Christ has already dealt with sin’s penalty of death. Now we await His promised return to remove us from sin’s presence and to unite with Him in glory.
Christ has already dealt with sin’s penalty of death. Now we await His promised return to remove us from sin’s presence and to unite with Him in glory.
God warned Israel through His prophet Ezekiel to repent before their sins destroyed them. Sin = suffering. As when we stick our hand in the fire, our skin blisters, so when we sin, there is pain. The sin itself brings its own judgment and ultimately death. Yet, God in His grace offers a way out through Jesus, His Son. He took sin’s suffering, separation and death, so that we could “Turn back and live!”
There is a reality more real than ours, a worship more true, a ministry more effective and a Priest more perfect. We do not lean therefore, on our own worship, ministry and human leaders. They only point to Jesus and His work. We lean on Christ alone.
Are your friendships based on flattery or fidelity? Are your ears open to correction? A true friend will tell you the truth about you. What kind of friends have you chosen to hear?
There is an idol that no one can see outwardly, but is just as surely built up and worshiped in the human heart. This idol of the heart comes between us and God. It causes a religious self-delusion and makes one susceptible to sin. It makes prayer ineffective. Remove the thing that has stolen your heart and taken first place ahead of loving God! Make God your first love.
We put dates on our calendars and plan for events a year in advance, yet we have no promise of tomorrow. Be careful not to brag of your plans. Instead say, “Lord willing…” (James 4:15). Or as those in the South say, “Lord willin and the criks don’t rise…” Or as the old preacher of my youth taught me to say, “If the Lord delays His comin and lets me live another day, I plan to be doin such and such tomorrow!”
The Psalmist reminds us to continually search for God and His strength. This is an important daily discipline to learn. Don’t leave your house in your own strength. First, seek the Lord and draw on His renewing power. Learn to abide in Christ and in His enabling strength. Then you can join the apostle Paul in saying, “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength” (Phil.4:13)!
The Bible is made alive by the Spirit of God. Every generation who hears it, knows its power afresh. It is not just any book. It exposes our sin to us allowing the Spirit’s conviction. It reveals not only our true identity, but more significantly, it reveals God Himself to us. It is the most important Book on planet earth for by it comes hearing that leads to saving faith.
Ezekiel saw his first vision when he was 30. The 30th year was significant in Jewish life: The Levites began Temple service at 30. Jesus began his public ministry at age 30. On July 12 of 1988 I turned 30. God used this verse in Ezekiel to confirm my call to preach. I thought I had waited too long, but God showed me that it was just the right time.
This psalm of David illustrates his habit of bringing every area of his life before the Lord in examination and for realignment. He had the spiritual ability to take his eyes off of difficult circumstances and to focus them upon God. One of the ways he accomplished this was to command every part of himself to praise the Lord, numbering every blessing he could name. Perhaps this was the inspiration for the words in the old hymn: “Count your blessings, name them one by one. Count your blessings see what God hath done!”