Salt & Light Blog

Ezekiel 38 & 39 God destroys Gog

3/20/2015

Ezekiel Chapters 38 & 39

Chapter 38 begins a prophecy against Gog, of the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal. Gog doesn’t sound like a really great guy, he has an evil plan. In the prophecy the Lord says God will attack Israel when she is living securely. Gog and his vast army will not attack the military but the homes in order to steal and rob. But God has a plan too. Verses 14-16 read,

“Therefore, son of man, prophesy, and say to Gog, Thus says the Lord God: On that day when my people Israel are dwelling securely, will you not know it? 15 You will come from your place out of the uttermost parts of the north, you and many peoples with you, all of them riding on horses, a great host, a mighty army. 16 You will come up against my people Israel, like a cloud covering the land. In the latter days I will bring you against my land, that the nations may know me, when through you, O Gog, I vindicate my holiness before their eyes.”

Verses 19-23 describe more.

“For in my jealousy and in my blazing wrath I declare, On that day there shall be a great earthquake in the land of Israel. 20 The fish of the sea and the birds of the heavens and the beasts of the field and all creeping things that creep on the ground, and all the people who are on the face of the earth, shall quake at my presence. And the mountains shall be thrown down, and the cliffs shall fall, and every wall shall tumble to the ground. 21 I will summon a sword against Gog on all my mountains, declares the Lord God. Every man's sword will be against his brother. 22 With pestilence and bloodshed I will enter into judgment with him, and I will rain upon him and his hordes and the many peoples who are with him torrential rains and hailstones, fire and sulfur. 23 So I will show my greatness and my holiness and make myself known in the eyes of many nations. Then they will know that I am the Lord.”

Chapter 39 continues to describe God’s wrath against Gog and his army. He says that they will be completely destroyed. It will take seven months to bury the dead and cleanse the land and even then they will still find the occasional bone to be buried. The dead will become a sacrificial feast for the birds and the beasts. There will be no more high places, no more false altars, and no more idolatry.(Verses 11-20).

Verses 7-8 read,

“And my holy name I will make known in the midst of my people Israel, and I will not let my holy name be profaned anymore. And the nations shall know that I am the Lord, the Holy One in Israel. 8 Behold, it is coming and it will be brought about, declares the Lord God. That is the day of which I have spoken.”

What day is it that is coming? The battle Ezekiel prophesied about is during the Great Tribulation. Men, led by Satan will bring war against God’s people, not for military purposes but for evil’s sake. But the Lord will not allow that war to continue forever. He will end it. He will bring that earthquake, He will send pestilence, bloodshed, fire and sulfur and they will be judged.

God’s people will not need their weapons. Verses 9-10 read,

“Then those who dwell in the cities of Israel will go out and make fires of the weapons and burn them, shields and bucklers, bow and arrows, clubs and spears; and they will make fires of them for seven years, 10 so that they will not need to take wood out of the field or cut down any out of the forests, for they will make their fires of the weapons. They will seize the spoil of those who despoiled them, and plunder those who plundered them, declares the Lord God.”

During the Tribulation, God’s children will not have to resort to violence. God will be caring for them completely. They will not have to worry about what has been stolen from them, God will restore it to them. It will be a terrible time. People will turn to fighting, brutality, and all sorts of maliciousness. Those things will seem right to them. But God’s children will not rely on that, because they will know that He is the LORD and He has them, He is caring for them. It is true during the Tribulation and it is true now, no matter what you face. You do not have to fall back on worldly solutions, God has got you, Believer.

He promises this restoration to Israel in verses 25-29

“Therefore thus says the Lord God: Now I will restore the fortunes of Jacob and have mercy on the whole house of Israel, and I will be jealous for my holy name. 26 They shall forget their shame and all the treachery they have practiced against me, when they dwell securely in their land with none to make them afraid, 27 when I have brought them back from the peoples and gathered them from their enemies' lands, and through them have vindicated my holiness in the sight of many nations. 28 Then they shall know that I am the Lord their God, because I sent them into exile among the nations and then assembled them into their own land. I will leave none of them remaining among the nations anymore. 29 And I will not hide my face anymore from them, when I pour out my Spirit upon the house of Israel, declares the Lord God.”

