Love and Punishment

5 I will lay the dead bodies of the Israelites in front of their idols, and I will scatter your bones around your altars.  Ezekiel 6

Whoah, graphic imagery there.  That's a lot of the Old Testament though - really graphic.  Have you ever slowed down and read some of the less popular passages?  I've cringed when reading some of the descriptions of how people died, particularly the evil kings.

Some people use this as an argument against Christianity.  "How can you follow a god that punishes their own followers in such horrid ways?"  Simple.  He loved us and forgave us.  He gave his only son as a sacrifice to pay for all our sins so that we may be saved from eternal punishment.

We call God the Father.  He's like a parent to us.  Parents have to provide punishment to their children, even though they love them.  Now, every parent gives different punishment, and I'm not getting into what I think is appropriate punishment, but I believe that we can all agree that parents do punish their children.

And when the punishment is over, they can reach out and hug their children and tell them they love them, and the child will choose whether to believe them or not.  It's the same thing for us.  God is everlasting, so he doesn't do this in each of our lives individually, he did it for all humanity.  He punished our ancestors, and then told us of his love.  God is omnipresent, so the one sacrifice of Jesus paid for everyone, those that had died, those that lived when he died, and those that would live after his death.

We have the ultimate blessing.  We have been told that God loves us and it is up to us to accept or reject this.  

Thurs Devo: Never Enough

Have you ever been around someone who seems to complain about everything? Their job isn’t good enough, they often need more money, their relationships aren’t working out as they wished, their children regularly frustrate them, they want a nicer car or a bigger house and the list goes on. They would be happy if they could just… What are they really saying?

When Korah opposed Moses, Moses pointed out exactly who Korah was really opposing.

Numbers 16:8-11        ⁸ Moses also said to Korah, “Now listen, you Levites! ⁹ Isn’t it enough for you that the God of Israel has separated you from the rest of the Israelite community and brought you near himself to do the work at the Lord’s tabernacle and to stand before the community and minister to them? ¹⁰ He has brought you and all your fellow Levites near himself, but now you are trying to get the priesthood too. ¹¹ It is against the Lord that you and all your followers have banded together. Who is Aaron that you should grumble against him?”

Moses pointed out that Korah and his followers were really opposing God, not Moses and Aaron. As we talked about a few weeks ago, Moses and Aaron had not chosen their position for themselves. God had appointed them as the leader and priest of Israel. 

Moses also pointed out all Korah’s and his fellow Levites’ privileges. Korah wasn’t satisfied with his privileged position as a Levite and community leader. He wanted to be priest.

Are you and I like Korah? With what are we not satisfied? Do we have the “never enough” attitude? Or, do we look at what we do have as privileges?

Do others have to point out our privileges to us, like Moses did to Korah? Or, do we regularly think about and list out all the privileges God has blessed us with?

God is Sovereign over each life. He has given each one enough unique blessings and privileges.

Alice

Joy over Happiness

Make a joyful shout to the Lord, all you lands!
 Serve the Lord with gladness;
Come before His presence with singing.
Know that the Lord, He is God;
It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves;
We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.  Psalm 100:1-3 (NKJV)

(This is Pt 7 of 8 – Turning the Tide – Representing God to a World that Misrepresents Him)

Happiness and joy.  These are two words with similar meaning, and in fact, joy in its definition has the word ‘happiness’ in it.  I used to believe in essence they were interchangeable even into my early days as a Christian.  However, that has changed.  One of my Christian mentors taught me that I should strive for joy and not happiness.  I did not understand why then, but today, the difference is clear in my head and heart.  I mentioned in a previous devotion that happiness is the feeling you have when something good is going on.  Joy, however, is lasting satisfaction that is continuous and never ending.  Joy is the knowledge that God is with you always, and happiness is the temporary feeling one has for only a fleeting moment.  Thus, one can still have joy when times are bad but not happiness.

We as Christians should have joy knowing God is always with us.  Today’s verses focuses on the word ‘joyful.’  There is a saying in the church that though we may have darkness in our life, joy comes in the morning.  I never quite understood that saying, but having studied the Bible more, it makes sense.  If Jesus Christ represents light (i.e. The Way, The Truth, and The Light), then ‘morning’ in that phrase signifies light for He said, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” (John 8:12b)  The world focuses on the pursuit of happiness, but God shows us there is a better way.  We can have a light within us that cannot be either diminished or taken.  The world’s promises are only temporary much like happiness is.  God promises joy in our lives; a feeling that is everlasting and without fail.

There can truly be no joy without God.  Though there may be times in our lives where we have happiness, joy never ceases.  Milestones and accomplishments come and go, but through Jesus Christ, we are always blessed and thankful of those things that God has brought in our lives.  How can you find the joy that God instilled in you?  How will you seek joy above happiness?  In a world that looks for happiness that is consistently momentary, my prayer is that we focus on the light of Jesus Christ, which will show the world a never ending happiness called joy.  Amen.

Tues Devo: Investment?

Matthew 6:19-21 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (NASB)

Hello,

The word investment is powerful. We use it to convey the use of time, money, or other resources in the immediate time frame for a hopeful gain of return later. Sometimes we feel that gain is a sure thing, other times we admit is  a bit of a gamble.

I have no problem with investment….my issue is how quickly all of us have used the word investment as an excuse to do what we want to do. How much time have you “invested” into things that don’t matter later? How many resources have you put into things under the guise of investment, but you really know deep down that it is just about you and right now – and has nothing to do with later. Hey – even some of that is OK, but let’s call it what it is and not mix it with real investment.

I don’t want to get too picky here – but often times we use the word investment and it becomes a defense barrier to others. After all, how can someone argue against a good investment? But is that choice we are making really an investment…? Or is it an excuse to do what you want and not have to have accountability? These things do matter – no difference how much time or other resources you have, they are all limited! We must use our resources well, and part of that process will be improved when we true up our definition of investment.

Have a blessed day,

Will Hill