Acts 14: 18-19
But even with these words, Paul and Barnabas could scarcely restrain the people from sacrificing to them [as Zeus and Hermes]. Then some Jews arrived from Antioch and Iconium and won the crowds to their side. They stoned Paul and dragged him out of town, thinking he was dead.
How fickle are the crowds! How easily they are fooled and swayed! Paul could hardly restrain them from considering him a god to be worshiped, and in the very next verse they stone him! From one extreme to the other, the crowds of people are worked up passionately. O that they would be passionate toward God! Then they would have a more reasonable view of God's servants, and avoid the extremes.
When we pay attention to the crowds, we will almost always be led astray, like these crowds. May we be strong in our knowledge of God's Word, and follow it in our thinking, our attitudes, and our daily lives.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Sunday, January 8, 2017
No Pleasure In Death
Ezekiel 18: 23, 32
"Do you think that I like to see wicked people die?" says the Sovereign Lord. "Of course not! I want them to turn from their wicked ways and live. ... I don't want you to die," says the Sovereign Lord. "Turn back and live!"
Isaiah 33: 11
"As surely as I live," says the Sovereign Lord, "I take no pleasure in the death of wicked people. I only want them to turn from their wicked ways so they can live. Turn! Turn from your wickedness, O people of Israel! Why should you die?"
God does not want any to perish, He takes no pleasure in having to destroy anyone. He made us with the capacity to live forever with Him, and He wants us to be with Him. But He cannot live in the presence of what is against who He is. Wickedness is anything that does not align with God's goodness, His wisdom, His love. So He has provided the remedy for our human nature tending to wander from Him -- He puts His own Holy Spirit in us to live in us and teach us to be the people He made us to be. By sacrificing His own Lamb to die in our place, we don't have to die any more, we can depend on Him and trust Him to have paid our whole debt.
Let us all, who are called by His Name, begin this New Year living that New Life He has placed within us in His mercy and grace.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
"Do you think that I like to see wicked people die?" says the Sovereign Lord. "Of course not! I want them to turn from their wicked ways and live. ... I don't want you to die," says the Sovereign Lord. "Turn back and live!"
Isaiah 33: 11
"As surely as I live," says the Sovereign Lord, "I take no pleasure in the death of wicked people. I only want them to turn from their wicked ways so they can live. Turn! Turn from your wickedness, O people of Israel! Why should you die?"
God does not want any to perish, He takes no pleasure in having to destroy anyone. He made us with the capacity to live forever with Him, and He wants us to be with Him. But He cannot live in the presence of what is against who He is. Wickedness is anything that does not align with God's goodness, His wisdom, His love. So He has provided the remedy for our human nature tending to wander from Him -- He puts His own Holy Spirit in us to live in us and teach us to be the people He made us to be. By sacrificing His own Lamb to die in our place, we don't have to die any more, we can depend on Him and trust Him to have paid our whole debt.
Let us all, who are called by His Name, begin this New Year living that New Life He has placed within us in His mercy and grace.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
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