A Fitting Prayer For Today

 

 

Good day! I’m Duane Matz and this is Today’s Living Word:

 

Our Father who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come.
Thy will be done
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us,
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom and the power, and the glory,
forever and ever.

Amen.

 

 

As I was praying this morning, it occurred to me that the Lord’s prayer is especially relevant for what’s going on in our world today! (Not that it’s not relevant at other times)

 

But in this prayer as we look at the moral decline around us, and the hate, and the senseless violence. We pray “Come Lord Jesus, (Thy kingdom come!)

 

 Families struggling with the high cost of living and even worse, other countries battling famine and starvation. (Give us this day our daily bread)

 

The attacks on the followers of Christ beg us to ask God to forgive them as He has forgiven us.

 

Guard us from the temptation to lash out at our enemies in unforgiveness and protect us from any harm that may come from our enemies. (Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.)

 

And finally acknowledging that God is able to do all these things we ask for in the Lord’s prayer because the ultimately, the world is His kingdom, ruled by His power, for his glory….Amen!

 

I’m Duane Matz and that’s Today’s Living Word.

Why Do the Nations Rage?

 

 

Good day! I’m Duane Matz and this is Today’s Living Word:

 

Ps 2:1 Why do the nations rage, And the people plot a vain thing?

 

Isa 17:12 Woe to the multitude of many people Who make a noise like the roar of the seas, And to the rushing of nations That make a rushing like the rushing of mighty waters! 13 The nations will rush like the rushing of many waters; But God will rebuke them and they will flee far away, And be chased like the chaff of the mountains before the wind, Like a rolling thing before the whirlwind. 14 Then behold, at eventide, trouble! And before the morning, he is no more. This is the portion of those who plunder us, And the lot of those who rob us.

 

Our country is in great turmoil now on the heels of the reversal of the Roe V Wade Supreme Court decision that went down on January 22, 1973. This passage speaks to the unrest in the land and how God will ultimately deal with those who rob and plunder. (For example, those who would seek to do damage to pro-life crisis pregnancy centers, churches, or just cause riotous mayhem in the streets, spewing their venom at God’s people.

 

Let me quote from the Paul Kretzmann commentary on this passage and you’ll see what I mean.

“The enemies of Israel, who are also a types of the enemies of the church, are pictured as being  in a state of seething unrest, anxiously striving to harm the Lord’s people, in an apparently irresistible tidal wave. ”

 

Does that sound familiar today? It’s a scary situation for God’s people to be sure, but this passage in Isaiah assures us that in the end,  God will take care of those who make noise and seek to do harm to His people.

 

To the noisemakers, and tumult instigators, I plead, what part of “woe” do you not understand. Take the time to look up the word “woe” in Scripture and believe me, you do not want to be on the receiving end of it!.

 

The Good News is that, as long as you are alive, you still have time to repent and turn to Jesus and avoid the woe that will come the way of those who insist on seething at God and His church.

 

I’m Duane Matz and that’s Today’s Living Word.

Remember Stephen

 Good day! I’m Duane Matz and this is Today’s Living Word:

 

Oh, the venom! The reaction that we are seeing to the overturning of the Roe V Wade decision in the streets and on social media is both frightening and eye opening. These are going to be difficult days, but they are also going to present opportunities for the church to give witness to the love and mercy of Jesus Christ.

 

Remember the story of Stephen in the Bible? He had accused the crowd of murdering Jesus, the Son of God, note the crowd’s reaction:

 

Ac 7:54 When they heard these things they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed at him with their teeth.

 

As he continued, they “stopped up their ears,” hauled him out of the city, and stoned him to death! As he was dying, he prayed, “Lord, do not charge them with this sin.”

 

Just think about these things. Understand the crowd’s reaction to Stephen and you will understand the crowd’s reaction to the overturning of Roe V Wade. If you take the position that life begins at conception, you are basically accusing the “pro-choice” crowd of being murderers. You are cutting deep into their heart.

 

A person has two choices when cut to the heart. He either repents or gnashes his teeth and starts tossing stones.

 

Be prepared for the latter, but pray for the former.

 

As the level of venom increases, instead of lashing out in kind, pray, like Stephen did, ask for God’s mercy on them. More to the point pray as Jesus did on the cross. “Father forgive them, for they know not what they do.”

