Month: January 2017

Make me Know

“Have mercy on me, O God,
according to your steadfast love;
according to your abundant mercy
blot out my transgressions.
Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity,
and cleanse me from my sin!“

 

Psalms 25:4  Make me to know your ways, O LORD; teach me your paths. Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all the day long.  Remember your mercy, O LORD, and your steadfast love, for they have been from of old.

Exodus 33:13   Now therefore, if I have found favor in your sight, please show me now your ways, that I may know you in order to find favor in your sight.

Isaiah 2:3 and many peoples shall come, and say: “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob, that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths.” For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.

Jeremiah 6:16  Thus says the LORD: “Stand by the roads, and look, and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is; and walk in it, and find rest for your souls. But they said, ‘We will not walk in it.’

Psalms 86:11   Teach me your way, O LORD, that I may walk in your truth; unite my heart to fear your name.

John 14:26    But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you

John 8:31-32  So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples,  and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

Psalms 119:33  Teach me, O LORD, the way of your statutes; and I will keep it to the end.

Psalms 119:66  Teach me good judgment and knowledge, for I believe in your commandments.

Proverbs 8:34  Blessed is the one who listens to me, watching daily at my gates, waiting beside my doors.

James 1:22-25  But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.

Statements like: “Make me to know your ways”, “teach me your paths”, “Lead me in your truth”, “please show me now your ways”, “Teach me good judgment and knowledge”, “unite my heart to fear your name”, “Come, let us go”, and “I believe” are all choices men made because they had respect, reverence for God.  They understood their sinful nature, the need for forgiveness, and the only way possible was for God to teach and lead them.  Do you ever think about questions like these?  Do they come to you early in the morning and when you go to bed?  God promises blessing for those who listen but the point here is the person must first have the desire and want for God to teach and lead them.  This desire and want is a choice each of us must make if we want to learn and be lead by God. How many days go by without even a second thought of Him yet alone humbly serving Him?  With all readily available access to God’s word, how do we think we will not be held accountable for neglecting His word?  Every day we make a choice to learn from and be led by Him or to go it alone.

Let me Hear

“No unbelief made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God,  fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised.”

Psalms 25:1   To you, O LORD, I lift up my soul. O my God, in you I trust; let me not be put to shame; let not my enemies exult over me. Indeed, none who wait for you shall be put to shame; they shall be ashamed who are wantonly treacherous.

Psalms 143:8   Let me hear in the morning of your steadfast love, for in you I trust. Make me know the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul.

Psalms 31:1  In you, O LORD, do I take refuge; let me never be put to shame; in your righteousness deliver me!

Romans 10:11  For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.”

1 Peter 2:6   For it stands in Scripture: “Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious, and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.”

Isaiah 26:3   You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.

Psalms 34:8  Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!

Psalms 37:40 The LORD helps them and delivers them; he delivers them from the wicked and saves them, because they take refuge in him.

Psalms 13:2-4   How long must I take counsel in my soul and have sorrow in my heart all the day? How long shall my enemy be exalted over me?  Consider and answer me, O LORD my God; light up my eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death,  lest my enemy say, “I have prevailed over him,” lest my foes rejoice because I am shaken.

Sometimes this walk of faith seems hard to bear.  Look at what David said: “I lift my soul to You”, “I trust in You”, “In You I take refuge”, and yet David also says: “How long must I take counsel in my soul and have sorrow in my heart all the day?” This walk with God will encounter trials and issues.  Some of them are brought on by our own doing and other times they are the result of others.    God did not promise us we would not have no trials, troubles, or issues but He did promise: “To never leave us or forsake us”, “He would be ever present in times of trouble”, “He would protect us from evil”, “He would guide us”, “He would give us peace of mind”, “He would bless us”, “He would be our strength”, “He would make known His path for us”…… What kind of faith is it that is never tested and refined?  Hebrews says “faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” Faith is built on God’s word, His promises, through Jesus Christ.  How much of our faith is built on things of this world or on what others say?  If it is built on anything less than God’s word, His promises, through Jesus Christ it certainly will fail to sustain us in times of trials and troubles of this world and most definitely in eternity.  How do we grow in our faith?  Is it possible to grow without knowing and feeding on God’s word?  Read His word with expectation of Him opening your eyes, ears, and heart to His leading. Commit to humbly serving God more and more each day.

