Nation Called to Serve GOD

Nation Called to Serve GOD

Exodos 4: ²¹ And the Lord said to Moses, “When you go back to Egypt, see that you do all those wonders before Pharaoh which I have put in your hand. But I will harden his heart, so that he will not let the people go. ²² Then you shall say to Pharaoh, ‘Thus says the Lord: “Israel is My son, My firstborn. ²³ So I say to you, let My son go that he may serve Me. But if you refuse to let him go, indeed I will kill your son, your firstborn.” ’ ”

 

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After Moses accepted his calling, he went to his father-in-law to leave peacefully. Moses left his contentment to do what GOD called him to do. GOD warned Moses by telling him this would not be easy, but Moses was supposed to be obedient in doing all the wonders GOD had in store. GOD then calls Israel HIS “son.”

 

My Observations:

• GOD referred to Israel as HIS “son” for the first time, meaning nation, not JESUS.
• GOD wanted the nation of Israel to serve HIM after being called out of Egypt.
• GOD used the decree of the Pharaoh by saying “I will kill your son.”

 

When GOD says HE will kill someone, it’s not good. If you substitute the word “son” for “nation” and reread the scripture, you will see that GOD was about to take Egypt out of power. Their rule was far reaching and cruel. There is also a time that is too late with GOD. Pharaoh and the Egyptian beliefs had already reached the point of no return. GOD would harden their hearts. This is scary.

 

GOD also used the decree “I will kill your son” as Egypt’s own words used against them. One Pharaoh told the children of Israel to kill their sons by throwing them into the river. GOD would eventually perform a plague that would involve the river turning into blood. GOD was preparing Moses that even though miracles would be performed, Pharaoh would not admit that GOD is GOD.

 

Challenge

• Why does GOD remind Moses about HIS warnings about Pharaoh?
• Do you think GOD doesn’t see your suffering or the hearts of those who have been cruel?
• In the middle of uncertainty and cruelness, will you remain obedient to GOD to see HIS deliverance?

Nothing Left

Nothing Left

Revelation 16: ¹⁷ Then the seventh angel poured out his bowl in the air. A loud voice came from the throne in the temple, saying, “It is done!” ¹⁸ There were flashes of lightning, rumblings and peals of thunder, and a terrible earthquake. There has never been such an earthquake since the creation of human beings; this was the worst earthquake of all! ¹⁹ The great city was split into three parts, and the cities of all countries were destroyed. God remembered great Babylon and made her drink the wine from his cup—the wine of his furious anger. ²⁰ All the islands disappeared, all the mountains vanished. ²¹ Huge hailstones, each weighing as much as a hundred pounds, fell from the sky on people, who cursed God on account of the plague of hail, because it was such a terrible plague.

 

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Hearing about the store closure, I went to purchase some items at a discount. The first week of the closure, there were plenty of items, but ion the last week, there was nothing left but an empty store.

 

• Everything was gone and the store looked strange.
• Even the shelves were removed and it no longer looked like a store.
• The store was no longer a store.

 

John, the disciple JESUS loved, saw the seventh and final angel pour out the seventh bowl in the air. An earthquake shook all the planet and every city, mountain and island was destroyed. To make matters worse, hailstones, that usually weigh an ounce, weighed one hundred pounds, and fell from the sky causing great harm. This final plague caused people to curse GOD.

 

My Observations:

• GOD’s plan to take down Satan’s kingdom will be final and unmatched.
• Everyone will know when GOD has completely unleashed HIS anger.
• Only those who believe in JESUS will be spared from the plagues.

 

Belief in JESUS is only the beginning. I mean, many people who believe there is a heaven or hell, try to believe in JESUS to stay out of hell. BUT GOD wants so much more. HE wants me to have a loving relationship with HIM and HIS people.

 

HE wants more than for me to fear everlasting punishment. HE wants me to have the best from HIM and HE promised to give HIS best to those who love the LORD> I am glad HE gave me people to serve and prayers to give to HIM!

 

Challenge

• How do you think the writer felt about this last plague?
• Have you ever seen a building demolished or the aftermath of a natural disaster?
• Will you seek GOD for a relationship that is loving, versus seeking GOD for what you can get today?

Anger Soup

Anger Soup

Revelation 15: ⁵ After this I saw the temple in heaven open, with the Sacred Tent in it. ⁶ The seven angels who had the seven plagues came out of the temple, dressed in clean shining linen and with gold bands tied around their chests. ⁷ Then one of the four living creatures gave the seven angels seven gold bowls full of the anger of God, who lives forever and ever. ⁸ The temple was filled with smoke from the glory and power of God, and no one could go into the temple until the seven plagues brought by the seven angels had come to an end.

