Compassionate in Judgment
Joel 2:12-13 – “Yet even now,” the Lord says, “return to me with all your heart—with fasting, weeping, and mourning. 13 Tear your hearts, not just your garments.” Return to the Lord your God, for he is merciful and compassionate, slow to anger and boundless in loyal love—often relenting from calamitous punishment.”
As I read, prayed, and mused on the Word of God today, the thought of God’s dimension and grace filled my heart and mind. The Living God, our God, is awesome! His mercy is largely incomprehensible to the human mind. It exceeds our mercy so greatly that we cannot fathom it; therefore, many reject it because it is incomprehensible to humans.
In Joel 2:12-13, we have an example of this reality: even in judgment, God is compassionate. After judgment comes the healing oil of the Holy Spirit’s outpouring. (vv. 28-32). The outpouring is characterized by prophecy, visions, and dreams. The exposure to the divine realm is part and parcel of the Holy Spirit’s outpouring. (v. 32) speaks of the End Time Harvest. A Harvest that began on the Day of Pentecost.
John describes a people (believers) characterized by clearly identifiable traits. They live Love! John defines Love. It is living in obedience to God’s commandments. In (vv. 9-11), he issued a largely ignored warning and prohibition. Jude 4-7 and Revelation’s warnings to the churches describe this ignoring.
Excessive tolerance of a person who claims to be saved but lives a life contradictory to the Gospel and the nature of Christ. That includes drunkenness, hate, sexual perversion, greed, and yieldness to the desires of the flesh. John said (v. 11) – “because the person who gives him a greeting shares (endorses) in his evil deeds.”
God’s message to the Churches in Revelation was purity of heart, pursuit of truth, and love. Love that excuses sin is not love! Love risks rejection because it honestly introduces the truth. The truth liberates; excessive tolerance binds.
LORD, help us to receive your correction and respond to your mercy in Faith!
Worthless Whitewash
Lamentations 2:14 – “Your prophets saw visions for you that were worthless whitewash. They failed to expose your sin so as to restore your fortunes. They saw oracles for you that were worthless lies.”
As I read, prayed, and meditated on the Word of God today, several things captured my thoughts, challenging and encouraging me. Today, and for several years, I have heard (prophets) give words, dreams, and visions that are described in Lamentations 2:14: “Worthless Whitewater.” They had no redemptive value but seemed motivated by personal preference. They moved no one from wickedness. That has troubled my heart and made me cautious in voicing what I believe I hear in the Spirit.
In the early chapters of Ezekiel, he uses the word “wind” in an interesting way. In Ezekiel 2:2 – “As He spoke to me, a wind came INTO me and stood me on my feet, and I heard the one speaking to me.” Two things leaped out at me: the wind coming INTO him was the Holy Spirit, and the hearing was the result of that anointing. It was a channel of communication from heaven opened by the infilling of the wind (Holy Spirit).
In Ezekiel 3:12, the wind (Holy Spirit) lifted him up and caused him to hear. In (v. 14), the wind (Holy Spirit) moved him to act. In that anointing, he heard a neglected commandment.
Ezekiel 2:16-22 is largely ignored or misapplied today. It is still valid because it is redemptive. We have no justification to fail to warn of sin in the lives we influence. They will either receive and repent or reject and resist. They may even become estranged from us by choice. We are to give the word by the Spirit’s anointing in love and for redemptive purposes, not judgment.
We need the Holy Spirit’s infilling and empowering. We have a mission. We need the Holy Spirit to enable us to live in purity and fulfill our purpose. A final thing I saw was the power of perseverance. Victory comes to those who persevere. If we quit, we lose, even if we quit two steps from the finish line.
Hebrews 6:15 is fascinating and challenging. “And so, by persevering, Abraham inherited the promise.” Hebrews 5:8: “Although He (Jesus) was a son, he learned obedience through the things He suffered.” He persevered. He is the picture and example of Ultimate Perseverance.
If we are filled to overflowing with the Holy Spirit, become saturated with the Living Word of God, and persevere, we will overcome and live victoriously NOW! We will be salt and light. Light to draw, salt to preserve.
We have this anchor – God’s Oath (Promise) and the assurance that God not only does not but cannot lie! Our confidence in God’s Integrity provides the ability and determination to persevere to the end!
LORD, help us to avoid being worthless whitewash and become redemptive tools in the hands of Your Holy Spirit!
Go to the House of God
Genesis 35:1-4 – “Then God said to Jacob, “Arise, go up to Bethel and live there, and make an altar there to God, who appeared to you when you fled from your brother Esau.” 2 So Jacob said to his household and to all who were with him, “Put away the foreign gods which are among you, and purify yourselves and change your garments; 3 and let us arise and go up to Bethel, and I will make an altar there to God, who answered me in the day of my distress and has been with me wherever I have gone.” 4 So they gave to Jacob all the foreign gods which they had and the rings which were in their ears, and Jacob hid them under the oak which was near Shechem.”
As I read, prayed, and mused on the Word of God today, I felt deeply stirred. In Genesis 35, after Simeon and Levi had avenged their sister with violence, God instructed Jacob to go to Beth-El. The directive was to make an altar representing repentance, dedication, and worship. Jacob understood this could not be done with idols in their midst.