Believer, you do not have anything to worry about. There may be many stressors in your life, but you can trust God to take care of them. You don’t have to turn to what the world turns to. You may have many people who hate you, who want bad for you just because you belong to God and refuse to conform to political correctness. You don’t have to fight them. You don’t have to hate them back. God will deal with them. He knows their plans, you know God’s plans.

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Ezekiel 25 Leave Vengeance to the Lord. Take the Opportunity to be Compassionate and Kind.

3/12/2015

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Ezekiel Chapter 25

Now that Jerusalem had been taken, and the Temple profaned, The Lord gave Ezekiel prophecies against other nations. Each nation had celebrated or spoken out against Israel the Lord was giving them judgments so they would know He is the Lord.

Verses 3-7 is God’s prophecy against Ammon.

“Say to the Ammonites, Hear the word of the Lord God: Thus says the Lord God, Because you said, ‘Aha!’ over my sanctuary when it was profaned, and over the land of Israel when it was made desolate, and over the house of Judah when they went into exile, 4 therefore behold, I am handing you over to the people of the East for a possession, and they shall set their encampments among you and make their dwellings in your midst. They shall eat your fruit, and they shall drink your milk. 5 I will make Rabbah a pasture for camels and Ammon a fold for flocks. Then you will know that I am the Lord. 6 For thus says the Lord God: Because you have clapped your hands and stamped your feet and rejoiced with all the malice within your soul against the land of Israel, 7 therefore, behold, I have stretched out my hand against you, and will hand you over as plunder to the nations. And I will cut you off from the peoples and will make you perish out of the countries; I will destroy you. Then you will know that I am the Lord.”

He has similar judgments against Moab, Seir, Edom, and Philistia. Each nation rejoiced over Jerusalem’s fall. Each had something negative to say about Israel and Jerusalem. Verse 8 says,

“Thus says the Lord God: Because Moab and Seir said, ‘Behold, the house of Judah is like all the other nations,”

Verse 12 says,

“Thus says the Lord God: Because Edom acted revengefully against the house of Judah and has grievously offended in taking vengeance on them,”

Verse 15 reads,

“Thus says the Lord God: Because the Philistines acted revengefully and took vengeance with malice of soul to destroy in never-ending enmity”

And the Lord dealt with each of them accordingly so that they would know Him or something about Him. Verse 11 reads,

“and I will execute judgments upon Moab. Then they will know that I am the Lord.”

Verse 14 ends with, “…and they shall know my vengeance, declares the Lord God.”

And Verse 17 says,

“I will execute great vengeance on them with wrathful rebukes. Then they will know that I am the Lord, when I lay my vengeance upon them.”

Jerusalem may have deserved her dire sentence. But that was between her and the Lord. Israel was still God’s people and He was still their God. He doesn’t take kindly to hatred of His people. That means a couple of things for you and me.

First, have you ever delighted over seeing someone deal with the consequences of their actions? Have you ever reveled in someone else’s misfortune? Did you smirk when the rude waitress lost her job? Did you cheer when you saw the Porsche driver pulled over by the policeman?

Trouble, adversity, and hardship in other people’s lives are not opportunities for you to gloat. They are openings for you to love, show kindness and compassion, and share your testimony in a tangible way. God allows trouble for a reason and it is normally so that people will know He is the Lord, that He will be glorified. You and I as believers, can be a part of glorifying Him. We don’t have to prove the haters right by delighting in their hard times.

It also means that if you belong to God, if you are His child, you do not have to concern yourself with fighting all those who call you hater or hypocrite, or who harm you, rob you, or otherwise cause you detriment. You are God’s. He is with you, before you, behind you and beside you. He’ll handle the people who hate you. He will show them He is Lord. You don’t have to. Do you trust God to be God?

Deuteronomy 32:31-36 reads,

“For their rock is not as our Rock;
    our enemies are by themselves.
32 For their vine comes from the vine of Sodom
    and from the fields of Gomorrah;
their grapes are grapes of poison;
    their clusters are bitter;
33 their wine is the poison of serpents
    and the cruel venom of asps.