 

And always remember, that as you experience the “cutting to the heart for your sins, that there is no sin, that Jesus did not pay for on the cross! Ask for His forgiveness and receive it!

 

I’m Duane Matz and that’s Today’s Living Word.

What A Great Day!

 

 

Good day! I’m Duane Matz and this is Today’s Living Word:

 

A great day yesterday as the Supreme Court of the United States overturned the Roe vs Wade decision that legalized abortion. We in the pro-life community have been praying and working for that day since 1973! But now what?

 

To be honest, now the real work of the pro-life community begins. The right for an unborn child to live now will be determined by individual states. Legislative battles will rage, state by state, and it’s not going to be pretty

 

The “pro-choice” media will be amping up their rhetoric that conveniently forgets the truth that life begins at conception. They will continue to fail to come up with any crime the unborn child committed that would warrant the death penalty.

 

We in the church, must continue educating the followers of Jesus on God’s opinion of when life begins, and we must expand on our efforts to offer alternatives to abortion by supporting crisis pregnancy centers and foster care and adoption alternatives.

 

We must be prepared for the anger that will be leveled against us and not return anger with more anger and unkind words. Pr 15:1 A soft answer turns away wrath, But a harsh word stirs up anger.

Most importantly the gospel of Christ needs to be presented clearly to all. We are all sinners who deserve the wrath of God, yet God in His mercy, sent Jesus Christ to die for our sins, and there is no sin that Jesus didn’t pay for on the cross…..even the sin of abortion.

 

I’m Duane Matz and that’s Today’s Living Word.

A Different Kind of Drunkeness

 

 

Good day! I’m Duane Matz and this is Today’s Living Word:

 

Taking a short break from our verse by verse trek through the book of Isaiah today because I was floored by something I read in Jeremiah 31 this morning and I want to share it with you.

 

The Lord was talking to Jeremiah about the NT church age which began after the ascension of Jesus and continues today. He says in Jer 31:14 I will satiate the soul of the priests with abundance, And My people shall be satisfied with My goodness, says the LORD."

 

My first reaction to this passage was one of prayer. “Lord, I said,  “soak my soul with Your abundance! Satisfy me with Your goodness!”

 

Then I realized that the Lord was talking about the future outpouring of the Holy Spirit on every individual believer! First of all, understand that as a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ, you are a priest. Peter puts it this way in 1Pe 2:9 “But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood,” So, this promise in Jeremiah is for you!

 

The souls of believers in the church age will be satiated (the word literally means “be drunk”) with abundance! Such terminology should turn our thoughts to that first Pentecost after the Lord’s ascension!

 

What did Peter tell the people on that day? Ac 2:15 "For these are not drunk, (not satiated) as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day. 16 "But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: 17 'And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh;

 

Not drunk with wine, but intoxicated with the Holy Spirit! Just as we read in Eph 5:18 And do not be drunk (satiated) with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled (soaked) with the Spirit,

 

We received the Holy Spirit at our baptism, and He feeds on our God-given faith! Unfortunately, for the most part we ignore His presence in our life. In so doing we grieve Him and instead of being satiated, our souls are parched.

 

Eph 4:30 tells us: “And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.”

 

The Holy Spirit is grieved whenever we purposely ignore His presence in our lives. This “snubbing” of the Holy Spirit occurs with every act of disobedience to God’s commands, and every lack of trust in the promises found in God’s Word.

!

 

 

The challenge for me, the challenge for you, is to listen to the Holy Spirit speak to us in God’s Word and then react with trust and obedience. This is the soul that is satiated with the abundance and goodness of God

I’m Duane Matz and that’s Today’s Living Word.

Invasive Species

 

 

Good day! I’m Duane Matz and this is Today’s Living Word:

 

Isa 17:9 In that day his strong cities will be as a forsaken bough And an uppermost branch, Which they left because of the children of Israel; And there will be desolation. 10 Because you have forgotten the God of your salvation, And have not been mindful of the Rock of your stronghold, Therefore you will plant pleasant plants And set out foreign seedlings; 11 In the day you will make your plant to grow, And in the morning you will make your seed to flourish; But the harvest will be a heap of ruins In the day of grief and desperate sorrow.