 

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Testing the limits of what I could do, I performed my new found freedom in secret. I did a few things I was not supposed to do, and “got away with it.” But one day the thing I was doing was discovered and I had to face the full anger which I feared.

 

• I thought I was getting away with being “free.”
• I thought I would not have to face consequence if no one knew what I was doing.
• I thought I could escape anger.

 

John, the disciple JESUS loved, saw the temple in heaven open with the Sacred Tent in it. He saw seven angels with seven bowls of GOD’s anger ready to be poured out on the earth. This was the end of the patience of GOD, the earth had enjoyed since the beginning of humanity.

 

My Observations:

• GOD’s anger will one day be in full force.
• GOD has seen every wrong doing you and I have ever done.
• GOD’s anger can be escaped through saving belief in JESUS.

 

Our current actions dictate which bowls we belong to. One set of twenty eight bowls in heaven contains the prayers of those who believe in JESUS as the Savior. But there is another set of seven bowls that are GOD’s full anger towards those who cause harm to those who believe in JESUS.

 

GOD’s anger is nothing to play with. HIS fury is dedicated to those who refuse the prompting of the HOLY SPIRIT to believe in JESUS as the Savior. Blame, rage, wars and hatred spew from those who have not surrendered their lives . GOD records every though, every action against HIS kingdom. I am glad HE made a way to avoid HIS anger.

 

Challenge

• What does the writer say about GOD’s anger?
• Have you ever been angry at someone?
• Will you seek GOD’s grace by asking HIM for forgiveness today through HIS SON, JESUS?

Slow to Anger

Slow to Anger

Revelation 14: ¹⁷ Then I saw another angel come out of the temple in heaven, and he also had a sharp sickle.

¹⁸ Then another angel, who is in charge of the fire, came from the altar. He shouted in a loud voice to the angel who had the sharp sickle, “Use your sickle, and cut the grapes from the vineyard of the earth, because the grapes are ripe!” ¹⁹ So the angel swung his sickle on the earth, cut the grapes from the vine, and threw them into the wine press of God's furious anger. ²⁰ The grapes were squeezed out in the wine press outside the city, and blood came out of the wine press in a flood two hundred miles long and about five feet deep.

 

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A neighbor gave an uncharacteristic shout to stop playing in front of his house. A stray ball hit the window but it did not break. This neighbor was usually docile and in the past, never minded us playing.

 

• We had done something that crossed the line of patience.
• Patience had finally run out and the neighbor was furious.
• We could no longer play in front of that neighbor’s house because patience turned to wrath.

 

John, the disciple JESUS loved, saw another angel who had a sickle. But this time it was to cut down grapes that were growing. These grapes seemed to be filled with the wrongdoing of humanity. They had reached a limit and GOD was furious!

 

My Observations:

• GOD is slow to anger, BUT HE still gets angry.
• GOD is extremely patient, but one day HIS patience will run out and HE will pour out HIS fury.
• GOD has given humanity plenty of time to turn from their wicked ways, and one day HE will be furious.

 

No one likes to talk about the wrath of GOD. I mean, we usually want to mention HIM as “gentle” or “forgiving” or “loving.” HE is all of the above. BUT GOD is also “jealous”, “just” and “supreme.” HE can and will judge mankind based on their relationship with HIS SON, JESUS, who is the Savior.

 

All have sinned and fall short of GOD’s glory. This means we all deserve GOD’s wrath. We are saved from HIS wrath by “active” belief in JESUS. Not just the knowledge of the story of JESUS, but allowing HIM to guide our lives as we surrender to the HOLY SPIRIT. I am grateful GOD is slow to anger and recognize, HE will get angry!

 

Challenge

• What does the writer say about GOD’s fury?
• Have you ever tried someone’s patience and saw him or her run out?
• If you are testing GOD’s patience with you, will you consider turning your ways over to HIM by believing in HIS SON, and surrendering your life to HIM so HIS anger will not be poured out on you?

