I'm moving!

I am moving my blog posts. I like the functionality of Wordpress so I may not be coming back to this site. I might even eventually delete the account.

So, if you want to continue following me, consider hopping on over to my new Wordpress blog at: https://mattellis1997.wordpress.com/.

DAILY BIBLE READING:

Jeremiah 28:1–29:32 
1 Timothy 1:1-20 
Psalm 86:1-17 
Proverbs 25:17

TODAY'S BIBLE VERSE(S):



REFLECTIONS ON TODAY'S BIBLE VERSE(S):


I am moving my blog posts. Please hop on over to my new Wordpress blog at: https://mattellis1997.wordpress.com/

DAILY BIBLE READING:

Jeremiah 26:1–27:22 

2 Thessalonians 3:1-18 

Psalm 85:1-13 

Proverbs 25:16

TODAY'S BIBLE VERSE(S):

REFLECTIONS ON TODAY'S BIBLE VERSE(S):

I am moving my blog posts. Please hop on over to my new Wordpress blog at: https://mattellis1997.wordpress.com/

Joy in the Lord

DAILY BIBLE READING:

Jeremiah 23:21–25:38 
2 Thessalonians 2:1-17 
Psalm 84:1-12 
Proverbs 25:15

TODAY'S BIBLE VERSE(S):


Psalm 84:10-12 (ESV) "For a day in your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness. For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD bestows favor and honor. No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly. O LORD of hosts, blessed is the one who trusts in you!"

REFLECTIONS ON TODAY'S BIBLE VERSE(S):

Our Verses for Today express the joy to be had in God's presence. 

Rather than spend my time (and waste your time) elaborating on these easy-to-understand verses, I want to simply ask you to go back and slowly, reflectively read each phrase, stopping periodically to reflect on what truth God is revealing to you.

Curses, genealogies, and the virgin birth

DAILY BIBLE READING:

Jeremiah 22:1–23:20 
2 Thessalonians 1:1-12 
Psalm 83:1-18 
Proverbs 25:11-14

TODAY'S BIBLE VERSE(S):

Jeremiah 22:30 (ESV) "Thus says the LORD: 'Write this man down as childless, a man who shall not succeed in his days, for none of his offspring shall succeed in sitting on the throne of David and ruling again in Judah.'"

REFLECTIONS ON TODAY'S BIBLE VERSE(S):

Ok. I know that I have, once again, chosen an unusual verse for our Verse for Today. But, there is a fascinating truth embedded in it. Let me share it with you. Try to stay with me on this because it could get a little confusing if you don't keep your mind in gear.

In Jeremiah 22:30, we are told about a King of Judah. His name is Coniah. Here is what we know about him:

• He was "the son of Jehoiakim" (Jeremiah 22:24), and the grandson of Josiah (2 Kings 23:34).
• His real name was Jehoiachin (2 Kings 24:6). Coniah seemed to be his shortened name. Another name he went by was Jechoniah.
• He was a king of Judah (Jeremiah 22:24).
• He would go into Babylonian / Chaldean captivity under Nebuchadnezzar (Jeremiah 22:24-26; 2 Kings 24:8-12).
• None of this children would ever sit on David's throne as king (Jeremiah 22:30).

Essentially, we find out that Coniah (Jehoiachin) was cursed by God for his sinfulness, was taken into Babylonian captivity, and the kingly line of David (through him) ceased. He was cursed by God and it was declared that none of his descendants would sit on David's throne as king.

So, fast forward to Matthew 1:1-17. We see that this text is a genealogy that begins with Abraham and ends with Jesus. In verses 6-7, we read that it includes King David and his son, Solomon.

But, notice who is mentioned ...

Matthew 1:11 "and Josiah the father of Jechoniah and his brothers, at the time of the deportation to Babylon."

So, Josiah (the grandfather) is said to have been "the father" (or ancestor) of Jechoniah and then we are told of the Babylonian deportation (captivity). So, we're talking about the guy in Jeremiah who got cursed, right?

But, when we continue reading in Matthew 1, we eventually get to verse 16 where we read that Jesus is a descendant of Jechoniah. 

That is a MAJOR problem because Jechoniah was told by God that none of his descendants would sit on David's throne. So, essentially, Jesus (as a descendant of Jechoniah) would have been forbidden by God to be Israel's long-awaited King!

So, what do we do with the following verses?

Luke 1:31-33 "And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end."

How is this possible? How can God say in Jeremiah 22 that none of Jechoniah's descendants would ever be king? Yet we read in Matthew 1 that Jesus is Jechoniah's descendant and then Luke 1 tells us that Jesus will be the long-awaited King?

How does this get reconciled?!

Simple! Let's look at one more genealogy...