Reverence & Respect – King of Glory

 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne.”

“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.”

“While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light.”

Psalms 24:10  Who is this King of glory? The LORD of hosts, he is the King of glory!

Isaiah 6:3-5  And one called to another and said: “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!”  And the foundations of the thresholds shook at the voice of him who called, and the house was filled with smoke.  And I said: “Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts!”

John 12:40    “He has blinded their eyes and hardened their heart, lest they see with their eyes, and understand with their heart, and turn, and I would heal them.”

John 14:9   Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?

Psalms 2:10  Now therefore, be wise; be warned, O rulers of the earth.  O kings, Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling.  Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and you perish in the way, for his wrath is quickly kindled. Blessed are all who take refuge in him.

Luke 9:26   For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words, of him will the Son of Man be ashamed when he comes in his glory and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.

Titus 2:11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ,

2Peter 1:3  His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.

Who is this King of glory – The Lord Of Hosts. Look at what Isaiah said after a vision of the Lord of hosts: “Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips”.  Isaiah had a starting point “Fear of God”.  I know “fear” can be misunderstood so I have copied this for a reference to help understand the meaning intended: “The Hebrew verb yare can mean “to fear, to respect, to reverence” and the Hebrew noun yirah “usually refers to the fear of God and is viewed as a positive quality. This fear acknowledges God’s good intentions (Ex. 20:20). … This fear is produced by God’s Word (Ps. 119:38; Prov. 2:5) and makes a person receptive to wisdom and knowledge (Prov. 1:7; 9:10)” (Warren Baker and Eugene Carpenter, The Complete Word Study Dictionary: Old Testament, 2003, pp. 470-471”.  Isaiah began with a reverence and respect of God and who He is.  Without this reverence and respect for God, His word will be meaningless, His promises empty, His salvation rejected, and His purpose seems foolish.  Without this reverence and respect our heart is hardened and though we may read or hear the word of God it will have no place to root in our heart.  Proverbs says the beginning of all wisdom is fear (reverence and respect) of the Lord.  The verses today speak of those who have this reverence and respect of God and those who do not.  Hold tight to this reverence and respect.  With this as a firm anchor in your life His word will have great impact and purpose in your life.

Loving kindness of God

“and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith”

“But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior,”

Psalms 24:5  He will receive blessing from the LORD and righteousness from the God of his salvation. Such is the generation of those who seek him, who seek the face of the God of Jacob.

Isaiah 51:5  My righteousness draws near, my salvation has gone out, and my arms will judge the peoples; the coastlands hope for me, and for my arm they wait.  Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look at the earth beneath; for the heavens vanish like smoke, the earth will wear out like a garment, and they who dwell in it will die in like manner; but my salvation will be forever, and my righteousness will never be dismayed.

Romans 3:22   the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction:

2 Corinthians 5:21   For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Galatians 5:5   For through the Spirit, by faith, we ourselves eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness.

Philippians 3:9   and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith—

Psalms 128:1-5  Blessed is everyone who fears the LORD, who walks in his ways!  You shall eat the fruit of the labor of your hands; you shall be blessed, and it shall be well with you.  Your wife will be like a fruitful vine within your house; your children will be like olive shoots around your table.  Behold, thus shall the man be blessed who fears the LORD.

Titus 3:4-6    But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared,  he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit,  whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior,

When you think of “Blessings from God” what comes to mind? Is it peace of mind, material, shelter, comfort, rest, strength, love, health, protection, family, fellow believers, His word, Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit, wisdom……  The list can go on and on.  Who are we that we should be blessed by God, the creator? Do we deserve it? Can we earn it? Righteousness and subsequent blessings are from God to those who, by faith in Jesus Christ, desire to humbly serve, honor, glorify, and obey Him.  I doubt we fully understand what is means to “love God with all our mind, heart, and soul”.  However continually seeking His will and purpose in our life will grow us in this understanding.  Walking with God is so much more than faith in Him.  It is a heart deep desire to serve and obey Him.  We grow our understanding of Him as we spend time in His word, listening to what is says to our heart, and obeying God’s leading. Our blessing begin with our understanding of Him, His purpose for our lives, and a desire to serve and obey Him.

