This will be the last post for our blog for this year through the Bible. If you did not read the post for yesterday, I would encourage you to read it. At the end of the blog, the writer eloquently sums up the year and shares the areas God has impressed upon her heart during the past year. As believers, God works with each of us as individuals through the Holy Spirit. I am always inspired by others' testimonies as I see how God is working in their lives and often I find that God is dealing with similar issues in my heart.
These are my thoughts and impressions on the final chapters of Malachi, Psalms, Proverbs, and the book of Revelation (not in that order).
The writings of the psalmists end in a most appropriate way. The book closes with a round of tremendous praises for God!
"Praise the Lord!"--in His sanctuary and in His mighty firmament!
Praise Him for--His mighty acts, and according to His excellent greatness!
How to praise Him?---with the trumpet, the lute and harp, with timbrel and dance, with stringed instruments and flutes, with loud cymbals, with clashing cymbals!
And finally, "Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord!"
What a glorious celebration to look forward to when all God's people are gathered together in one place to praise our Father God with all our hearts for bringing each of us to that place that we may dwell with Him forever! But, oh, we have the opportunity now to praise Him for this hope and for all He does for us in our fleshly dwellings! For His deliverance from spiritual bondage, for tremendous mercies and grace toward us now! Let everything that has breath praise the Lord!
We have read many instances in the Bible this year where women were connected with wickedness and evil. Eve, Jezebel, the seductress in Proverbs, Sapphira, the harlot drunken with the blood of the saints in Revelation, just to name a few. These are women without virtue--women separated from God! The writer of Proverbs 31, and inspired by God, devotes an entire passage to the value and description of the virtuous woman. Her price is indeed "far above rubies"! We unfortunately and too often see our young women today in settings that are degrading and without virtue. Yet, there may be more women listed in the Bible who were women of virtue than those who were not. It may pose a challenge today for women to be known for "strength and honor" in a worldly culture that encourages self-exaltation and crudeness. A challenge it is, yet godly women remain trustworthy and dedicated to God, their family and serving others in the community. A virtuous woman is smart, has a good work ethic, and has substance beyond physical beauty. Her worth only increases with age. She is for real and in her wake we find provision, inspiration, and encouragement left with those who have encountered her. I find it interesting that the wisdom of God in the book of Proverbs ends with praise for the virtuous woman. Women bear and rear the children. We read the biographies of many famous men and women with godly backgrounds whose mothers took responsiblity for setting them on the path of character and leadership.
God loves us greatly and without Him we are on a path of failure and self-destruction. In Malachi 1:6, God asks, "If then I am the Father, where is My honor? And if I am a Master, where is My reverence?" If our eyes were open to who God really is, we would not be able to wait to get in line to eat at His table of goodness! And, we would be more than happy to obey His instructions. We would fall at His feet in worship, despising our sins, and begging for His mercy and forgiveness! God says we must "take to heart" what He has told us (in His word--this year and in the coming new year.) Or else--I will send a curse upon you, and I will curse your blessings. Yes, I have cursed them already, because you do not take it to heart. (Malachi 2:2). Am I reverent before God's name (2: 5)? Is the law of truth in my mouth (v. 6)? Is injustice found on my lips? Do I walk with God in peace and equity? Am I instrumental in turning others away from iniquity? Do I see myself as a "messenger" of the Lord of hosts (v. 7)? To what extent am I involved with the sins of the world? Do I condone sexual immorality--the opposite of what God has established. Am I entertained by adultery, violence and immorality in songs, movies, novels, etc? Am I accepting of a gospel that condones sin and uses "grace" as a license? God warns that "the day is coming" (4:1) "and all the proud, yes, all who do wickedly will be stubble"! "But to you who fear My name the Sun of Righteousness shall arise with healing in His wings" (v. 2). Malachi ends, however, with a warning: "Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord. And he will turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and hearts of the children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the earth with a curse" (v. 5, 6)!
Our final reading in Revelation is the passage at the end of all "the holy books" that tells us how it will all end. It fills the believer with hope and offers peace that truly passes all understanding (see Philippians 4:7). God's love, mercy, and compassion for us culminate in this final passage. Read Revelation 21 & 22 for yourselves. It is powerful. It is awesome. (Call to mind as you read it, the blessing that God pronounced on those who read the Book of Revelation (see Rev.1:3). "Wonderful, Merciful Savior" is a song that has special meaning to me. I hope you will listen to it and that you will enter 2014, with a renewed desire to read through the Bible again. God's word is not like any other book. "For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart" (Hebrews 4:12). If we will allow it to do so, God through His word and the Holy Spirit will separate from us all those things that separate us from Him!
No comments:
Post a Comment