 

Isaiah now paints a picture of God’s judgment against His people. As the Israelites chased out the Canaanites, now the Israelites would be chased out by the Assyrians. Why does He bring such desolation against these people? Because they have forgotten the God of their salvation. They were no longer mindful of God as their Rock!

 

I like the use of the word “mindful” here. I like it because it is a reminder what our minds need to be full of. We need minds, “full”  of God….not the world!

 

Let’s get our minds off the “pleasant plants” (the temptations of the world) you know that fruit that looked so good to Eve! And let’s not introduce “foreign seedlings) doctrines and ideas that are in conflict with the will of God!

 

These doctrines and lifestyles that are opposed to God, may look good and feel good in the beginning, but in the end, “the harvest will be a heap of ruins In the day of grief and desperate sorrow.”

 

These “pleasant plants,” and “foreign seedlings” are like an invasive species that is inundating the church today. They are given place by itchy ears of the people who’s minds have become empty of God.

 

Resist this temptation beloved! Rather let us “set our minds on things above! and not the things on the earth,” (Col 3:2)  

 

And instead of letting our minds drift away from God, let us Ro 12:2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

 

I’m Duane Matz and that’s Today’s Living Word.

 

Leave the Ruinous Heap

 

 

Good day! I’m Duane Matz and this is Today’s Living Word:

 

Isa 17:1 The burden against Damascus. "Behold, Damascus will cease from being a city, And it will be a ruinous heap. 2 The cities of Aroer are forsaken; They will be for flocks Which lie down, and no one will make them afraid. 3 The fortress also will cease from Ephraim, The kingdom from Damascus, And the remnant of Syria; They will be as the glory of the children of Israel," Says the LORD of hosts. 4 "In that day it shall come to pass That the glory of Jacob will wane, And the fatness of his flesh grow lean. 5 It shall be as when the harvester gathers the grain, And reaps the heads with his arm; It shall be as he who gathers heads of grain In the Valley of Rephaim. 6 Yet gleaning grapes will be left in it, Like the shaking of an olive tree, Two or three olives at the top of the uppermost bough, Four or five in its most fruitful branches," Says the LORD God of Israel. 7 In that day a man will look to his Maker, And his eyes will have respect for the Holy One of Israel. 8 He will not look to the altars, The work of his hands; He will not respect what his fingers have made, Nor the wooden images nor the incense altars.

 

Isaiah now prophecies against Damascus. The proud city will become a ruinous heap, other cities will be turned into pastureland. The glory that was once bestowed upon Jacob will wane and lean times will come their way.

 

When the lean times come, when the proud fortresses come tumbling down, when man understands that there is only one true God, then his eyes will have respect for the Holy  One of Israel. He will wake up and see the folly of trusting in the works of his hands.

 

Sometimes, God has to strip away things in order for us to stop and consider who He really is. When your world comes crashing down, remember the One who created the world, and look again to the Holy One of Israel! And remember the words of David in the 24^th Psalm!

 

Ps 24: The earth is the LORD'S, and all its fullness, The world and those who dwell therein. 2 For He has founded it upon the seas, And established it upon the waters. 3 Who may ascend into the hill of the LORD? Or who may stand in His holy place? 4 He who has clean hands and a pure heart, Who has not lifted up his soul to an idol, Nor sworn deceitfully. 5 He shall receive blessing from the LORD, And righteousness from the God of his salvation.

 

Clean hands and a pure heart are only found in Jesus. Be found in Him through God granted faith and leave the ruinous heap of your own works behind as you and ascend into the holy place of the Lord.

I’m Duane Matz and that’s Today’s Living Word.

