Marching Forth!

I am convinced when we open God's word He is always faithful to deliver:  we are the weak links that do not always receive.  When we come to a difficult passage of scripture that is not immediately clear, it is good for us to think it over, perhaps jot down observations and seek the LORD.  I tend to think by speaking, and the practice works well with writing.  This helps me develop my thoughts more clearly as I ruminate on God's word. This morning I read a prayer of Jeremiah who questioned the LORD why his suffering was protracted and made subtle jabs God had not been altogether faithful to him.  The prophet asked God in  Jeremiah 15:18 : " Why is my pain perpetual a nd my wound incurable,  w hich refuses to be healed? Will You surely be to me like an unreliable stream,  a s waters that fail ?"  Jeremiah likened himself to a person who had wounds that did not respond to any treatment, like a thirsty person who sought the refreshment o...

I was encouraged to consider the Genesis 18 passage where God spoke with Abraham concerning His plans to investigate the cry that came up before Him from Sodom and Gomorrah.  After Abraham stood still at this revelation from God  Genesis 18:23 says, " And Abraham came near and said, "Would You also destroy the righteous with the wicked ?"  Though he considered himself dust and ashes, Abraham humbly but boldly approached God to plead for the lives of the righteous in the city.  He was convinced the Judge of all the earth would do right, and He certainly made a distinction between the righteous and wicked. Abraham wondered if God would destroy the city if there were 50 righteous people among them, and God agreed He would spare the whole city for the sake of the righteous.  Abraham continued to petition the LORD concerning if there was 45, 40, 30, 20 and even 10 righteous within the city, and every time God was willing to spare the whole city should 10 righteou...

The revenge plot is a common theme in film and literature.  Perhaps one reason they have such appeal to people is the opportunity to vicariously see people pay for their crimes, to get what they deserve.  We all have a natural impulse when we are wronged to return in kind and then some.  Someone pushes us so we justify pushing and punching them.  If we are made to suffer by the cruelty of others, we feel it unjust they would face no observable consequences.  When others cause us pain, we want someone to pay.  While the flesh imagines revenge will bring relief, faith in God leads us to forgive. This theme of seeking vengeance is found throughout scripture.  There are times when people sought revenge against enemies, and other times they asked God to take vengeance.  After God revealed to the prophet Jeremiah of a plot against his life, he prayed in  Jeremiah 11:19-20 :  " But I was like a docile lamb brought to the slaughter; and I did ...

I have heard people extol the value of a godly example by saying, "There is more caught than taught."  The idea is seeing godliness lived out is of greater value to others than the person's understanding of systematic theology.  Since there is no doubt people can influence others for good, we must realise the opposite is also true.  It is likely during our years as an unbeliever we have adopted worldly perspectives and fleshly responses to trouble and conflict we have brought into our relationship with Jesus and the church.  The wonderful thing about a relationship with Jesus Christ is by faith in Him we are born again and made new creations. In churches that teach through the Bible, an emphasis is placed on reading, studying and applying God's word to our lives in obedience.  This is good.  As we grow in knowledge of God our desire is for everyone to know Him as well and be saved.  So we bone up on scriptures to guide people to their need for Jesus, f...