Tag: perish
Day 2–Our Lord God Responds First!
Scripture for January 2nd: Genesis 1-3
Genesis 3:9 “But the Lord God called to the man and said to him, “Where are you?” Genesis 3:21 “And the Lord God made for Adam and for his wife garments of skins and clothed them.”
As we begin our year’s devotions, we start out with basic truths of Scripture. My aim is to keep these daily readings as simple as possible, yet to let God’s Word bring hope and inspiration to those sent to help hurting people. God our Father is full of compassion and is loving towards all mankind.
In Genesis 1 through 3 we have the record of creation and man’s fall into sin. God created the world and everything in it. The last act of creation was man made in His image and likeness. Adam and Eve were given rulership and care of creation as their assignment. This was to be under God’s authority and direction. They were warned not to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil or they would die. They walked and talked with God the Father regularly in His garden before temptation and disobedience.
Adam and Eve disobeyed God’s simple command, eating of the forbidden tree, and instantly felt guilt and shame, hiding from God and making coverings of fig leaves. God responded first–coming to the Garden and calling out, “Adam, where are you?” (Genesis 3:9) God loved Adam and Eve, but sin had caused separation and would bring death. God acted to intervene by seeking Adam’s confession and then Eve’s. Instead, they blamed others and God. He then killed an innocent animal and clothed them with the bloody skins. He sent them out of the garden under the curse they had brought upon their own lives through disobeying.
But God did not leave Adam and Eve and their children without a remedy. His response was a plan to show His love and mercy through sending His own Son as the second Adam, only without sin. He demonstrated that love by His Son laying down His life blood on behalf of sinners. The greatest love, God’s Son given, made available the greatest deliverance from death to eternal life by greatest number of people who would simply believe on Jesus Christ. John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.”
Prayer: Father God, Thank You for responding to my great need of deliverance from sin and death. I respond to Your great Love by believing Your Word and receiving Your Son. Teach me to respond to Jesus each day in humble obedience. Amen.
Repent! Or perish!
Scripture reading for March 20: Luke 13
“There were some present at that very time who told Him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. And he answered them, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered in this way? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them: do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others who lived in Jerusalem? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.”” Luke 13:1-5
People of every age have experienced wars, natural disasters and mass casualty events. Survivors and observers have often speculated about why these things happen or what divine judgment or satanic evil might be involved. There were two such events mentioned here by Jesus and He questioned the people about how they viewed what had happened. Were these people worse sinners? What or who caused them to suffer? Were they singled out for some nefarious reason that caused their destruction? Our cultural world view often determines how we seek to explain or justify these disturbing events. We assign blame and make excuses but fail to look in the mirror to see the state of our own souls!
But Jesus sought to use these sudden acts of violence and death to warn each person of their need to repent. If there was any sin or offenses in these who were now dead, there was no time left to repent and make changes. Their fates were set spiritually. If they were not right with God through repentance and faith, they would be eternally damned and under punishment. Jesus warned them that all who failed to go through Him, the ‘narrow Door,’ would experience weeping and gnashing of teeth and be left out of the kingdom of God. (Luke 13:28) The ‘Door’ would one day be shut and repentance would not be possible! Today is the time to take action, repent, and come to Jesus for a cleansing of heart.
When there is a mass casualty event or terrorist attack, how do you find yourself processing it? Do you assign blame and speculate on God’s reasons for allowing it? It it ever an occasion to thank God for His mercy in your life and ask Him for mercy on others?
Prayer: Father God, there have been many opportunities in my own life to process ‘accidents’, terrorist attacks, and the destruction of human lives by war and disease. It is often easy to view these things through media and assign blame. Forgive me and cleanse my mind from this thinking. Amen.
Peril in a rejection of knowledge!
