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Today: Psalms 106:32-39; 2 Corinthians 11:16-33; Isaiah 24, 25 & 26
Psalms 106
“But they mingled with the nations and adopted their customs. They worshiped their idols, which became a snare to them. They sacrificed their sons and their daughters to false gods. They shed innocent blood, the blood of their sons and daughters, whom they sacrificed to the idols of Canaan, and the land was desecrated by their blood. They defiled themselves by what they did; by their deeds they prostituted themselves.” Psalm 106:35-39
Psalm 106:35-39 describes the church TODAY. We have adopted so many of the false gods of our worldly culture. We worship money, celebrities, our own comfort. Much of the church has become shallow, selfish and intellectually lazy. Because so many of us don’t read our Bibles, we fall for any old lie. We have no foundation to discern truth.
The enemy’s lies have crept in so slowly and quietly that we didn’t even notice. Now they are so firmly entrenched within our ranks that the enemy no longer even tries to hide it. This is actually a blessing because many Christians are finally waking up.
But many are NOT waking up. They excuse and defend our worldly culture. They mock God’s true remnant for our “primitive” belief that Jesus’ blood is the only way to salvation. It grieves my heart (and God’s). As the lies are exposed, they are being exposed as well. They can call themselves whatever they wish, but they no longer believe in Jesus Christ.
2 Corinthians 11
The Corinthian church was a lot like we are. They were impressed by smooth talking celebrities, drawn to riches and worldliness. It is so easy to follow the superstars and look down on God’s humblest servants. But in God’s kingdom, everything is turned upside down. The last is first and the first is last. We have no record of whatever superstars Paul was referring to in 2 Corinthians 11. Yet here we are reading Paul’s words 2000 years later.
Don’t worry if no one recognizes your work and sacrifices for God. God sees and He is the only one who matters. God recognizes His servants who love and serve Him. That is more than enough. Don’t lose heart. Don’t give up. We are often ridiculed and despised. Kingdom work is usually the most thankless work in this world. But the rewards are eternal!
Isaiah 24 – 26
Isaiah’s prophecies are long and complex. They cover many events that have already happened long ago such as Christ’s coming and the destruction of the Jewish temple. They predict things from more recent history like the Jews returning to Israel in the 1960s. Isaiah’s prophecies include events that I believe are happening in the world RIGHT NOW. And they also jump ahead to the end of this worldly timeline when Jesus will return.
Whew! That is a HUGE span of time to cover! But this is also how Isaiah’s prophecies prove themselves to be worthy of belief. How exciting to see the accuracy of prophecies that have already taken place and then wait expectantly for those that have not.
If God can prophesy with such accuracy and complexity, we can trust that He really is in control. We can depend upon Him to accomplish His will, including all His many promises to those of us who love and serve Him.
