www.bible.com/reading-plans/13952/day/9
Holy is the Lord God Almighty! Pure, righteous and holy is He and He will reign forever and ever! Amen and amen!
Tag: righteous
Good Government
It there even any such thing as government that is not corrupt, one that follows the wishes of the people who elected and gave them power? I don’t think so.
But God’s Word has something to say about government and we should heed it.
The only good governor is God. The only one who is completely righteous and just is God. The only one to show mercy and be totally honest is God. So, what are we to do since we don’t have a theocracy? We are commanded to pray for our leaders, even the ones whom we consider corrupt and perhaps beyond redemption. Who are we to say that God cannot sway their minds and change their hearts? God put whoever is in power right where they are. Instead of rebelliously cursing them and their ungodly attitude and actions, we are commanded to pray.
I may not approve of the current state of our nation or who is in power, but I will pray, diligently and daily. God is, after all, still in control!
Not Destroyed
I have been reading the Book of Job and have discovered many spiritual nuggets there that are profound in their simplicity. Although Job’s friends missed the mark in their advice, sometimes what they say has a tiny little sliver of truth that can be extrapolated and is certainly useful to hold onto. I think of the friends who gave Job unsolicited advice, Elihu is my favorite. Here is one of the things he says:
Read that verse several times as I did. It is absolutely awe-inspiring to realize how powerful God is. He made the earth and all that is in it, sustains life on earth, sends storms, keeps the seas within its boundaries, and even numbers the hairs on our heads. Through all that we do to show that we desire our independence from God, He continues to be just and righteous and does not just wipe us out with one word. He could, but He doesn’t because His love is more powerful than His anger at our sin. A day is coming when this earth will be destroyed and all that is in it, and God will be totally justified in His wrath-filled judgment. In the meantime, He gives us His Word, with verses like this to remind us of His grace and mercy.
Troubles
Notice that the Scripture does not say that the righteous will not have troubles, but that the Lord will rescue us every time we do have troubles. Every time! That is quite a promise and one of my new favorite verses.
The Reward Is Life
www.bible.com/111/pro.10.16.niv
If we are the children of the Lord, the end result of our labors on earth is life, eternity with our Savior and our God. It is imperative that we teach the Gospel to as many as possible before we leave this earth because their end is death, an eternal separation from God. Many preachers today are saying that there is no hell, no judgment. The Word of God clearly points out repeatedly that hell does exist and that it was not made for man originally, but if man persists in sin, then death is the consequence.
What makes someone righteous? Belief in Jesus as their Lord and Savior! There is nothing, not one thing, that we can do to earn salvation and eternal life. Jesus already paid the price in full for each believer.
What makes someone wicked? A constant choice to sin. Note that word, choice. Sin is a choice. You don’t fall into sin. It doesn’t reach out and grab you. You make a choice to sin once. Then, as time goes on, the choice becomes easier, almost automatic. You look around and your life has changed because of your choices.
Each day, we all have choices to make. The righteous make choices based on our belief that Jesus died for us. For me, I don’t want to disappoint Him or cause Him any more suffering than what He already went through for me. So, I strive to please Him, often asking Him what I should do before I make a decision. Likewise, the wicked make choices, too, but they believe that the only one that they answer to is themselves. Humanism is rampant in earth today. It’s broadcast on every news channel, on every radio station, the evil choices that men are making without any consideration for the eternal consequences.
Our mission on earth, as Jesus’s followers, is to take as many people with us to Heaven as we can. We share the Gospel, tell the wicked that there is a different choice for them, a choice that means eternal life instead of eternal damnation. Sharing the Gospel is not a choice for us; it is a commission from the One who saved us. God is holding back His judgment on the earth so that as many as possible can be saved. He doesn’t want anyone to go to hell, but he will allow it to happen because He is righteous and just. Right now, I believe that He is showing His mercy, but that will not always be so. May He open the eyes and ears of the wicked to hear and accept His truth and may we be His willing servants to tell that truth to others.
God bless each of you that you may accept and go forth today with the Word of Truth in your hearts and on your lips, ready to tell those who need to hear.
Be Glad in the Lord
These are troubling times, no doubt about it. But we who belong to the Lord should not be going around with sad faces or an attitude of hopelessness. For our hope is in the Lord God who made everything and He is able. My devotional this morning was about King Hezekiah who was facing the great army of Sennacherib and had basically been told just to give up because his cause was hopeless. But, God was with him, so he was able to prevail. No, we cannot fight this battle alone. Everyone’s battle is different these days, but God is the same for all of us. He will be with us; He is always for us. He fights for us, no matter what we are facing. So, with that said, I can be glad because He gives me hope.
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