Scripture reading for September 5: Hosea 4-6
“Hear the word of the Lord, you Israelites, because the Lord has a charge to bring against you who live in the land: “There is no faithfulness, no love, no acknowledgment of God in the land. There is only cursing, lying, and murder, stealing and adultery. . .” Hosea 4:1-2a
“You stumble day and night, and the prophets stumble with you. So I will destroy your mother–My people are destroyed from lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also reject you as my priests; because you have ignored the law of Your God, I will also ignore your children.” Hosea 4:5-6
Hosea’s message to God’s adulterous people told them that they were unfaithful and unloving to Him. They knew what He required of them. Keeping His commandments was a sign of love in the Old Testament and the New! (John 15:9-10) The job of the priests was to live and teach the Word of God. Hosea told the priests that they had rejected the knowledge of God’s Word. It was a willful omission and so they would be willfully rejected by God–and He would also reject their children! When we reject or ignore God’s clear commandments, there are terrible consequences for us and our family as well!
God’s people are no different today! We are all called to be priests and kings before Him! (1st Peter 2:9-11) We are to show forth His praises by being a royal priesthood and a holy nation. When we curse, lie, steal, and commit adultery and murder, we show our lack of faithfulness and love. We are rejecting and ignoring our wonderful lover and faithful Father! These sins cut off our fellowship with God and also put stumbling blocks in front of our children who are watching our bad examples. (Hosea 4:5) There is great peril for our souls and for the souls of our children!
Our nation is stumbling today because of the failure of God’s people to live what they say they believe. Whole denominations of Christians are calling homosexuality practiced by their clergy acceptable before men and God! Many who call themselves Christians vote to put those in office who will keep on murdering our children through abortion. We are allowing politicians to steal our money from us to use for all kinds of projects that are against the Word and will of our God! We have been unfaithful and are in peril, not because we lack knowledge, but because we have rejected knowledge and ignored the laws of our God!
Repentance and faith are the only routes back from the perils we are discussing. If you have not lived your life according to God’s word, repent and ask Him to cleanse you. He is loving, faithful, and merciful! He can restore you! Pray for our nation and ask God for mercy! Only repentance can keep us from stumbling into destruction!
God’s concern for children!
Scripture reading for January 24th: Exodus 10-13, Matthew 18
Key Scriptures: Exodus 12:21-22, 26-28 “Then Moses called all the elders of Israel and said to them, “Go and select lambs for yourselves according to your clans, and kill the Passover lamb. Take a bunch of hyssop and dip it in the blood that is in the basin, and touch the lintel and the two doorposts with the blood that is in the basin. . . .And when your children say to you, ‘What do you mean by this service?’ you shall say, ‘It is the sacrifice of the Lord’s Passover, for He passed over the houses of the people of Israel in Egypt, when He struck the Egyptians but spared our houses.'”
God had prepared a plan of salvation for His people. It involved taking an innocent lamb for each household and slaughtering it and catching the blood in a bowl or basin. The head of the house then took some hyssop as a brush and sprinkled or spattered the blood on the lintel and doorposts of their home. This ritual was called the “Passover” because this sign caused the death angel who was taking the lives of the firstborn to ‘pass over’ the marked houses. This ritual would teach children about God’s protective covering through sacrifice. God did not want one of the children to perish.
Matthew 18:10, 14 “See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels always see the face of My Father who is in heaven. . . . . So it is not the will of My Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.”
Prayer: Father, thank You for Your love for little children. Help me to be sensitive to children and teach them about You and Your great love through the blood of Your Son, Jesus. Amen.
Danger in failure to repent!
Scripture reading for August 12th: 2nd Corinthians 12
Key scriptures for over-comers: 2nd Corinthians 12:19-21 “We have been speaking in the sight of God as those in Christ; and everything we do, dear friends, is for your strengthening. For I am afraid that when I come I may not find you as I want you to be, and you may not find me as you want me to be. I fear that there may be quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, factions, slander, gossip, arrogance and disorder. I am afraid that when I come again my God will humble me before you, and I will be grieved over many who have sinned earlier and have not repented of the impurity, sexual sin and debauchery in which they have indulged.”
