AUGUST 1, 2016

“Only he who believes is obedient, and only he who is obedient believes.” 
― Dietrich Bonhoeffer, The Cost of Discipleship

PSALM 65-67

David's entire being thirsts for God...

8Praise our God, all peoples,

let the sound of his praise be heard;

9he has preserved our lives

and kept our feet from slipping.

10For you, God, tested us;

you refined us like silver.

11You brought us into prison

and laid burdens on our backs.

12You let people ride over our heads;

we went through fire and water,

but you brought us to a place of abundance.(66:8-12)

ROMANS 2

Paul states that there is no room for human beings to pass judgment as God passes judgement...

1You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge another, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things. 2Now we know that God’s judgment against those who do such things is based on truth. 3So when you, a mere human being, pass judgment on them and yet do the same things, do you think you will escape God’s judgment? 4Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, forbearance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance?

JOURNAL 

Wow...this chapter is brutal. It makes the argument that we as human beings are not designed to play upon the powers of God. In essence we are not to use the power God gave us to condemn. Only God can condemn because man is flawed and operating outside of his purpose.

It is interesting comparing these verses to the psalms and realizing that they are both coming from the same place. David affirms that all that God put the Israelites through was for their good. It had an intent and a purpose. Therefore understanding that purpose and yielding to that is critical to the faith. It is essential to obedience. Judging and rebelling are really part of the same coin.

24Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 25For whoever wants to save their life^f will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. 
- MATTHEW 16:24-25