You can go to any prophecy site or read any "End Times" book and they will all tell you that these are the last days and Jesus can return at any minute. They will point you to all sort of signs in the weather, economy and violence in the world. I believe the only sign we need is that Jesus rose from the grave.
I received this e-mail below in one of my daily subscriptions, and I think it describes a time we are in. If things were bad 400 years ago how much worse are they now? Do you think we are in the evilest of times? I invite you to read some of the new stories online such as a woman in Tyler, TX being arrested for encouraging her 7 and 10 year old children to engage in sexual acts for the entertainment of other adults who paid to come to their house and watch. By the way, the kids were taught these things as young as age 5.
Before God killed off all life with the exception of 8 humans and some animals, the Bible says that mans mind was continually on evil. How close are we now? Do we believe God will judge the ungodly and unrighteous as He did in the past, other than by flood of course? Some of the more charismatic brothers can scream revival is taking place all they want, but I see no hint of man humbling himself before a Holy and Just God with a broken heart and broken spirit turning to God in repentance and faith. As we pass all these people clothed in "religion", clothed in something other than the righteousness of Christ, do we care? Are we doing our part as instructed by God to tell them?
Rom 10:14 How are they to call on one they have not believed in? And how are they to believe in one they have not heard of? And how are they to hear without someone preaching to them?
Now for the e-mail-
We should be holiest in evil times. The profaneness of the times should not slacken our zeal--but heighten it. The looser others are -- the stricter we should be. The way to hell is a well-trodden road. "Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil" Exodus 23:2. Dead fish swim down the stream -- living fish swim against it. Mere professors cut the garment of their religion according to the mode and fashion of the times. Let us keep up the vigor of our zeal, in degenerate times. We should by a holy contrariness -- burn hotter in a frozen age. We live in the dregs of time; sin is grown common and impudent. It is excellent to walk contrary to the world. Let us be as lilies and roses -- among the briars. Sin is never the better because it is in fashion! The impiety of the times, is a foil to set off grace all the more, and give it a greater luster. This plea will not help at the last day-"that we did as most others did." God will say, "Seeing you sinned with the multitude -- you shall go to hell with the multitude!" Oh, let us keep pure among the dregs! Let us be like fish, which retain their freshness, in salt waters. It is better to go to heaven with a few -- than to hell in the crowd! "Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:" Matthew 7:13-14
Thomas Watson (1620-1686)
Showing posts with label sin. Show all posts
Showing posts with label sin. Show all posts
Friday, May 9, 2008
Wednesday, January 2, 2008
Woe is me! . . . My eyes have seen the King
Another priceless reminder.
Read: Isaiah 6:1-7
At the conclusion of the book of Job, after all the arguments between Job and his friends, God Himself appeared and asked: “Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation? Tell me, if you understand. Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know!” Stunned by God’s awesome presence, Job humbly responded: “Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know . . . My ears had heard of you, but now my eyes have seen you. Therefore I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes” (see Job 38—42).
Like Job, Isaiah in today’s reading was overwhelmed. We often think of humility as a “horizontal” virtue, that is, one practiced person to person, but it properly begins as a “vertical” virtue; that is, it depends on an accurate sense of who one is before God. There’s no quicker cure for pride than to compare the mortal to the immortal, the finite to the infinite, the selfish to the loving, and the sinful to the holy! That’s what Isaiah experienced in his call and commissioning to become God’s prophet.
The vision of God was majestic (vv. 1—4). He sat high up on a throne, showing His sovereign authority over all the earth, certainly including one individual like Isaiah. His robe further symbolized His royal grandeur. He was attended by angels called “seraphs,” whose body language proclaimed His holiness and glory. To put an exclamation point on everything, awe-inspiring thunder rocked the temple where Isaiah was.
Isaiah’s response to this vision was complete humility (v. 5). He was engulfed in a sense of his own sin and unworthiness, both as an individual and as part of the community of Israel. He could not answer a call to ministry, or even receive one, until God took the initiative to purify and cleanse him from sin (vv. 6—7). The dramatic picture of a live coal touching Isaiah’s lips reminds us that God’s forgiveness is both painful and powerful.
As we know, confession of sin is a needed spiritual habit in our lives (1 John 1:9). Too often, though, we approach confession the same way we approach petitions, reading a “laundry list” and checking off each item. Today, we suggest having a different kind of time of confession, one done with the attitude of Isaiah. Pray in the “woe is me” spirit that recognizes the chasm between a perfectly holy God and ourselves, and thus cries out for the forgiveness and cleansing only He can give.
Courtesy of Moody Bible Institute
• www.todayintheword.org
Read: Isaiah 6:1-7
At the conclusion of the book of Job, after all the arguments between Job and his friends, God Himself appeared and asked: “Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation? Tell me, if you understand. Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know!” Stunned by God’s awesome presence, Job humbly responded: “Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know . . . My ears had heard of you, but now my eyes have seen you. Therefore I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes” (see Job 38—42).
Like Job, Isaiah in today’s reading was overwhelmed. We often think of humility as a “horizontal” virtue, that is, one practiced person to person, but it properly begins as a “vertical” virtue; that is, it depends on an accurate sense of who one is before God. There’s no quicker cure for pride than to compare the mortal to the immortal, the finite to the infinite, the selfish to the loving, and the sinful to the holy! That’s what Isaiah experienced in his call and commissioning to become God’s prophet.
