Marching Forth!

It struck me the other day how remarkable it was of the thief crucified with Jesus to say to Him, " LORD, remember me when you come into your kingdom ."  In doing so he demonstrated great faith which perceived more than what he could naturally see.  Over the head of Jesus was a sign inscribed by the hand of Pontius Pilate with the accusation brought against Him:  "J ESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS ." (Matthew 27:37; John 19:19) Never had a king been so ill-treated by His own people, being accused as an evildoer by envious men with His subjects shouting to the Roman ruler as one man, "Crucify Him!"  He hung battered from blows and brutal scourging, covered in gore, barely recognisable as a man.  The thief who lived his life in violation of God's law and initially reviled Jesus had his eyes suddenly opened to the reality Jesus was indeed the Christ, the Son of God and Son of David who would have an everlasting kingdom. In desperation the dyin...

God is truly all powerful.  The creation of the universe, global catastrophes, and miraculous might are just the edges of His ways.  It is remarkable to me how God has all authority and power, yet men can move Him through humble requests.  Many times God stated His intention to do something, and when those who feared Him spoke with God He relented.  God remained righteous and good, yet mountains were moved and inevitable judgment delayed by a simple request. This morning I thought back to the time after Jacob left Laban's house as a wealthy man with many children.  He heard Esau was coming to meet him with hundreds of men and he was concerned for the safety of his family and himself.  That night the biblical account says he wrestled with a man until the breaking of day.  This man and how they began to engage in the tussle is not explained in scripture.  But reading on shows this "man" was much more than an ordinary man, for he simply touched Ja...

" You have plowed wickedness; y ou have reaped iniquity. You have eaten the fruit of lies,  b ecause you trusted in your own way,  i n the multitude of your mighty men ." Hosea 10:13 I forget things or misspeak, but God does not.  He knows all things, having created the world and all the processes therein.  Reading this verse holds forth an important principle by what God through the prophet did not mention.  A farmer typically ploughs furrows, sows seed, and reaps the harvest.  This passage references ploughing and reaping but does not mention sowing at all!  The fact is unless we plant good seed we cannot expect good things to grow. We see evidence of this all the time:  we turn over the soil to plant flowers or a vegetable garden and all manner of weeds and grass sprout up.  These weeds ought to be pulled because all these do is propagate after their own kind and rob the good plants of nutrition, sunlight, and space. ...

It is tragic when people do not have basic necessities for survival like clean water, wholesome food, or adequate shelter.  Billions of dollars of financial aid and countless volunteer efforts go towards helping those in need near and far.  As real the risk is for those who lack, there is also a risk for those who have .  It is ironic those who have great abundance also run the greatest risk of forgetting who they need most:  God.  In the Law of Moses God provided warnings for the wealthy.  Having our needs met by God can cause us to be filled with pride and forget God who provides life and all we possess. Through Moses God warned His people in Deuteronomy 8:10-14, 17-18 :  " When you have eaten and are full, then you shall bless the LORD your God for the good land which He has given you. 11 "Beware that you do not forget the LORD your God by not keeping His commandments, His judgments, and His statutes which I command you today, 12  lest-...