Job 38:1 – Then the Lord answered Job from the whirlwind:

² “Who is this that questions my wisdom
with such ignorant words?
³ Brace yourself like a man,
because I have some questions for you,
and you must answer them.

⁴ “Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth?
Tell me, if you know so much.
⁵ Who determined its dimensions
and stretched out the surveying line?
⁶ What supports its foundations,
and who laid its cornerstone
⁷ as the morning stars sang together
and all the angels shouted for joy?

⁸ “Who kept the sea inside its boundaries
as it burst from the womb,
⁹ and as I clothed it with clouds
and wrapped it in thick darkness?
¹⁰ For I locked it behind barred gates,
limiting its shores.
¹¹ I said, ‘This far and no farther will you come.
Here your proud waves must stop!’ (NLT)

Have you ever questioned God?  I suppose we all have at some point in our lives.  If any of us found ourselves in Job’s shoes, we would probably have some serious questions for God!  While the content of the book of Job could provide weeks of study, this passage can speak to us in our times of questions. 

In this passage God asks us, “Who are we compared to God”, “What are we compared to God?”  Those might seem like harsh questions coming from God, but I prefer to turn those questions around – “Who is God? What is God?”  While we may fall short with the full answer, I believe that this passage tells us that God is infinitely greater than we can think or imagine.  God has ordered all we see of the natural universe, and I’m sure that God has provided order for our lives, as well. 

In our times of questions for God, let us trust that the God who laid the foundations of the earth (verse 4) is aware of us in whatever situation we find ourselves.  God, who has provided for life, provides for us.  Perhaps we find it difficult to see God through our trying times, but God is there. 

Today, let’s note the presence of God amongst us, no matter what life confronts us with. 

Posted by Ramón Torres

Acts 1:6 – Then they gathered around him and asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?”

⁷ He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. ⁸ But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

⁹ After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.

¹⁰ They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. ¹¹ “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.”

¹² Then the apostles returned to Jerusalem from the hill called the Mount of Olives, a Sabbath day’s walk from the city. ¹³ When they arrived, they went upstairs to the room where they were staying. Those present were Peter, John, James and Andrew; Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew; James son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James. ¹⁴ They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers. (NIV).

Who remembers Harold Camping? He was a radio host who gained notoriety back in 2011 for his incorrect prediction that the rapture would happen on May 21 of that year.  (Spoiler alert – it didn’t!). It seems that whatever a date is predicted, end times teaching always attracts attention! In light of this fact of life, this is a particularly interesting passage.  Perhaps the apostles were not asking about the end of time, but they were asking about future events.  Jesus makes it clear in verse seven that future dates are not for anyone to know.  What I find interesting is the very next verse.  Jesus immediately tells his followers to be filled with the Holy Spirit and then to get to work!  It’s as if Jesus is saying, “Hey, that forget that future stuff, go be a witness right now!” 

Basing a ministry on seeking the dates for something in the future is clearly not being a witness! People will often ask me what I think of certain preachers who focus on ‘the end.’  I honestly can’t give an answer because I don’t listen to any such preachers!  It’s not what Jesus was about and should not be what we are about. 

What are we to be about, then?  Just as Jesus charged his first followers, we are charged to seek the Holy Spirit.  Why? So that we, like them, will get to work!  Being a witness of what we have experienced of Jesus is our work. 

Our spiritual eyes may be fixed upon heaven, but we should not stand around and debate and focus on Jesus’ return, or any future events.  Instead, let us focus on being filled with the Holy Spirit this day, and on being a witness in our communities (Jerusalem), in our nation, (Judea), and throughout the ends of the earth! 

Posted by Ramón Torres

Romans 6:12 – Do not let sin control the way you live; do not give in to sinful desires. ¹³ Do not let any part of your body become an instrument of evil to serve sin. Instead, give yourselves completely to God, for you were dead, but now you have new life. So use your whole body as an instrument to do what is right for the glory of God. ¹⁴ Sin is no longer your master, for you no longer live under the requirements of the law. Instead, you live under the freedom of God’s grace.

