Pros and Cons of the Faith--Day 256 Through the Bible

                                      We may anticipate the future shadowed by fears from the past, 
                                                                            however we can only live in the present 
                                                            and that by the faith of the Son of God (Galatians 2:20).
                                              (Picture was taken at Quiet Reflections Retreat in Yancey County 2012)

2 Corinthians 6:1-18
Paul begins this passage by admonishing those at Corinth "we then, as workers together with Him also plead with you not to receive the grace of God in vain". After we have believed that Christ is the Son of God, what then?  The following verses do anything but convey the idea of doing nothing while we wait for God.  "As God has said, "I will dwell in them and walk among them.  I will be their God, and they shall be my people.  Therefore come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you.  I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty".

Paul writes previously in this chapter that, "We give no offense in anything, that our ministry may not be blamed".  He then lists the pros and cons of how he and other believers are "commended" as ministers of God:
 --"in much patience
-- in tribulations,
-- in needs
-- in distresses
-- in stripes
--in imprisonments
--in tumults
--in labors
--in sleeplessness
-- in fastings;"

This "list" may strike fear in our hearts as believers, but we certainly must not "forget all His benefits (Psalm 103): 
--"I will dwell in them and walk among them"
--"I will be their God, and they shall be my people"
--I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters

"We are commended as ministers of God:
by purity
by knowledge
by longsuffering
by kindness
by the Holy Spirit
by sincere love
by the word of truth
by the power of God
by the armor of righteousness
by honor and dishonor
by evil report and good report".

-"We are as deceivers, and yet true;
-unknown yet well known,
-as dying, and behold we live;
-as chastened, and yet not killed;
-as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing;
-as poor, yet making many rich,
-as having nothing, yet possessing all things."


Isaiah 19:1-20:6
"Behold the Lord rides on a swift cloud, and will come into Egypt; the idols of Egypt will totter at His presence, and the heart of Egypt will melt in the midst."  God leaves nothing untouched---brothers, neighbors, cities, kingdoms and the spirit of Egypt will fail.  God will destroy their counsel and they will consult idols, charmers, mediums and sorcerers.  "The waters will fail from the sea, the rivers will dry up and turn foul.  The brooks of defense will be emptied and dried up".  Reeds and rushes will wither, everything sown by the river will be no more.  The fishermen will feel the effects of God's judgment as will those who work in fine flax and weave fine fabric.  "All who make wages will be troubled of soul."  The princes and wise counselors will become fools, they will be deceived and delude Egypt.  "Egypt will err in all her work as a drunken man staggers in his vomit.  Neither will there be any work for Egypt."

"In that day Egypt will . . fear because of the waving of the hand of the Lord of hosts, which He waves over it."  "In that day"--the day of the Lord-- is mentioned at least six times in chapter 19 and once in chapter 20.
It is an embarrassment to be the brunt of God's judgment--to be led away "as captives, young and old, naked and barefoot, with their buttocks uncovered, to the shame of Egypt".  The passage leaves us with the question, "And how shall we escape?"  (Consider and meditate on the answer, then read Jesus' own words in Luke 21:36, "Watch therefore, and pray always, that you may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.")

Proverbs 25:13, the blessing of faithfulness--"a faithful messenger . . refreshes the soul of his masters". 

Psalm 106:40-48
Israel followed a pattern of rebellion and idolatry, resulting in God's wrath which then resulted in affliction, captivity, and cries for help, followed by God's mercy and deliverance.  This was played out over and over and is being played out again in this country that was founded on the principles of Christianity and Judaism, such as the Ten Commandments which were given by the God of Israel--the God of the Holy Bible."Blessed be the Lord God of Israel from everlasting to everlasting! And let all the people say, 'Amen!"

National Day of Prayer--Day 122 Through the Bible

Today in America, many Christians are observing the National Day of Prayer.  There is recognition in the minds of some that America is bordering on the judgment of God.  The Philistines found themselves in possession of the ark of the God of Israel. They were evidently ravaged with "tumors and rats", but were not sure whether it was by the hand of God or by chance.  The cows carrying the ark headed straight for the road to Beth Shemesh, lowing as they went and not turning aside to the right or left.  The path the cattle took confirmed that the plagues were indeed from the hand of God.

At Beth Shemesh, curious onlookers took it upon themselves to look into the ark of God.  The Lord struck 50,070 men and they died.  God's holiness demands respect and He possesses the power to get our attention.  The men of the city were left with this question, "Who is able to stand before this holy Lord God?"  They quickly asked their neighbors to take the ark off their hands.  Readings in the Old Testament serve to caution us about flippancy where Almighty God is concerned.  We hear people nonchalantly referring to God as "the man upstairs" and taking God's name in vain without a second thought.  The understanding of God we are gaining by our dedicated reading of these scriptures is priceless!  God is truly awesome and He has called us into a relationship with Him.  What joy is this!  Just as Samuel admonished Israel to return to the Lord with all their hearts and put away their foreign gods, prepare their hearts, and serve Him only--we, as God's people in America are being called to humble ourselves, to pray, to seek God's face, and turn from our wicked ways. God goes on to say in 2 Chronicles 7:14, that in return He will hear from heaven, forgive our sins, and heal our land!