Sow Some Tears For the Land

 

 

Good day! I’m Duane Matz and this is Today’s Living Word:

 

Isa 16:7 Therefore Moab shall wail for Moab; Everyone shall wail. For the foundations of Kir Hareseth you shall mourn; Surely they are stricken. 8 For the fields of Heshbon languish, And the vine of Sibmah; The lords of the nations have broken down its choice plants, Which have reached to Jazer And wandered through the wilderness. Her branches are stretched out, They are gone over the sea. 9 Therefore I will bewail the vine of Sibmah, With the weeping of Jazer; I will drench you with my tears, O Heshbon and Elealeh; For battle cries have fallen Over your summer fruits and your harvest. 10 Gladness is taken away, And joy from the plentiful field; In the vineyards there will be no singing, Nor will there be shouting; No treaders will tread out wine in the presses; I have made their shouting cease. 11 Therefore my heart shall resound like a harp for Moab, And my inner being for Kir Heres. 12 And it shall come to pass, When it is seen that Moab is weary on the high place, That he will come to his sanctuary to pray; But he will not prevail. 13 This is the word which the LORD has spoken concerning Moab since that time. 14 But now the LORD has spoken, saying, "Within three years, as the years of a hired man, the glory of Moab will be despised with all that great multitude, and the remnant will be very small and feeble." (NKJV)

 

Moab shall wail, but they are not alone! I’ll get to that later! They will wail at the devastation of their proudly built cities and fortresses. They will wail at the tramping down of their fruitful vineyards and fields by the advancing enemy that God will send their way!

 

No gladness, no joy, no singing in the land. The people will pray but their prayers will not be heard, all because they have turned away from God and refused His gracious invitation to repent!

 

Now please don’t miss this. Note Isaiah’s reaction. He weeps! That’s what true prophets (true pastors)  of God do….they weep for the lost. They weep for the effect of sin and turning away from the Lord that they see every single day in their service to the Lord.

 

I don’t know if any pastors are reading this blog at the moment, but if you are, please take this cue from Isaiah and weep for the land. I know you’re busy! Sermons to prepare, visits to make, functions to officiate, but sow some tears for your flock, your city, your nation, and the world.

 

Havoc and pain at every turn, much of it could be avoided if the people would repent and turn to the Lord!  So sow those tears! Believe the promise of Ps 126:5 Those who sow in tears Shall reap in joy. 6 He who continually goes forth weeping, Bearing seed for sowing, Shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, Bringing his sheaves with him.

I’m Duane Matz and that’s Today’s Living Word.

The Spirit of Moab

 

Good day! I’m Duane Matz and this is Today’s Living Word:

 

Isa 16:6 We have heard of the pride of Moab-He is very proud-Of his haughtiness and his pride and his wrath; But his lies shall not be so..

Moabites were a proud people and it’s easy to understand why? The beauty and bounty of their land was compared to the Garden of Eden in  Ge 13:10 And Lot lifted his eyes and saw all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered everywhere (before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah) like the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt as you go toward Zoar.

The Moabites were also known for their wrath, and such is the way of pride isn’t it. A person will often lash out in anger because his or her pride has been dented. The statement, “his lies shall not be so,” is just another way of saying that Moab thought more highly of themselves than they ought.

 

In their high opinion of self they neglected God, turned away from Him and certainly would not listen to Him or his prophets. They reproached, (spoke hatefully) of God’s people and insulted them every chance they got.

 

Zep 2:8-10 tells us: "I have heard the reproach of Moab, And the insults of the people of Ammon, With which they have reproached My people, And made arrogant threats against their borders.

 9 Therefore, as I live," Says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, "Surely Moab shall be like Sodom, And the people of Ammon like Gomorrah-Overrun with weeds and saltpits, And a perpetual desolation. The residue of My people shall plunder them, And the remnant of My people shall possess them." 10 This they shall have for their pride, Because they have reproached and made arrogant threats Against the people of the LORD of hosts.

Does any of this sound familiar to you? Are you seeing the spirit of Moab present in our nation today?  Oh the reproach and insults coming at God’s people who hold that life is sacred from conception to the grave. Oh the vitriol hurled at those who hold to God’s plan for human sexuality!

 

It’s happening right before our eyes and we should not be surprised, but according to Zephaniah, in the end, the proud will fall, and what a terrible fall it will be. So stay the course beloved, but brace yourself for the pride and resultant wrath of the modern day Moabites that will come, indeed is coming your way.

 

This reminder from Isaiah has caused me to rethink my attitude toward “June Pride month.” I confess, I don’t like it shoved down my throat and quite frankly I disdain the thought of the meaning of God’s rainbow being stolen away and twisted to promote sin. The rainbow is to be a reminder of forgiveness of sins, not glorification of sins!

