True Religion - Day 323 Through the Bible

“The Return of the Prodigal” by Ben Long IV at Montreat College in Western North Carolina, part of the Benjamin F. Long IV Fresco Trail, sponsored by Blue Ridge Heritage Area.  The trail extends to the Crossnore School, near Mt. Celo Church and into Asheville and surrounding counties. 

“,,,but there is forgiveness with You.” Psalm 130:4

My Meditations on Today's Readings
(Ellipses are mine and are used for contemplation.)

Key Words and Phrases: Woe, lamentation, judgment; there is forgiveness with You; receive with meekness, the implanted word, which is able to save your souls

A Lamentation for Egypt – Ezekiel 31 and 32 (What It Says – Summarized) God’s Judgment:  Egypt and its Pharaoh have been added to the nations judged for doom and destruction by God.  Reasons: 1) Because its heart was lifted up, 2) because of its wickedness, 3) for “troubling the waters with your feet, and fouling their rivers”, 4) for causing terror in the land of the living. Result: 1) Darkness…desolation…destitution…destruction, 2) after 40 years, Egypt will be restored…but…as the lowliest of kingdoms (29:15).  3) Other nations will join in Egypt’s fate – Assyria, Elam, Meschech, Tubal, and Edom.  “They will bear their shame with those who go down to the pit.” Principle: God is continuing His destruction of the enemy nations of Israel and Judah who gloated in the divine judgment meted out to the Chosen Nations.  These enemy nations are also judged for their own grave wickedness.  Interpreting Scripture with Scripture:  When God Judges Our Enemies: Do not rejoice when your enemy falls,
 and do not let your heart be glad when he stumbles; lest the Lord see it, and it displease Him,
 and He turn away His wrath from him. “(Proverbs 24:17-18) When God Judges His People: “Rejoice not against me, O mine enemy: when I fall, I shall arise; when I sit in darkness, the Lord shall be a light unto me. I will bear the indignation of the Lord, because I have sinned against him, until he plead my cause, and execute judgment for me: he will bring me forth to the light, and I shall behold his righteousness. Then she that is mine enemy shall see it, and shame shall cover her which said unto me, Where is the Lord thy God? mine eyes shall behold her: now shall she be trodden down as the mire of the streets.” (Micah 7:8-10)

A Cry for God’s Mercy in the Face of Sin (Psalm 130: 1-4) Facts: What It Says – Summarized)  The Psalmist’s Cry:  1) Out of the depths…I have cried…to You, O LORD. 2) LORD…hear…my voice! 3) Let Your ears be attentive…to the voice of my supplications.  The Psalmist’s Reasoning:  If You, LORD…should mark iniquities…O Lord, who could stand? The Psalmist’s Hope: But…there is forgiveness with You…that…You may be feared. Principle:  The Psalmist knows that...only God…can rescue him out of his pit of despair.  He understands God’s character – His holiness and, therefore, His judgment as well as His love and compassion. His forgiveness is for those who call on Him in faith.  (Note that the Psalmist uses “You/r” and “LORD” 9 times in 4 short sentences.)

Boiled Down to Its Essence – James 1 – (Facts:  What It Says – Summarized) – Who We Are in Christ: “Of His own will…He brought us forth…by the word of truth…that…we might be…a kind of firstfruits…of His creatures. What We Should Know: Do not be deceived…my beloved brethren…every…good gift…and…perfect gift…is from above…and comes down from the Father of lights…with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.  How We Should Then Live: 1) My brethren…count it all joy…when you fall into various trials…knowing…that the testing of your faith…produces patience.  2) Let patience have its perfect work…that…you may be perfect…and complete…and lacking in nothing. 3) If any of you lacks wisdom…let him ask of God…who gives to all…liberally…and without reproach…and it will be given to him. 4) Let the lowly brother glory in his exaltation, but the rich in his humiliation…because as a flower of the field, he will pass away.  5) Blessed be the man…who endures…temptation…for…when he has been approved…he will receive the crown of life…which the Lord has promised…to those…who love Him.  God does not tempt.  He tests.  We are…drawn away…by our own…desires…and enticed.  Desire conceives…and gives birth to sin. 6) My brethren…let every man be…swift to hear…slow to speak…slow to wrath…for…the wrath of man does not produce…the righteousness of God.  7) Therefore…lay aside…all filthiness…and overflow of wickedness…and 8) receive…with meekness…the implanted word…which is able to save your souls.  9) But…be doers of the word….and not hearers only…This one will be blessed…in what he does. 10) Bridle your tongue.  If anyone among you…thinks…he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue, but deceives his own heart…his religion is useless.  What is True Religion?  Pure…and…undefiled…religion…before God and the Father is this: 1) to visit…orphans and widows…in their trouble…and 2) to keep oneself unspotted from the world. Principle:  This is the outward working of the inward reality.  The Word was made flesh and came to us…”brought us forth…by His own will”.  Now His word and His Holy Spirit are in us as we go out into the world as ambassadors of Christ.  “This implanted word is able to save our souls” and those to whom we take it, per our Great Commission.  (The Word made flesh – John 1:14; Ambassadors for Christ – 2 Corinthians 5:20; Great Commission – Matthew 23:16-20)

My Lessons and Applications:  Is my “religion” pure and undefiled according to the book of James?  Do I have His word firmly implanted in me, ready to share with others, to the saving of my soul and theirs?  More importantly, do I live – do – what the Word teaches? Have I carefully considered and tallied up my life with the 10 statements above of how I should live in light of God’s gifts to me?

God has said…(Heb. 13:5)…through the word of truth (James 1:18)

We must find our daily refuge in the words, “God has said.”  May this teach us how important it is to diligently study the Scriptures.” (John 5:39)  Charles Spurgeon, Morning and Evening

Many people do not realize the tremendous power there is in God’s Word.  “The Father does not change” (James 1:17) nor does His Word – but His Word changes lives!  In fact, it is what gives us spiritual life, for “He chose to give us birth…through the word of truth.” (James 1:18)  “The word of God is living and active.  Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12)  To access the power of the Word, however, we must know it.  The Lord told Moses, “These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hears.  Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.  Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads.  Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.” (Deuteronomy 6:6-9)  Yet, the Lord promises His help as well: “I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts.” (Jeremiah 31:33)
Jim Reimann commentary on Charles Spurgeon’s Morning and Evening