Scripture: The Lord knows who are His

The Lord says: “These people come near to me with their mouth  and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.  Their worship of me is based on merely human rules they have been taught. (Isaiah 29:13 NIV)

This scripture from the "ancient" book of Isaiah was written at that time about "God's people" - the Jews. Though they professed love and obedience to God, this scripture clearly says otherwise! Oh they obviously went through with the outward appearance of religion. "…honor me with their lips", but the Lord knows who are his (2 Timothy 2:19 NIV).

Before us religious people of today read this and shake our heads at those hypocritical Jews of yesteryear, we should pause and examine our own behavior. It is not uncommon for Protestants (a label that likely would be applied to me) to turn up our noses at say the Catholics or other religions whose expression of worship appear to be built largely on "merely human rules they have been taught". Perhaps we may be right. But I will submit to you that the Catholics have nothing on us Protestants in this regard. I have sat in many a "worship service" and seen the lethargy or outright disinterest that appear to beset the so-called people of God as the ritual of worship is conducted in our so-called Houses of Worship!

For all of us lost and saved sinners alike, the key part of this scripture is the phrase "…their hearts are far from me". The reason why the Lord knows those who are His is because the Lord knows our hearts. The real Houses of Worship is our hearts and bodies. The Bible says that He will put his Spirit in our hearts (2 Corinthians 1:22).

Examine your heart. When you are worshipping God, are your lips moving (or hands clapping) but your thoughts are elsewhere i.e. what's for lunch? what time's the ballgame today? back to work tomorrow! etc. Does your heart stop you from responding harshly to your neighbor when they have ticked you off? How about stopping you at the edge of lying when doing so will get you out of a jam? Worship is not just for the church service on Sunday mornings. It is a 7-day a week activity often during the routine things of our lives. Let's examine ourselves indeed.

Remember: the Lord does know who are His!

Ignore God and Decrease Your Birth Rates

I read a very interesting article yesterday in the New York Times on the topic of the shrinking birth rate in Europe over the past few decades. The article outlines the demographic danger facing Europe with the high likelihood that several countries (Italy, Spain and Germany among others) will see their native populations decrease by up to 40% by 2050. According to the article, the replacement birth rate necessary to maintain an equal population size from generation to generation is 2.1 children born to each woman. In Europe according to the article the rate is well below 2.0, with some countries closer to 1.5 and dropping. It is a lengthy and very interesting read that sheds some light on a phenomenon that in all likelihood will reshape the face of Western Europe within 100 years. The interesting thing about the article is that it was published after extensive research and interviews with many experts and it offers various possible explanations for why this situation has developed....

Scripture: Israel's enemies have no idea!

(Ezekiel 38:1-5 NLT) This is another message that came to me from the Lord: “Son of man, turn and face Gog of the land of Magog, the prince who rules over the nations of Meshech and Tubal, and prophesy against him. Give him this message from the Sovereign Lord: Gog, I am your enemy! I will turn you around and put hooks in your jaws to lead you out with your whole army—your horses and charioteers in full armor and a great horde armed with shields and swords. Persia, Ethiopia, and Libya will join you, too, with all their weapons. Gomer and all its armies will also join you, along with the armies of Beth-togarmah from the distant north, and many others... (Ezekiel 39:1-3; 7-8 NLT) “Son of man, prophesy against Gog. Give him this message from the Sovereign Lord: I am your enemy, O Gog, ruler of the nations of Meshech and Tubal. I will turn you around and drive you toward the mountains of Israel, bringing you from the distant north. I will knock the bow from your left hand and the arrows...

The Punishment of Jesus to Make us Clean

I was speaking to a friend recently about the sacrifice made by our Lord Jesus Christ to redeem us back to God our Father. It was a heavy conversation where we were both focusing on the depth of our own individual sins in relation to the price that Jesus had to pay to wipe our stains away so that we can live permanently with a Holy and Perfect God. I believe that the punishment that Jesus had to bear was that which was (or is) coming to each and everyone human being who has ever lived, for the sins that they each individually has or will commit. It’s hard to conceive rationally, or even put into words, but the level of punishment, the pain, the horror, the terror, the anguish etc. that my Lord Jesus Christ took is the exact equivalent of what I would have received if God were to have punished me for my life; then He took the same level of punishment for you; then He took the same level of punishment for your brother; then that for your sister; then that for your mother; then that for y...

Treasure In Clay Jars

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