This post returns to the “faith” element of faithedtech.org. It stems from my recent reading of the minor prophets as I completed the entire Bible for the second time this year. For some reason (well…the Holy Spirit!) I was struck by the modern relevance of some of those prophetic writings from the Old Testament. The minor prophets may be among the least read of all Bible books, but here are three to embrace:

• Jonah: Like each of us, Jonah’s personality is a mix of contradictions. He wants to serve God, but on his terms. He shows great courage when asking to be thrust into the churning waters of a turbulent ocean, but also becomes petulant when events do not turn out as he anticipates. When God directs his actions, he seeks to take control himself. Sound familiar? Jonah’s story is our story as we wrestle with God’s justice and grace. Ultimately, His love and forgiveness for sinful humans shines through.
• Habakkuk: This prophet asks age-old questions as to why the wicked seem to proper? Is God paying attention? Why does God allow evil? God assures each of us through his response to the prophet that He is watching and is still sovereign. Habbakuk also models open and honest prayer to the Lord.
• Haggai: This prophet addresses the spiritual lethargy of the Jewish exiles as they returned to the Holy Land from Babylon. Haggai exhorts them to move forward with the re-building of the temple and, as a result, to renew their zeal for the Lord. This request can also be seen as a plea for us to cast off any spiritual indifference we may harbor today.

I encourage you to review these books and see how God uses these ancient prophets to speak to us today.