FWD: Morning Manna (Oct. 28); BP: Jer. 51; RBTTY: II Tim. 2; Jer. 15-17

 
Samuel D. High
sdhigh@aristotle.net

 

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-----Original Message-----
From: Apostle Tom <pressingon@hotmail.com>
Sent: Mon, 27 Oct 2008 20:52:53 -0500
To: <pressingon@hotmail.com>
Subject: Morning Manna (Oct. 28); BP: Jer. 51; RBTTY: II Tim. 2; Jer. 15-17
 

October 28                                                                                                                                                                         “Not Forgotten or Forsaken”

 

“For Israel has not been forsaken, nor Judah of his God, of the Lord of Hosts—though their land was filled with sin against the Holy One of Israel.”

                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Jeremiah 51:5

     Although we may grieve Him—and we will—He will never abandon those who are His (Is. 49:15-16).

     Crime and punishment.

     We’re well aware of this system of justice that basically says, “You do the crime and you’ll do the time.”  While no system is perfect—and this one certainly isn’t because of selective punishment so often based on who you are or how much you own—the fact remains that God’s Justice System is always perfect and there’ll be no one who’ll escape Divine retribution because of some legal loophole or capricious enforcement.

 

     Let’s face it:

     Apart from God’s mercies none of us would have any hope (Lam. 3:21-23).  How thankful we should be that His Grace gives us what we don’t deserve and His Mercy spares of from getting what we do deserve.  That’s why we should never presume on these two expressions of His Love or figure we can casually “sin so that grace may abound.”   God forbid (Rom. 6:1-2, 15)!!

 

     The Heavenly Father’s Love for us is always a just love.  He doesn’t wink at our sins; in fact, He MUST punish them—for He is Holy and Just.  However, through Christ we find a way to escape certain doom in a devil’s hell through His atoning death on the Cross (Rom. 5:6-11; Eph. 2:1-9; Heb. 1:1-3; 2:1-3; 4:14-16; 6:9-20; 7:24-27; 8:1-6; 9:11-14, 22-28; 10:10, 19-24; 11:6; 12:1-2, 12-15).

 

     So often we tend to project our thoughts upon God.  Instead of remembering He is “full of compassion, merciful, gracious, longsuffering and abundant in grace and truth” (Ex. 34:6; Is. 86:15), we envision Him acting the way we would/do toward others when we grow weary of them.  Or, we look in a mirror and imagine He views us the way we do ourselves, which leads us to depression and despair.

 

     But, oh, dear Pilgrim, our omniscient God is also an all-loving God.  Just as His justice is tempered by His mercy so is His all-seeing eye is tempered by His all-loving heart.  Is not this the essence of grace?

 

     Assuredly it is.  Hallelujah!!

     There’ll be times that we feel forsaken.  Why is this when He has promised “to never leave us nor forsake us” (Heb. 13:5b)?  Again, it’s simply because we look more at our sinfulness than we do His grace. . .our inadequacy more than His sufficiency. . .and our inability more than His ability.

 

     That’s why we must lift our eyes higher—“higher than the hills” (Ps. 121)—and keep focused on “Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith” (Heb. 12:2).  This same One Who has started a good work in us has promised to complete it (Phil. 4:6); therefore, when you feel forsaken, remember He’s faithful (I Cor. 10:13; II Cor. 4:8-9).  Glory!!