Your last Bible Readings tThoughts UNLESS ...

THESE ARE YOUR LAST BIBLE READING’ THOUGHTS unless you have emailed us saying you wish to continue. 

     We have briefly responded and acknowledged  the many emails received, so have created a list of all such.

     Of course, if you prefer to leave responding until after the holiday break, that’s fine. Hear from you later.

     Please note:  because we are moving house, Kay McGrath will, Lord willing,  be sending out the thoughts for most if not all of January

Here are the thoughts that arose from this morning’s readings ….

“I SCATTERED THEM … AMONG THE NATIONS”

     Our readings today created a wide mix of thoughts.  In the first one, Job continues to lament his situation and that is very understandable; he had held a position of the greatest respect, but now he is in the opposite situation – but we remember how Paul told the Corinthians that “God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted (or tested) beyond your ability … to endure it.” [1 Cor. 10 v.13]  Job’s ability to endure was great, God knew the inner strength of his character formed from his total commitment to him, Job had said, “he knows the way that I take; when he has tried me, I shall come out as gold.” [23 v.10].

     Zechariah, was a prophet God sent when Israel returned from exile under the leadership of Ezra – God revealed to him that an even greater scattering was coming. The people around him were not heeding “the words that the LORD of hosts had sent by his Spirit though the former prophets ….  I scattered them with a whirlwind among all the nations that they had not known.  Thus the land they left was (became) desolate …” [7 v.12-14]  A prophecy that had its complete fulfillment after they rejected God’s prophet, his son, our Lord.  But as we read on in Zechariah in the next few days we will see some awesome words that are now in the process of fulfillment.

     Then in Revelation we read the ultimate personal promise of Jesus to “the one who conquers, I will grant him (her) to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne.” [3 v.21]  Then in ch. 4 we read the ultimate climax of total praise to the Creator “Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honour and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.” [4 v.11]

     The parts of God’s word that contain such word pictures are the ultimate challenge to us – to believe!  Then to show the heart felt nature of our belief by living lives that show the conviction we have developed in our hearts.  Have you accepted that challenge?  Are you living in a way that proves that you have?