¹⁵ Well then, since God’s grace has set us free from the law, does that mean we can go on sinning? Of course not! ¹⁶ Don’t you realize that you become the slave of whatever you choose to obey? You can be a slave to sin, which leads to death, or you can choose to obey God, which leads to righteous living. ¹⁷ Thank God! Once you were slaves of sin, but now you wholeheartedly obey this teaching we have given you. ¹⁸ Now you are free from your slavery to sin, and you have become slaves to righteous living.

¹⁹ Because of the weakness of your human nature, I am using the illustration of slavery to help you understand all this. Previously, you let yourselves be slaves to impurity and lawlessness, which led ever deeper into sin. Now you must give yourselves to be slaves to righteous living so that you will become holy.

²⁰ When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the obligation to do right. ²¹ And what was the result? You are now ashamed of the things you used to do, things that end in eternal doom. ²² But now you are free from the power of sin and have become slaves of God. Now you do those things that lead to holiness and result in eternal life. ²³ For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord. (NLT)

Have you ever felt as if you were a slave to work?  Maybe you feel that you are a slave to a certain activity, a habit.  The Bible teaches us that we are all slaves!  Each of us is a slave – to something!  Romans 6:16 tells us that we are a slave to whatever we choose to obey.  I would suggest that each of us obeys something, even if it’s our own desires.  So, each of us are a slave.

Being a slave to something is simply part of the human condition.  However, we have the opportunity to choose what it is that enslaves us.  In this passage, Paul tells us in verse 16 that we can choose to be a slave to sin, or God.  Some people do not like this imagery. They feel as if this talk of being a slave is oppressive.  Some translations translate the word in question as servant, hoping to make it less offensive.  The word that Paul uses is δουλόω, which usually referred to someone who had sold themselves into slavery.  Sometimes such people were called bondservants.  Paul often called himself a bondservant to Jesus.  As to offering ourselves into slavery, Paul is correct – we do allow ourselves to be enslaved.  If that is the case, and we will allow ourselves to be enslaved to something, then why not choose God?  

Let’s note two things about this passage.  Verse 22 tells us that being slave of God is being free from the power of sin.  Giving the choice between sin and God, I choose being a slave to God! The second thing to note, choosing to be a slave of God does not earn our salvation, for salvation is a free gift (verse 23).  So, why do we choose to be a slave to God?  We do so because we are human, and we will choose to be a slave to something.  Why not choose that which can empower our lives, strengthen our relationships, and bring us eternal joy!

Posted by Ramón Torres

Hebrews 6:13 – For example, there was God’s promise to Abraham. Since there was no one greater to swear by, God took an oath in his own name, saying:

¹⁴ “I will certainly bless you,
and I will multiply your descendants beyond number.”

¹⁵ Then Abraham waited patiently, and he received what God had promised.

¹⁶ Now when people take an oath, they call on someone greater than themselves to hold them to it. And without any question that oath is binding. ¹⁷ God also bound himself with an oath, so that those who received the promise could be perfectly sure that he would never change his mind. ¹⁸ So God has given both his promise and his oath. These two things are unchangeable because it is impossible for God to lie. Therefore, we who have fled to him for refuge can have great confidence as we hold to the hope that lies before us. ¹⁹ This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls. It leads us through the curtain into God’s inner sanctuary. ²⁰ Jesus has already gone in there for us. He has become our eternal High Priest in the order of Melchizedek. (NLT)

This passage speaks of God’s promises which are assured to us through Jesus, our High Priest in the order of Melchizedek.  In order to properly understand this passage, we need to understand Melchizedek.