34 “‘Is not this laid up in store with me,
    sealed up in my treasuries?
35 Vengeance is mine, and recompense,
    for the time when their foot shall slip;
for the day of their calamity is at hand,
    and their doom comes swiftly.’
36 For the Lord will vindicate his people
    and have compassion on his servants,
when he sees that their power is gone
    and there is none remaining, bond or free.”

Even God’s vengeance is compassionate. We have to keep in mind that their rock is not our Rock. They don’t know God. But the Lord will vindicate you. Keep in mind also, that He had mercy on us. We didn’t get the punishment we so sorely deserve. What right do we have to hope someone else is punished because we think they deserve it? Judgment and punishment is not our job, it is up to the Lord. Evil is not triumphed by evil, it is overcome by good. God tells us to prevail over evil with tangible love and kindness. (Romans 12:14-21).

Colossians 3:12-14 reminds us we are to be kind and we are to forgive because we are forgiven.

“Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, 13 bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. 14 And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.”

Let God be God, you be His. Let Him handle the haters and you love Him by loving them. Remember they are not the enemy, they are lost. Their rock is not our Rock.

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Ezekiel Chapter 9 God Sees the Faithful

2/16/2015

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Ezekiel Chapter 9

In chapter 8 Ezekiel saw a vision of atrocious idolatry from blatant to secret to the vilest. Blasphemy and abominations will happen more and more until the Tribulation. In chapter 9 he saw God’s reaction. The Lord called for the executioners to come, each with his weapon. Six men came each with a weapon for slaughter in his hand. Along with those angels came a man clothed in linen with a writing case at his waist. Verses 3-4 read,

“Now the glory of the God of Israel had gone up from the cherub on which it rested to the threshold of the house. And he called to the man clothed in linen, who had the writing case at his waist. 4 And the Lord said to him, “Pass through the city, through Jerusalem, and put a mark on the foreheads of the men who sigh and groan over all the abominations that are committed in it.”

Although furious and ready to release His wrath on Jerusalem, the Lord remembered those who remembered Him, who knew that the idolatry taking place was vile. Those people prayed with sighs and groans because it was just too horrible for words. So in the midst of His ferocity, the Lord showed mercy and the man clothed in linen, like a priest who had the writing case at his waist like an attorney or mediator went with the cherubim to mark the people who had not gone astray from the Lord.

The mercy of the Lord is manifested in Jesus Christ. And those who call on Him are sealed with the Holy Spirit. 2 Corinthians 1:20-22 read,

“For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory. 21 And it is God who establishes us with you in Christ, and has anointed us, 22 and who has also put his seal on us and given us his Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.”

Many of the people committing the abominations blamed God for their sin and said He had forsaken them. (Ezekiel 8:12). But those who refused to give in to idolatry trusted God and knew He would never break His promises. They were saved from the judgments that came upon the rest.

Our God would not be our loving holy God if He were to let sin go. Everyone has to pay the price for the sins they have committed. Either they pay with their own blood, or let Jesus pay with His. Ezekiel was seeing first-hand the horror of that payment coming due. Verses 7-8 read,

“Then he said to them, “Defile the house, and fill the courts with the slain. Go out.” So they went out and struck in the city. 8 And while they were striking, and I was left alone, I fell upon my face, and cried, “Ah, Lord God! Will you destroy all the remnant of Israel in the outpouring of your wrath on Jerusalem?”

Ezekiel cared about the people who were being destroyed. He cared about Israel. He cared about Jerusalem. Jerusalem represented the few who had been spared from Babylonian captivity, they were the remnant meant to carry on until the captives returned. But when bad things happened they turned from the Lord and worshipped false gods and practiced false religions. The relationship they had with God was one-sided. God loved them. He kept His vows. But they were unfaithful to Him every chance they got. Verses 9-10 read,

“Then he said to me, “The guilt of the house of Israel and Judah is exceedingly great. The land is full of blood, and the city full of injustice. For they say, ‘The Lord has forsaken the land, and the Lord does not see.’ 10 As for me, my eye will not spare, nor will I have pity; I will bring their deeds upon their heads.”

