Thirsty Thursday's .2




Genesis 6:3 "My Spirit will not always strive with man, for he is flesh; yet his days will be a hundred and twenty years."  Man's wickedness was great.

Judges 10:6  Again the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord.   They worshipped the Baals, the Ashtoreths, and the gods of Syria, Sidon, Moab, the Ammonites, and the Philistines.  They abandoned the Lord and did not serve Him.  AGAIN, occurs about 16 times in this historical text nearly half reflect wickedness and the other half reflect attempts by man to get right with the Lord for deliverance, yet even the heroes were wicked in our hindsight view.
  
Judges 10:7  The anger of the Lord burned against Israel, and He sold them into the hands of the Philistines and the Ammonites.  Sounds like "will not always strive with man" to me.

Judges 2:14  The anger of the Lord burned against Israel, and He gave them into the hands of those who plundered them; and He sold them into the hands of their enemies around them, so that they were no longer able to stand against their enemies.  Another example of "not...strive with man" with man.

Romans 1:24 Therefore God gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their own bodies among themselves.  "Gave them up"  We need His Spirit and God must have obedience to provide justly.  More of the "not strive" conditions because God is holy, we must be holy too.  (All Scriptures MEV)

History Repeats itself again & again.


 There are many patterns in the Christian library of books. Two I'd like to highlight today. Two forms of repetition occur throughout Biblical history. Either form the Lord has part in it. He permits us to go "our way" although this anger's and grieves God. He also permits and encourages faithfulness and loyalty to "His way" which he will empower if we call on the name of the Lord. These two patterns of history happen again and again. Which "again" path will you choose? 

 God will not strive with wickedness. In fact he allows us, stops "striving" or "gives them up" in an effort to get us to turn back to Him or be destroyed. If we turn back, remain committed to His directing we will have success and constructive life. God limits us from long life early in the account of creation because we need boundaries. This should serve as a lesson generation to generation.  What I find peculiar is that we accept 80 years of age as an achievement any more. Some less some more. 

 My point is that we shall not get away with sinning. The only way of escaping the act of sin & consequences of sin are Jesus Christ. The only way to sustain a sinless lifestyle is by His imputed righteousness. If we want to be on the right side of "again" we must choose who we will serve. Will we serve self or God?  I'm with the Prophet Jeremiah, as for me and my house we will serve the Lord.

Let's get on the right side of history. Praise the Lord!

Drink the Word and be satisfied. Stay thirsty for the Word my friend. 

Thirsty to be more fully present.
Earnestly,
Pastor Nicholas

 

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