Shalom, Its usually some small statement that smacks me in the face when reading His word. Like "obedience that comes from faith" or "the righteous will live by faith." When we are told that there is nothing that man cannot accomplish through self endurance at our senior graduation we are so pumped at what is most important in man's eyes. Our prioritys are strictly materialistic as we search for the perfect woman who will give us perfectly behaved, beautiful children. A big home in the suburbs with two or three late model cars in the driveway. A job where we are important and respected. We fight with all our strength to accomplish these things and at some point in time,
Job, 27:
13 "Here is the fate God allots to the wicked, the heritage a ruthless man receives from the Almighty:
14 However many his children, their fate is the sword; his offspring will never have enough to eat.
15 The plague will bury those who survive him, and their widows will not weep for them.
16 Though he heaps up silver like dust and clothes like piles of clay,
17 what he lays up the righteous will wear, and the innocent will divide his silver.
18 The house he builds is like a moth's cocoon, like a hut made by a watchman.
19 He lies down wealthy, but will do so no more; when he opens his eyes, all is gone.
20 Terrors overtake him like a flood; a tempest snatches him away in the night.
21 The east wind carries him off, and he is gone; it sweeps him out of his place.
22 It hurls itself against him without mercy as he flees headlong from its power.
23 It claps its hands in derision and hisses him out of his place."
Romans 11:
30 Just as you who were at one time disobedient to God have now received mercy as a result of their disobedience,
31 so they too have now become disobedient in order that they too may now receive mercy as a result of God's mercy to you.
32 For God has bound all men over to disobedience so that he may have mercy on them all.
33 Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out!
Those of us that cannot admit loss before mercy I often wonder about.
Thank you for your prayers and teaching.
James |
