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Hear the devotional here: https://anchor.fm/eradio-valverde/episodes/Who-Can-Save-Israel-e1nhk78
1 Bilious and bloated, they gas, "God is gone." Their words are poison gas, fouling the air; they poison Rivers and skies; thistles are their cash crop. 2 God sticks his head out of heaven. He looks around. He's looking for someone not stupid - one man, even, God-expectant, just one God-ready woman. 3 He comes up empty. A string of zeros. Useless, unshepherded Sheep, taking turns pretending to be Shepherd. The ninety and nine follow their fellow. 4 Don't they know anything, all these impostors? Don't they know they can't get away with this - Treating people like a fast-food meal over which they're too busy to pray? 5 Night is coming for them, and nightmares, for God takes the side of victims. 6 Do you think you can mess with the dreams of the poor? You can't, for God makes their dreams come true. 7 Is there anyone around to save Israel? Yes. God is around; God turns life around. Turned-around Jacob skips rope, turned-around Israel sings laughter. (Psalm 14 The Message Bible)
May this be a tremendously terrific Thursday for you, dear Reader. I just spoke to a longtime friend, Mr. Jorge Saenz of San Antonio and he has asked prayers of us as he faces a medical need. His cardiologist spotted a spot on the lower part of his right lung and he will be having an X-ray on the 10th of October and an appointment with a pulmonologist on the 12th. Please join me in praying that all be well with my dear brother and friend. Prayers for his dear wife, Susan, who worked some years with my bride in Northside Schools in San Antonio. May God be glorified in this need. Pray for one another, prayers for your needs, prayers for the Church, and for the needs of your community, and the world.
It's a sad thing to hear someone say, "There is no God," as the original passage's verse one reads. I've heard it more than I care to share, but just yesterday I heard a popular singer say that because of the life has treated her and more especially the way her own children and parents have treated her, she declared there is no God and that she is now an atheist. This from a Louisana-born Southern Baptist who at the age of 15 signed her first recording contract. She's been married three times, and has two children. What prompted the declaration of her no longer believing in God, was an interview her now 15-year old where he declared his mother to be crazy. We can possibly see where what life brings to some individuals they're wanting to say there is no God, but can we see where an entire nation comes to the conclusion that there is no God?
Dr. Eugene Peterson's version of the Bible which is The Message, gives us a hilarious version. The citizens of Israel gorged themselves on cabbage and other gas-causing foods; bloated and bilious, they "gas" the declaration, in this version, "God is gone." God says that even their words are poison gas that fouls up not only the air, but rivers and skies, and the only thing they can harvest are thistles. And it is at this point that God sitcks His head out of heaven and looks around seeing if He can find "someone not stupid - one man, even, God-expectant, just one God-ready woman." And God finds none!
But we knew that. It was very much the part of Israel's DNA in the Old Testament. Well, make it New Testament as well. And let's include ourselves in that as well. Though we have a Shepherd, as did they, they wandered off; and as the writer says, they took turns "pretending to be Shepherd." Even, as Dr. Peterson wrote, "The ninety and nine follow their fellow." He knew the story told on Monday in Luke 15, so he has that advantage over King David, the original writer, but does a great job of describing the reality of those who willingly leave God to follow other gods. They've chosen their path and they cannot justify it.
Then today's question, "Is there anyone around to save Israel?" And he answers it himself, "Yes. God is around; God turns life around." Amen. And the even better news? God is still around and God can turn us around; and like the Israel in this passage, we too can skip rope, and sing laughter. All we have to do is ask.
PRAYER: God, how awesome is Your love for us. We ask that You pour it out in huge doses for we need it. We were lost but now we are found, thanks to You. Guide us to the right place all the time. In Christ Jesus' strong name we pray, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! YOUR CALL TO ACTION: Skip rope, spiritually speaking, and help others sing laughter!
Receive my blessings of love and joy,
Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.