Unprecedented

 Unprecedented

Revelation 6: ¹² And I saw the Lamb break open the sixth seal. There was a violent earthquake, and the sun became black like coarse black cloth, and the moon turned completely red like blood. ¹³ The stars fell down to the earth, like unripe figs falling from the tree when a strong wind shakes it. ¹⁴ The sky disappeared like a scroll being rolled up, and every mountain and island was moved from its place. ¹⁵ Then the kings of the earth, the rulers and the military chiefs, the rich and the powerful, and all other people, slave and free, hid themselves in caves and under rocks on the mountains. ¹⁶ They called out to the mountains and to the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the eyes of the one who sits on the throne and from the anger of the Lamb! ¹⁷ The terrible day of their anger is here, and who can stand up against it?”

 

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Asleep one night, we felt something. “Was that an earthquake?” I asked. I had never experienced an earthquake, so it was hard to describe the sensation of everything shaking without a storm being present. It was a small earthquake.

 

• I was somewhat curious about an earthquake.
• I wondered what an earthquake felt like.
• I went right back to sleep because nothing was disturbed in the house.

 

John, the disciple JESUS loved, saw the LAMB open the sixth seal. Immediately there was an unprecedented violent earthquake. that shook the entire planet. As volcanos erupted, the sky would be filled with ash causing the sun to look dark and the moon to appear blood red. Possibly, fragments blown in the sky rained down like fiery stars. No one would mistake this Day.

 

My Observations:

• The Day of the LORD will not be mistaken.
• People will see GOD’s power unlike never before.
• No one will have to guess if GOD is angry, because HE will display it with unmatched fury!

 

Talking about the wrath of GOD is quite unpopular, but necessary. I mean, we want GOD to be nice, gentle and forgiving, which HE is. BUT HE also revealed what HE would do to Satan’s kingdom and that we should not ignore it like it will not happen.

 

In this sixth step of tearing down Satan’s temporary kingdom, GOD shows power that every nation would see and feel. No place would be spared. The Good News is, JESUS is not angry with those who believe in HIM. This HE promised.

 

Challenge

• Is the description the writer gives, frightening?
• Have you ever said “I wonder if this situation came from GOD?”
• Will you seek to understand why GOD showed us HIS wrath so you can be guided to be protected from it today?

More to Life

More to Life

Colossians 3: ⁵ You must put to death, then, the earthly desires at work in you, such as sexual immorality, indecency, lust, evil passions, and greed (for greed is a form of idolatry). ⁶ Because of such things God's anger will come upon those who do not obey him. ⁷ At one time you yourselves used to live according to such desires, when your life was dominated by them.

 

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No one told me that after “doing it” for the first time, I would constantly crave to “do it” again. Something was awakened inside me that was insatiable at times. We ogled and commented about body parts and soon it became part of my everyday speech.

 

• My life was dominated and it seemed innocent.
• I had given up on being “good” so I could have pleasure.
• I found a crowd who was also dominated by the same thing.

 

Paul says something extremely hard. “You must put to death” were the extreme words he used to get people to change their minds. He never said “sex is bad” or “don’t make a living.” He warns people about an attitude that dominates a person so much, that the well-being of others gets diminished.

 

My Observations

• GOD gives me another way to look at HIS people.
• GOD wants me to see all people as HIS child who HE cares for deeply.
• JESUS gave me a new life that does not have to be dominated by sin.

 

Just having an alternative is freeing. I mean, when I had no alternative but to do sin, life seemed hopeless. BUT GOD gave me a way out. HE placed HIS HOLY SPIRIT inside me so I could take every thought captive and make it obey CHRIST.

 

Am I successful at controlling “every” thought? No. BUT GOD is pleased that I know HIM. HE does forgive me when I am weak. Forgiveness of sin is not permission to sin. HE knows I will reap what I sow. HE gives me more to life to pursue, namely HIM. I am glad GOD forgives and provides another way to live.

 

Challenge

• What stands out to you from the writers words?
• Is there any area of your life that is dominated and possibly out of control?
• Do you feel too weak to handle it by yourself?
• Will you praise GOD that HE gives your life purpose and seek HIS kingdom as an alternative to whatever is dominating your life today?

Good Power

 Good Power

Romans 12: ¹⁷ Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. ¹⁸ If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. ¹⁹ Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. ²⁰ On the contrary:

“If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
    if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”

²¹ Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

 

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After working hard for months, I sat for my evaluation. I received a “Good” as the performance rating. I was furious. ‘After all that hard work, you mean to tell me that it was ‘good’” I said. Good meant “doing as expected” and I felt I exceeded expectations by staying late and doing more. I wanted better than “good.”

 

• There were times when I felt “Good” was not powerful.
• There were times when I felt good people finish last.
• There were times when I felt great was better than good.

