On Monday morning I sat down with a cup of coffee and the national
news for the first time in a long time.
One of the top stories was about the Annual Grammy music awards and marriages. It seems that the Grammys took this
opportunity to get political on the issue of gay marriages by performing the
marriage ceremonies of 33 couples while the world looked on. Oh, and there were some heterosexual couples
in that group for good measure.
All I could think was “'how much longer LORD will you
tolerate our nation’s celebration of sin!” God's timing and ours are so
different but His Word is Truth and His Word says, “He will not be mocked.”
Galatians 6:7 (ESV) Do not be
deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap.
Wrathful - The
personal manifestation of God's holy, moral character in judgment against sin.
Wrath is neither an impersonal process nor is it irrational and fitful like
anger. It is in no way vindictive or malicious. It is holy indignation‑‑ God's
anger directed against sin. God's wrath
is an expression of His holy love. If God is not a God of wrath, His love is no
more than frail, worthless sentimentality; the concept of mercy is meaningless;
and the Cross was a cruel and unnecessary experience for His Son.
John 3:36 (ESV) Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son
shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.
Romans 1:18-19 (ESV) For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and
unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to
them.
Romans 2:8-9 (ESV) but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey
unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury. There will be tribulation and distress for every human being who does evil, the
Jew first and also the Greek,
It seemed fitting to me to finish this blog with the words
from Ephesians 5 sometimes called the Love Chapter. It tells us how to be, how to walk in love,
how not to walk, consequences for walking wrongly, how we used to walk, and who
not to company with, and gives final words of counsel on walking.
Ephesians 5:1-21
(ESV)
How to be: Therefore
be imitators of God, as beloved children.
How to walk in love: And walk in love, as Christ loved us and
gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
How not to walk: But sexual immorality and all impurity or
covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints.
Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are
out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving. For you may be sure of
this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that
is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.
Consequences for walking wrongly:
Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these
things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.
Who not to company with:
Therefore, do not become partners with them;
How we used to walk: for at one time you were darkness, but now you
are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is
found in all that is good and right and true), and try to discern what is
pleasing to the Lord.
Final words of counsel on walking:
Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose
them. For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret.
But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, for
anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says, “Awake, O sleeper,
and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” Look carefully then how
you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because
the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of
the Lord is. And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be
filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and
making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for
everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to
one another out of reverence for Christ.
Love you all and pray
the morsels of God's Word sink deep into your souls!
His,
Vickie