The vision of God was majestic (vv. 1—4). He sat high up on a throne, showing His sovereign authority over all the earth, certainly including one individual like Isaiah. His robe further symbolized His royal grandeur. He was attended by angels called “seraphs,” whose body language proclaimed His holiness and glory. To put an exclamation point on everything, awe-inspiring thunder rocked the temple where Isaiah was.
Isaiah’s response to this vision was complete humility (v. 5). He was engulfed in a sense of his own sin and unworthiness, both as an individual and as part of the community of Israel. He could not answer a call to ministry, or even receive one, until God took the initiative to purify and cleanse him from sin (vv. 6—7). The dramatic picture of a live coal touching Isaiah’s lips reminds us that God’s forgiveness is both painful and powerful.
As we know, confession of sin is a needed spiritual habit in our lives (1 John 1:9). Too often, though, we approach confession the same way we approach petitions, reading a “laundry list” and checking off each item. Today, we suggest having a different kind of time of confession, one done with the attitude of Isaiah. Pray in the “woe is me” spirit that recognizes the chasm between a perfectly holy God and ourselves, and thus cries out for the forgiveness and cleansing only He can give.
Courtesy of Moody Bible Institute
• www.todayintheword.org
Thursday, December 27, 2007
In the world but not of the world...
I don't think we can be reminded enough of the danger of placing ourselves in a position to sin. When sin does come don't be too quick to point the finger at others or at the enemy. The Bible tells us in James that sin comes when we succumb to our own lust. The below comes from an e-mail group I'm on from Moody Bible Institute.
Read: 2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1
TODAY IN THE WORD
Reflecting on the strict family rules such as limitations on television viewing, early bedtimes, and no dessert without finishing dinner, a daughter complained to her father, “But the Johnson girls don’t have to follow these kinds of rules!” The father paused for a moment and then responded: “True, but the Johnson girls aren’t part of our family, and following the household rules is part of what it means to be my daughter.”
As Scripture has shown this month, God repeatedly expresses Himself in terms of parental imagery and boldly calls us His children. Many benefits come from this relationship with God, but sometimes we also need to be reminded that there are family responsibilities as well.
Today’s reading reminds us precisely of this truth by urging us to be separate from sin and from that which may cause us to sin. A string of reasons are given, each a balance of contrasts: there is no agreement between righteousness and wickedness, between light and dark, or between Christ and Belial.
Then, Scripture draws upon two further images as an underlying explanation for the believer’s need for separation from sin. First, the church is reminded that “we are the temple of the living God” (6:16). Because God has promised to live among us and be our God (cf. Lev. 26:12), we are made holy and must reflect that holiness in our lives.
Second, we are reminded of our familial relationship: “I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters” (6:18; cf. 2 Sam. 7:14). “Since,” as Scriptures declares, “we have these promises” (7:1), we have an obligation to live a certain way. It means something to be a child of God, not just in terms of the benefits we receive, but also in terms of the way we live in the world. We are part of a new family, and with that reality comes responsibility to pursue holiness and avoid sin.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Every Christian generation is faced with temptation to idolatry and disobedience. While we should make use of the spiritual disciplines of prayer, fasting, Scripture, and participation in the services and ordinances of the church, today’s passage also offers an easily overlooked weapon against sin: separa-tion from the opportunity for sin (6:17). Do not intentionally put yourself in a position to be tempted. Ask God today for the strength to separate yourself from opportunities for temptation, that you might live “in reverence for” Him.
Read: 2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1
TODAY IN THE WORD
Reflecting on the strict family rules such as limitations on television viewing, early bedtimes, and no dessert without finishing dinner, a daughter complained to her father, “But the Johnson girls don’t have to follow these kinds of rules!” The father paused for a moment and then responded: “True, but the Johnson girls aren’t part of our family, and following the household rules is part of what it means to be my daughter.”
As Scripture has shown this month, God repeatedly expresses Himself in terms of parental imagery and boldly calls us His children. Many benefits come from this relationship with God, but sometimes we also need to be reminded that there are family responsibilities as well.
Today’s reading reminds us precisely of this truth by urging us to be separate from sin and from that which may cause us to sin. A string of reasons are given, each a balance of contrasts: there is no agreement between righteousness and wickedness, between light and dark, or between Christ and Belial.
Then, Scripture draws upon two further images as an underlying explanation for the believer’s need for separation from sin. First, the church is reminded that “we are the temple of the living God” (6:16). Because God has promised to live among us and be our God (cf. Lev. 26:12), we are made holy and must reflect that holiness in our lives.
Second, we are reminded of our familial relationship: “I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters” (6:18; cf. 2 Sam. 7:14). “Since,” as Scriptures declares, “we have these promises” (7:1), we have an obligation to live a certain way. It means something to be a child of God, not just in terms of the benefits we receive, but also in terms of the way we live in the world. We are part of a new family, and with that reality comes responsibility to pursue holiness and avoid sin.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Every Christian generation is faced with temptation to idolatry and disobedience. While we should make use of the spiritual disciplines of prayer, fasting, Scripture, and participation in the services and ordinances of the church, today’s passage also offers an easily overlooked weapon against sin: separa-tion from the opportunity for sin (6:17). Do not intentionally put yourself in a position to be tempted. Ask God today for the strength to separate yourself from opportunities for temptation, that you might live “in reverence for” Him.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
