Wednesday, October 28, 2015

God Is Jealous

"God is jealous, and the Lord revengeth: the Lord revengeth, and is furious: the Lord will take vengeance on his adversaries, and he reserveth wrath for his enemies."  Nahum 1:2.  It is difficult for humanity to think about the vengeance of God.  We want to see God as inviting, not jealous; forgiving, not vengeful; loving, not furious.  But, God only takes vengeance on His adversaries.  The jealousy of God calls us to commitment of Him, and Him alone.  There is no place for anyone or anything else.  God reserves wrath to those who will not make such a commitment.  His wrath has been dispersed in times of old.  The flood destroyed all the sinful.  Adam and Eve were cast out of the garden of Eden.  All who were opposed to God were displaced and destroyed.  No enemy of God can stand nor overcome.  Those who are His enemies today will suffer the vengeance of His wrath.  Because of His wrath, God has created the "lake of fire and brimstone" for the devil and his angels and all who choose to follow evil and commit iniquity.  God's jealousy invites all to trust and obey Him.  God's jealousy calls all to holiness and purity.  To be otherwise is to be His enemy.  And, without exception, all of God's enemies will see destruction and wrath to the uttermost. 

Monday, October 26, 2015

The Devil Is Cunning

"Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made.  And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?"  Genesis 3:1.  The garden was a place of perfection.  And yet, the devil entered into the garden and tempted Adam and Eve to sin.  Notice the cunning nature of Satan.  The devil asked a question concerning the very law that God had given.  They could not partake of the fruit of the tree which was in the midst of the garden.  This was the instruction that Adam and Eve had been given by God.  Satan questioned God's commandment.  Has God said?  The devil causes us to question the law which God has given.  Satan does not deceive us into sin by causing us to directly violate God's will.  Satan causes us to question God's will.  Many believe that God does not really mean what He says or that His law has a different interpretation.  This is the cunning scheme that Satan used on Eve.  Satan invited Eve to question God's will.  Did God really say that?  Does God really mean that?  Eve was deceived.  She and Adam followed the cunning scheme of Satan.  Punishment followed.  The devil is cunning.  And, those who are deceived by him are destroyed.

Wednesday, October 21, 2015

A God At Hand

"Am I a God at hand, saith the Lord, and not a God afar off?  Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him? saith the Lord.  Do not I fill heaven and earth? saith the Lord."  Jeremiah 23:23-24.  God is everywhere and sees all things.  God is near, and God is afar.  The presence of God is in every place.  There is no act committed without His knowledge.  There is no deed done of which He is not aware.  There is no escape from His presence.  Words spoken are heard by His ear.  Works done are seen by His eye.  The darkness of night cannot cover us.  The caves cannot shelter us.  God beholds all the actions of men.  We cannot flee from Him, neither can we hide.  Behold, God is in the heaven and in the earth.  God is everywhere.  This knowledge is comfort to the believer and discomfort to the unbeliever.  This awareness is assurance to the righteous and fear to the unrighteous.  Oh, how blessed are the children of God with the abiding nearness of the Father.  How wonderful to know that the God who fills heaven and earth shelters the good and holy.  Our daily walk is guarded by the God who is in every place.

Tuesday, October 20, 2015

Hear The Word

"My mother and my brethren are these which hear the word of God, and do it."  Luke 8:21.  A relationship is formed with Jesus Christ.  The relationship is close and personal.  We are His brethren.  A bond is formed.  Hearts are united.  We come together on a common ground.  Those who would have fellowship with God hear His word and do it.  Not only are we to hear the word of God, but we must also obey His word.  Obedience is the key in knowing God.  One's relationship with God is not formed by a feeling or an emotion, but rather by hearing His spoken word.  God brings hearts to Him by a word.  It is His word.  That word is clear and concise.  The word of God cuts into the heart and severs one from himself.  The word creates a commitment.  The word destroys self-will.  God speaks and we listen.  We are moved to action.  We hear and we do.  God loves the obedient listener.  God protects the obedient listener.  God blesses the obedient listener. 