Sin has a price. It must be paid. It would be utterly detestable to imagine a god who let evil go unchecked, who didn’t punish wickedness. God loves us enough to make a way to a relationship with Him, to make a way of forgiving and paying the price for our sins. He sent Jesus to pay the price for us. When we accept the gift of grace by making Jesus our Lord, giving Him our lives then He gives us His Holy Spirit. He seals us and keeps us for His promises. No longer do we have to worry about condemnation. We are judged as blameless even though we don’t deserve it, because Jesus covered us with His righteousness or goodness.

God will not overlook those who remain faithful to Him when the time of adjudication comes. Verse 11 reads,

“And behold, the man clothed in linen, with the writing case at his waist, brought back word, saying, “I have done as you commanded me.”

The man, Jesus our mediator marked all the faithful, He sealed them with the Holy Spirit and they would not be killed with the majority who had not been faithful to the LORD.

It is so important to remain diligent about your relationship with God. What baggage have you brought into the relationship? Give it to Him. Be persistent in keeping your relationship pure. Remain faithful. Remember who God is.

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James 4:11-17 Who are We to Judge?

2/2/2015

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James Chapter 4 Verses 11-17

Unity of the believers, unity of the church is what sets us apart from the world. The way we treat one another is what people see when they look at us. Infighting, and bickering are bad enough. It makes us look petty and gives the world a reason to call us phonies and haters. But to speak badly about one another is even worse. To judge one another based on our own pride rather than Jesus’ love and mercy is worldly. Verses 11-12 read,

“Do not speak evil against one another, brothers. The one who speaks against a brother or judges his brother, speaks evil against the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge.12 There is only one lawgiver and judge, he who is able to save and to destroy. But who are you to judge your neighbor?”

When we say evil things about our fellow believers or judge them, are we loving them the way we love ourselves? When we consider ourselves, we give defenses, reasons, and explanations for our slip ups. I didn’t sleep well. I was hungry. My childhood was difficult. Whatever it is, we realize we have reasons that we fell short of perfection. If we love our brother as we love ourselves, can’t we consider that he may have issues as well that make perfection difficult? Rather than cut him down, perhaps we should help build him up. James also includes our neighbor. We have no right whatsoever to judge the lost on this earth. 1 Corinthians 5:12-13 read,

“For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge? 13 God judges those outside. “Purge the evil person from among you.”

The judging believers do with one another is not judgment based on conceit but a way of helping one another to stay the course. It is exhortation, edification, and walking together, bearing one another’s burdens. We have to judge one another to some degree if we are to do that, but it is in love not pride. It is to help, not harm. It is not accusatory but allows the Spirit to reveal.

We have a judge. He is the one who made the law. Jesus is our Judge. God made the law. Jesus gave us the law of liberty. We are not here to judge whether Susie Q is keeping the law. We are here to fulfil the law of Christ. If we are judging one another we are not being a doer of the law. In other words, we are not loving one another as Jesus loved us. We are not loving our neighbor as we love ourselves.

Pride is what causes us to judge each other, pride at what good Christians we are, or how much God uses us, or all the things we have done. We have no reason to be prideful. It is Jesus who made us righteous. It is the Spirit who enables us to do anything at all for God, including believe. It is the Father who allows us to know Him and draws us near to Him. We are no better than any other person in the church. We are no better than any other person full stop.

Our boasting about all the great deeds we will do in our lives, or all the mighty things we have done for God shows our pride and creates bitterness. That bragging exalts us, not Christ. Our crowing doesn’t allow us to submit to our brothers and sisters in love. It harms the church, it harms us. Can we really take credit for anything good in our lives? Isn’t it God who blesses us, provides for us, and gives us every good gift? Is our arrogance or self-glorification edifying anyone else? Is it helpful to a single other person? Verses 13-16 say,

“Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit”— 14 yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. 15 Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.” 16 As it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil.

Remember who is God and who the person is who needs Him. Remember without God, you have no righteousness. Without God you have nothing. He is Sovereign, Mighty, Redeemer, All Powerful, and He is the LORD. He gave you redemption, wisdom, discernment, and love. You know the difference between right and wrong, love and hate, and humility and arrogance. Love one another as Jesus loved you. Love your neighbor as yourself. Love with compassion, kindness, gentleness, and submissiveness. Verse 17 reads,

“So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.”

