Wednesday, December 10, 2014

HOSEA 5-8:

In these chapters Daniel is ranting on and on all the ways that Israel has rebelled against God.  "Israel cries out to me, 'O our God, we acknowledge you!' But Israel has rejected what is good; an enemy will pursue him.  They set up kings without my consent; they choose princes without my approval. With their silver and gold they make idols for themselves to their own destruction."(8:2-4)  Daniel then forecasts their future.  "They will begin to waste away under the oppression of the mighty king."(8:10)

JUDE:

Written 70-80 A.D. Jude was the half-brother of Jesus.  He begins the book, stating that he wanted to write encouraging them in the "salvation we share"(3), yet he has to deal with warning them about men who are false-teachers.  "They are godless men, who change the grace of God into a license for immorality and deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord."(4)  He goes on to discuss the doom of those who have rebelled against God...from the angels to Sodom and Gomorrah.  The false-teachers are described as "...grumblers and faultfinders; they follow their own evil desires; they boast about themselves and flatter others for their own advantage."(16).  "These are the men who divide you, who follow mere natural instincts and don not have the Spirit."(19)

He then gives instruction, "Be merciful to those who doubt; snatch others from the fire and save them; to others show mercy, mixed with fear..."(22)

JOURNAL:

Reading through 4 chapters of all the ways Israel rebelled against God feels very redundant.  I sometimes wonder if I have actually read the same words over and over.  I guess in many ways I have. Then in Jude it is the same thing these are people who call themselves believers.  It is interesting that from the old testament to the new the greatest threat comes from within.  All comes from a lack of faith and a refusal to obey God.  Jesus' most harsh words came to those who called themselves believers yet did not trust in God and used their position for personal gain.  

How often have I become comfortable in my own ways, and had false hope in my position in life?  Way too often.  I realize that it is when I struggle that I seek God.  It is when I have become complacent in seeking that my thoughts turn to "idols".  

There is the reason for the rants and the warnings and pages and pages of descriptions of those who call themselves God's children, rebelling and running from him.  Our greatest enemy then is our own flesh and our own selfishness.  

"God loves you! So do I! Make it a great day!