Thursday, October 15, 2015

Power To The Faint

"He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength."  Isaiah 40:29.  The One who gives such power and strength is the everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth.  Isaiah 40:28.  Many grow faint.  There are so many issues of life that can cause fainting.  We can become too entrenched in the world.  We faint when faith diminishes.  Some lose strength because of the weariness of life.  We must not depend upon ourselves.  We must look unto the One who does not faint neither grows weary.  When the shadows of darkness fall about us and the showers of sorrow come, we must rely upon our God.  God has power to lift us.  God has power to strengthen us.  With His mighty power, the ends of the earth were spoken into existence.  And that power is available unto us.  That power can dispel all things that threaten us.  God can bring us out of darkness into light, out of night into day, out of weakness into strength, and out of despair into hope.  God will fill our heart with courage, peace, and contentment when we trust and commit our walk unto Him who gives power and increases strength. 

Tuesday, October 13, 2015

God Resists The Proud

"But he giveth more grace.  Wherefore, he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble."  James 4:6.  The grace of God is necessary for anyone to be saved.  Without the grace of God, there is no salvation.  The grace of God is necessary for one to remain saved.  Life calls for God's grace.  The Christian life needs help that one cannot supply for himself.  Strength and courage are needed as we strive toward the heavenly goal.  The proud believe in themselves.  They do not seek help because they see no need for help.  They do not seek forgiveness because they do not see themselves as sinners.  Therefore, God resists them.  His grace is not available to the proud simply because they do not seek it.  The humble believe in God.  The humble know that they have sinned.  The humble long for forgiveness knowing that forgiveness can only come from God.   The humble know that God must give help along the journey.  The humble know that heaven is a reward for faithful service.  The humble know that life needs God.  To the humble heart, grace is ever available.

Monday, October 12, 2015

By Mine Own Hand

"And the Lord said unto Gideon, The people that are with thee are too many for me to give the Midianites into their hands, lest Israel vaunt themselves against me, saving mine own hand hath saved me."  Judges 7:2.  God instructs Gideon as to how the number of Israelites fighting would be reduced.  The Israelites were to understand that God was the One who delivered victory.  God desired to maintain the dependence of Israel upon Him.  Once they believed that they were delivered by their own hand, their faith would waver.  They would begin to trust in themselves.  They would see themselves as the victors.  God enables His people to fight battles.  God is the source of power and victory.  Can our own hand deliver us from the devil?  Can our own hand redeem the soul?  Can our own hand move the mountains of sin and crush the enemy?  We, as God's people, are not to believe that by our own resources comes success.  We are to know that our own hand can not save us.  We are the instruments by which God achieves.  We, in the hand of God and by the power of God, know triumph.  Without God, failure.

A Crown of Pride

"Woe to the crown of pride."  Isaiah 28:1.  God hates pride for pride will destroy faith.  Pride trusts one's own ability.  Pride does not seek God's help.  Pride will never make one better.  Pride dismisses one's transgressions.  A person does not admit of shortcomings and the need to improve.  Pride lifts one above others.  Pride exalts one's self and belittles others.  Pride corrupts the heart.  Pride blinds the eyes.  Pride sees the flaws of others, but fails to see one's own evil.  Pride bows the knee to self-exaltation.  Pride is a wound, a sore in the soul.  Pride turns a deaf ear to the counsel of others.  Pride writes a resume of self-worth.  The crown of pride leads to overthrow.  God will bring down the heart filled with pride.  As a destroying storm and a mighty flood, God brings to nothing the crown of pride.  Pride will fail, while God will triumph.  Pride will cease, while God will endure.  Woe to the heart filled with pride.  

Tuesday, October 6, 2015

Counsel Not of the Lord

"Woe to the rebellious children, saith the Lord, that take counsel, but not of me; and that cover with a covering, but not of my spirit, that they may add sin to sin."  Isaiah 30:1.  God pronounces a woe upon those that do not seek Him, nor trust in Him.  A failure to seek God's wisdom is sin.  They who refuse God in their lives are rebels.  The only other alternative than God is Satan.  Satan's counsel is of the world and worldly things become our covering.  We need God's Spirit, God's wisdom, and God's redemptive power to be victors.  They who seek counsel in the wisdom of men refuse the true wisdom.  God provides the only answer for sin.  If that answer is not sought, then sin has been added to sin.  As we seek God's counsel, we seek His truth.  We are to always abide in the will that God provides for our life.  We surrender ourselves to God always trusting His will.  We desire God's blessing, not God's woe.  We must desire to be those who conform and take heed rather than being rebellious.  We must desire to have sin removed from our heart rather than adding sin.  Seek God's counsel and covering.