It’s good when hard-to-accept information is followed up with uplifting words.
That’s what happened today during my devotional time.
The daily Bible reading portion was from Ezekial 27-28, a troubling account of the rebelliousness of several ancient city-nations and the costly consequences they faced through God’s judgment.
It’s saddening to know that so many people suffered so much as a result of their rejection of God’s authority over their lives.
And it’s saddening to know that the same is happening today, not through pagan army attacks on entire cities of wealthy people but instead through the storing up of future, eternal consequences for rejecting God and present, earthly consequences of shattered families and substance-abused bodies.
After reading from Ezekial, though, the Bible-reading plan had me reading from Hebrews 11 and this is the verse that really lifted my soul:
“It was by faith that the people of Israel marched around Jericho for seven days, and the walls came crashing down.” (Hebrews 11:30)
The lesson for me from this verse is this — I don’t have to do the work of knocking down Jericho. I just need to do what God calls me to do.
It wasn’t the Hebrews’ right arms that tore down the walls, but instead their faith in God’s strong right arm.
So here’s the wrap-up.
If I reject God’s authority over my life and live to please myself, I’m on the road to an eternity of trouble and suffering.
If I embrace God’s authority over my life and live to obey and please Him, I’m on the road to victories won by God and unmerited blessings enjoyed by the faithful.
Live by faith, my friend, not by flesh.
The outcomes are SO much better.
As always, I love you
Martin