Much speculation has been given as to the exact identity of Melchizedek.  In Genesis 14, Abraham encounters Melchizedek, who serves Abraham bread and wine.  What we do know of Melchizedek is that he was the king of Salem (which means peace), and God’s high priest.  In the Old Testament, the high priest would intercede between the people and God.  The order of Melchizedek (also mentioned in Psalm 110) refers to the Messiah who would become the ultimate intercessor between humanity and God.  Keeping this in mind, let’s consider the rest of this passage.  

The writer of the Book of Hebrews was encouraging the people not to give up the hope that they had found in Jesus.  We should note that this was the hope to come beyond this life.  Consider verses 18 & 19:  “Therefore, we who have fled to him for refuge can have great confidence as we hold to the hope that lies before us. ¹⁹ This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls. It leads us through the curtain into God’s inner sanctuary.” The writer speaks of going through a curtain into God’s inner sanctuary.  In the ancient Jewish Temple, only the high priest would be able to pass through the curtain into the presence of God.  While we know that spiritually God is present with us, we can trust in Jesus that one day we will be in the very presence of the fullness of God – into the inner sanctuary.

Verse twenty states that Jesus has already gone through this curtain and entered into the inner sanctuary.  Consider the words of Jesus in John 14:2 – “I am going there to prepare a place for you. ³ And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.” (NIV) Writing for a Jewish/Christian audience, the writer of Hebrews shares a similar message – Jesus has passed through the curtain into the presence of God, and he will lead us through, as well.

Jesus, our High Priest, has prepared a place for us in the presence of God!  That’s Good Stuff!  Today, let’s rejoice for our High Priest!   

Posted by Ramón Torres

Psalm 119:105 – Your word is a lamp to guide my feet
and a light for my path.
¹⁰⁶ I’ve promised it once, and I’ll promise it again:
I will obey your righteous regulations.
¹⁰⁷ I have suffered much, O Lord;
restore my life again as you promised.
¹⁰⁸ Lord, accept my offering of praise,
and teach me your regulations.
¹⁰⁹ My life constantly hangs in the balance,
but I will not stop obeying your instructions.
¹¹⁰ The wicked have set their traps for me,
but I will not turn from your commandments.
¹¹¹ Your laws are my treasure;
they are my heart’s delight.
 ¹¹² I am determined to keep your decrees
to the very end. (NLT)

Psalm 119 is the longest psalm, and the longest chapter in the Bible, as well.  This psalm is an Acrostic.  There are twenty-two letters in the Hebrew alphabet, and in this psalm there are twenty-two stanzas, one for each letter.  Besides all of this, Psalm 119 is a great psalm that speaks to the power of God’s Word!

This passage begins with what is probably a familiar verse for many: “Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path.”  This is a verse that has been lifted up in song since it was written.  God’s Word may have been written ages ago, but the message is timeless.  Verse 105 is not only timeless, it’s priceless!  When I walk into a book store, I can’t help but notice all of the self help books – How to be a better parent, or a better spouse, etc.  Verse 105 tells us that if we want to be a better person, we need to first seek direction from God’s Word.

I like the New Living Translation for verse 106: “I’ve promised it once, and I’ll promise it again: I will obey your righteous regulations.”  We’ve promised it before, haven’t we?  We need to promise it again, and again!  We know that we are all sinners, and that we all fall short (Romans 3:23).  When we fall short, we need to look again at God’s Word, and promise again to obey God’s Word.

Consider verse 111: “Your laws are my treasure; they are my heart’s delight.”  As a pastor, and as a Christian, I am burdened by the dysfunction and breakup of many families.  It is my observation that many marriages and families are torn apart because what they treasure is not God’s Word, but the things of this world.  Many families treasure their possessions more than the members of their own family.  They may say that they don’t, but the time they give to their ‘stuff’, in relation to the time they give to the members of their family tells a different story.  When we make God’s Word our treasure and our heart’s delight, all of the other things in life are seen in a better light.  Some things become less important, while other things become more important.