 

But now I see, that it is really pride behind it all. A pride that rejects God and His Word, and the Bible tells us Pr 16:18 Pride goes before destruction, And a haughty spirit before a fall.

 

And what a fall it will be, and instead of getting my dander up in anger, I will pray for those afflicted with the spirit of Moab, pray that they will see that God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble. Humility is the key, I pray for it in my heart and in the hearts of others.

 

I’m Duane Matz and that’s Today’s Living Word.

Perfection

 

 

Good day! I’m Duane Matz and this is Today’s Living Word:

 

Isa 16:5 In mercy the throne will be established; And One will sit on it in truth, in the tabernacle of David, Judging and seeking justice and hastening righteousness."

Of course the immediate fulfilling of this prophecy will be realized under the next King of Judah, Hezekiah. We are told that he, “did what was right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his father David had done. (2 Kings 18:3)

 

But as is the case with much prophecy there is a more distant fulfillment to come and Isaiah uses language that clearly speaks of the coming Messiah, Jesus Christ.

 

This is the same prophecy spoken of by the Psalmist: Ps 96:13 “For He is coming, for He is coming to judge the earth. He shall judge the world with righteousness, And the peoples with His truth.”

 

By Daniel:  Da 7:14 “Then to Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, That all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, Which shall not pass away, And His kingdom the one Which shall not be destroyed.”

And by the angel Gabriel to Mary: Lu 1:33 "And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end."

 

Look again at Isaiah 16:5 and note the things that the Messiah’s forever kingdom brings with it to perfection! Mercy, truth, justice, and righteousness! How would you like to live in THAT society!

 

Oh dear believer! The things you have to look forward to as you endure in this world. One Day Jesus will return. When He does there will be no more partial mercy, partial truth, partial justice, and partial righteousness, but  the fullness of God’s perfect will! 1Co 13:10 But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away.

Long for the Day! Pray for the Day, even so, come Lord Jesus!

 

I’m Duane Matz and that’s Today’s Living Word.

 

Refugees

 

 

Good day! I’m Duane Matz and this is Today’s Living Word:

 

Isa 16:3 "Take counsel, execute judgment; Make your shadow like the night in the middle of the day; Hide the outcasts, Do not betray him who escapes. 4 Let My outcasts dwell with you, O Moab; Be a shelter to them from the face of the spoiler. For the extortioner is at an end, Devastation ceases, The oppressors are consumed out of the land.

 

Isaiah continues his burden against Moab. I think we need to remember that this whole area at the time was “war-torn.” And with this being the case we can get some ideas how to deal with our own world when war breaks out. Jesus told us that there will always be wars and rumors of wars until He returns, (Mt 24:6) and the admonition given to the Moabites is timeless for us in the world today.

 

Wars create refugees, and refugees need a safe place to escape to. I can’t help but think of the ten Boons here. The ten Booms were a Dutch family who hid Jews from the Nazi’s in WW II. I wonder of this was a verse that impelled them to action.

 

They took counsel ( there was a crisis) they executed judgment, (They decided on a course of action) They took extraordinary precautions to keep their safeguarding actions secret. (a shadow like the night at noon)

 

There was even  a warning to those who might betray the refugee (Do not betray him who escapes)  Too bad the man who betrayed the ten Booms (Jan Vogels) wasn’t aware of this passage! By the way Corrie ten boom’s forgiveness of this man is a powerful story of the power of the Gospel. (If you ever get the chance read the ten Boom story as written in “The Hiding Place.”)

 

We are facing conflicts today in the Ukraine and other places. Refugees are being made every single day as the wars rage on. Let us, take counsel. Come up with a plan, and then be ready to act by opening up our homes to those who are displaced.

 

If you struggle with that idea, put yourself in the refugee’s shoes, and remember this passage from Isaiah. And this one from De 10:18 He (God) executes justice for the fatherless and the widow, and loves the sojourner, giving him food and clothing.

Let us do lilkewise!

 

If for no other reason, we are reminded at the end of verse 4, in this portion of Isaiah, that the oppressor’s days are numbered. Don’t side with him, side with compassion for their victims. In so doing, you side with God.

I’m Duane Matz and that’s Today’s Living Word.

