"....In the day I punish Israel for their transgressions, I will also visit destruction on the altars of Bethel; and the horns of the altar shall be cut off and fall to the ground." (Amos 3:14, from yesterday's Minor Prophets reading.)
What Bonhoeffer called, "Cheap grace," would say that our text no longer applies in God's economy. Wrong. The Cross of Jesus is the forgiveness of sins, not the elimination of the consequences of sin. We build "altars," God, "will also visit destruction on the altars...," Old and New Testament. We put "horns" on the altar, by the Hand of Jesus they, "shall be cut off." After His Cross and Resurrection and Ascension, Jesus did not go somewhere to wait passively for the close of the age. Jesus is now reigning in the affairs of men and nations. Mankind is in "the river." Jesus is the banks of that river.
"The altars of Bethel," are in every nation on earth, and the United States of America has erected a "disproportionate" number of altars in the last 55 years. "[Jesus] will also visit destruction on the altars...; and the horns of the altar shall be cut off." Those who resist the Reign of Jesus Christ are operating under a false assumption when they think they "control their own destiny." They use the phrase as a nobody-is-going-to-tell-me-what-to-d0. The reality is that while that may be true for a season, ultimately my surrender or rebellion to Jesus is what controls my destiny. This is also true of nations (see Matthew 25).
Verse 11 says, "An adversary shall be all around the land; he shall sap your strength from you, and your palaces shall be plundered." This is America of the last 55 years. This is also any person who is not in Jesus Christ and Jesus Christ and His Words, "living and powerful, and sharper," in them. Grace does not give anybody a pass on neglecting, "The Word of God," in their life. Grace does not wink at sin. Grace does not overlook man's or a nation's mocking of Him. "Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man (or nation) sows, that he will also reap." This is New Testament; nothing trumps this. Reality is not as the farmer who prayed, "God, forgive me for the bail of hay I stole from Farmer Jones last night. And while you're at it, forgive me for the bail I'm going to steel tonight." Too much of Christendom operates this way. "God will also visit destruction," on a people which "mocks," attempts to manipulate religious principles to its own purposes. Again, I give you America of the last 55 years.
Do not allow the Enemy to, "sap your strength from you," or see, "your palaces...be plundered." Abiding in Jesus, trusting and obeying Jesus will keep you and me from such.
Father, in Jesus' Name, I pray for America and the nations represented by those who read this that You will destroy any, "altars of Bethel." Amen.
What Bonhoeffer called, "Cheap grace," would say that our text no longer applies in God's economy. Wrong. The Cross of Jesus is the forgiveness of sins, not the elimination of the consequences of sin. We build "altars," God, "will also visit destruction on the altars...," Old and New Testament. We put "horns" on the altar, by the Hand of Jesus they, "shall be cut off." After His Cross and Resurrection and Ascension, Jesus did not go somewhere to wait passively for the close of the age. Jesus is now reigning in the affairs of men and nations. Mankind is in "the river." Jesus is the banks of that river.
"The altars of Bethel," are in every nation on earth, and the United States of America has erected a "disproportionate" number of altars in the last 55 years. "[Jesus] will also visit destruction on the altars...; and the horns of the altar shall be cut off." Those who resist the Reign of Jesus Christ are operating under a false assumption when they think they "control their own destiny." They use the phrase as a nobody-is-going-to-tell-me-what-to-d0. The reality is that while that may be true for a season, ultimately my surrender or rebellion to Jesus is what controls my destiny. This is also true of nations (see Matthew 25).
Verse 11 says, "An adversary shall be all around the land; he shall sap your strength from you, and your palaces shall be plundered." This is America of the last 55 years. This is also any person who is not in Jesus Christ and Jesus Christ and His Words, "living and powerful, and sharper," in them. Grace does not give anybody a pass on neglecting, "The Word of God," in their life. Grace does not wink at sin. Grace does not overlook man's or a nation's mocking of Him. "Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man (or nation) sows, that he will also reap." This is New Testament; nothing trumps this. Reality is not as the farmer who prayed, "God, forgive me for the bail of hay I stole from Farmer Jones last night. And while you're at it, forgive me for the bail I'm going to steel tonight." Too much of Christendom operates this way. "God will also visit destruction," on a people which "mocks," attempts to manipulate religious principles to its own purposes. Again, I give you America of the last 55 years.
Do not allow the Enemy to, "sap your strength from you," or see, "your palaces...be plundered." Abiding in Jesus, trusting and obeying Jesus will keep you and me from such.
Father, in Jesus' Name, I pray for America and the nations represented by those who read this that You will destroy any, "altars of Bethel." Amen.
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.'"
Hebrews 12:2
Hebrews 12:2
