In Old Testament times, the glory of God appeared to individuals and the Spirit of God filled certain people to help them to accomplish God’s will for their life (Numbers 20:6). Since Jesus ascended back to Heaven in His immortal body, He sent His Spirit to abide within every Born Again Believer (John 14:26).
If we do not have His Spirit within us through salvation through Jesus Christ, we are not part of His eternal family (Romans 8:9-11; John 3:16-18). By turning from our sins, and trusting in Him, we develop an intimate, personal relationship and union with Him. His Spirit leads us each moment of the day through His internal peace (Philippians 4:7).
During the Exodus from Egypt to the Promised Land, the Israelites made a poor choice not to enter the land; and therefore, that entire generation and their families wandered in the wilderness for 40 years, until all of those, who did not believe God and enter the land, died.
God proved that He is slow to anger and abounding in love, mercy, grace and faithfulness (Exodus 34:5-7), because during this time God did not abandon His chosen nation. He supplied water, food, and direction through a warm pillar of fire by night and a cloud to cover them from the hot sun during the day (Exodus 13:21; Deuteronomy 5:24). He even kept their clothes and sandals from wearing out.
At the end of the Old Testament era, God gave us Jesus to supply us with the provision for all of our needs (John 3:16-17). We rejoice in hope that God’s glory will fill the whole earth and have full authority over the state of affairs on our globe (Romans 5:2; Revelation 21:23-25).
God chooses the people in authority over the nations, not for our benefit, but according to the culmination of His plans to turn the government over to King Jesus for eternity (Romans 13:1). We are currently experiencing “birth pains” before the Great Tribulation.
Pandemic health issues, increased natural disasters, record breaking weather patterns, melting ice caps that are increasing the infringement of water from the ocean along the earth’s coastlines, abounding iniquity in our society, a great apostacy and falling away from Biblical foundational truths, the absence of any Christian nation left in this world, etc.
The attitude in the world today is to further minimize the effect and influence of Christianity, as well as to increase the persecution of those who adhere to Biblical principles and worldview. Governments marginalize our outreach, social media blocks our posts, laws are passed to make it illegal to mention certain sins during writing articles and public speaking, etc. Still, the worse is yet to come – be prepared.
Prayer:
Father God, we put our complete trust in You to yoke up with us during these increasingly tumultuous times, and to make our load easier and lighter (Matthew 11:29-30). You are worthy to receive glory and honor and power. You created all things for our enjoyment, and we want Your will to prevail. All creation exists and was created by You and for You (Revelation 4:11). In Jesus, the whole fullness of the Trinity dwells in bodily form and You abide within us by Your Spirit (Colossians 2:9).
We glimpse Your invisible attributes, eternal power and divine nature in creation, and in every person ever born; therefore, there is no excuse for anyone not to believe that Jesus is the exclusive Savior of the world (John 3:16-18). Thank You for granting to us Your divine power and godliness, and for the ability to know without a doubt that You created us for Your own glory and excellence (2 Peter 1:3). We are called by Your name, and formed, prepared, and created for Your glory (Isaiah 43:7; Galatians 3:26).
Thought for the Day:
We refuse to walk in the counsel of the ungodly, or to live a purposefully sinful life, or to join with the scoffers of the world, and we choose instead to delight in God’s law and to meditate on His Word day and night; this allows us to abide as a tree planted by the streams of water that yields fruit in each season of our life – regardless of the perils of existence in these End Times - while we worship Him as the Lord of hosts, and look forward to the whole world ultimately filling with His glory.
-Psalm 1:1-5; Philippians 1:11; Isaiah 6:3
