Thursday, August 29, 2013

Talk Tuesday-GOD KEEPS HIS WORD

King David is often referred to as 'a man after God's own heart' (Acts 13:22). David was not a sinless man, but he was a man who loved God wholeheartedly. When he sinned with Bathsheba (2 Samuel 11), God's rod of punishment extended to David (2 Samuel 12), yet His mercy and love remained. God promised David, “When your days are fulfilled and you rest with your fathers, I will set up your seed after you, who will come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom,” 2 Samuel 7:12. “I will be his Father and he shall be My son. If he commits iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men and with the blows of the sons of men. But my mercy shall not depart from him as I took it from Saul, whom I removed from before you. And your house and your kingdom shall be established forever before you. Your throne shall be established forever,” 2 Samuel 7:14.

King Solomon, David's successor and the offspring of his marriage to Bathsheba, was blessed by God and became known as the wisest and wealthiest king in all the earth (1 Kings 10:23). Yet Solomon forsook the Lord, worshipping the idols of his foreign wives. God punished him by raising up his servant, Jeroboam son of Nebat, as his adversary to whom he gave the majority of the kingdom, while one kingdom was reserved for Solomon's son, Rehoboam. The Prophet Ahijah said to Jeroboam, “But I will take the kingdom out of his son's hand and give it to you-ten tribes. And to his son, I will give one tribe, that My servant David may always have a lamp before Me in Jerusalem, the city which I have chosen for Myself, to put My name there,” 1 Kings 11:35-36. Israel becomes known 'Israel' and 'Judah', with 'Judah' remaining with Solomon's son.

Fast forward to many years later. Israel is taken into captivity by Assyria, while Judah is in the throes of committing the sin of idolatry. God sends the Prophet Jeremiah to warn the people of Judah to repent or face disaster. They do not listen even as the first wave of deportation to Babylon has begun. God raises up the Prophet Ezekiel for the exiles in Babylon, while Jeremiah stays with the remnant in Judah for a while. Yet, God's edict of disaster and punishment ends with the promise of restoration, joy, peace and unrelenting love. “'The days are coming,' declares the LORD, 'when I will bring my people Israel and Judah back from captivity and restore them to the land I gave their forefathers to possess,' says the Lord,” Jeremiah 30:3. “I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness. I will rebuild you up again and you will be rebuilt, O Virgin Israel,” Jeremiah 31:3-4.

In 1948 a united Israel became a nation-state.

“'The days are coming,' declares the LORD, 'when I will raise up to David a righteous Branch, a King who will reign wisely and do what is just and right in the land. In his days Judah will be saved and Israel will live in safety. This is the name by which he will be called: The LORD Our Righteousness,'” Jeremiah 23:5-6.  Matthew 1:1 refers to JESUS as the 'Son of David'. Matthew 1:23 states, “'Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son and they shall call His name Immanuel,' which is translated, 'God with us.'" Isaiah prophesies, “For unto us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this,” Isaiah 9:6-7.

 GOD KEEPS HIS WORD. COME LORD JESUS, COME!

Tuesday, August 13, 2013

Talk Tuesday-How Can We Set Our Minds On Things Above?

“Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory,” Colossians 3:2-4.

The Apostle Paul instructs us on how to think in a way that will help us live Godly lives. The reward will be sweet, no doubt, but how do we get to that place where we live for Christ and not for ourselves? Jesus warns us, saying, “19 Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

What does it mean to 'set our minds on things above'? How can we do that when we are constantly inundated with 'earthly' cares, tempted by carnal pleasures and challenged by earthly standards that often clash with our Christian beliefs?

This week on BGO we want to try something different. Please share with us some practical advice on how we can “set our minds on things above”.  We have many readers who are often encouraged by the comments of fellow brothers and sisters in the Lord, so share your ideas with us! Let us continue to encourage one another on to eternal life in Christ Jesus. In the end the reward will be great! Simply click on the comments link below to post! Thank you and may the LORD JESUS CHRIST bless you all abundantly.