"....I asked them concerning the Jews who had escaped, who had survived the captivity, and concerning Jerusalem. And they said to me, 'The survivors who are left from the captivity in the province are there in great distress and reproach. The wall of Jerusalem is also broken down, and its gates are burned with fire.' So it was, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned for many days; I was fasting and praying before the God of heaven." (Nehemiah 1:2b-4)
The Jews have been hearing such news for centuries. They have had and have enemies many, and even "friends" have many times attempted to frustrate the purposes of God for the Jews. Every American Administration, while being a friend to Israel since the establishment of the modern State of Israel, has also been one of the largest obstacles to the purposes of Jesus Christ for The Land (I can give so many examples). It really goes without saying, however, that no nation has ever stopped the purposes of Jesus Christ. All those who have tried throughout history are now history themselves; America cannot be far behind.
Many Followers of Jesus have found themselves in such a state as described in our text, "survivors who are left...in great distress and reproach." Life seems to be as Jerusalem in our text, "broken down, and its gates are burned with fire." Yet today Jerusalem is a thriving metropolis, beautiful, expanding. And I tell you with absolute certainty today, my friend, this is awaiting you. It may not seem so now; you may be barely surviving, "in great distress and reproach.., broken down, and...burned with fire," but as my reading today in Malachi 4:2 declares, "But for you who honor me, goodness will shine on you like the sun, with healing in its rays. You will jump around, like well-fed calves" (NCV). Now, all humanity has a choice today, what and whom are we going to believe, circumstances? any present, "distress and reproach"? or, "You will jump around, like well-fed calves"? Whatever we are going through, this day is assuredly coming for us.
Do not succumb to, "Well, all that pie in the sky by and by may be alright for some, but I need help and deliverance now." We do. But the reason the Jews have survived as a People Group and have seen the restoration of their nation in these latter days is that through the centuries they did not allow, "distress and reproach," to defeat them. They always have bounced back, kept fighting, kept the Passover, and have kept passing on from generation to generation the faithfulness of the Lord God, "So it shall be, when your son asks you in time to come, saying, 'What is this?' that you shall say to him, 'By strength of hand the Lord brought us out of Egypt, out of the house of bondage." And the Lord Jesus Christ has, "brought us out...of the house of bondage," and continues to do so to this very day. As James 5:10 says, "My brethren, take the prophets, who spoke in the name of the Lord, as an example of suffering and patience." In it all, they proved to be, "more than conquerors."
Father, in Jesus' Name, forgive me if I have ever demanded special treatment. Amen.
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Be sure to check the articles on Romania and North Korea at: jhs58.blogspot.com
The Jews have been hearing such news for centuries. They have had and have enemies many, and even "friends" have many times attempted to frustrate the purposes of God for the Jews. Every American Administration, while being a friend to Israel since the establishment of the modern State of Israel, has also been one of the largest obstacles to the purposes of Jesus Christ for The Land (I can give so many examples). It really goes without saying, however, that no nation has ever stopped the purposes of Jesus Christ. All those who have tried throughout history are now history themselves; America cannot be far behind.
Many Followers of Jesus have found themselves in such a state as described in our text, "survivors who are left...in great distress and reproach." Life seems to be as Jerusalem in our text, "broken down, and its gates are burned with fire." Yet today Jerusalem is a thriving metropolis, beautiful, expanding. And I tell you with absolute certainty today, my friend, this is awaiting you. It may not seem so now; you may be barely surviving, "in great distress and reproach.., broken down, and...burned with fire," but as my reading today in Malachi 4:2 declares, "But for you who honor me, goodness will shine on you like the sun, with healing in its rays. You will jump around, like well-fed calves" (NCV). Now, all humanity has a choice today, what and whom are we going to believe, circumstances? any present, "distress and reproach"? or, "You will jump around, like well-fed calves"? Whatever we are going through, this day is assuredly coming for us.
Do not succumb to, "Well, all that pie in the sky by and by may be alright for some, but I need help and deliverance now." We do. But the reason the Jews have survived as a People Group and have seen the restoration of their nation in these latter days is that through the centuries they did not allow, "distress and reproach," to defeat them. They always have bounced back, kept fighting, kept the Passover, and have kept passing on from generation to generation the faithfulness of the Lord God, "So it shall be, when your son asks you in time to come, saying, 'What is this?' that you shall say to him, 'By strength of hand the Lord brought us out of Egypt, out of the house of bondage." And the Lord Jesus Christ has, "brought us out...of the house of bondage," and continues to do so to this very day. As James 5:10 says, "My brethren, take the prophets, who spoke in the name of the Lord, as an example of suffering and patience." In it all, they proved to be, "more than conquerors."
Father, in Jesus' Name, forgive me if I have ever demanded special treatment. Amen.
**************
Be sure to check the articles on Romania and North Korea at: jhs58.blogspot.com
When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"
"Looking unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2
"Looking unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2