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James 2:1-13 Love Your Neighbors Without Partiality

1/29/2015

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James Chapter 2 Verses 1-13

I think it is common to judge people based on appearances. One looks at a man wearing an expensive suit and carrying a brief case and judges that he is likely a wealthy businessman. We tell others a little about ourselves by the way we dress. We express interests, finances, and even confidence by the way we present ourselves.

But if we let the judgment affect the way we think about or treat the other person, then we are sinning. Treating a person poorly or well based on our impression is prejudice. Bias leads nowhere good. James had something to say about the subject as well. Verses 1-4 read,

“My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory. 2 For if a man wearing a gold ring and fine clothing comes into your assembly, and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in,3 and if you pay attention to the one who wears the fine clothing and say, “You sit here in a good place,” while you say to the poor man, “You stand over there,” or, “Sit down at my feet,” 4 have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?”

It is too easy to see a person, assume he is affluent and treat him a bit better than everyone else. It is almost natural to offer him greater respect than others. It is just as easy to discount the poor man, to not pay him much attention, and in that way disrespect him. In God’s eyes, they are both worthy of the same respect. We are supposed to love our neighbor as ourselves, not some, but all. We are to show everyone that same favor.

Consider this as well. We are supposed to build one another up, encourage each other, and meet each other’s needs. Chances are the rich man has an easier life than the poor man. It was probably easier for him to get to church, his needs are not so hard to meet. Faith is easy for him since he has probably had fewer struggles. Although we can’t and shouldn’t assume that. But the poor man almost certainly has had many struggles, has a difficult time getting his needs met, and his faith is exercised much more often than that of many of us. He really deserves our admiration. Both men deserve equal treatment. If favoritism were going to be showed at all, it might be just to offer the respect and a respite for the poor man so that he is brought up to the same level as the rich man. What has the rich man ever done to earn our deference? The wealthy, especially the very wealthy who had few trials in their lives do not have to lean on God and they have a hard time making Jesus their Lord. Making Jesus his Master means putting money, power, and reputation out of his heart. Jesus said it is really hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God. (Matthew 19:22-24). He needs our love in order to be able to do that. Verses 5-7 put it like this,

“Listen, my beloved brothers, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him? 6 But you have dishonored the poor man. Are not the rich the ones who oppress you, and the ones who drag you into court? 7 Are they not the ones who blaspheme the honorable name by which you were called?”

We are supposed to love everyone without bias, just like God does. God gave Peter a vision to teach him that lesson. In Acts 10:34-35 Peter said, “…Truly I understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him. As for the word that he sent to Israel, preaching good news of peace through Jesus Christ (he is Lord of all),”

We are supposed to go out of our way to show esteem for one another. Romans 12:9-13 reads,

“Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. 10 Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. 11 Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. 12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. 13 Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.”

Showing partiality regardless which way it goes, is ungodly and therefore sinful. James doesn’t try and sweeten his message. It is plain that it is sin. It goes against the second of the commands Jesus told us was the crux of the entire law. Verses 8-9 say,

“If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well. 9 But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors.”

James wasn’t kidding around. Treating some well and others inadequately is sin. It is also often done in order to look good. Treating the congressman like a king can get us some points in the world. But treating the homeless man like a king doesn’t get us any advantages. If we are trying to gain benefits by our actions that is bad news. Our actions are meant to be expressions of our faith and love. God loves everyone, not just the rich, or only the poor, or merely the Jew, or only the Greek. Gaining rewards by our deeds is an attempt to keep the law. Looking good to the world is trying to keep the law. Verses 10-11 read,

“For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become accountable for all of it. 11 For he who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not murder.” If you do not commit adultery but do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law.”

Forget about how you look to the world when it comes to loving your neighbor. Love him as God loves him, not because he is a well-to-do influential man, but because he is a man created by and loved by God. We were saved by grace. We have been showered with mercy. We have grace and mercy to spare. We are free to do it. God wants a relationship with both the destitute and prosperous. He wants the priest and the prostitute to know Him. We are free to show love to all. We don’t have to worry about anyone defiling our buildings with their sin. We do not have to be concerned with anyone corrupting our temples or our souls because Jesus blood sanctified us. We don’t have to kowtow to money because we know God provides for us.

