Busy? Hopefully, you are never too busy for the things of the Lord. We need to give careful thought to our ways. The Lord has the prophet Haggai make his people aware that without Him, they can labor and harvest little; they can eat, but never have enough. Peace and joy come from having the right priorities. Live with eternity’s values in view.
Like other minor prophets, Zephaniah answered the call upon his life to preach/teach God’s Word and warn a wayward people of God’s coming judgment. The words fell on hard hearts. The people would not respond to the prophet’s pleas. The Day of the Lord was coming, for the people continued to mix the true and the false – God and Milcom. Thankfully, a better day is coming.
Luke 10:25-37 Helpless, wounded, and abandoned by others is the experience many of us can identify with until God, the ultimate Good Samaritan, came along. The desire of our Good Samaritan is to reach people before these unfortunate things happen. The challenge for us who’ve been rescued is to be a part of His healing ministry to others.
Many good soldiers gave all for the freedom we have today. We salute them and remember their sacrifice this Memorial Day. Believers have also been called to be soldiers who battle the forces of evil and contend for the faith. We are warned to be watchful, for the enemy is subtle and he seeks to destroy. Let’s heed Jude’s warnings.
Habakkuk learned to trust God in spite of the fact that his people, Judah, were about to be judged by God who would use a nation worse than they were. Judah practiced plundering, violence, strife, and other forms of iniquity. Let’s warn our people while there is time, but no matter what happens, like Habakkuk, believe God is our strength and righteous in all He does
Who’s in control? What a comfort to know that God is! The rising cost of food, gasoline, healthcare, etc. could cause fear or worry, but our God wants to provide believers with needed assurance so they can rest while the world is caught up in a whirlwind. Stay in His will. It’s the safest place to be.
Wouldn’t it be nice if we didn’t sin? We know, however, that that is not the case. God loves us so much that He wants us to be secure in His love and know that we have eternal life. This is His gift to us so that we don’t have to wonder if the good in our lives outweighs the bad. It’s a matter of putting on His righteousness by acknowledging our need.
Northern Israel was warned through the prophet Hosea that God saw their rebellion and lack of faith as acts of harlotry. Hosea’s own marriage to Gomer was symbolic of Israel’s actions towards God. God’s mercy and compassion are on display as Hosea sought out an unfaithful Gomer. The challenge for believers is to be faithful, for there are consequences to sin, but believers have an awesome God who will always welcome a repentant prodigal.
I Peter 1:18-21 reminds believers of the following: “knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you who through Him believe in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory.” The Perfect Lamb of God has risen and now sits at the right hand of God, for the work needed for our salvation is finished.
The book of Jonah tells of a prophet who tried to run from the will of God for his life. The book is called Jonah, but his name is mentioned eighteen times, whereas God’s is mentioned thirty-eight times. God’s compassion for mankind is on grand display. He loved the prophet and the people of Nineveh. Sadly, this prophet doesn’t end well. The question is, how will our story end?
