Meditation

04/02/2020

“Help me, O Lord my God; save me in accordance with our love. Let them know that it is your hand, that you, O Lord, have done it. For he stands at the right hand of the needy one, to save his life from those who condemn him.” (Psalm 109:26–27, 31)

God is Lord over all nations and over all parts of all nations. Because He is Lord over all, He is the Savior of all. Biblical passages like this teach us the inclusiveness of God’s saving nature, the utter impossibility of human beings saving themselves, and love as God’s motive in saving His people.

God’s salvation extends to all of our needs, even to he need to let vengeance belong to Him. Only through God’s grace can persons rise above their human selfishness and immaturity. God’s salvation is a sign to all people that He alone controls history.

PRAYER FOR THE DAY:

Precious Abba, there are times when I am sure you look at Your people and simply shake Your head. We can be very immature, thinking of our own desires and wants over what Your will causes us to do. Abba, save us from ourselves. We have people who are following their own desires and wants in the face of a virus that can kill them or worse, those who have compromised health and take the chance of infecting them. Touch the hearts and minds of those who endanger others, and help them to understand is isn’t about them, as much as it is about all of Your people. This we pray in Jesus’ precious name. Amen

THOUGHT OF THE DAY:

“Life is our gift from God… Our gift to God is how we live our lives!”

KNOWING GOD:

“If you do warn the wicked man and he does not turn from his wickedness or from his evil ways, he will die for his sin; but you have saved yourself. Again, when a righteous man turns from his righteousness and does evil, and I put a stumbling block before him, he will die. Since you did not warn him, he will die for his sin. The righteous things he did will not be remembered, and I will hold you accountable for his blood. But if you do warn the righteous man not to sin and he does not sin, he will surely live because he took warning, and you will have saved yourself.” (Ezekiel3:19-21)

The apostle Paul took this passage seriously (Acts 18:6, 20-26). God’s people are to watch over themselves and others and warn persons of the dire consequences of their sins. We cannot save ourselves, nor can we save others through warnings or any other good work. God will use our warnings to turn us and others from wickedness and sin (Ephesians 2:8-10). Persons are free to accept or reject salvation. Failure to let other people know the “wages of sin” (Romans 6:23) is sin.

I AM:

“Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—-not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—-continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.” (Philippians2:12–13)

This text focuses upon the present tense of salvation. Paul did not say salvation is uncertain or that we should b fearful of losing our salvation. On the contrary, he wanted to emphasize the security of believers. He called on the church (that would be you and me) to work on her spiritual health, continuing the obedient pattern of life she had known until spiritual disease no longer plagued Christ’s body. The enormity of such a task calls for humility expressed by “fear and trembling” before the task. The church can accomplish the task and grow to spiritual heal because God is at work to help the church. God’s energy can change the church’s will and change our actions until we accomplish His purpose. This is the present tense of salvation.

Second Thought of the Day:

“Then little children were brought to Jesus for him to place his hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples rebuked those who brought them. Jesus said, ‘Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.’ When he had placed his hands on them, he went on from there.” (Matthew19:13-15)

God offers salvation to all persons able to respond to Him, to children as well as to adults. The Bible teaches that if children become Christians, they do so just as adults do: by conversion. God’s provision of salvation in Jesus Chris t is the only way of salvation, and it cannot be forced upon any individual. Sin is not charged upon anyone, until they make a conscious decision to do wrong.

God can be trusted to deal adequately with those who have not yet reached this stage of accountability. Each of us develops differently in spiritual awareness as in physical growth. There is no one age of accountability. Children who are accountable before God can experience genuine conversion and be saved. This prayer was a benediction asking God’s blessing through the continuing daily needs of life.