Tag: Psalm 2:12
The Attraction of Jesus
Scripture reading for January 3rd: Mark 2, Psalms 2, Proverbs 2
Mark 2: 14-15 “And as He passed by, He saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax booth, and He said to him, “Follow Me.” And he rose and followed Him. And as He reclined at table in his house, many tax collectors and sinners were reclining with Jesus and His disciples, for there were many who followed Him.
What was it that motivated those He chose as disciples to follow Jesus? Why were sinners and tax collectors attracted to Jesus? Why was He attracted to them? These questions come out as we read this passage speaking of how Jesus called disciples like Levi, a tax collector. He came to his house for a meal, Levi had invited many of his friends, fellow tax collectors and ‘sinners.’ Tax collectors were considered the lowest of the low, betrayers of their own people to collect taxes from them for the Roman oppressors. This really aggravated the religious folks! They demanded to know why Jesus would eat with them! Jesus simply replied, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.” (vs. 17)
Psalm 2:12 “Kiss the Son, lest He be angry, and you perish in the way, for His wrath is quickly kindled. Blessed are all who take refuge in Him.”
Prayer: Father God, thank You for sending Your Son with the message that You desire to have fellowship and friendship with even the worst of ‘sinners’. Your message of Good News drew many sinners who found a new life of joy in Your grace and forgiveness. Help me to see others through Your eyes and allow the compassion You have for those lost in sin to flow through my heart and lips in sharing Good News!
Proverbs 2:9-10 “Then you will understand righteousness and justice and equity, every good path; for wisdom will come into your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul.”
Repentance resisted!
Scripture reading for December 11th: Malachi, Psalm 2, Revelation 9
Key Scriptures: Revelation 9:20-21 “The rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands nor give up worshiping demons and idols of gold and silver and bronze and stone and wood, which cannot see or hear or walk, nor did they repent of their murders or their sorceries or their sexual immorality or their thefts.”
John recorded the seven trumpets and their woe brought upon the earth as the scroll had been opened and God’s final judgments were being poured out on the earth. One of the curious truths John recorded was that although many of earths final group of people were killed by the judgments, the rest refused to repent. They clung to their idols and worshiped demons and continued to flaunt the breaking of God’s holy commandments. Neither positive miracles nor the calamitous judgments of these last days could penetrate the hardened hearts. Although they knew the judgments were from God, they refused to ask for His mercy.
Psalm 2:12 “Kiss the Son, lest He be angry, and you perish in the way, for His wrath is quickly kindled. Blessed are all who take refuge in Him.”
Faith confession and prayer: Lord Jesus, I am in awe of Your great mercy towards me and my family. Thank You for Your love and mercy. I pray that all of my offspring will “kiss the Son” of God, Jesus Christ and take refuge in Him.
Malachi 4:1-2 “For behold, the Day is coming, burning like an oven, when all the arrogant and all evildoers will be stubble. The Day that is coming shall set them ablaze, says the Lord of hosts, so that it will leave them neither root nor branch. But for you who fear My Name, the Sun of Righteousness shall rise with healing in its wings. You shall go out like calves from the stall.”
You are God’s Holy Temple
Scripture reading for July 9th: Psalms 2-5, 1st Corinthians 3
Key Scriptures: 1st Corinthians 3:16-17 “Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you? If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him. For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple. Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you thinks that he is wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise.”
Paul was writing to the Corinthian church that was struggling with divisions. He reminded them that they were God’s temple–collectively. God’s Holy Spirit dwelled among them as they gathered. Disunity and division was destroying the temple, putting those causing the division in danger. Self-deception is a dangerous place to be. True wisdom is humble and submissive to the Holy Spirit and God’s Word.
Psalm 2:12 “Kiss the Son, lest He be angry, and you perish in the way, for His wrath is quickly kindled. Blessed are all who take refuge in Him.”
Prayer: Lord, help me to recognize and obey the voice of Your Holy Spirit speaking and to honor the unity of the Church, Your body. I ask for wisdom. Amen.
The kingdom awaits the ‘sheep’!
Scripture reading for February 4th: Matthew 25
Key Scriptures for over-comers: Matthew 25:31-34 “When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, He will sit on His throne in heavenly glory. All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on His right and the goats on His left. Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by My Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.’
As Jesus finished His last instruction to His disciples before the cross, He told them the parable of the sheep and the goats. This parable described a judgment of the nations of the world and all it’s peoples. The people were separated from one another as sheep are separated from the goats. The sheep were to be placed at Christ’s right hand and were to be rewarded with blessing by God the Father with the kingdom prepared for them from before the world was made! This is an amazing reward for lowly ‘sheep’!
However, Jesus also placed the goats on His left and they will be rewarded too! “Depart from Me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.” (Matthew 25:41) All nations will have had the opportunity for salvation through the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Now they face judgment at the King’s throne and eternal punishment for their rejection of His grace. This place of punishment was not meant for any made in God’s image, but only for the devil and his fallen angels. (Revelation 20:10)
Observations for over-comers: Followers of Jesus from every nation will be rewarded and given authority in Christ’s eternal kingdom! Those refusing will suffer eternal punishment! “Kiss the Son, lest He be angry and you be destroyed in your way, for His wrath can flare up in a moment. Blessed are all who take refuge in Him.” (Psalm 2:12)