August 25, 2012

False and Misleading Oracles (8/25)

Thought from today’s Bible reading from Lamentations 1:1-3:36.

The book of Lamentations is a lament over the state of God’s people. They had rejected God for so long and departed so far from Him that His patience had run out and He was punishing them for their sins. But how could these people – who should have known better – fall so far? One major factor was the false prophets among them.

“Your prophets have seen for you false and foolish visions; and they have not exposed your iniquity so as to restore you from captivity, but they have seen for you false and misleading oracles” (Lamentation 2:14).

There were two fundamental problems with the message of these false prophets:
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July 13, 2012

Those Who Guide This People Are Leading Them Astray (7/13)

Thought from today’s Bible reading from 2 Chronicles 27; Isaiah 9-12.

“For those who guide this people are leading them astray; and those who are guided by them are brought to confusion. Therefore the Lord does not take pleasure in their young men, nor does He have pity on their orphans or their widows; for every one of them is godless and an evildoer, and every mouth is speaking foolishness. In spite of all this, His anger does not turn away and His hand is still stretched out” (Isaiah 9:16-17).

God’s people were in a wicked and sinful condition. The Lord indicted the spiritual leaders of the people as being the ones who led them astray. The Scriptures show us repeatedly that those who teach and those who hold positions of leadership will be held accountable, not only for their own sins, but for how they have influenced others (Ezekiel 3:17-21; Hebrews 13:17; James 3:1). These leaders had led God’s people into apostasy and would have to answer to Him for it.
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June 27, 2012

The Troubler of Israel (6/27)

Thought from today’s Bible reading from 1 Kings 17-19.

Prior to his showdown with the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel, Elijah met with King Ahab. Ahab was quick to blame Elijah for the troubles that plagued the nation.

“When Ahab saw Elijah, Ahab said to him, ‘Is this you, you troubler of Israel?’ He said, ‘I have not troubled Israel, but you and your father’s house have, because you have forsaken the commandments of the Lord and you have followed the Baals’” (1 Kings 18:17-18).

Ahab wanted to place the blame for Israel’s problems on the one who prophesied the truth. Elijah correctly turned the charge around on Ahab, declaring that the king had troubled the nation by rejecting the Lord and embracing a false god.
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June 23, 2012

The Lying Prophet (6/23)

Thought from today’s Bible reading from 1 Kings 12-14.

A young prophet who revealed a divine message to King Jeroboam refused to stay with the king and receive a reward from him. He explained why:

“If you were to give me half your house I would not go with you, nor would I eat bread or drink water in this place. For so it was commanded me by the word of the Lord, saying, ‘You shall eat no bread, nor drink water, nor return by the way which you came’” (1 Kings 13:8-9).

This man knew what God instructed and was intent upon obeying Him. His determination was commendable. But unfortunately for this man, there was more to this story.
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March 5, 2012

"What the Lord Speaks, That I Will Speak" (3/5)

Thought from today’s Bible reading from Numbers 23-25.

Balak, king of Moab, feared the Israelites. He saw what they had already done to the Amorites and sought help from Balaam to curse the people. But in three attempts, Balaam blessed the Israelites each time instead of cursing them.

“Then Balak’s anger burned against Balaam, and he struck his hands together; and Balak said to Balaam, ‘I called you to curse my enemies, but behold, you have persisted in blessing them these three times! Therefore, flee to your place now. I said I would honor you greatly, but behold, the Lord has held you back from honor.’

“Balaam said to Balak, ‘Did I not tell your messengers whom you had sent to me, saying, ‘Though Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not do anything contrary to the command of the Lord, either good or bad, of my own accord. What the Lord speaks, that I will speak’?” (Numbers 24:10-13).

Balaam is more known for his faults than his virtues. Yet his attitude here is commendable. He told Balak that no matter what the king offered him, he could not speak anything but what the Lord revealed to him.
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March 2, 2012

Shall One Man Sin and God Be Angry with All the Congregation? (3/2)

Thought from today’s Bible reading from Numbers 16-17.

If one person within a congregation sins, will all members of that congregation stand condemned before God? It depends.

This was the situation in the rebellion of Korah, Dathan and Abiram. A relatively small number of people rebelled, yet God was prepared to destroy the whole congregation.

“Then the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying, ‘Separate yourselves from among this congregation, that I may consume them instantly.’ But they fell on their faces and said, ‘O God, God of the spirits of all flesh, when one man sins, will You be angry with the entire congregation?’ Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, ‘Speak to the congregation, saying, ‘Get back from around the dwellings of Korah, Dathan and Abriram’” (Numbers 16:20-24).

Moses and Aaron thought it would be unfair for God to punish all the people for the sins of a few. Yet God intended to punish the guilty. This is why He gave the instruction to separate themselves from the rebels. Those Israelites who continued to accept the rebels and have fellowship with them also became guilty before the Lord.
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December 1, 2008

A People for God’s Own Possession

1 Peter 2:9

“But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light” (1 Peter 2:9).

As Christians, we belong to God. We are to live in such a way that we can say, “It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me” (Galatians 2:20). We no longer live for ourselves but for God and His Son. We “have been bought with a price” (1 Corinthians 6:20), that price being “the blood of Christ” (1 Peter 1:18-19; cf. Acts 20:28).

Understanding then that we belong to God, how should we conduct our lives?
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