For today, One Year Bible Online links here.
People often reject Christianity so that they can do whatever they please. Yet, they get trapped by their sins. Lack of discipline will lead to death.
There is a reason this is the most popular psalm. It reminds us that God cares for us and will provide for all of our needs. If we trust Him, He will keep us safe and comfort us when we pass through dangerous times.
Most of us have read this passage about forgiveness many times, but how often do we tell ourselves that this time we don’t need to forgive? WE don’t usually say it that way. Instead we say that our anger is justified, or that we will forgive, but that doesn’t mean we have to forget. We have other ways to justify not forgiving those who have offended us. It is very hard to forgive someone who does the same thing to us over and over again. Jesus tells us that no matter how many times that person has sinned against us, no matter how many times they have done that thing we cannot stand, it is minor compared to how badly, and frequently, we have sinned against God, we have done that thing which God cannot stand. Yet God has forgiven us. If we will not forgive those whose debt to us is much less, we will be unable to accept God’s forgiveness of our much greater debt to him.
Some Pharisees came to Jesus and tried to find out which side of the rabbinical debate about divorce He was on. I am not sure what about this question Matthew viewed as a trap, but I am quite sure those present saw it the same way. Jesus’ tells us that God made us male and female with the intent that a man would leave his father and mother and become one with his wife. When we get married God makes us one with our spouse. Since God has made us into one, who has authority to split us into two once more? Jesus’ answer is that the only justification for divorce is if the other person has been unfaithful…or in other words, if the other person has already divorced us. Since in Jesus’ world the only “marriage” is that marriage before God, the only “divorce” is divorce before God. If your spouse leaves you, by having sexual relations with another, you are free, but there is no circumstance under which you are justified leaving them.
Moses did what God had told him to do and things got worse. Howe often have we seen things go like that? Either for ourselves or someone else? But God was not done with Moses, and after fussing about it, Moses went back to Pharaoh. Things did not get better right away. Pharaoh demanded proof of God’s power, so Moses showed him proof. Pharaoh did not accept Moses’ proof. How often do we run into that today? People ask us for proof, but are unwilling to accept anything as proof. Pharaoh never did accept Moses’ proofs for God’s existence and power, but eventually he did as God said he would.