Do We Miss Jesus?

eMoment by Laurie Aker

Focus Scripture: Luke 11:29-32

29 When the crowds were increasing, he began to say, 

“This generation is an evil generation. It seeks for a sign,

 but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah. 

30 For as Jonah became a sign to the people of Nineveh,

 so will the Son of Man be to this generation. 31 The queen of the South 

will rise up at the judgment with the men of this generation and 

condemn them, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the 

wisdom of Solomon, and behold, something greater than Solomon

 is here. 32 The men of Nineveh will rise up at the judgment 

with this generation and condemn it, for they repented at the 

preaching of Jonah, and behold, something greater than Jonah is here. 

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When I was young I was asked by my mother,

“who do you think you are, the Queen of Sheba?”

I didn’t know who the Queen of Sheba was, 

but I knew exactly what she meant…

I was being overly confident and full of myself.

There was something worth knowing about this ancient woman.

According to the ancient historian Josephus, the queen of Ethiopia  

was the Queen of Sheba as mentioned in the following Passage: 

 

 

2 Chronicles 9:1-9

1 Now when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon, 

she came to Jerusalem to test him with hard questions…5 And she said to the

 king, “The report was true that I heard in my own land of your words and of 

your wisdom, 6 but I did not believe the  reports until I came and my own 

eyes had seen it. And behold, half the greatness of your wisdom was not 

told me; you surpass the report that I heard. 7 Happy are your wives!  

Happy are these your servants, who continually stand before you and hear 

your wisdom!  8 Blessed be the LORD your God, who has 

delighted in you and set you on his throne as king for the LORD 

your God! Because your God loved Israel and would establish them 

forever, he has made you king over them, that you may execute justice 

and righteousness.”  9 Then she gave the king 120 talents  

of gold, and a very great quantity of spices, and precious stones. 

There were no spices such as those that the queen of Sheba 

gave to King Solomon.

 

This queen, who knew little or nothing of the God of Israel,

was compelled to travel many miles from a distant land  

to test the God-given wisdom of King Solomon.    

She had heard of the God of Israel 

and was drawn to inquire of Him. Yet God’s chosen people, 

who had been taught in their Holy Law about their heavenly King,

despised and even rejected Him. Later when the King of kings, 

the Prince of prophets, their Promised Messiah came 

 they trivialized Him, ignored Him, and later would crucify Him.

The Queen’s actions and her response condemned Israel.

 

Today we have been given even greater riches than Israel: 

the Old and New Testament, salvation, eternal inheritance,

and the Holy Spirit, to name a few. But are we also guilty 

of missing the glory of the Lord?

Does the Queen’s response put us to shame:

 

  “Blessed be the LORD your God, who has 

delighted in you and set you on his throne as king for the LORD 

your God! Because your God loved Israel and would establish them 

forever, he has made you king over them, that you may execute justice 

and righteousness.”   

 

Israel was looking for a sign, but what are we looking for?

What are we striving for?

Do we miss Jesus and His glory because we are so 

caught up, entangled, enamored, and entertained 

that we can barely see? 

 

O Lord, have mercy on us.

Help us get past ourselves, our culture, and our cravings.

Help us to stop looking around so that we can see You.

 

O Lord, have mercy on me.

Help me look to you and only you,

moment by moment throughout the day.

Let my mind be focused upon you.

Let my heart be full of you.

Let my life be for you.

 

Hebrews 12:2 

…looking to Jesus, the founder 

and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set 

before him endured the cross, despising the shame, 

and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

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Better Than Bread

by Angie Thomas

I have to admit that I like to eat and drink.  The thought of starting a fast always makes my stomach churn a bit and my flesh totally balks at it! What about you? I know the thought of denying ourselves seems so foreign and strange in many ways. Especially for something that is unseen. There appears to be no immediate reward.