 

Paul continues with his radical words given to him by the HOLY SPIRIT. He speaks about not taking revenge. This was strange because the law said “An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.” In other words if someone does something bad to you, it is your right to do something bad to them. But GOD wants a different way.

 

• GOD wants me to leave vengeance up to HIM.
• GOD wants me to feel sorry for my enemies because HE felt sorry for me.
• GOD wants me to use good as a powerful weapon that overcomes evil.

 

“Great” is not suggested to be used to overcome evil, but “good” is. Being good when there is a chance or even the right to do evil, puts me in a better place with GOD. HE sees my “good” effort and rewards me.

 

Meanwhile, HE says “Let ME handle the evil this person has done to you.” GOD’s wrath on enemies is nothing to gloat at, but to be feared by all. I accept the powerful weapon of good to fight against those who purposefully do evil.

 

• Has someone done something evil against you?
• Do you want to take revenge out on “that” person?
• Will you allow GOD to take revenge on who HE chooses, meanwhile keep doing what “everyone” considers good so HE will be please with your actions?

Douse the Anger

Amos 1: ¹¹ This is what the Lord says:

“For three sins of Edom,
    even for four, I will not relent.
Because he pursued his brother with a sword
    and slaughtered the women of the land,
because his anger raged continually
    and his fury flamed unchecked,
¹² I will send fire on Teman
    that will consume the fortresses of Bozrah.”

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Salt chunks kept hitting my windshield as I fruitlessly attempted to pass the salt truck on the icy road. I got angry. When I arrived at work my check stub showed the wrong amount. They had given me too much and I had to give money back. This required extra work on my behalf to correct “their” mistake. I got angrier. When I got back to my desk I noticed my “sneaky” boss looking at some of my stuff. “You know, I really do not like that person!” I thought to myself!

• Anger starts small and builds to something bigger.
• Anger turns into negative thoughts and negative thoughts into something else bad.
• Anger is the beginning of hatred.

Internal rage is very problematic and can leak out at the wrong time towards the wrong people. When I am so full of rage and anger, the day doesn’t seem as bright. I miss out on delightful moments only to replay old tapes of the dog that ate my wax figurine when I was eight. That dog did make me mad!

• GOD knows I will get angry, but HE does not want it to turn to rage.
• GOD understands I will be disappointed, but HE does not want me to escalate it to revenge.
• GOD cares about my worries, but HE does not desire that I exchange my worries into blaming HIM for where I am at.

“Unchecked fury” is a serious problem with GOD. HE sees me brooding over a situation and says to me “Give ME the problem and I will exchange it with peace.” Instead of thinking of ways to “get back” at the person, GOD wants me to think of ways to bring peace to the situation.

He wants me to reflect on HIM being my shepherd and leading me besides still waters and restoring my soul. GOD desires that I have peace. I can trade my anger in for peace daily.

• Are you bitterly angry at someone?
• Do you realize you can have peace with “that” person or “those” people if you ask GOD?
• Will you douse your furious thoughts and ask GOD to lead you to a place of peace?
• Will you drop your “steering” expectations of GOD and let HIM execute HIS plan HIS way today?

Being Restored

Ezekiel 43: ²⁵ “For seven days you are to provide a male goat daily for a sin offering; you are also to provide a young bull and a ram from the flock, both without defect. ²⁶ For seven days they are to make atonement for the altar and cleanse it; thus they will dedicate it. ²⁷ At the end of these days, from the eighth day on, the priests are to present your burnt offerings and fellowship offerings on the altar. Then I will accept you, declares the Sovereign Lord.”

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As I pondered this chapter and a few others, I see the exactness of GOD and HIS desire for strict obedience towards HIS laws. But sometimes it seems quite opposite in my life. I mean when GOD says don’t do something, I think “Wow, it sure would be great to do the thing HE just said not to do!”

• GOD gave me HIS SON for atonement for my sins.
• GOD sent me HIS HOLY SPIRIT to live in me and guide me.
• GOD rescued me from sin offerings and became one HIMSELF.

When I imagined the enormity of killing a significant portion of the countries food and sacrificing it to GOD, I gasped. HE made those who had already been in exile do more, as if exile wasn’t enough. HE illustrated how angry HE had become with the sins of the nation and decided to not wipe them off the face of the planet rather to restore them with a little sacrifice to keep them thinking about HIM.

I believe GOD has not changed, though humans have. We do not sacrifice bulls or goats because the SON was the ultimate sacrifice. BUT I still need to admit sin as much as often as I can in order to remain in a place where I recognize the need for GOD.

