"Now it shall come to pass, if you diligently obey the voice of the Lord your God.., that the Lord your God will set you high above all nations of the earth....But it shall come to pass, if you do not obey the voice of the Lord your God.................." (Deuteronomy 28)
One of today's readings is in Deuteronomy 28-32. The history of Israel and the Jewish People is written in these chapters. We may not like what we read here, but history has proven that whatever theology we may believe and hold to, the truth of the Bible still stands, "....God...cannot lie."
For us "Completed" Gentile Followers of Jesus, the glorious reality is that, "Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us...." History, BC and AD, seems to prove, however, that Jesus did not "redeem" us from the consequences of disobedience. The declaration in our text has not only applied to the Jews throughout history, it has also applied to the Church. The Church throughout history has not only suffered persecution from, "them which are without," but has suffered from its own disobedience.
I have forgiveness in the Blood of Jesus, for which eternity will not suffice the, Thank You, I owe the Blessed Trinity. What neither I nor anyone else does not have is a remake of life's erroneous choices, a "do over" of a life style of living my way instead of full of, "the Words of God," and obedience thereto. Now our Lord Jesus Christ ever speaks His Words to us; we have them readily available. But it is up to you and me to avail ourselves of these Words, of which the Bible declares, "They are your life."
Perhaps the passage in James may also apply here. "My brethren, if any among you strays from the truth and one turns him back, let him know that the one having brought back a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death and cover a multitude of sins." This is not the, "sinner," in need of, "born again." It is the sinner who is in need of being, "brought back." This is the you-and-me sinner which, "....strays from the truth...." Just some Sunday thoughts.
Father, in Jesus' Name, I thank You for the times You have, in The Holy Spirit, in Your Words, and through Your Church, "brought back [this] sinner from the error of his way...." Amen.
One of today's readings is in Deuteronomy 28-32. The history of Israel and the Jewish People is written in these chapters. We may not like what we read here, but history has proven that whatever theology we may believe and hold to, the truth of the Bible still stands, "....God...cannot lie."
For us "Completed" Gentile Followers of Jesus, the glorious reality is that, "Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us...." History, BC and AD, seems to prove, however, that Jesus did not "redeem" us from the consequences of disobedience. The declaration in our text has not only applied to the Jews throughout history, it has also applied to the Church. The Church throughout history has not only suffered persecution from, "them which are without," but has suffered from its own disobedience.
I have forgiveness in the Blood of Jesus, for which eternity will not suffice the, Thank You, I owe the Blessed Trinity. What neither I nor anyone else does not have is a remake of life's erroneous choices, a "do over" of a life style of living my way instead of full of, "the Words of God," and obedience thereto. Now our Lord Jesus Christ ever speaks His Words to us; we have them readily available. But it is up to you and me to avail ourselves of these Words, of which the Bible declares, "They are your life."
Perhaps the passage in James may also apply here. "My brethren, if any among you strays from the truth and one turns him back, let him know that the one having brought back a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death and cover a multitude of sins." This is not the, "sinner," in need of, "born again." It is the sinner who is in need of being, "brought back." This is the you-and-me sinner which, "....strays from the truth...." Just some Sunday thoughts.
Father, in Jesus' Name, I thank You for the times You have, in The Holy Spirit, in Your Words, and through Your Church, "brought back [this] sinner from the error of his way...." 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
