Tag: Eternal One

The Wrath of God

Re:Verse reading–Romans 1:18-32 (day one)

“For the wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the ungodliness and wickedness of men.”—v 18.

Can the LOVE of God be reconciled with His WRATH?  Does the Eternal One have two perfectly balanced, internally consistent aspects to His nature?  “Yes”, say the Apostles.

Wrath is the other side of God’s love.  Protective.  Strong.

None of us is surprised, or offended, to see a Father rage against an enemy who threatens the daughter he loves. So, God rages against sin and its terrible consequences.  Except, He doesn’t rage.  His wrath is not a burst of anger. (wrong word in Greek).  Wrath is a settled, fierce, eternal opposition toward evil. Dangerously calm it is.

Two attitudes are desirable from us toward this Great Mind, Great Power.  “You shall LOVE the Lord with all your heart.”—Deuteronomy 6:5.

“Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised, He is to be FEARED.”—Psalm 96:4

The ugly duckling

Re: Verse reading–1 Samuel 16:1-7; Psalm 139 (day seven)

“Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”–1 Samuel 16:7.

News flash!  Man looks at the outward appearance.  If you are tall, thin, strong, good teeth, good hair you have an immediate advantage.  Spirit gram!  God does not do it that way.  “Heart” in the Scripture refers to the inner man.  The center of the soul.  Mind, will and emotions.  What God looks for in a person is not how she looks, but rather what he thinks and desires and feels.  Sometimes even believers forget this truth.  We covet beautiful and talented people only to miss the powerful friendship of the Eternal One as He touches/teaches/chooses/uses people who are beautiful on the inside.  Remember the Hans Christian Andersen story?  One duckling is considered “ugly” because He was actually a swan.  Misjudged at first, admired eventually, what we are (and are becoming) in Christ is all that matters.

Our Undiscouraged God

Re: Verse reading–Ezekiel 10:18-19; 11:22-23; 40:1-2; 43:1-9  (day seven) 
“They defiled my holy name by their detestable practices.  So I destroyed them in my anger.  Now let them put away from me their prostitution and the lifeless idols of their kings, and I will live among them forever.”  (43:8-9)  When the Bible says that “His mercies are new every morning” (Lamentations 3:23) it means the Eternal One is not discouraged or weary with His plan to restore the world.  Our sin has not defeated Him, nor changed His promise, nor weakened His bright resolve!  True, our rebellion has been very costly to us and our children and the cosmos, but THE VICTORY IS AS CERTAIN AS IT HAS EVER BEEN.  What a privilege it is to receive this gracious invitation.  “Put away” the practices of sin!  He will “live among” us forever.  What is out of balance will be restored to an eternal equilibrium.  It is an unchanging offer of grace from an undiscouraged God.