But, that is a lie and is exactly what the enemy wants us to think.  The enemy tempts us in the same way he tempted Jesus in the desert, “If you are God’s child, why would He ever want to deny you anything? Eat now, enjoy, take what you want, you have freedom.” Matthew 4 exposes Satan’s trick beautifully, “And the tempter came and said to [Jesus], “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” v.3 Satan is basically saying, “If you are really God’s Son, then why wouldn’t you just make some bread for yourself and enjoy. You haven’t eaten in 40 days, surely God would never want His Son to go 40 days without food?” Jesus has a perfect answer, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” v.4  He combats the lie with God’s word. He dispels the illusion Satan is trying to create with the reality of God’s truth in His word.

Joel 2 gives us a beautiful picture of God’s promise to meet us when we humble ourselves before him and cry out in prayer and fasting.  The reward is even greater than we could ever ask or imagine.

Joel 2:12-13, 21-23, 24-25, 26
“Yet even now,” declares the Lord,
“return to me with all your heart,
with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning;
  and rend your hearts and not your garments.”
Return to the Lord your God,
for he is gracious and merciful,
slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love;
and he relents over disaster.

“Fear not, O land;
be glad and rejoice,
for the Lord has done great things!
 Fear not, you beasts of the field,
for the pastures of the wilderness are green;
the tree bears its fruit;
the fig tree and vine give their full yield.

“Be glad, O children of Zion,
and rejoice in the Lord your God,

 “The threshing floors shall be full of grain;
the vats shall overflow with wine and oil.
I will restore to you the years
that the swarming locust has eaten…

“You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied,
and praise the name of the Lord your God,
who has dealt wondrously with you.

Do not believe the enemy’s lie. Stop procrastinating if the Lord is asking you to fast. I can’t wait to see what He shows us and teaches us on this journey! The blessing of the Lord is waiting.

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The Sign of Jonah

 eMoment by Laurie Aker

Focus Scripture: Luke 11:29-32

29 When the crowds were increasing, he began to say,

“This generation is an evil generation. It seeks for a sign,

but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah.

30 For as Jonah became a sign to the people of Nineveh,

so will the Son of Man be to this generation. 31 The queen of the South

will rise up at the judgment with the men of this generation and

condemn them, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the

wisdom of Solomon, and behold, something greater than Solomon

is here. 32 The men of Nineveh will rise up at the judgment

with this generation and condemn it, for they repented at the

preaching of Jonah, and behold, something greater than Jonah is here.

____________________________________

God’s people had been given many promises and foreshadowings.

 

Hebrews 1:1-4

1 Long ago, at many times and in many ways,

God spoke to our fathers by the prophets,

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. 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,

4 having become as much superior to angels as the name he

has inherited is more excellent than theirs.

The crowds wanted a sign.

But Jesus said they didn’t need a sign.

God’s people had not been listening very well.

They were given God’s commands but disobeyed them.

They rejected God as their ruler and demanded a king.

They were sent many prophets and then killed them.

They had the ability to hear but definitely weren’t listening.

Now they wanted a sign.

Matthew 12:39-41

He answered them,

“An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign,

but no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah.

40 For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the

belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days

and three nights in the heart of the earth. 41 The men of

Nineveh will rise up at the judgment with this generation

and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah,

and behold, something greater than Jonah is here.

Have you ever tried to talk with a teenager while they

were texting on their phone?

Or your husband while he was watching

the big game of the season?

A sleepwalking family member?

A college student sacked on the couch after final exams?

Distracted. Disinterested. Dazed. Detached. Dead to the world.

Not everyone who has ears can hear.

Remember Jesus’ words:

“He who has ears to hear let him hear.”

How is your hearing?

Jonah didn’t listen well.

God called him to go to Nineveh but

Jonah tried to get as far as he could from Nineveh and God, himself.

He heard God but he didn’t listen to Him or obey Him.

Just as Jonah, “who came alive,” after having been in the belly

of the whale for three days and preached repentance

to the Ninevites, as a sign to them;

so was the death and resurrection of Christ,

and the preaching of the Gospel to God’s people a sign to them.

Every life that is brought from the kingdom of

darkness to the kingdom of light a sign to all.

We have been given much.

We see changed lives.

We have the Scriptures.

We have Christ in us!

We hear the Gospel preached every weekend,

but what is our response?

What are we waiting for? A sign?

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