"They said in their hearts, 'Let us destroy them altogether.' They have burned up all the meeting places of God in the land." (Psalm 74:8)
This is the 15th of the month and the day on which I read our text each month. As you know, Bonhoeffer marked the date of November 9, 1938 beside this verse in his Bible. He lived the reality, an actual fulfillment of our text, Kristallnacht.
The enemies of Israel and the Church over the centuries have attempted to, "....destroy them altogether." They have failed. Now there are many verses in the Bible which give us great promises, e.g., "Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the perilous pestilence....A thousand may fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand; but it shall not come near you," and, "no evil shall befall you...." Many of the Covenant People have "fallen," and their has been much evil which has come against us through the ages, i.e., The Holocaust, and, right to this very day, the slaughter of untold numbers of Followers of Jesus. Yet Israel and the Church survive.
The key for me today is the word, "altogether." This is so important when people ask the proverbial, "Why?" Again, it is the old "banks on the river" analogy. Much chaos is in the "river;" many have perished in the "river," but only to see that beautiful Eternal River described in the Book of Revelation. "Jesus Christ is Lord/King," now and always. There never has been, nor shall their ever be an, "altogether," destruction of those, "who follow the Lamb wherever He goes." Every war has those who die. Jesus told us this would be so, "And you will be hated by all for My Name's sake. But he who endures to the end, shall be saved."
Keep this in your mind and heart today, dear fellow sojourner. Just at Paul told the Corinthians, "We may be knocked down, but we are never knocked out" (Phillips). Millions have died because of their identity in the Living Triune God. But as Polycarp said when the super power government of Rome told him he would died if he did not deny Jesus, "Go ahead and kill me; I will just be with my Savior in Glory sooner" (paraphrase). This is the Truth about you and me. Even the psalmists noted the suffering of God's People, and Job seem to walk through the very fires of Hell, but just as he, you and I will, "dwell in the House of the Lord Jesus Christ forever"------------ no matter what may, "befall you."
Father, in Jesus' Name, I thank You that the only, "altogether," affecting me is Your keeping power. Amen.
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Berlin Mission: October 5-27
California, with Pastor Dennis Ortmann: September 9-18
This is the 15th of the month and the day on which I read our text each month. As you know, Bonhoeffer marked the date of November 9, 1938 beside this verse in his Bible. He lived the reality, an actual fulfillment of our text, Kristallnacht.
The enemies of Israel and the Church over the centuries have attempted to, "....destroy them altogether." They have failed. Now there are many verses in the Bible which give us great promises, e.g., "Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the perilous pestilence....A thousand may fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand; but it shall not come near you," and, "no evil shall befall you...." Many of the Covenant People have "fallen," and their has been much evil which has come against us through the ages, i.e., The Holocaust, and, right to this very day, the slaughter of untold numbers of Followers of Jesus. Yet Israel and the Church survive.
The key for me today is the word, "altogether." This is so important when people ask the proverbial, "Why?" Again, it is the old "banks on the river" analogy. Much chaos is in the "river;" many have perished in the "river," but only to see that beautiful Eternal River described in the Book of Revelation. "Jesus Christ is Lord/King," now and always. There never has been, nor shall their ever be an, "altogether," destruction of those, "who follow the Lamb wherever He goes." Every war has those who die. Jesus told us this would be so, "And you will be hated by all for My Name's sake. But he who endures to the end, shall be saved."
Keep this in your mind and heart today, dear fellow sojourner. Just at Paul told the Corinthians, "We may be knocked down, but we are never knocked out" (Phillips). Millions have died because of their identity in the Living Triune God. But as Polycarp said when the super power government of Rome told him he would died if he did not deny Jesus, "Go ahead and kill me; I will just be with my Savior in Glory sooner" (paraphrase). This is the Truth about you and me. Even the psalmists noted the suffering of God's People, and Job seem to walk through the very fires of Hell, but just as he, you and I will, "dwell in the House of the Lord Jesus Christ forever"------------ no matter what may, "befall you."
Father, in Jesus' Name, I thank You that the only, "altogether," affecting me is Your keeping power. Amen.
****************************
Berlin Mission: October 5-27
California, with Pastor Dennis Ortmann: September 9-18
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