Send the Lamb

 

 

Good day! I’m Duane Matz and this is Today’s Living Word:

 

Isa 16:1 Send the lamb to the ruler of the land, From Sela to the wilderness, To the mount of the daughter of Zion. 2 For it shall be as a wandering bird thrown out of the nest; So shall be the daughters of Moab at the fords of the Arnon.

 

Isaiah continues his burden against Moab. Here he tells the Moabites, (and us as well) what to do to escape impending judgment.  “Send the lamb.”

 

An odd way of putting it, but you see, at one time, the Moabites demonstrated their submission to Israel by sending sheep to them, but upon the death of King Ahab, they ceased paying tribute.

 

We read about it in 2Ki 3:4 Now Mesha king of Moab was a sheepbreeder, and he regularly paid the king of Israel one hundred thousand lambs and the wool of one hundred thousand rams. 5 But it happened, when Ahab died, that the king of Moab rebelled against the king of Israel.

 

This call to send sheep once again to Israel was meant to be a picture of re-submission to the “ruler of the land,” in both a physical and spiritual sense. It’s the prodigal returning home if you will. This was Moab’s only hope, a return to submission to Judah, in reality a picture of surrender and submission to Christ.

 

The entire nation of Moab (from Sela to the wilderness) could be spared if they would submit to the rule of Judah. (The rule of Christ) But if they refuse, they will become like young birds out of the protection of the nest, wanderers looking for rest and never finding it, becoming easy prey for the enemy.

 

Have you wandered away from the safety of the nest? Then send the Lamb!. Send Jesus to stand before you and the Father averting the judgement that you deserve for your rebellion! And He is sent the moment you believe.

.

I’m Duane Matz and that’s Today’s Living Word.

The Beginning of Wisdom

 

 

Good day! I’m Duane Matz and this is Today’s Living Word:

 

Isa 15:6 For the waters of Nimrim will be desolate, For the green grass has withered away; The grass fails, there is nothing green. 7 Therefore the abundance they have gained, And what they have laid up, They will carry away to the Brook of the Willows. 8 For the cry has gone all around the borders of Moab, Its wailing to Eglaim And its wailing to Beer Elim. 9 For the waters of Dimon will be full of blood; Because I will bring more upon Dimon, Lions upon him who escapes from Moab, And on the remnant of the land."

 

Isaiah continues his burden against Moab. In this prophecy we see that the judgement against Moab will be complete and there will be no escaping it. Those who do manage to make it to the river Dimon will be lunch for the lions.

 

Don’t “ho-hum” this passage in the Bible. God can use animals to carry out His work. Remember the infamous talking donkey in  Nu 22:28 Then the LORD opened the mouth of the donkey, and she said to Balaam, "What have I done to you, that you have struck me these three times?"

 

And it would not be the last time that He would use lions for judgement. When the Assyrians attempted to resettle the conquered land of Samaria, they sent in heathen who had absolutely no “fear of the Lord.” So God sent in lions!

2Ki 17:25 And it was so, at the beginning of their dwelling there, that they did not fear the LORD; therefore the LORD sent lions among them, which killed some of them.  26 So they spoke to the king of Assyria, saying, "The nations whom you have removed and placed in the cities of Samaria do not know the rituals of the God of the land; therefore He has sent lions among them, and indeed, they are killing them because they do not know the rituals of the God of the land."

 

God was trying to teach these people a respect for proper fear. (A hungry lion will definitely create fear!) Fear is an important element in our worship of God. Pr 1:7 says “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, But fools despise wisdom and instruction.

 

And Jesus reminded us in Lu 12:5 "But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear Him who, after He has killed, has power to cast into hell; yes, I say to you, fear Him!

 

Yes, fear the one who holds life and death, heaven and hell in His hands. Let that fear move you to the repentance, that opens the door to saving faith in Jesus. The very fact that God is able to forgive our sins, ought to cause a holy fear in our souls!

 

Ps 130:4 But there is forgiveness with You, That You may be feared.

 

Oh God, grant us a healthy fear of You. Grant us an awareness of your holiness that causes us to turn to Jesus. It is in placing our trust in Him, that all fear is put in its proper place. It is indeed the beginning of wisdom.

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I’m Duane Matz and that’s Today’s Living Word.