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“So do you think your life would be better or worse if God were the center of your life?” It was a question neither one of them had contemplated! He rubbed his chin while her eyes tracked to the side reaching deeply for the answer. The questions only got tougher! “If God were to ask you, ‘Why should I let you into My heaven,’ what would you answer?” She didn’t know at first. He said that he always believed, that he’d tried to live a good life and that he’d done his best… she agreed. The greatest news EVER is that heaven is a free gift! “The gift of God is eternal life!” I gave them the “good person test” based on the 10 commandments, and like everyone else on the planet they failed, because all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Another uncomfortable question: “If God were to judge you based on the 10 commandments, would you be innocent or guilty?” Guilty as charged… do not pass go, do not go to heaven! The good news is that Jesus, God’s son, died in our place for our sin and he offers us heaven as a free gift, if we will trust Him. It’s like saying “I do.” Just like that, he was ready…, but she was apprehensive; “I’m afraid.” She said. We prayed and He made the decision to trust Christ, and God is still working in her life! Pray for both of them.
Today's Scripture reading is 2 Samuel 17; Micah 7; Luke 4:29-44
To Listen to Today’s Reading http://timewithgod.podbean.com - Archives can be found at http://timewithgod.mypodcast.com
Today’s thought comes from Jeremiah 25 4 "the LORD has sent to you all His servants the prophets, rising early and sending them, but you have not listened nor inclined your ear to hear. 5 "They said, ‘Repent now everyone of his evil way and his evil doings, and dwell in the land that the LORD has given to you and your fathers forever and ever… 7 "Yet you have not listened to Me," says the LORD, "that you might provoke Me to anger with the works of your hands to your own hurt. 8 "Therefore thus says the LORD of hosts: ‘Because you have not heard My words, 9 ‘behold, I will send and take all the families of the north,’ says the LORD, ‘and Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, My servant, and will bring them against this land… 11 ‘And this whole land shall be a desolation and an astonishment, and these nations shall serve the king of Babylon seventy years.
Jewish Rabbinical literature suggests that king Nebuchadnezzar was a descendent of the Queen of Sheba in her marriage to King Solomon! It also suggests that the exiles, on their way to Babylon were not allowed to stop even for a moment, as the king feared that they would pray during the respite granted them and that God would be willing to help them as soon as they repented. Whether either is true or not, they bring an interesting twist to the story. Jeremiah 25 is a further development of the blessings and cursings of Deuteronomy 28. God had sent prophet after prophet with messages of warning about the curses waiting them, but the people refused to listen. 2Ch 36:16 comments, “But they mocked the messengers of God, despised His words, and scoffed at His prophets, until the wrath of the LORD arose against His people, till there was no remedy.” “The weeping prophet,” Jeremiah lived through this terrible siege. He warned the nation that it was too late! There was no remedy! The nation was going into captivity! The Babylonians easily crossed the city walls with the help of defensive towers. The defenders of the city were unable able to cope with this advanced technique, Metal military equipment, catapults, and the well planned tactic of attack. In 587 BC the nation was taken into exile. Jeremiah was not one of the exiles. He was allowed to stay in the land. Tradition says that his own people killed him because of his dismal prophecies. One of the most stunning prophecies he made was that the nation would only be in exile for 70 years, one year for every Sabbath year they had failed to observe. The Sabbath years occurred every 7 years, during which the land was supposed to remain fallow. When the land had observed all it’s Sabbaths, then the people would return. History tells us that Ezra and Nehemiah led the people back to the land exactly as Jeremiah had predicted 70 years later. What else would you expect?
Dear Father, I am amazed that what you say always comes true. I should not be amazed, but I am. Help me to trust you for the Scriptures yet unfulfilled as I trust you for those that have already been fulfilled. It is clear that you are have the master plan. Thank you for loving me.
The Lord bless you; we bless you in the Lord’s name.”
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