For today, One Year Bible Online links here.
Seek the truth, and when you find it do not trade it for any possible reward. Truth is more valuable than anything else you can have, followed closely by wisdom, self-discipline, and good judgment. If you possess these four things your life will be complete.
The wicked plot their actions carefully and in secret, confident that no one will discover that it is they who are behind the crime. Despite their most cunning plans, God will know who is to blame. He will strike them down. Then, as people watch and listen, the wicked will be tripped up by their own words. We see this happen time after time. Someone carefully plans a wicked act in secret. Their plans are carefully concealed and the blame is initially placed elsewhere. Then, out of nowhere, a revelation will come and, through their own words, it will become obvious who is truly responsible for the wicked act.
Paul reminds us that we have been called to live in freedom, not enslaved to a set of rules. However, he tells us that we should not use our freedom to satisfy our sinful nature, instead we should use our freedom to serve one another in love. If we allow the Holy Spirit to guide our actions we will not do what our sinful nature desires. Paul goes on to point out the results of following our sinful nature. We should all regularly read that list because Paul tells us that anyone living that lifestyle will NOT inherit the Kingdom of God. Paul then goes on to describe the lifestyle we will live if we allow the Holy Spirit to guide our lives. It will be a life full of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
If we truly live this lifestyle we will not become conceited, we will not provoke one another, we will not be jealous of one another. Last week, I wrote about Paul’s instructions to the Corinthians, and us, to examine ourselves. This is the first step in such an self-examination. Am I conceited? Do I provoke my fellow believers by what I say, or what I do? Am I jealous of others? Either for what they have, or the position they hold?
Isaiah prophesies of a time when the Lord will act on His anger at the sins of the world. I am convinced that there has been more than one time in history when God’s message in this passage applies. I believe that we are once again living in a time when God will, and already is, express His anger with the sins of this world. He will destroy the nations and armies of this world. Everything will be dedicated to Him, those people and things which bring glory to God will blossom and be glad. Those people and things which do not bring glory to God will be destroyed completely.
Once more God will act to bring salvation. This will not be a new act. It will be a revival of those who worship Him. Just as when Jesus walked this earth, God will move on this earth:
and unplug the ears of the deaf.
The lame will leap like a deer,
and those who cannot speak will sing for joy!
Springs will gush forth in the wilderness,
and streams will water the wasteland.
If those of us who worship His name will just faithfully pray to Him and seek to do His will, God will pour out His Spirit throughout the world. He will show His might and use us to bring glory to His name.