He instructed them to get rid of the foreign gods, cleanse themselves (repent), and change their clothes (lives). They gave him their idols and earrings. They should have disposed of them by fire and pulverization. He hid them under the oak tree near Sechem. That left the door open to taking them up again. Bad idea! Never leave room to go back to what you have put off.
In Matthew 21:12, when Jesus came into the temple, he drove out everything that was not conducive to prayer and worship. The temple is a place of ministry, not merchandise or entertainment. Its purpose is redemptive.
In Matthew 21:16, a quote from Psalm 8:2 identifies praise as a strength or power. Only those who never praise do not realize the power of praise. It is a chain breaker and opens the door to worship. It connects the heart to the spirit and is transformational.
Matthew 6:33 directs us to make God more important than anything. When God fills the heart, His presence pushes out everything foreign to love and purifies us. Love is the root and fruit of righteousness! Love enables us to endure. Love serves without expecting a reward. Love loves unconditionally and continuously. (Matthew 25:31-46). Love keeps the fire burning inside!
So, let us fill our hearts and minds with God and His Word. Make no place to go back. Burn all the bridges of the past. Do not bury the past; offer it on the altar to God! God will remove it!
Victory is now! Have a fantastic day; keep looking up; redemption is near!
The Instantaneousness of God!
Isaiah 65:24 – “It will also come to pass that before they call, I will answer; and while they are still speaking, I will hear.”
I felt entering into 2026 that this would be a year of attack and harvest. Hang on to your hat; the ride is about to begin. As I read, prayed, and pondered the Word of God today, I was reminded of God’s faithfulness and His intricate attention to detail. His preparation is perpetual and perfect. He never waits for us to ask before He acts; He prepares so that when we act, He responds.
Genesis 24 is the story of Abraham sending his servant to secure a wife for Isaac. The servant arrived at the area of Haran and prayed for guidance and help. (v. 15) “Now before he had finished speaking (praying), behold, there was Rebekah…” I immediately remembered Isaiah 65:24, “And it will come to pass that before they call, I will answer, and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.”
We miss that promise and tend to think we have to beg God incessantly to get an answer. It is not the length of the prayers but the intensity and desperation of the heart.
In Genesis 32, Jacob faced a crisis and considered life or death. Esau was on his way. The same Esau who had vowed to kill him 20 years earlier. He understood the power of hate and what he had done to his brother. He wrestled with God all night long. His refusal to stop short of God’s touch produced a character change that resulted in a name change that shaped his destiny.
The question is, how desperate are we for God’s Word or Touch? How desperate are we for God Himself? Are we like Jacob, unwilling to stop short of the Touch, the Word, the Blessing, or the Presence? Are we like the disciples in Matthew 17, whom Jesus called trusting little? They had seen Him do miracles. They had seen miracles, but he said, “This kind only responds to prayer and fasting.” Desperation with God! Earnestness of heart, urgency of spirit, and determination will bring us into God’s Presence and bring results!
There is nothing God cannot do. There is nothing impossible IF we trust Him and press into His Presence. But we cannot just wade in the shallows; we have to dive into the deep. Go all in!
If we place our confidence in unreliable men or dreams, our faith will never be mountain-moving. Words that repeatedly prove to be wrong cannot be trusted as a source. Only God is true and faithful. Desperation for God brings us into His presence, and in His presence, there is completion and peace.
LORD, help us to live with expectation and embrace the instantaneousness of Your provisions!
Hey, Look at This!
Genesis 15:1 – “After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision, saying, “Do not fear, Abram; I am a shield to you; Your reward shall be very great.”
As I read, prayed, and meditated on the Word of God today, I felt deeply challenged. I began by reflecting on the Blessing of the Covenant with Abraham. The major focus was on others. It had a kingdom feel to it.
In Genesis 15:1, God gave Abram renewed assurance of His presence, provision, and power. Abram’s confidence in God became his foundation in trial.
In Genesis 18:9-15, I saw something that grabbed me and made me say, “Look at this.” Sarah was in the tent. If the tent represents God’s covering and presence, that is significant. In the tent, she was listening! That is the key. We need to press into God’s presence and listen. She questioned, but she heard the Rhema of God that took root and produced the Fruit of the Covenant Seed. First, get into the tent, then listen.
The flesh is easily distracted. John the Immerser (Baptist) had a divine revelation that Jesus was the MESSIAH. Then, from prison (in trial), he questioned, “Are you Him?” We must constantly reaffirm our confidence in Him and His Word. Isolated events, no matter how wonderful, are not enough. We have to keep returning to the tent.
In Matthew 15:34-39, we see the feeding of the 4,000. Jesus asked, “How many loaves do you have?” How much bread? Bread represents the Word of God. They said seven. Seven is the number of completeness. They picked up seven baskets, indicating endless supply. (Psalm 23, Psalm 91, Isaiah 61.)
In God, if we get in and stay in the tent, we can hear Him. Hearing Him, we can respond in obedience. Responding in obedience results in the endless supply. Genesis 17:1 in the Tree of Life Version is interesting. GOD said, “Continually walk (live) before Me, and you will be blameless.” Blamelessness flows out of His presence. Living our lives IN His presence provides the wisdom, revelation, strength, and anointing to be blameless. It is in the tent! God, give us some tent time!
LORD, help us be continually awed by Your presence and promises!