Today, let us learn from this ancient psalm.  Let us make God’s Word our guide for this day, and every day!   

Posted by Ramón Torres

Matthew 13:10 – His disciples came and asked him, “Why do you use parables when you talk to the people?”

¹¹ He replied, “You are permitted to understand the secrets of the Kingdom of Heaven, but others are not. ¹² To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given, and they will have an abundance of knowledge. But for those who are not listening, even what little understanding they have will be taken away from them. ¹³ That is why I use these parables,

For they look, but they don’t really see.
They hear, but they don’t really listen or understand.

¹⁴ This fulfills the prophecy of Isaiah that says,

‘When you hear what I say,
you will not understand.
When you see what I do,
you will not comprehend.
¹⁵ For the hearts of these people are hardened,
and their ears cannot hear,
and they have closed their eyes—
so their eyes cannot see,
and their ears cannot hear,
and their hearts cannot understand,
and they cannot turn to me
and let me heal them.’

¹⁶ “But blessed are your eyes, because they see; and your ears, because they hear. ¹⁷ I tell you the truth, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, but they didn’t see it. And they longed to hear what you hear, but they didn’t hear it. (NLT)

We all know that Jesus often taught in parables.  The word parable comes from a Greek word that means a comparison or analogy.  Using parables, Jesus would often make an analogy by saying, “The kingdom of heaven is like …”  To understand a parable, one has to – think!  One has to dig deeper to find the spiritual application of the parable.

When asked why he used parables, Jesus said that many people look but don’t really see, or they hear but don’t really listen or understand (verse 13).  To understand Jesus’ parables, or any of the Bible for that matter, we must dig into the text, for there is often more than meets the eye.  Unfortunately, many still do not really see or understand.  Many never dig deeper themselves, and churches exist that discourage people from digging deeper.   

For example, many Christians have been led to believe that any tattoo is ungodly and sinful, for the Bible clearly says: “Do not cut your bodies for the dead or put tattoo marks on yourselves.” (Leviticus 19:28).  Many Christians judge those who have tattoo’s because of this verse.  However, that very same chapter of the Bible says the following: “‘Do not plant your field with two kinds of seed. Do not wear clothing woven of two kinds of material.” (Leviticus 19:19).  So, if we are to judge anyone with a tattoo as sinful, then we must also judge as sinful anyone who wears clothing with two types of material (almost everyone), and anyone who has a garden with more than one type of vegetable!  

IF we were to dig deeper, we would understand why those laws were given to the Jews at that time and place.  They were given because that was the behavior of the pagans.  Now, having dug deeper, we can make the spiritual application that we ought not to be doing what the pagans do.  To judge by taking a verse out of context, however, is not seeing or understanding!

Dig deeper when you read the Bible.  Don’t take any one preacher or teacher’s word for it (including mine), but dig deeper so that you can truly see and understand. 

Posted by Ramón Torres

Matthew 7:15 – “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. ¹⁶ By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? ¹⁷ Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. ¹⁸ A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. ¹⁹ Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. ²⁰ Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them. (NLT)

I once had a District Superintendent who said that he was not really a good judge of pastors, but that he was a pretty good fruit inspector!  We all knew what he meant.  In this passage, Jesus is speaking specifically about false prophets.  I do not believe that it is a stretch, however, to apply this passage to anyone who claims to be a follower of Jesus.

As followers of Jesus, we are called to live a holy life (Romans 12:1; 2 Timothy 1:9; Hebrews 12:14; 2 Peter 2:21).  If our very lives are called to be holy, then it goes without saying that our very lives should be a witness. We must live carefully for the sake of the Gospel!  We must carefully examine ourselves to see what kind of fruit we are producing.  If we truly want others to believe that Jesus can do anything for them, they must first see that Jesus has done something for us.

