Through the Bible - Ezekiel 18-20, James 1
Good morning,
In our high school Sunday School class we talked about the "Great Commision' in Matthew 28 and about "going into all the world" to make disciples. In order to make disciples we need to be real, authentic followers ourselves.
I mentioned William Wilburforce's book "Real Christianity". Wilburforce is more commonly known for almost single handedly taking down the slave trade in England. Last years' movie "Amazing Grace" was about his life. The movie related it to John Newton's song "Amazing Grace" but did little to show what was the moving, motivating source of Wilburforces strength. His love for God. You get a better understanding of him if you read his book "Real Christianity".
In it he writes, "Christianity asks us, if we value our immortal souls, not merely to be generally religious and moral, but to believe specifically the doctrines, to consume the principles, and to practice the precepts of Christ...... The Bible is what teaches us our obligations and our duty, what we are to believe and to practice."
That kind of living; knowing the Bible and passing it along to our kids, not only in knowing but in doing as Jesus would do.
Today's verse comes from Psalm 48 which I read this morning in my devotions.
Ps 48:12 Walk about Zion,
And go all around her.
Count her towers;
13 Mark well her bulwarks;
Consider her palaces;
That you may tell it to the generation following. NKJV
As you "walk through the Bible", take note of the doctrines and principles, God's commands make it your aim to live by them. I'm reminded of Deut. 6:4-10, the "shema" which speaks of passing in on to our children at home, as we walk (or drive) along, when we lie down and when we get up. Be as familiar with it, be able to navigate through it as you would the city you live in.
You probably noticed a seldom used word these days - bulwark:
A wall or embankment raised as a defensive fortification; a rampart.
Something serving as a defense or safeguard
God's Word serves also as a defence and a safeguard. Why won't we take more time to learn it, and practice what it says?
We should be reminded that God Himself is a bulwark never failing:
A Mighty Fortress Is Our God
A mighty fortress is our God, a bulwark never failing;
Our helper He, amid the flood of mortal ills prevailing:
For still our ancient foe doth seek to work us woe;
His craft and power are great, and, armed with cruel hate,
On earth is not his equal.
Did we in our strength confide, our striving would be losing;
Were not the right Man on our side, the Man of God's own choosing:
Dost ask who that may be? Christ Jesus, it is He;
Lord Sabaoth, His Name, from age to age the same,
And He must win the battle.
And though this world, with devils filled, should threaten to undo us,
We will not fear, for God hath willed His truth to triumph through us:
The Prince of Darkness grim, we tremble not for him;
His rage we can endure, for lo, his doom is sure,
One little word shall fell him.
That word above all earthly powers, no thanks to them, abideth;
The Spirit and the gifts are ours through Him Who with us sideth:
Let goods and kindred go, this mortal life also;
The body they may kill: God's truth abideth still,
His kingdom is forever.
If you have time today read James 1 which is today's N.T. reading in the read through the Bible plan above. It speaks of being doers of the word.
In Christ,
Mike
Ps 48:1-49:1
The Glory of God in Zion
A Song. A Psalm of the sons of Korah.
48 Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised In the city of our God,In His holy mountain. 2 Beautiful in elevation,The joy of the whole earth,Is Mount Zion on the sides of the north,The city of the great King. 3 God is in her palaces;He is known as her refuge.
4 For behold, the kings assembled,They passed by together. 5 They saw it, and so they marveled;They were troubled, they hastened away. 6 Fear took hold of them there,And pain, as of a woman in birth pangs, 7 As when You break the ships of TarshishWith an east wind.
8 As we have heard,So we have seenIn the city of the Lord of hosts,In the city of our God:God will establish it forever.Selah
9 We have thought, O God, on Your lovingkindness,In the midst of Your temple. 10 According to Your name, O God,So is Your praise to the ends of the earth;Your right hand is full of righteousness. 11 Let Mount Zion rejoice,Let the daughters of Judah be glad,Because of Your judgments.
12 Walk about Zion,And go all around her.Count her towers; 13 Mark well her bulwarks;Consider her palaces;That you may tell it to the generation following. 14 For this is God,Our God forever and ever;He will be our guideEven to death.
NKJV
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