Verses 12-13 say,

“So speak and so act as those who are to be judged under the law of liberty. 13 For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.”

So my fellow believers and followers of our King and Lord Jesus, I encourage you today to examine yourself and see if you are showing partiality in your dealings with people. Are you out doing yourself and others in order to show honor to one another? I exhort you to go out of your way and love all your neighbors, regardless of appearance, regardless of bank account, and regardless of any of our perceptions.

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John 7:10-24 Is it you or Jesus That is good?

11/28/2014

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John Chapter 7 Verses 10 -24

Jesus had gone to the Feast of Booths in Jerusalem privately rather than go with His Family. There were some people upset enough to want Him arrested and killed. There were some who thought He was leading people away from Judaism by His teachings, and others who thought He was a good man. But most of them were not vocal because they were afraid of the repercussions for themselves. Their private opinions and their murmurs and whispers didn’t help the situation. Those who thought Jesus was a good man, but didn’t believe or take any action on their belief may as well as agreed with the Pharisees seeking to kill Him. Those who thought He was leading the people astray but kept their complaints to mumbled criticisms were no more influential than those they argued with.

About the middle of the feast Jesus began teaching in the temple. The people listening to Him were amazed. They knew He had not studied but He spoke with knowledge, eloquence, and expertise.

Verses 16-18 read,

“So Jesus answered them, “My teaching is not mine, but his who sent me. 17 If anyone's will is to do God's will, he will know whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking on my own authority. 18 The one who speaks on his own authority seeks his own glory; but the one who seeks the glory of him who sent him is true, and in him there is no falsehood.”

Some people look like really good people but they are not actually pursuing God’s glory. They work toward their own. The Pharisees were like that. They studied the scriptures. They gave exactly the right amount of money. They did everything right in the law except seek God’s will and love. The people were very impressed by their goodness. But their righteousness wasn’t leading anyone to God. They were leading people away from God’s love and His will and straight to Hell. Hosea 6:6 reads,

“For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice,
    the knowledge of God rather than burnt offering”

The people couldn’t even recognize God in Jesus. He was supposed to be the focus of their lives. He was right there in front of them, and they didn’t recognize Him. How many people who claim to be Christians have lost the object they are supposed to be following and instead glorify themselves with their goodness or begin following rules and ritual rather than Jesus?

Jesus continued in verse 19.

“Has not Moses given you the law? Yet none of you keeps the law. Why do you seek to kill me?”

I’m sure of the listeners were offended by His accusation they they didn’t follow the law. Here they were at the Feast of Booths in the temple. They gave money. They kept the Sabbath. They observed the feasts and special days. They were good Jews. But Jesus told them none of them kept the law. Deuteronomy 6:5 reads,

“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.”

Leviticus 19:34 says,

“You shall treat the stranger who sojourns with you as the native among you, and you shall love him as yourself, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God.”

They were not keeping the law. No one likes to have their flaws pointed out to them, especially if they are quite proud of their perfection. The crowd got so upset they accused Jesus have having a demon and in an effort to put him on the defensive told him he was crazy for thinking people wanted to kill him. Jesus didn’t fall for the goad. He didn’t have to defend Himself or argue about things that would take the light of the Father’s will. Verses 21-24 read,

“Jesus answered them, “I did one work, and you all marvel at it. 22 Moses gave you circumcision (not that it is from Moses, but from the fathers), and you circumcise a man on the Sabbath. 23 If on the Sabbath a man receives circumcision, so that the law of Moses may not be broken, are you angry with me because on the Sabbath I made a man's whole body well? 24 Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment.”

Jesus had healed a man on the Sabbath. He had done an act of love as God desired. But He was being persecuted for it. The Jews were so careful about obeying the letter of the law that would circumcise on the Sabbath to ensure they didn’t break the law by circumcising a day late. Circumcision was an outward sign of a covenant with God. It was an act that required cutting and pain. What Jesus did was heal, take pain away, and give a man a chance to receive grace and forgiveness. The man’s heart would have been circumcised, it would have been in inward and complete sign of his covenant with God. Rather than change one thing about the man, Jesus had made his whole body well.

