Forgive, Forget, and Focus on God

Let us not be obsessed with what the evil doers are doing. Let not our days be consumed in worrying about the trouble makers.

Even if we are hurt by them; and, they gloat and act strong.

God has a way of dealing with every person according to his or her works.

David who lived most of the days of his life with someone or the other there to trouble him, had this to say:

“Let the righteous one rejoice in the LORD and take refuge in him!

Let all the upright in heart exult!” (Psalm 64:10)

So rather than wasting this day by reacting against those who hurt us – let us rejoice in the LORD and also take refuge in Him.

May God count us as His righteous ones and may His Spirit keep our hearts upright.

Serving God with our Skills

We have had the experience of being led by the Spirit of God to give of our wealth and possessions for the sake of God’s kingdom. Today, I would like to encourage you to give of your abilities and skills also. We need to be generous, not just in giving money but also in offering our skills to build God’s kingdom.

We all wish to be useful in God’s service. However, it is time now to take a small step in that direction. We can commit to do something small. Or we can take a break and go and offer our time and abilities in some place where our life and work may make a great difference.

“Take from among you an offering for the LORD; whosoever is of a willing heart.” (Exodus 35:5)

“And every wisehearted one among you shall come, and make all that the LORD has commanded.” (Exodus 35:10)

If only we can take ownership of the kingdom work and make God’s work our own. If only we can be preoccupied with thoughts to serve God’s people and do God’s ministry.

“And all the women who were skillful did spin with their hands, and brought that which they had spun…. And all the women who were willing skillfully spun goats’ hair.” (Exodus 35:25,26)

Surely you are blessed with skills and you can also become willing to share those skills for God’s work.

Where are you with respect to God’s presence?

The tent of meeting was pitched by Moses “outside the camp, far off from the camp.” (Exodus 33:7)

• When the glory of God descended on the tent – the people – seeing “the pillar of cloud standing at the entrance of the tent, all the people would rise up and worship each at his tent door.” (Exodus 33:10)
• Nevertheless, if anyone wanted to seek the LORD “would go to the tent of meeting, which was outside the camp.” (Exodus 33:7)
• “When Moses entered the tent, the pillar of cloud would descend and stand at the entrance of the tent, and the Lord would speak with Moses.” (Exodus 33:9) It is written that, “Thus the LORD used to speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend.” (Exodus 33:11)
• “When Moses turned again into the camp, his assistant Joshua son of Nun, a young man, would not depart from the tent.” (Exodus 33:11)

Are you still standing where you are comfortable?

Do you have that urgency within to go make a move and seek God?

Do you have that eager desire to have an intimate relationship with God?

Do you realize that you can continue to linger in God’s presence even when all have gone?

May God lead you into an intimate relationship with Him.

People, Remnant, Fugitives

When a people are punished by God, what remains of them is called the remnant. But if the remnant is also punished, then nothing remains, except some fugitives (Jeremiah 44:14).

The people perished in their sin and rebellion. The remnant should have taken it to heart and they should have been a blessed lot in their true repentance. However, when the remnant continued to go against God and they lived by their own devices, and remained in sin – it made them fall under the judgment of God.

“No one will escape or survive…” was the prophecy.

“For they shall not return, except some fugitives.”

After saying ‘no one’ why is the prophecy mentioning ‘some fugitives?’

• That is the mercy, the great mercy of God.

So,

If we are a people – let us not be reduced to a remnant.

If we are a remnant – let us not be reduced to some fugitives.

The Father in His great love is waiting for us to return home.

Let us repent and turn back to God.

Amen.

God’s Promises Vs Worlds Prospects – Part II

Israel had become desolate and was surrounded by mighty, conquering nations. Egypt was a possibility for them to seek out a ‘better life.’

God told them to abide there in the desolate land and also asked them to trust Him.

When it is not in our power to do any better we resign to the will of God. But when we have the ability to pursue a better life, do we deny that privilege for continuing to trust in God.

Living a holy, set apart life today is like a tent in a hostile desert and the storms rage wild, the people of the world wilder still. The world.inc shows great promises and the path of the saint is challenging indeed.

Would we trust God to protect us in our tents? Or, would we seek some tower of Babel for ourselves as some kind of insurance and assurance?

God will protect us in our tents and the towers of the world will perish.

The people of Israel thought (Jeremiah 42) that going to Egypt would be better off for them. But they failed to see that ‘what happens to them in Egypt and what happens to Egypt’ is decided by Yahweh God. Yahweh God who could preserve them in the desolate land and also prosper them there.