The pastor’s heart of the Apostle Paul was concerned about the spiritual state of the members of the church at Corinth. He earnestly desired their strengthening in Christ and spiritual health so he wrote to them concerning sins that he knew were still prevalent there. This list could still fit many or most church families today! The sins he listed caused division and strife and would ultimately bring God’s judgment if not repented of! The only way to deal with any sin is to turn from it, confessing responsibility for the sin and asking Christ for mercy through faith in His sacrifice. Without repentance sinners will perish! (Luke 13:3,5)
Observations for over-comers: Self-examination and regular repentance when the Holy Spirit convicts us keeps our souls healthy and strong! “Therefore this is what the Lord says: “If you repent, I will restore you that you may serve Me; if you utter worthy, not worthless words, you will be My spokesman. . . .”” (Jeremiah 15:19)
God so loved!
Scripture reading for April 9th: John 3
Jesus Christ came into our world to reveal the love of His Father for all mankind. He came first to His own people, the Jews. These Jews should have been able to recognized Him because of the Scriptures shared through God’s prophets. One of these studied Jews, Nicodemus, came to Jesus by night to inquire further of Jesus about God’s kingdom. Jesus told him that he must be ‘born again’ by the Spirit to even see the kingdom of God! (John 3:5-8)
Nicodemus struggled to understand this concept so Jesus used one of Moses’ stories to illustrate how God would do this for all mankind. “No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven–the Son of Man. Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in Him may have eternal life. For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him.” (John 3:13-17)
Jesus had come down from heaven to heal mankind of the serpent’s bite. He was the ‘Son of Man’ and ‘Son of God’. He would be lifted up on a cross bearing the judgment of God on the serpent and sin’s bites on mankind. Anyone who would look to Him and believe would be saved from perishing and receive eternal life! God loved the whole world! This was the pathway to being ‘born again’! Have you believed on Jesus Christ?
Peril in a lack of knowledge!
Scripture reading for September 7th: Hosea 4-6
“Hear the word of the Lord, you Israelites, because the Lord has a charge to bring against you who live in the land: “There is no faithfulness, no love, no acknowledgment of God in the Land. There is only cursing, lying, and murder, stealing and adultery. . .” Hosea 4:1-2a
“You stumble day and night, and the prophets stumble with you. So I will destroy your mother–My people are destroyed from lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also reject you as my priests; because you have ignored the law of Your God, I will also ignore your children.” Hosea 4:5-6
Hosea’s message to God’s adulterous people told them that they were unfaithful and unloving to Him. They knew what He required of them. Keeping His commandments was a sign of love in the Old Testament and the New! (John 15:9-10) The job of the priests was to live and teach the word of God. Hosea told the priests that they had rejected the knowledge of God’s word. It was a willful omission and so they would be willfully rejected by God–and He would also reject their children! When we reject or ignore God’s clear commandments, there are terrible consequences for us and our family as well!
God’s people are no different today! We are all called to be priests and kings before Him! (1st Peter 2:9-11) We are to show forth His praises by being a royal priesthood and a holy nation. When we curse, lie, steal, and commit adultery and murder, we show our lack of faithfulness and love. We are rejecting and ignoring our wonderful lover and faithful Father! These sins cut off our fellowship with God and also put stumbling blocks in front of our children who are watching our bad examples. (Hosea 4:5) There is great peril for our souls and for the souls of our children!
Our nation is stumbling today because of the failure of God’s people to live what they say they believe. Whole denominations of Christians are calling homosexuality practiced by their clergy acceptable before men and God! Many who call themselves Christians vote to put those in office who will keep on murdering our children through abortion. We are allowing politicians to steal our money from us to use for all kinds of projects that are against the word and will of our God! We have been unfaithful and are in peril not because we lack knowledge, but because we have rejected knowledge and ignored the laws of our God!
Repentance and faith are the only routes back from the perils we are discussing. If you have not lived your life according to God’s word, repent and ask Him to cleanse you. He is loving, faithful, and merciful! He can restore you! Pray for our nation and ask God for mercy! Only repentance can keep us from stumbling into destruction!