In Luke 3:23-38, we see yet another genealogy. We see Jesus' name at the beginning and, as we read, it goes all the way back to Adam (intentionally skipping over many names for the sake of brevity).

But, notice in verse 31 that King David is mentioned. In Matthew's genealogy, Solomon is the kingly descendant of David through whom Jesus came. Notice which son of David is mentioned here in Luke...

Luke 3:31 "the son of Melea, the son of Menna, the son of Mattatha, the son of Nathan, the son of David,"

Here, Nathan (not Solomon) is the descendant of David through which all of rest of the descendants came. 

And notice that Jechoniah wasn't mentioned. Why? Because he wasn't a descendant of Nathan. He was a descendant of Solomon.

If you have followed along up to this point, let me tie it all together for you...

The genealogy in Matthew 1 is the kingly line. It is the lineage of King David through his son King Solomon until we get to Jechoniah who was cursed and was the last king of Israel. But, before we get to Jesus, we realize that this was Joseph's line (not Mary's). If Jesus had been the biological son of Joseph, then Jesus would have inherited the curse and could not have been the long-awaited King of Israel who would sit on David's throne.

But, Jesus HAD to be a descendant of David without inheriting the curse. That's were we look to the genealogy of Luke 3. That genealogy is the family line of Mary. She was a descent of King David through Nathan. So, she was a descendant of David, through his son, Nathan - she just wasn't in the kingly line. But, since she wasn't from the line of Solomon, she didn't inherit the curse of Jechoniah. When she gave birth to her biological son, Jesus, he was born as a descendant of David but he didn't inherit the curse.

So, when Jesus was born, he was born at a biological son of David from Mary. Through here, He was a descendant of King David. Through her, He inherited the royal blood of the kingly line of Israel. 

Yet, in regard to His earthly father, he was the adopted son of Joseph. If he had been the biological son of Joseph, he would haven inherited the curse. But, as the virgin-born Son of God and not the biological son of Joseph, He inherited the right to reign as Israel's king (as a descendant of King David and Solomon) without inheriting the curse.

Only God could work out such a plan!!!

Can't keep quiet about Jesus!

DAILY BIBLE READING:

Jeremiah 19:1–21:14 
1 Thessalonians 5:4-28 
Psalm 82:1-8 
Proverbs 25:9-10

TODAY'S BIBLE VERSE(S):

Jeremiah 20:9 (ESV) "If I say, 'I will not mention him, or speak any more in his name,' there is in my heart as it were a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I am weary with holding it in, and I cannot."

REFLECTIONS ON TODAY'S BIBLE VERSE(S):

Go back and read our Verse for Today again.

I really mean it. Go back and read it again.

Does your love for the Lord cause you to want to talk about Him to others? If you were to try not to talk about Him to your family members, fellow students, co-workers, neighbors, or whoever, would it wear you out trying to keep quiet?

Lord Jesus, give us a love and passion for you like the prophet Jeremiah had! Amen.

Who are you trusting?

DAILY BIBLE READING:

Jeremiah 16:16–18:23 
1 Thessalonians 4:1–5:3 
Psalm 81:1-16 
Proverbs 25:6-8

TODAY'S BIBLE VERSE(S):

Jeremiah 17:5, 7 (ESV) "Thus says the LORD: 'Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart turns away from the LORD. ... Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose trust is the LORD.'"

REFLECTIONS ON TODAY'S BIBLE VERSE(S):

Over and over in Scripture, we see God essentially asking people one thing: "Do you trust me?"

Adam and Eve needed to trust God regarding eating of the forbidden fruit.

Noah needed to trust God regarding a worldwide flood that had never before happened.

Abraham needed to trust God when he was commanded to leave his home in Ur to travel to a land that God would tell him of.

Etc., etc., etc.

Peter needed to trust the Lord when he stepped out of the boat onto the water.

Thomas needed to trust that the Lord Jesus had really been resurrected.

Etc., etc., etc.

And to be saved, everyone of us must place our trust in Jesus.

Over and over and over in Scripture, we see that God wants us to trust Him.

Why?

Because trusting Him reveals how wonderful of a God He is.
Because trusting Him relieves much of our stress and worry.
Because trusting Him gives credibly to our faith to a lost world that is watching.
Because He is worthy of our trust.

Friend, do you trust God? Are you trusting Him with whatever is going on in your life right now? Have you trusted in Jesus to save you?

If not, why not?