Which act is better? Is it better to heal a man and give him new life or circumcise a man? The Jews were judging through eyes of law, rules, and ritual. Their perspective was narrowed to the point that God was not no longer in it. They couldn’t follow God if they had left Him out of their view. Right judgment requires looking at the whole picture. Jesus was trying to open their eyes to the truth. They didn’t like what they were hearing and what it showed them about themselves.

Ask yourself some questions.

1.)    Who are you glorifying in your life?

Does your life shine the light on Jesus? Is Jesus being praised by your deeds? Are you getting the acclaim for the good things you do? Are there any signs of your relationship with Jesus to be acclaimed?

2.)    Are you following a list of rules and laws or are you following Jesus?

If you were running late on your way to church and you met a drunk, hurt, and lost man that needed help, would you stop, help him, and miss church? Would you say a prayer that someone who has time would stop and help him? Would you be disgusted by his drunkenness and feel he deserves what he is getting? Would you even notice him as you rushed to church?

3.)    Are you loving God with all your heart, mind, soul and strength, and your neighbor as yourself?

Is your lifestyle one of active and intentional love? Has Christianity become a checklist rather than a relationship?

4.)    Are you judging the situation, yourself and others with right judgment?

Is the love of God, His plan, and His sovereignty in the picture? Or are you basing your assessment on appearances? Do you assume the woman leading the church food drive is good and the goth teen who doesn’t go to church is evil?

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John 5:24-29 Life Comes through Jesus, the Judge of All

11/21/2014

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John Chapter 5 Verses 24-29

Jesus continues to teach about His relationship to the Father in these verses. We ended yesterday with verse 24 but I want to go back and include it again with today’s verses.

Verses 24-26 read,

“Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.

25 “Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. 26 For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself.”

Jesus is the only way to God and to Salvation. It is faith in Him, belief that He is who He says He is, (the Son of God), and submission to Him as Lord that allows a person to be saved, to pass from being one of the walking dead to being alive in Him. The Father is the source of life and He gave Jesus the authority to grant life where He will. He gave Jesus all judgment and He gave Him life.

Eternal life doesn’t begin the day our bodies die. Eternal life begins at the moment you demonstrate your faith by calling Jesus Lord. It begins when you hear His voice call you to life. But there is more to it. Jesus alludes to the Day of Judgment, His second coming. One day Jesus will return and all those who believed and died will rise up from the grave and meet Him in Heaven and immediately following all those who still live will be caught up and move from mortal life to eternal life in a moment. At that moment it will be too late for everyone else. They will see for themselves that Jesus is real, alive, and awesome. They will fall to their knees. But they will have to face judgment. There are no scales, no tallies, and no hoping they were good enough. They either were sealed with the Holy Spirit or they were not. Verses 27-29 put it like this,

“And he has given him authority to execute judgment, because he is the Son of Man. 28 Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice 29 and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment.”

We do not know when that day will come. It might be this afternoon, tomorrow, ten years from now, or 156 years from now. But we do know it is coming. We read earlier that God loves people and wants the whole world to know Him and be saved. When Jesus comes, there will be no more hemming and hawing. When a person dies their earthly death, time to choose has ended. Do you love people like Jesus does? Do you love the Father so much you want what He wants? Is the Father’s will yours also?

The world is lost and doesn’t know it. People are searching for the truth and taking anything that sounds good to them instead. People need to see the truth of Jesus in you. One day He will be revealed to everyone as He returns to judge the earth. But right now He can be revealed in you.

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Ezekiel 38 & 39 God destroys Gog

Ezekiel 25 Leave Vengeance to the Lord. Take the Opportunity to be Compassionate and Kind.

Ezekiel Chapter 9 God Sees the Faithful

James 4:11-17 Who are We to Judge?

James 2:1-13 Love Your Neighbors Without Partiality

John 7:10-24 Is it you or Jesus That is good?

John 5:24-29 Life Comes through Jesus, the Judge of All

Donna Campbell

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