What is a Pure heart

” Who can say, I have made my heart pure; I am clean from my sin?”

“Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.”

Psalms 24:4   He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to what is false and does not swear deceitfully.

He will receive blessing from the LORD and righteousness from the God of his salvation.

Psalms 18:20  The LORD dealt with me according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands he rewarded me.

Job 17:9   Yet the righteous holds to his way, and he who has clean hands grows stronger and stronger.

Isaiah 1:15-16   When you spread out your hands, I will hide my eyes from you; even though you make many prayers, I will not listen; your hands are full of blood.  Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean; remove the evil of your deeds from before my eyes; cease to do evil,

Isaiah 33:15-16    He who walks righteously and speaks uprightly, who despises the gain of oppressions, who shakes his hands, lest they hold a bribe, who stops his ears from hearing of bloodshed and shuts his eyes from looking on evil, he will dwell on the heights; his place of defense will be the fortresses of rocks; his bread will be given him; his water will be sure.

James 4:8   Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

Proverbs 20:9   Who can say, “I have made my heart pure; I am clean from my sin”?

Jeremiah 4:14   O Jerusalem, wash your heart from evil, that you may be saved. How long shall your wicked thoughts lodge within you?

Matthew 5:8   “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.

2 Corinthians 7:1   Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God.

Revelation 21:27   But nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who does what is detestable or false, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s book of life.

Deuteronomy 4:19   And beware lest you raise your eyes to heaven, and when you see the sun and the moon and the stars, all the host of heaven, you be drawn away and bow down to them and serve them, things that the LORD your God has allotted to all the peoples under the whole heaven.

Acts 14:15   “Men, why are you doing these things? We also are men, of like nature with you, and we bring you good news, that you should turn from these vain things to a living God, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all that is in them.

1 Timothy 1:6 Certain persons, by swerving from these, have wandered away into vain discussion, desiring to be teachers of the law, without understanding either what they are saying or the things about which they make confident assertions.

Malachi 3:5   “Then I will draw near to you for judgment. I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, against the adulterers, against those who swear falsely, against those who oppress the hired worker in his wages, the widow and the fatherless, against those who thrust aside the sojourner, and do not fear me, says the LORD of hosts.

How do we know what is “detestable and false”?  How do we know if we are “double-minded”?   What are we to consider “vain discussion”?  How do we know what causes “defilement of body and spirit”? What does it mean to have a “pure heart”?  How are we to “cleanse ourselves”? Whose names are “written in the Lambs book of life”?  What does it mean to “draw near to God”?  We can always ask these questions to others looking for answers and more than likely we will get as many different responses as the people we ask.  The key to answering these questions is found in the source you are looking.  How many times do we close our ears to what God is speaking to our heart – diluting away these convictions by listening to what our culture has deemed “OK”.  We try to find answers that allows us set aside God’s leading. Answers that are sought Apart from God’s word will lead us away not closer to God.  Many times God while reading or hear God’s word our heart will be convicted.  We then can choose to listen with our heart and mind – drawing near to God because our heart’s desire is to humble serve, honor and obey Him.  I wonder how many times rather than confess what God has been convicting us of, we choose to do something else good that will offset it.  We create this ledger book in our mind of “Good and Bad”.  This type of thinking allows us to stop thinking about it and falsely thinking our heart is pure or that we are cleansed. Is this why so many people do not continually read God’s word? How can we answer the questions above apart from His word – we can’t.

Awesome Mighty Worthy

“Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!
“For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?” “Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid?” For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever.”

Psalms 24:1  The earth is the LORD’s and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein, for he has founded it upon the seas and established it upon the rivers.

Psalms 89:11 The heavens are yours; the earth also is yours; the world and all that is in it, you have founded them. The north and the south, you have created them;

Deusteronomy 10:13 Behold, to the Lord your God belong heaven and the heaven of heavens, the earth with all that is in it.

Exodus 19:4 Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is mine;

Job 41:10 Who then is he who can stand before me? Who has first given to me, that I should repay him? Whatever is under the whole heaven is mine.

