Sunday, January 06, 2008
Jan 7- The Right Side of God's Judgment (Genesis 18-19, Psalm 3, Luke 7)
Scripture: Early the next morning Abraham got up and returned to the place where he had stood before the LORD. He looked down toward Sodom and Gomorrah, toward all the land of the plain, and he saw dense smoke rising from the land, like smoke from a furnace. (Genesis 19:17)
Observation: We see in these passages that God is both merciful and forgiving, but also judging. We see Jesus commending the centurion for his faith and healing of widow’s son. But we see Jesus warning the people of judgment because they can not or will not see God’s will being acted out in front of them. And then the total destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. God is powerful and there is definitely doing and believing right that he rewards and failing to do right and not believing that risk punishment. One of the keys seems to the outright or implicit arrogance of those who have lined themselves up for God's judgment.
Application: It’s important to be on the right side of God. It's not that He's capricious, but God is just and their will be punishment for evil. God is incredibly gracious to those who seek him, those who seek his protection, and listen to His truth. I need to be one who comes before Jesus to have him change my heart rather than get hard-hearted like the people of Sodom, those of Gomorrah, those who rejected John the Baptist, and those who rejected Jesus. I think the key is a seeking heart that desires to do God’s will.
Prayer: Lord, help me from becoming hard hearted. Help me to change the parts of my life that are in rebellion to your perfect will. Father, help me to see that you do not desire to punish, but that you desire to correct. Help me to turn rather than experience disaster. Thank you for rescuing me.
Observation: We see in these passages that God is both merciful and forgiving, but also judging. We see Jesus commending the centurion for his faith and healing of widow’s son. But we see Jesus warning the people of judgment because they can not or will not see God’s will being acted out in front of them. And then the total destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. God is powerful and there is definitely doing and believing right that he rewards and failing to do right and not believing that risk punishment. One of the keys seems to the outright or implicit arrogance of those who have lined themselves up for God's judgment.
Application: It’s important to be on the right side of God. It's not that He's capricious, but God is just and their will be punishment for evil. God is incredibly gracious to those who seek him, those who seek his protection, and listen to His truth. I need to be one who comes before Jesus to have him change my heart rather than get hard-hearted like the people of Sodom, those of Gomorrah, those who rejected John the Baptist, and those who rejected Jesus. I think the key is a seeking heart that desires to do God’s will.
Prayer: Lord, help me from becoming hard hearted. Help me to change the parts of my life that are in rebellion to your perfect will. Father, help me to see that you do not desire to punish, but that you desire to correct. Help me to turn rather than experience disaster. Thank you for rescuing me.
