Tuesday 22 July 2014

TFTD - 20 July 2014 - Thoughts from Today's Bible Readings

20 July 2014

2 Samuel 4; 5
Jeremiah 10
Matthew 21

“CORRECT ME O LORD, BUT …”

“Every man is stupid and without knowledge” we read today in Jeremiah 10:14. But man thinks he is the master of all kinds of knowledge! But he is without knowledge of the true God, the Creator, “who made the earth by his power, who established the world by his wisdom, and by his understanding stretched out the heavens.” [Jeremiah 10:12]

With the powerful telescopes, and special satellites and probes into space, scientists have in recent years learnt how much the universe has been immeasurably stretched out! In awe of the awareness he had gained of God’s creative powers ­ Jeremiah reflects on his own situation and writes, “I know, O LORD, that the way of man is not in himself, that it is not in man who walks to direct his steps. Correct me, O LORD, but in justice; not in your anger, lest you bring me to nothing.” [Jeremiah 10:23-24]

Surely Jeremiah’s attitude and words should also be ours, and should be evident every day in our thoughts and prayers to and through our Saviour, leading us to become increasingly strong in faith to be able to cope with the situation when … ! … when the Almighty corrects this world in his anger!

Ponder as to why God told Jeremiah not to pray for the people around him! We read this yesterday. Remember! "As for you, do not pray for this people, or lift up a cry or prayer for them, and do not intercede for I will not hear you” [Jeremiah 7:16]. God repeats this to Jeremiah, look at Jeremiah 11:14 "Therefore do not pray for this people, or lift up a cry or prayer on their behalf, for I will not listen when they call to me in the time of their trouble.”

Is the world going to get into a totally desperate situation? Is it not approaching that now! It is sometimes said you will never find an atheist on a life raft. Will the whole world be in a life raft situation? Most nations are totally entrenched in their minds that there is no God so we cannot imagine much prayer will be offered when the world is at its wit’s end ­ it will be a scene of mass panic!! Will our faith be such that we will rise above this situation?

How often do we quote Luke 21:26 “ …people fainting with fear and with foreboding of what is coming on the world. For the powers of the heavens will be shaken.” It is how we build up our faith now that will ensure we will not be shaken. In the areas of our weaknesses let us pray, “Correct me O LORD, but in justice: not in your anger”
-------
- DC


Thought for the Day

20 July 2014

"There is a wholeness about Christ’s work of redemption. It began with his birth: "Thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins." There was completion in the last breath, when he said: "It is finished": and he bowed his head, and gave up his spirit. And all was sealed and assured forever when: "He was declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead."

- Harry Tennant
Watford Easter Gathering, March 26, 1967

No comments:

Post a Comment