Romans 11:33 Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!
“For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?” “Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid?” For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever.

Isaiah 40:12 Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand
and marked off the heavens with a span,
enclosed the dust of the earth in a measure
and weighed the mountains in scales
and the hills in a balance?
Who has measured the Spirit of the Lord,
or what man shows him his counsel?
Whom did he consult,
and who made him understand?
Who taught him the path of justice,
and taught him knowledge,
and showed him the way of understanding?

I have little say as anything that comes to mind is already limiting.  Know that God is awesome, mighty, and creator of all there is.  Humbly serving, honoring and glorifying Him is the purpose of our existence. We make a choice to either serve and honor Him or not.  His word is our guide to begin to understand His holiness, love, mercy, grace, wrath, fury, judgement, plan of salvation, hope, heaven, hell, and eternity.  Seek His word and guidance.  Listen and obey.

The Great Shepherd

“Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” So we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?”

“For all the nations of the world seek after these things, and your Father knows that you need them.  Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things will be added to you. “Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.”

“But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”

Psalms 23:1  The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

Micah 5:4   And he shall stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the LORD, in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God. And they shall dwell secure, for now he shall be great to the ends of the earth.

John 10:11   I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.

1 Peter 2:25  For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

Revelation 7:17  For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of living water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”
For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD bestows favor and honor. No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly.

Psalms 23 is such a heart confident warming for our soul. He makes me l lie down – He knows the rest our souls need.  He restores me – He knows that we have a tendency to deplete our souls over the cares and worries of the day.  He comfort us – He knows we need His rod and staff to both protect and direct us. He prepares – He has a plan and purpose for our life.  He anoints – He blesses us.  He leads us and is the overseer of our soul – He knows we need guidance to keep on the path that brings honor and glory to God.   Other scripture tells us He is the good shepherd and that He knows us – We know Him. We follow Him.  He hears us. He holds us in His hand and no one can remove us from them. He wipes away our tears. He helps us. He guides us. He never leaves us. He restores us. In Him is eternal life for all who trust in, cling to, and rely on Him alone.  Whatever we are facing, God is our strength and comforter in times of trouble.  Run to Him. He is the great Shepherd.

 

Proclaim God’s Goodness

Psalms 22:22  You have rescued me from the horns of the wild oxen! I will tell of your name to my brothers; in the midst of the congregation I will praise you: You who fear the LORD, praise him! All you offspring of Jacob, glorify him, and stand in awe of him, all you offspring of Israel! For he has not despised or abhorred the affliction of the afflicted, and he has not hidden his face from him, but has heard, when he cried to him. From you comes my praise in the great congregation; my vows I will perform before those who fear him. The afflicted shall eat and be satisfied; those who seek him shall praise the LORD! May your hearts live forever! All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the LORD, and all the families of the nations shall worship before you. For kingship belongs to the LORD, and he rules over the nations. All the prosperous of the earth eat and worship; before him shall bow all who go down to the dust, even the one who could not keep himself alive. Posterity shall serve him; it shall be told of the Lord to the coming generation; they shall come and proclaim his righteousness to a people yet unborn, that he has done it. 

This second half of Psalms 22 has a much different tone doesn’t it.  After crying out to God about all of the problems and near the point of giving up, this now turns to claiming God’s steadfast love, strength, and hope.  It is as though they have gone from seeing little hope to seeing the end before it happens. Trusting in God will always give us hope Waiting for God will grow our faith.  Proclaiming both of these will encourage our heart and others.  We are changed when we pass our burden onto Him.  We are changed when we wait for His help.  No matter what you troubles/trials you are facing give them fully onto the one who is fully able to be your rock, strength, power, and hope.

Why are you so far from me?