Israel gathered in prayer, poured out the water instead of drinking it, and fasted, acknowledging their sins before the Lord.  God confused Israel's enemy and the Philistines were driven back.  Samuel set up a stone and called its name "Ebenezer", saying, "Thus far the Lord has helped us".  The hand of the Lord was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel and the cities of Israel were restored.  Samuel was a great leader and judged Israel all the days of his life. Samuel's dynamic leadership gives us a taste for the kingdom of God and whets our desire for the King of kings to take the reins of leadership in this world.  Come quickly, Lord Jesus!

In Psalm 55, David languishes because of the oppression of the wicked, because of trouble, because he is overwhelmed by horror.  As followers of Christ, we are grieved at the path our beloved country is taking.  (However, we, like the Philistines, are not sure whether we are suffering the ravages of storms, diseases, etc., because of chance or at God's hands.)  We need sober, godly leaders to lead us to a path of righteousness as a nation, yet we helplessly watch as mature men and women "feed on foolishness" (Proverbs 15:14).  Jesus reminds us in Luke 21:20-38, of a time of great distress in the land, a time when "Jerusalem will be trampled by Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled".  He goes on to give a personal warning--something we can apply to ourselves!  He warns us to "take heed to yourselves" that that Day not come upon us unexpectedly.  He says it will come as a snare--a trap--"on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth"!  I think that includes us!  His next sentence gives us hope: "Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man". (Verse 37 notes that during the day Jesus taught in the temple, but at night He went out and stayed on the mountain called Olivet--the mount of Olives. The mount from which Jesus would ascend into heaven following His death, resurrection, and the giving of the great commission.  The mount that will cleave in two when His feet once again touches this earth (Zechariah 14:4.)

We don't know whether America will be pulled back from the precipice of moral decay and rejection of God as a nation--or whether our country will be changed forever and no longer be the land of freedom and religious liberty.  There was a reason Jesus spent His nights on Mt. Olivet.  Whatever happens in our lives, in this country, in the world, we must spend our "nights" with our affections set on things above (Colossians 3:2), looking forward to Christ's return and the culmination of God's plan for the world!

Pause and Think!--Day 68 Through the Bible

                                    The remains of a rock wall now covered with moss is all that is left
                                                                        of this old homestead in Yancey County.

If I believe what the Bible says, I understand that Jeremiah 17:9, says that, “(my) heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked—who can know it?” To read about the rebellion of Korah and the accusations against Moses and Aaron, followed by the ground opening up and all their households being swallowed up, is terrifying. And, it’s hard to comprehend that the next day all the congregation complained against Moses and Aaron again—and God killed 14,700, besides those killed in the Korah rebellion.

As human beings, we evidently have the potential to harden our hearts even within hours of seeing the judgment of God displayed in such a horrific manner. How deeply this bitterness and envy against Moses and Aaron must have been rooted! Moses was very in-tune with what God required and intervened immediately on behalf of the congregation of Israel. He knew “wrath (had) gone out from the Lord” and “The plague has begun”. Aaron obeyed Moses' instructions without question and put fire and incense in the censer and “stood between the dead and the living; so the plague was stopped”.

These accounts were put in the Bible for our benefit (2 Tim 3:16) and should serve to strike a healthy respect for God in our hearts as well as a fear of becoming involved in sin. God evidently does not take rebellion and complaining lightly. Proverbs 6:16-19, lists 6 things the Lord hates. They include: a proud look, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked imaginations, a false witness that speaks lies, feet that are quick to run to mischief, and he that sows discord among brethren”. Presumptuous sin was addressed in Numbers 15, along with unintentional sin which was forgiven. However, presumptuous sin “brings reproach on the Lord”, and that person was “completely cut off”, and would bear his own guilt.

God looks on our hearts (I Samuel 16:7). Jesus instructed the disciples to pray that they would not be led into temptation, but delivered from evil. Paul describes the struggle between the flesh and the Spirit in Galatians 5:24-26, where he writes: “And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another”. (We just read what this looked like on Korah when it was full blown, as well as how God responded to it.) In case we need another list for reference, the works of the flesh are also enumerated in Galatians 5, along with the fruits of the Spirit.

There could not be a better scripture to read following these accounts of God’s judgment and plague on Israel than the one that follows in today’s study. What a relief to read, “Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord does not impute iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit” (Psalm 32:1-2). Salvation and forgiveness of sin is not something we should take lightly. As forgiven believers, we are not “immune" to sin and its consequences. Throughout the Bible, as in Numbers 16, God gives us glimpses of the consequences of sin to remind us of its seriousness. Many times we see believers as well as unbelievers reaping these penalties. Although God forgave David of his sins, God allowed David and Bathsheba's baby to die. In the early church, Ananias and Sapphira paid with their lives for lying to the Holy Spirit about money they were giving to the church (Acts 5:1-11).

In Hebrews 4:11-13, we are warned, “Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall according to the same example of disobedience. For the word of God is living, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. And there is no creature hidden from His sight; but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account”. We are all included in this assessment! Psalm 32:5, offers the only response to God that we can make (and live): “I acknowledged my sin to You, and my iniquity I have not hidden. I said, ‘I will confess my transgressions to the Lord’. And You forgave the iniquity of my sin. Selah”.  Selah can be translated “pause, and think of that”!