember that you will receive an eternal grade? Does that make it easier or harder to choose to seek to do what is right?
  3. When the Lord examines you today what will He see?
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The Radiance of God’s Glory

Old Testament: Song of Songs 4-6

Poetry: Psalm 56

*New Testament: Hebrews 1

Hello all! Today we will be covering the first chapter of Hebrews.  One of the main purposes of Hebrews was to reassure the Jewish Christians that Jesus is necessary.  We see this purpose played out in chapter one, as the author describes the importance and glory of Jesus in chapter one.

To start off the book and chapter, the author compares Jesus to the prophets of the Old Testament.  The Jews loved and adored the prophets of the Old Testament, and they viewed their words very sacredly.  Therefore, it makes total sense that the author would begin by comparing Jesus to the same prophets that the Jews love.  Not only does he compare Jesus to the prophets, but he raises Jesus above the prophets by saying he was “appointed the heir of all things.”  The prophets are crucial to both us and the Jews, but Jesus is even more important.  Jesus is described as being the “radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature.”  That’s some pretty high praise.  This should begin to reassure the Jewish Christians of the importance and necessity of Jesus Christ.

The author not only compares and raises Jesus above the prophets, but he compares Jesus to the angels as well.  In verse 5, the author rhetorically asks “For to which of the angels did God ever say, ‘You are my Son, today I have begotten you’?”  The answer to that question is none of them.  No angel is God’s son.  This verse is detrimental to the Jehovah’s Witnesses because they hold the belief that Jesus is the archangel Michael.  We know though that Jesus is the Son of God.  Therefore, sorry Jehovah’s Witnesses, but no angel, including the archangel Michael, is God’s son.

We continue along in the chapter, and verse eight reads, “But of the Son he says, ‘Your throne, O God, is forever and ever.”  Hold up.  Wait a minute.  Put a little SAY WHAT?!  The Church of God is so strong on the doctrine that God is one, and Jesus is the Son of God, not God the Son.  Do we have it wrong though?  Upon first look, it appears Jesus is God.  Let’s take a deeper look at this then.

First off first, this is quoted from Psalm 45.  Psalm 45 is about a king, not God.  This isn’t trying to dictate any sign of deity, rather a sign of authority.  For surely the Psalm writer of Psalm 45 wasn’t trying to give the king any form of deity.  Furthermore, verse nine states, “therefore God, your God, has anointed you.”  First, God doesn’t need anointed.  If Jesus were God, then he wouldn’t need to be anointed.  Second, the king in Psalm 45 that has the word “God” ascribed to him has a God.  God can’t have a God.  There is no higher being than God.  Jesus can’t be God and have a God.  Therefore, we can read verses eight and nine, as attributing authority to Jesus, not Jesus actually being God.

Another tidbit to point out, the ESV uses the phrase, “But of the Son he says,” in verse eight.  However, a more accurate interpretation of the Greek reads, “with respect to the Son.”  This is important in verses 10-12, as those verses aren’t talking about Jesus.  It is in respect to the Son, Jesus.  Verses 10-12 talk about the magnificence of YHWH.  The author of Hebrews does this because in verse thirteen, he quotes Psalm 110:1 (the most quoted Old Testament scripture in the New Testament).  By glorifying God in verses 10-12, the author is also glorifying Jesus because Jesus has the sole privilege of sitting at God’s right hand.  Jesus is sitting at the right hand of the Creator of the heavens and the earth!  That’s a huge privilege to have, and that privilege is held by Jesus and Jesus alone.

The final verse of Hebrews chapter one is quite possibly my favorite.  It reads, “Are they (the angels) not all ministering spirits sent out to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation?”  The angels are sent out to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation.  Uh, hello!  That’s us!  We are the ones who are to inherit salvation.  The angels are sent out to minister to you!  Isn’t that awesome?!

The author of Hebrews reassured the Jewish Christians of the importance of Jesus.  The author also encouraged them by stating the angels are sent to minister to them!  Again, I hope this passage can impact you in the same manner that it would have for the Jewish Christians, “for the word of God is living and active,” (Just a teaser for Thursday’s reading).

In Christian love,

Kyle McClain

Fun fact of the day: the first four verses of Hebrews is one long sentence in Greek.  Wow!

(originally posted for SeekGrowLove on February 5, 2018)

Reflection Questions

  1. How many times is the Old Testament quoted in Hebrews 1? What does this tell you about the writer and his purpose?
  2. The writer calls Jesus an exact representation of God. Is a representation ever the same thing as what it is representing?
  3. How would you describe how Jesus is presented in Hebrews 1? What position does he have? Who gave it to him?
  4. Do you honor Jesus enough? What more can you do?
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