Psalms 22:1  My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, from the words of my groaning? O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer, and by night, but I find no rest. Yet you are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel. In you our fathers trusted; they trusted, and you delivered them. To you they cried and were rescued; in you they trusted and were not put to shame. But I am a worm and not a man, scorned by mankind and despised by the people. All who see me mock me; they make mouths at me; they wag their heads; “He trusts in the LORD; let him deliver him; let him rescue him, for he delights in him!” Yet you are he who took me from the womb; you made me trust you at my mother’s breasts. On you was I cast from my birth, and from my mother’s womb you have been my God. Be not far from me, for trouble is near, and there is none to help. Many bulls encompass me; strong bulls of Bashan surround me; they open wide their mouths at me, like a ravening and roaring lion. I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint; my heart is like wax; it is melted within my breast; my strength is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to my jaws; you lay me in the dust of death. For dogs encompass me; a company of evildoers encircles me; they have pierced my hands and feet I can count all my bones— they stare and gloat over me; they divide my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots. But you, O LORD, do not be far off! O you my help, come quickly to my aid! Deliver my soul from the sword, my precious life from the power of the dog! Save me from the mouth of the lion!

You not only read, but feel the cry for help.  In our worst times God is still there and for some reason His time of rescue and ours are not the same.  He is able to do all things at any time, so why is it the answer to our request many times comes after a waiting period?  There are many ideas that come to mind but more than likely they are all wrong or partially correct at best.  Know that God is God and we are not.  In Jeremiah 29:11: “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” Waiting never seems right in our eyes but who are we to question God.  If we say we trust Him then should n’t we also wait? Shouldn’t we accept whatever the timing and outcome?  This is so much easier said than practiced.  Trust Him and lean not onto your own understanding – He is God alone who can do more than we ask and much more than we can imagine.

Do not refuse Him

“Stop trusting in mere humans,
who have but a breath in their nostrils.
Why hold them in esteem?”

“Put not your trust in princes,
in a son of man, in whom there is no salvation.”

“See that you do not refuse him who is speaking. For if they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, much less will we escape if we reject him who warns from heaven.”

 

Psalms 21:8  Your hand will find out all your enemies; your right hand will find out those who hate you. You will make them as a blazing oven when you appear. The LORD will swallow them up in his wrath, and fire will consume them. You will destroy their descendants from the earth, and their offspring from among the children of man. Though they plan evil against you, though they devise mischief, they will not succeed.  For you will put them to flight; you will aim at their faces with your bows.

Amos 9:2-3   “If they dig into Sheol, from there shall my hand take them; if they climb up to heaven, from there I will bring them down.  If they hide themselves on the top of Carmel, from there I will search them out and take them; and if they hide from my sight at the bottom of the sea, there I will command the serpent, and it shall bite them.

1 Corinthians 15:25     For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet

Hebrews 10:28-29   How much worse punishment, do you think, will be deserved by the one who has trampled underfoot the Son of God, and has profaned the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has outraged the Spirit of grace?

Revelation 19:15    From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty.

Psalms 89:22-23  The enemy shall not outwit him; the wicked shall not humble him. I will crush his foes before him and strike down those who hate him.

Micah 7:10   Then my enemy will see, and shame will cover her who said to me, “Where is the LORD your God?” My eyes will look upon her; now she will be trampled down like the mire of the streets.

Hebrews 12:25   See that you do not refuse him who is speaking. For if they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, much less will we escape if we reject him who warns from heaven.

Scripture speaks much of God’s mercy, grace, blessings, and love – eternal heaven.  It also speaks warnings of punishment, wrath, and judgement – eternal hell. Proverbs says: “There is a way that seems right to man, but its end is the way to death”.  Today in psalms David speaks again on how nothing is hidden from God.  You can not hide from God.  The way that seems right to man that says: there is no God, or there is no single God, or there is no Judgement, or there is no punishment, or they can earn favor with God by being good. Many will seek after those who speak in line with these thoughts, but in the end these all lead to judgement, punishment and eternal hell.  I read something a few weeks back that said about this life “we are not going to make it out of this life alive”.  How true this is.  The length of our life is but a vapor and is gone in comparison to eternity.  If our eyes are only on this life we lose sight of God and eternity.  We see no need for humbly serving, honoring, and glorifying Him. We reject Him, His offer of salvation through believing  in the redemptive work of Christ on the cross, and through this reject of His mercy, grace, and love are destine to judgement, punishment, and eternity in hell.  We must remember to speak not only of God’s grace, mercy and love but also His wrath, fury and punishment.