September 2, 2012

"I Acted for the Sake of My Name" (9/2)

Thought from today’s Bible reading from Ezekiel 20-21.

In Ezekiel 20, the Lord presents a summary of the history between Him and the people of Israel.

“And say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God, “On the day when I chose Israel and swore to the descendants of the house of Jacob and made Myself known to them in the land of Egypt, when I swore to them, saying, I am the Lord your God, on that day I swore to them, to bring them out from the land of Egypt into a land that I had selected for them, flowing with milk and honey, which is the glory of all the lands. I said to them, ‘Cast away, each of you, the detestable things of his eyes, and do not defile yourselves with the idols of Egypt, I am the Lord your God,’ But they rebelled against Me and were not willing to listen to Me; they did not cast away the detestable things of their eyes, nor did they forsake the idols of Egypt. Then I resolved to pour out My wrath on them, to accomplish My anger against them in the midst of the land of Egypt. But I acted for the sake of My name, that it should not be profaned in the sight of the nations among whom they lived, in whose sight I made Myself known to them by bringing them out of the land of Egypt. So I took them out of the land of Egypt and brought them into the wilderness“‘” (Ezekiel 20:5-10).

This pattern is repeated throughout the history of God’s people. It shows how God extends His grace to man.
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August 31, 2012

"You Did Not Remember the Days of Your Youth" (8/31)

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

“But you trusted in your beauty and played the harlot because of your fame, and you poured out your harlotries on every passer-by who might be willing. You took some of your clothes, made for yourself high places of various colors and played the harlot on them, which should never come about nor happen. You also took your beautiful jewels made of My gold and of My silver, which I had given you, and made for yourself male images that you might play the harlot with them. […] Moreover, you took your sons and daughters whom you had borne to Me and sacrificed them to idols to be devoured. Were your harlotries so small a matter? You slaughtered My children and offered them up to idols by causing them to pass through the fire” (Ezekiel 16:15-21).

The people of Jerusalem had become completely entangled in idolatry to the point in which they were even sacrificing their own children. How could they get to such a point? They forgot their past.
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August 2, 2012

Turning Grace into a License to Sin

Grace - Sin

Jude said that we must “contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all handed down to the saints” (Jude 3). There are many ways in which the faith may come under attack, requiring us to contend for it.

  • There could be officials who give “strict orders not to continue teaching,” in which case we “must obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:28-29) and continue to teach anyway.
  • There may be false teachers, making it necessary to engage in “great dissension and debate with them” (Acts 15:2). Such debate is necessary “so that the truth of the gospel would remain” with those who had previously been taught it (Galatians 2:5).
  • There could be idolatry that exists all around us, and as Paul’s “spirit was…provoked within him,” leading him to speak out against the idols (Acts 17:16), we may be compelled to speak out as well.

But there is another threat to the faith that requires us to contend for it. This threat was mentioned by Jude in the next verse:

“For certain persons have crept in unnoticed, those who were long beforehand marked out for this condemnation, ungodly persons who turn the grace of our God into licentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ” (Jude 4).

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July 7, 2012

A Gracious and Compassionate God (7/7)

Thought from today’s Bible reading from Jonah 1-4.

Most Bible students are familiar with the account of Jonah. God called him to go to Nineveh to prophesy of their coming destruction. Jonah fled in a ship to Tarshish. A storm threatened the ship which led to Jonah being thrown overboard and being swallowed by a great fish. After three days and nights, Jonah prayed to God, the fish vomited Jonah up on to dry land, and he went to Nineveh. As a result of his prophesying, the people, including the leaders, repented; and God changed His mind about their destruction. Jonah was not pleased with this.

“But it greatly displeased Jonah and he became angry. He prayed to the Lord and said, ‘Please Lord, was not this what I said while I was still in my own country? Therefore in order to forestall this I fled to Tarshish, for I knew that You are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness, and one who relents concerning calamity’” (Jonah 4:1-2).

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May 23, 2012

"You Will Prosper, If…" (5/23)

Thought from today’s Bible reading from 2 Samuel 24; 1 Chronicles 21-22; Psalm 30.

Shortly before Solomon took over for his father as king over Israel, David charged him with the task of building “a house for the Lord God of Israel” (1 Chronicles 22:6). As he assigned him this work, David spoke of the conditional promise of success for his efforts.

“Now, my son, the Lord be with you that you may be successful, and build the house of the Lord your God just as He has spoken concerning you. Only the Lord give you discretion and understanding, and give you charge over Israel, so that you may keep the law of the Lord your God.

“Then you will prosper, if you are careful to observe the statutes and the ordinances which the Lord commanded Moses concerning Israel. Be strong and courageous, do not fear nor be dismayed” (1 Chronicles 22:11-13).

The Lord chose Solomon over David for this work of building the temple (1 Chronicles 22:7-10). However, the promise of success and prosperity for Solomon would only come about if he met the divine conditions that were required for him to continue to receive God’s blessings.
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May 9, 2012

Why Would Mephibosheth Fear? (5/9)

Thought from today’s Bible reading from 2 Samuel 8-9; 1 Chronicles 18.

When David determined to find who remained from the house of Saul so that he could show kindness to him, he was told of Jonathan’s son, Mephibosheth, one whose feet were crippled (2 Samuel 9:3). When David found out about him, he had Mephibosheth brought to him.

“Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan the son of Saul, came to David and fell on his face and prostrated himself. And David said, ‘Mephibosheth.’ And he said, ‘Here is your servant!’ David said to him, ‘Do not fear, for I will surely show kindness to you for the sake of your father Jonathan, and will restore to you all the land of your grandfather Saul; and you shall eat at my table regularly.’ Again he prostrated himself and said, ‘What is your servant, that you should regard a dead dog like me?’” (2 Samuel 9:6-8).

David’s response to Mephibosheth, telling him not to fear, suggests that Mephibosheth did fear the king initially. Why would he have reason to fear?
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May 3, 2012

"The Greatness of His Lovingkindness" (5/3)

Thought from today’s Bible reading from Psalm 106-107.

Psalm 106 chronicles the history of the Israelites sinning against God, then being punished by Him for their sins. But in spite of their sin, God was always willing to save them when they cried out to Him.

“Nevertheless He looked upon their distress when He heard their cry; and He remembered His covenant for their sake, and relented according to the greatness of His lovingkindness” (Psalm 106:44-45).

God’s grace is remarkable. Despite their chronic sin, He was still willing to deliver them.
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