Heeding the Warning

Today's Daily Soap {Scripture | Observation | Application | Prayer}

• S: The LORD is a jealous and avenging God; the LORD takes vengeance and is filled with wrath. The LORD takes vengeance on his foes and maintains his wrath against his enemies. The LORD is slow to anger and great in power; the LORD will not leave the guilty unpunished. His way is in the whirlwind and the storm, and clouds are the dust of his feet. Nahum 1:2-3 [NIV]
• O: God will punish His enemies.
• A: I had an online discussion recently with someone who claims to be a devout Christian. Someone who doesn't believe that God would cause harm to people as punishment. Many people believe that God is all cake and cookies, the He is all good and incapable of causing anyone any harm. Of course He is all good, but through his wrath God has and will punish His enemies. As Nahum warned Ninevah, God will take revenge and, though He is slow to anger, He will not allow the guilty to go unpunished. Ninevah did not heed Nahum's warnings and was exposed to God's might wrath. Why today do so many resist the call to salvation? Eternal Life if you choose, eternal fire if you ignore. What can be so hard about that?
• P: You made the choice clear to me twelve years ago, Lord. The choice of Eternal Life. Help me to tell others of this wondrous gift.

Send feedback to Joe by email, or by calling 317-644-6129.

Your comments? Joe

podsafe music network | ioda promonet | magnatune | airplay direct ariel publicity | kennedy resource development | populuxe records | indie heaven miles high productions | iris distribution

The God of Every Man

Today's Daily Soap {Scripture | Observation | Application | Prayer}

• S: Acts 10:34-36; Acts 10:44-48
• O: Can't we all just get along?
• A: It is clear that God's intention is for us to live in peace and harmony, regardless of our race, birthright, national origin, or religion. As the Apostle Luke reports in the book of Acts, God has brought together a Jew and a Gentile for the very reason of proving this point. "It's God's own truth, nothing could be plainer: God plays no favorites! It makes no difference who you are or where you're from -- if you want God and are ready to do as He says, the door is open. The Message he sent to the children of Israel -- that through Jesus Christ everything is being put together again -- well, he's doing it everywhere, among everyone." ... No sooner were these words out of Peter's mouth than the Holy Spirit came on the listeners. The believing Jews who had come with Peter couldn't believe it, couldn't believe that the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out on "outsider" Gentiles, but there it was -- they heard them speaking in tongues, heard them praising God. Then Peter said, "Do I hear any objections to baptizing these friends with water? They've received the Holy Spirit exactly as we did." Hearing no objections, he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. (Acts 10:34-36, 44-48 MSG) The world is filled today with several kinds of people. I'll name just a few: (1) those who love, appreciate, and promote peace; (2) those who would have you believe that their god is calling them to kill in his name; (3) those who find themselves defending the rest of us from the second group listed above by taking up arms and fighting back. It's clear that, first of all, God -- the only God -- is not directing people of any religion to kill others in His name. If they do so, it is because they are either (a) deluded into believing it, or (b) blaspheming the name of God by killing in his name. It would be a wonderful world if we could all live as those in the first group listed above promote, but that is not the world that we live in today, because the enemy -- Satan -- has been given the freedom to move among us and tempt us to act on his behalf. With whom will you stand? The enemy, or the Ultimate Victor? Would God have you turn your back on those in need, or lend a hand in their defense?
• P: Lord, as we continue to defend our country -- the world -- from the tyrants who claim to kill in the name of Allah, guide those who defend us to do what is right and just, to fight only defensively, not provoking or prolonging the fight. Help us to win a swift victory against the enemy -- against the armies influenced by Satan.

Send feedback to Joe by email, or by calling 206-600-4JOE.

Love Your Enemies

Today's Daily Soap {Scripture | Observation | Application | Prayer}

• S: Matthew 5:38-48
• O: It's not enough to just be typical, to just show love to those that are close to you. It's not enough to just love your friends, family, and loved ones. That's what everyone does. What God wants from us is to strive to be like Him. Like Christ. When Judas Iscariot betrayed Christ, what did He do? He said, "That's me," told Peter to put away his sword, and went peacefully. What did Christ do when he was convicted by Pilate? When the soldiers whipped Him? When they hung Him on the cross? He forgave them. And the criminal that was crucified with Christ? He forgave him. He forgave them all, because He loved them. Even those who were His enemies, Christ loved. This is what God has commanded us to do -- to love our enemies. "Live generously and graciously toward others."
• A: It seems so easy to just go through the day, minding my own business, getting the job done. I get up in the morning, go to work, then come home at night. Sure, I encounter people and interact with them, but do I really touch their lives? Do I really show those I encounter -- those who work for me, and others -- that I am a follower of Christ? Do I wear it like a badge or medal that I want everyone to see? Do I let it shine from the hilltop? Or do I just get through the day, not bothering to share the love of Christ with others? Not spreading the Good News, so that others can come to know Him?
• P: Lord, help me to obey your commandment to go forth and preach the Good News. Help me to show those I encounter on a daily basis that I am a follower of the Living God, and that they, too, can be forgiven. Help me, Father, to share the story of Salvation with others. Help me to let my light shine from the hilltop for all to see, rather just getting through the day. Help me, in this way, to show the Love of Christ to all that I meet.

Send feedback to Joe by email, or by calling 206-600-4JOE.