In John 15, Jesus calls himself the true vine, and tells us that we are the branches of the true vine.  He encourages us to stay connected to him, so that we can produce ‘much fruit’ (John 15:5).  Indeed, Jesus says: “When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples”. (John 15:8).  According to Jesus, we are only true disciples of Jesus when we produce much fruit! 

Is the fruit that we are producing in our own lives love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control? (Galatians 5:22).  Today, let each of us be a fruit inspector.  Today, let each of us look carefully at the fruit that we are producing.  Let us ensure that our lives are truly a witness to the life changing power of Jesus Christ!   

Posted by Ramón Torres

Psalm 29:1 (NLT) – Honor the Lord, you heavenly beings;
honor the Lord for his glory and strength.
² Honor the Lord for the glory of his name.
Worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness.

³ The voice of the Lord echoes above the sea.
The God of glory thunders.
The Lord thunders over the mighty sea.
⁴ The voice of the Lord is powerful;
the voice of the Lord is majestic.
⁵ The voice of the Lord splits the mighty cedars;
the Lord shatters the cedars of Lebanon.
⁶ He makes Lebanon’s mountains skip like a calf;
he makes Mount Hermon leap like a young wild ox.
⁷ The voice of the Lord strikes
with bolts of lightning.
⁸ The voice of the Lord makes the barren wilderness quake;
the Lord shakes the wilderness of Kadesh.
⁹ The voice of the Lord twists mighty oaks
and strips the forests bare.
In his Temple everyone shouts, “Glory!”

¹⁰ The Lord rules over the floodwaters.
The Lord reigns as king forever.
¹¹ The Lord gives his people strength.
The Lord blesses them with peace. 

The story behind this Psalm was that David had watched a storm move across the land.  The power of the storm that David witnessed turned his thoughts towards God.  Many of us have witnessed firsthand the results of severe weather.  At such a time it is easy to think of the power of God.

The storm that David witnessed must have made him think of God speaking, for seven times we are told about the ‘voice of the Lord’.  The voice of the Lord echoes; is powerful; is majestic; splits the mighty cedars; it strikes with bolts of lightning; it makes the wilderness quake; it twists mighty oaks and strips the forest bare.  Wow!  Who could ever miss the voice of the Lord?

Well, I think we all miss the voice of the Lord at times.  I find it interesting that this Psalm, which at first glance seems to be all about hearing the voice of the Lord, begins with three calls to honor the Lord, and one call to worship the Lord.  Could there be a connection between our honoring and worshipping the Lord, and our ability to experience the voice of the Lord?  Yes, most certainly!

I’m sure that we would all love to hear from God.  When we have decisions to make, hearing from God would be great.  When life confronts us with what appears to be a dilemma, hearing from God would be welcomed.  Let’s strive to honor God with our lives.  Let’s worship God as we are able.  Let’s do this, and then let’s listen for the voice of God.

Posted by Ramón Torres

1 Corinthians 12:4 – There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but the same Spirit is the source of them all. ⁵ There are different kinds of service, but we serve the same Lord. ⁶ God works in different ways, but it is the same God who does the work in all of us.

⁷ A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other. ⁸ To one person the Spirit gives the ability to give wise advice; to another the same Spirit gives a message of special knowledge. ⁹ The same Spirit gives great faith to another, and to someone else the one Spirit gives the gift of healing. ¹⁰ He gives one person the power to perform miracles, and another the ability to prophesy. He gives someone else the ability to discern whether a message is from the Spirit of God or from another spirit. Still another person is given the ability to speak in unknown languages, while another is given the ability to interpret what is being said. ¹¹ It is the one and only Spirit who distributes all these gifts. He alone decides which gift each person should have.

¹² The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up one whole body. So it is with the body of Christ. ¹³ Some of us are Jews, some are Gentiles, some are slaves, and some are free. But we have all been baptized into one body by one Spirit, and we all share the same Spirit. (NLT)

Spiritual Gifts. The Holy Spirit. These are words that scare many Christians!  I believe it to be tragic that many Christians steer clear of all things ‘spiritual’.  Why fear God’s Spirit?  By definition, Christians should be Spirit filled!  Verse seven tells us that the Spirit is given to each of us – so that we can help each other!

