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Today: Proverbs 14:5-14; Acts 2:22-47; 2 Samuel 7 & 8
Proverbs 14
“A scoffer seeks wisdom and does not find it…” Proverbs 14:6
This digital age, and social media, have amplified the foolishness of people for all to see. Solomon described it in Proverbs 14, “Fools mock at sin.” (v.9) Today people openly insult God and brazenly defy His statutes. Solomon advises us to “go from the presence of a foolish man, when you do not perceive in him the lips of knowledge” (aka ‘keep scrolling!’). (v.7) Today we can only avoid the scoffers. But some day God WILL right all of the injustices and He will be mocked no more. Some day “the house of the wicked will be overthrown.” (v.11)
Acts 2 – Pentecost
On the day of Pentecost, Peter addressed people who had likely witnessed Jesus’ miracles. Many of them had probably been present at the crucifixion. Some of them may have even been incited to yell “Crucify Him!” In a very direct way, some of Peter’s audience really had “crucified and put to death” Jesus of Nazareth, as Peter claimed.
But we ALL had a hand in crucifying Christ. OUR sins were upon Him as He died on the cross. We “ALL have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23) We are ALL sinners who desperately need a Savior. We ALL deserve death and eternal damnation. Do we recognize our own guilt?
The people listening to Peter did. They were “cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, ‘Men and brethren, what shall we do?'” (v.37)
Peter answered, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.” (v.38-39)
Did you get that? Peter included YOU and ME in that promise of the “remission of sins” and the “gift of the Holy Spirit.” What do we have to do to receive that promise? “Repent” and “be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.” And THAT is the gospel message!
But many churches today don’t talk about “repentance.” Many churchgoers have never even heard that word. So many churches water down the gospel message and turn Jesus into a self-help guru. Jesus is just a way to be popular, happy, and successful. Many preachers today don’t even believe there is a hell. But if there is no hell, no judgement, or condemnation, then there is no sin or need for repentance. If there is no need for repentance, then Jesus didn’t need to die. If there are many ways to get to God besides Jesus, then Jesus didn’t need to die. All of these progressive ideologies that have crept into the church make a mockery of Jesus’ death…
But Peter, full of the Holy Spirit, told us to “be saved from this perverse generation.” (v.40) He told us to “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of JESUS CHRIST.”
2 Samuel 7
David was a man after God’s own heart. Even as a mighty and powerful king, he was not arrogant or proud. He remained humble before God. David prayed, “Who am I, O Lord GOD? And what is my house that You have brought me this far?” (v.18) David recognized that God’s might and power was far beyond his own, “You are great, O Lord GOD. For there is none like You, nor is there any God besides You.” (v.22)
