graces the grounds of the Charlotte Douglas International Airport
which is located in the Piedmont area of North Carolina
and can be viewed on their website.
"Happy are the people who are in such a state; Happy are the people whose God is the Lord!" (Psalm 144:15). This passage basically sums up what God wants for me. It's not the same as "living happily ever after" portrayed in fairy tales. It is reality--the reality of God! There are several phrases in today's passage in Psalm 144, that drew my attention. "I will sing a new song to You, O God" (v. 9). "The One who gives salvation to kings" (v. 10). "That our sons may be as plants grown up in their youth; that our daughters may be as pillars, sculptured in palace style" (v. 12). God inspired these beautiful words to be read by His people, preserving them in His holy book that we call the Bible. The verses preceding verse 15, describe a state of full barns, an abundance of produce, productive flocks, and "no outcry in our streets". Without peace, "plenty" is not complete. God, our Savior, who came to earth to give us "abundant life" (John 10:10), is also called "The Prince of Peace" (Isaiah 9:6). God has every base covered. Jesus is "waiting in the wings" to bring peace to all the earth at His return. As God's daughter and recipient of the Holy Spirit I have His peace abiding in me now as do all believers. The extent of peace in my life depends a great deal on the degree to which I choose to abide in God.
In Revelation 9:20-21, God lists certain sins that people will hold onto and not repent of even after experiencing three plagues that will take out a third of the population. They will not give up the worship of demons and idols and will not repent of murder, sorcery, sexual immorality, and thefts. Dr. Stanley makes this comment regarding those who have hardened their hearts in such a way toward God. "Encouragement and expressions of God's grace can soften hearts before the Day of Judgment. Today, show someone the love of God in a genuine way so that their hearts might be softened and they may repent. You may be instrumental in changing their eternal destination".
There is much wisdom in Proverbs 30:10, regarding motives. "Do not malign a servant to his master, lest he curse you, and you be found guilty". The Amplified Bible presents it this way, "Do not accuse and hurt a servant before his master, lest he curse you, and you be held guilty [of adding to the burdens of the lowly]." "Accusing and hurting" are things Jesus never did, nor will ever do to anyone! Attempting to impress someone or make myself look good at another person's expense suggests selfish, ugly motives rather than a Christ-like attitude of love and concern for others.
The prophet Micah speaks the word of the Lord to all peoples! "Listen, O earth, and all that is in it! . . For behold, the Lord is coming out of His place; He will come down"! (v. 2, 3). Speaking of "your precious children", God says, "For they shall go from you into captivity" (v.16). The phrase "Because I can!" has become popular today. However, this is evidently not a new idea. "Woe to those who devise iniquity, and work out evil on their beds! At morning light they practice it, because it is in the power of their hand" (Micah 2:1). Micah describes a time of covetousness, violence, and oppression (of people and property). "They covet fields and take them by violence, also houses, and seize them. So they oppress a man and his house, a man and his inheritance" (v. 2). God warns these oppressors that He is "devising disaster, from which you cannot remove your necks; nor shall you walk haughtily, for this is an evil time" (v. 3). In this time, it will also be said that God "'has changed the heritage of my people; How He has removed it from me! To a turncoat He has divided our fields'". God asks this, "Do not My words do good to him who walks uprightly?" He continues in verse 8, "Lately My people have risen up as an enemy".
In Micah chapter 3, God takes issue with the "heads of Jacob" and "rulers of the house of Israel" (v. 1). He lists the ways they harm and destroy His people. He asks these leaders, "Is it not for you to know justice? You who hate good and love evil". He warns that they will experience "night without vision" and "darkness without divination; the sun shall go down on the prophets, and the day shall be dark for them" (v. 6). However, Micah says of himself, "But truly I am full of power by the Spirit of the Lord, and of justice and might"! (v. 8). How very encouraging! With this in mind I can appropriately end today's blog with the same verse it began with: "Happy are the people who are in such a state; Happy are the people whose God is the Lord"!
No comments:
Post a Comment