• Are you in a place where you cannot see or hear GOD?
• Do you feel like you are on the outside of GOD rather than being in HIS love and care?
• Can you confess your deepest sins to HIM and allow HIM to guide you to where HE wants you to be?

When Anger Flares

Jeremiah 48: ⁴⁶ Woe to you, Moab!
    The people of Chemosh are destroyed;
your sons are taken into exile
    and your daughters into captivity.

⁴⁷ “Yet I will restore the fortunes of Moab
    in days to come,”
declares the Lord.

Here ends the judgment on Moab.

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Childishly I lied about my age. I mean what was I supposed to do when the “experienced” people kept ranting about their importance and I was just starting out? Childishly I lied about my whereabouts at work by saying “I don’t know.” I mean what was I supposed to say when the janitorial supervisor was hounding me? Childishly I lied about my grades. I mean this was the only company looking at me at the time and it was the middle of the semester. They would never know.

• Immaturity breeds my insecurity.
• Immaturity increases my immediacy to sin.
• Immaturity makes me place a higher value on self rather than the truth.

One day I heard someone say the statement “Why did I just lie?” The person also said “What do I have to gain by this lie?” They were joking but I realized I was lying to others and myself. I also realized that GOD was not pleased with my actions and it seemed like everything was going wrong. It seemed like GOD’s anger was getting hotter and hotter at the way I was acting. I felt guilty all the time. BUT GOD was different.

• GOD was merciful to me and brought to my attention the sin I was doing against HIM and others.
• GOD was graceful to me and pardoned me of my sins while I was still committing them.
• GOD was loving to me and allowed me to face the consequences of my sins, yet restored me fully, enabling me to reach heights I never would have dreamt of.

Moab to me is like my sin. I mean it was a place that probably started off innocent but one sin after another got them to a place where GOD was full of anger. I felt the same way. I was headed in the wrong direction. One thing about being a child of GOD is HIS anger brings chastening, but it does not last forever.

HE wants me to recognize HIS power and love at the same time. HE does not want me to continue down a destructive path, yet HE understands that only HE alone can save me because I may not always make the best decision. GOD saved me because of HIS character, not mine.

• Are you acting immature?
• Have you given up on GOD and are headed down a path of destruction?
• Will you ask GOD to place you back on HIS path?
• Are you willing to give up the lie and start over with a firm foundation?

Knowing the TOTAL GOD

Jeremiah 44: ¹⁵ Then all the men who knew that their wives were burning incense to other gods, along with all the women who were present—a large assembly—and all the people living in Lower and Upper Egypt, said to Jeremiah, ¹⁶ “We will not listen to the message you have spoken to us in the name of the Lord!

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“GOD will forgive me” are probably the truest yet most dangerous words I can say. Yes HE forgave me in the middle of my sins, but HE never said, “I like your sin” to me. In fact, GOD says something very different.

• GOD says to me “Your righteousness is like filthy rags.”
• GOD says to me “You and every human has sinned and fall short of MY glory.”
• GOD says to me “All sin is detestable to ME.”

Quite honestly I gravitate towards certain parts of the Bible. I hover around the promises that say I will be healthy, wealthy and wise. But when it comes to the parts that say, “But if you disobey you will fall down drastically” I want to skip that part and not share it with too many people. GOD wants me to grow up and act differently.

• GOD wants me to accept HIS word totally and follow HIM through difficult situations.
• GOD wants me to stop blaming HIM and start seeing HIS righteousness as supreme.
• GOD wants me to accept HIS way in lieu of my way.

Skipping over or tearing out parts of the Bible means I am saying to GOD “YOU are wrong.”  It almost means I think I can sin as much as I’d like to without consequences, but alas this is not true. GOD sends tough messages to me and it is up to me to listen to them. I must take the sweet promises along with the tough messages in order to see the TOTAL GOD. HE is gentle, compassionate and forgiving meanwhile full of wrath, judgment and chastisement. 

HE is not a contradiction, rather concrete in HIS convictions. When HE says “Believe in MY SON” my sins are forgiven. When I make up another god and not believe in HIS SON, my sins are not only remembered, I stand chance of being eternally punished. In order for me to accept following GOD I must accept HIS supremacy and know the TOTAL GOD.

• Do you accept GOD’s supremacy or are you complaining to HIM about HIS ways?
• Do you only speak about the gentle GOD or can you see HE also has wrath?
• Will you fear the LORD in a healthy way by following HIS word and stop following your own assumptions?