21 June 2014
Ruth 3; 4
Isaiah 45
Revelation 1; 2
"WHAT ARE YOU MAKING?"
First, we read today of the climax to the life of Naomi and her Moabite daughter-in-law Ruth, an example of how tragedy can turn out, in the end, to be a blessing and become one of the building blocks, as it were, as part of God's overall plan and purpose - and so Ruth became the great grandmother of David. God oversees human life and, "for those who love God all things work together for good" [Romans 8:28]; essentially this is for the good of his purpose.
In our Isaiah reading we see how the Almighty stresses he is the originator of all that exists - and has an ultimate purpose in view. "I am the LORD and there is no other. I form the light and create darkness, I make well-being and create calamity. I am the LORD who does all these things." [Isaiah 45:6-7] We also noted that he says, "it was my hands that stretched out the heavens" [Isaiah 45:12] and nearly all scientists are now agreed that everything spread out, apparently to infinity, from a big bang! But most think it was by 'chance'!
We noted in particular Isaiah 45:15, "Truly you are a God who hides yourself" We have to apply our minds to realize there must be a Creator, an utterly incredible designer. The efforts over the last 150 years to prove beyond doubt that Darwinian evolution is true - have ended in dismal failure - although not all are honest enough to admit this - but a surprising number are.
The question in Isaiah 45:9 is so interesting, so appropriate for God to ask - "Woe to him (or her) who strives with him who formed him, a pot among earthen pots! Does the clay say to him who forms it, 'What are you making?' or 'Your work has no handles'? " We know that God's work has "handles" - we mentally grasp them the more diligently we read the Bible! How good is your grasp? We all need to work at getting a really firm grip on the true meaning of life - and then to feel inspired by our heart-felt awareness of what God is making - and the utterly awesome wonders to come when his work is complete, described to us, largely in symbolic language, as we read on in the book of Revelation.
-------
- DC
Thought for the Day
21 June 2014
"Without the word of God firmly implanted within us we have no weapon, no defence. Without it the Christian ideal is something we cannot reach. Not only would we fall to the outward temptations and adversaries, but we are unable to meet and understand the intents and desires of our own hearts. Too truly does the writer to the Hebrews describe it: "The word of God is quick and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the dividing of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." (Hebrews 4:12)"
- W. Bury
The Risen Christ (1959)
Ruth 3; 4
Isaiah 45
Revelation 1; 2
"WHAT ARE YOU MAKING?"
First, we read today of the climax to the life of Naomi and her Moabite daughter-in-law Ruth, an example of how tragedy can turn out, in the end, to be a blessing and become one of the building blocks, as it were, as part of God's overall plan and purpose - and so Ruth became the great grandmother of David. God oversees human life and, "for those who love God all things work together for good" [Romans 8:28]; essentially this is for the good of his purpose.
In our Isaiah reading we see how the Almighty stresses he is the originator of all that exists - and has an ultimate purpose in view. "I am the LORD and there is no other. I form the light and create darkness, I make well-being and create calamity. I am the LORD who does all these things." [Isaiah 45:6-7] We also noted that he says, "it was my hands that stretched out the heavens" [Isaiah 45:12] and nearly all scientists are now agreed that everything spread out, apparently to infinity, from a big bang! But most think it was by 'chance'!
We noted in particular Isaiah 45:15, "Truly you are a God who hides yourself" We have to apply our minds to realize there must be a Creator, an utterly incredible designer. The efforts over the last 150 years to prove beyond doubt that Darwinian evolution is true - have ended in dismal failure - although not all are honest enough to admit this - but a surprising number are.
The question in Isaiah 45:9 is so interesting, so appropriate for God to ask - "Woe to him (or her) who strives with him who formed him, a pot among earthen pots! Does the clay say to him who forms it, 'What are you making?' or 'Your work has no handles'? " We know that God's work has "handles" - we mentally grasp them the more diligently we read the Bible! How good is your grasp? We all need to work at getting a really firm grip on the true meaning of life - and then to feel inspired by our heart-felt awareness of what God is making - and the utterly awesome wonders to come when his work is complete, described to us, largely in symbolic language, as we read on in the book of Revelation.
-------
- DC
Thought for the Day
21 June 2014
"Without the word of God firmly implanted within us we have no weapon, no defence. Without it the Christian ideal is something we cannot reach. Not only would we fall to the outward temptations and adversaries, but we are unable to meet and understand the intents and desires of our own hearts. Too truly does the writer to the Hebrews describe it: "The word of God is quick and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the dividing of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." (Hebrews 4:12)"
- W. Bury
The Risen Christ (1959)
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