boast Archives – Sonshine's Journal

September 10, 2020

God Judges Sin

Ezekiel 25 to 27 God chose Israel to carry His message of love and forgiveness to the world. However, she decided to allow the foreign gods to infiltrate her land and her worship of Yahweh. Know this truth: judgment begins at God’s house, but He also sees others’ contempt and in His righteousness will also judge them.

God patiently sent prophets and priests to warn Israel that He would discipline. First, the northern tribes were scattered to the north. God hoped that Judah would learn, but she did not. She became even more immoral, so God sent the Babylonians and sent them into exile. One would think that the nations to the east would see this and learn. Instead, they scoffed, aided the Babylonians, and rushed in to take Judah’s land, cities, and crops. In their pride, they fell for the lie that God would not discipline them. Our prisons today are an example of this thinking.

Ezekiel explained that it was because they rejected God and His children; they too would face God’s hand. Like a maid dries a plate, He wiped them clean from east to west, beginning with Ammon and ended with Tyre.

The lesson for us is that there is a day of reckoning for all that the world may know that He is God.

September 6, 2016

“You Are Called! You are Significant”

Some days we feel rather insignificant the chosen one in our walk with Jesus. On days like that we need to take a moment and walk through 1Corinthians 1 to see who we are in God’s eyes.

Paul begins by saying he is “called to be an apostle.” The word call in Greek means invited, thus Paul was invited by Christ to be an apostle. Here’s a question for you to ponder: What has God called to you to be? Try putting your name in that sentence.

“I am called to be…(fill in the blank).

As you ponder that answer it should cause each of us to stop and consider from where we have come and where we are headed. Our calling means we have a sure footing as we trod this world until we reach eternity. It should stop us to consider how significant we are that God has invited us to join his fellowship of believers. Think about the circumstances of your call…Not many were wise by human standards, not many were powerful, not many were born to a privileged position. [vs 26] But you were called, that is invited to this privilege.

Recently I was asked this question: What would you see God calling you to if you knew without a shadow of doubt that you would not fail? The answer should be this; if I am called then I can be sure of this very thing, that the one who began a good work in [me] will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus. [Phi 1:6]

It was by God’s grace that we are given this privilege and we cannot boast for it is all of God’s work and none of ourselves. If we want to boast, boast in this: God called “me” and He is in the work of “perfecting” me in the path he has already foreordained in eternity past.

And that is why you and I are significant!

Photo: © Iqoncept | Dreamstime.com

July 8, 2013

Worthless vs Ideal Words [ Matt 12 &Prov 16 ]

I love this picture to the left because it reminds me that even if I am faithless He is faithful.

I don’t know if you can relate but often have I cringed at something I have just said and the verse in Matthew 12 comes back to convict me. It is then that I am reminded that I do need to more carefully choose what I say so that I am honoring God and my fellow man.

Pro 25:11 Like apples of gold in settings of silver, so is a word skillfully spoken.

Proverbs chapter 16 begins with these words: The intentions/plans of the heart belong to man but the answer of the tongue comes from the Lord; but Jesus teaches: Mat 12:36 I tell you that on the day of judgment, people will give an account for every worthless [idle] word they speak. It almost seems that these two sides of the coin teach opposing views. It seems like really we have no choice as to what we speak. But is that true? We know that God does not contradict Himself. So our question is….Why are some words worthless and how do we harmonize these two verses?

When men plan/think/reason using the gift that God has given them and trust Him to guide them then the responses we give will be His for we are His workmanship, created to accomplish good works [Eph 2:10]. If however, we refuse to plan, decline to consider, are unwilling to listen to wise counsel, are unwilling to see ourselves in need of wisdom, and allow pride to govern, then our words are idle or worthless and for these we will held accountable. A biblical truth is that God has graciously given us the ability to think and reason. Therefore, it behooves us to ponder and seek that godly wisdom that is given to men who desire His will and way. In that way we will speak and honor Him with ideal words that bring Him glory.

Father, Today may I be certain and give you praise for You because You care about each word, each direction, each decision that I make. I can know that because you say so: ‘I have loved you with an everlasting love. That is why I have continued to be faithful to you. May I seek your will and your way that we bring glory to you alone. May I boast that I know and understand that You, the Lord, act out of faithfulness, fairness, and justice in the earth. [Jer 9]