There are two powerful things about verse seven that speak to me.  First, it says that each of us has been given some spiritual gift.  You may not know what it is, but you’ve got one!  This list of spiritual gifts that Paul gives here is not an exhaustive list, and there are other gifts mentioned in other New Testament passages.  However, each of us should pray that we would come to know what gift has been given to us.

Secondly, our spiritual gifts are given to us for the purpose of helping one another.  Spiritual gifts are not given to build ourselves up, but instead to build up others.  In this chapter, Paul goes on to illustrate how we are the Body of Christ, and the body is put together so that all its parts benefit the body.  Likewise, we are ‘put together’ here on earth so that we would benefit one another.

Today, let’s do what we can to benefit one another!   

Posted by Ramón Torres

1 Kings 8:54 – When Solomon finished making these prayers and petitions to the Lord, he stood up in front of the altar of the Lord, where he had been kneeling with his hands raised toward heaven. ⁵⁵ He stood and in a loud voice blessed the entire congregation of Israel:  ⁵⁶ “Praise the Lord who has given rest to his people Israel, just as he promised. Not one word has failed of all the wonderful promises he gave through his servant Moses. ⁵⁷ May the Lord our God be with us as he was with our ancestors; may he never leave us or abandon us. ⁵⁸ May he give us the desire to do his will in everything and to obey all the commands, decrees, and regulations that he gave our ancestors. ⁵⁹ And may these words that I have prayed in the presence of the Lord be before him constantly, day and night, so that the Lord our God may give justice to me and to his people Israel, according to each day’s needs. ⁶⁰ Then people all over the earth will know that the Lord alone is God and there is no other. ⁶¹ And may you be completely faithful to the Lord our God. May you always obey his decrees and commands, just as you are doing today.”

⁶² Then the king and all Israel with him offered sacrifices to the Lord. ⁶³ Solomon offered to the Lord a peace offering of 22,000 cattle and 120,000 sheep and goats. And so the king and all the people of Israel dedicated the Temple of the Lord.     ⁶⁴ That same day the king consecrated the central area of the courtyard in front of the Lord’s Temple. He offered burnt offerings, grain offerings, and the fat of peace offerings there, because the bronze altar in the Lord’s presence was too small to hold all the burnt offerings, grain offerings, and the fat of the peace offerings.

⁶⁵ Then Solomon and all Israel celebrated the Festival of Shelters in the presence of the Lord our God. A large congregation had gathered from as far away as Lebo-hamath in the north and the Brook of Egypt in the south. The celebration went on for fourteen days in all—seven days for the dedication of the altar and seven days for the Festival of Shelters. (NLT)

In this passage we have Solomon’s prayer at the dedication of the temple.  This passage is actually the latter part of the prayer, which takes up most of 1 Kings 8.  There is much to learn from this prayer, but unfortunately many people just focus on what seems odd to us – peace offerings with tens of thousands and even hundreds of thousands of animals.  I try not to get hung up on such matters, but it does remind me that peace with God comes at a mighty cost.  Indeed, we know that our peace with God came at the cost of God leaving heaven, coming to earth through Jesus, and dying for our sins.  That was costly! 

Unlike Solomon, we don’t need to sacrifice animals in an effort to have peace with God.  Romans 5:1 tells us, “we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Since our peace with God has been made, what now?  I think we can look to this prayer from Solomon for the answer.  In verse 58 Solomon asks that God would give us the desire to do God’s will in all things.  Jesus also teaches us to pray this prayer (Luke 11). Furthermore, Solomon knew that there could be no better witness for God than for he and his people to be truly living out God’s will (verse 60).

Today, let us seek God’s will for our lives so that others may know of God!

Posted by Ramón Torres