Celebrate God's Grace - but Never Presume Upon It

DAILY BIBLE READING:

Jeremiah 14:11–16:15 
1 Thessalonians 2:9–3:13 
Psalm 80:1-19 
Proverbs 25:1-5

TODAY'S BIBLE VERSE(S):

Jeremiah 14:11-12 "The LORD said to me: 'Do not pray for the welfare of this people. Though they fast, I will not hear their cry, and though they offer burnt offering and grain offering, I will not accept them. But I will consume them by the sword, by famine, and by pestilence.'"
  REFLECTIONS ON TODAY'S BIBLE VERSE(S):

Over and over in Scripture, God is said to be loving and patient. He reaches out to the sinner and calls him back to Himself.

But, it is a fair question to ask: "Does God's patience ever run out? It is ever too late to come back to Him?"

Just read our Verses for Today for the answer:

"The LORD said to me: 'Do not pray for the welfare of this people. Though they fast, I will not hear their cry, and though they offer burnt offering and grain offering, I will not accept them. But I will consume them by the sword, by famine, and by pestilence.'" (Jeremiah 14:11-12)

This attitude by our Heavenly Father is very rare in Scripture. We don't see it often. We read about it on Mt. Sinai when God told Moses He was going to destroy the rebellious people of Israel and create a new nation. But, Moses prayed and God relented. 

More times than not, God's patience seems to be endless. In fact, we may presume upon it. We go off, once again, into sin because we are convinced that God will once again cleanse us and bring us back into fellowship. 

But the truth of Jeremiah 14:11-12 is a very sobering, helpful reminder. If we are saved, we can never lose it. But, it is quite possible that someone could offend God so many times that He no longer listens to their supposed prayers of repentance. In fact, there are times when someone's sin could so offend Him that He decides to cut their life short (1 John 5:16-17).

I have to admit that I don't fully understand this topic. I don't fully understand God's patience or what it looks like when it runs out or what it takes to reach that point of no return. I simply know what I have seen in Scripture. And it's enough to sober us up and cause us to celebrate God's grace - but never to presume upon it.

Saved? From what?

DAILY BIBLE READING:

Jeremiah 12:1–14:10 
1 Thessalonians 1:1–2:8 
Psalm 79:1-13 
Proverbs 24:30-34

TODAY'S BIBLE VERSE(S):

1 Thessalonians 1:9-10 (ESV) "For they themselves report concerning us the kind of reception we had among you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come."

REFLECTIONS ON TODAY'S BIBLE VERSE(S):

In our Verses for Today, the Apostle Paul is bragging on the church at Thessalonica. They received the Gospel even though they were being persecuted for it. As a result, their example was being talked about in areas well beyond their city.

But, I want us to focus on the last phrase of today's verses...

"Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come."

If you want to ask someone if they are a Jesus-follower, you might ask the question: "Are you saved?"

As Christians, we have come to use that biblical word a lot. When we say "saved," we understand that it refers to the person who has trusted in Jesus Christ and what He did on the cross on their behalf to forgive them, cleanse them, and make them God's child.

But, "saved" is one of those words that is used so often that we may not realize what it is actually talking about.

What does it mean to be "saved?"

If I told you that someone was drowning in a lake but I saved them, what would that mean? Simply that they were going to die but I took action and spared them of that tragic end.

If I told you that I came upon a car wreck and saved someone whose vehicle was engulfed in flames, what would that mean? Simply that they were going to die but I took action and spared them of that tragic end.

So, when Christians say that we are "saved," what does that mean? It simply means that we were headed for something utterly horrific but God took action and spared us of that tragic end.

What did God save us from?

"Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come."

Friend, God is a loving God (1 John 4:8,16) but He is also a just God (Exodus 34:6-7; Numbers 14:18). He has set a day upon which He will judge the world in righteousness (Acts 17:30-31). And as a good, righteous Judge, He has no choice but to send sinful lawbreakers to a fiery Hell (Revelation 20:11-15). 

This is the "wrath to come," friend. This is where we are all headed unless God steps in to save us from this tragic end.

But God did step in to save us. He took drastic measures that enabled Him to maintain His holiness (our sin had to be paid for) and reveal His love (Jesus willingly offered His life as the payment for our sins - Romans 5:8).

So, all that is left is for us to receive that free gift. We do so by repenting (turning from sin and self-rule) and trusting in Jesus (resting in what He did to make us right in God's eyes). And when we do this, we are once and for all time "saved from the wrath to come."

John 3:16-17 "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him."

How to treat unbelievers who mistreat you

DAILY BIBLE READING:

Jeremiah 10:1–11:23 
Colossians 3:18–4:18 
Psalm 78:56-72 
Proverbs 24:28-29

TODAY'S BIBLE VERSE(S):


Colossians 4:5-6 "Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person."

REFLECTIONS ON TODAY'S BIBLE VERSE(S):

In our Verses for Today, we are called to be extra cautious when talking to those who are not yet saved. Why? Because if our words are inappropriate or, worse yet, harsh, then we may lose an opportunity to share the good news of the Gospel with them. In fact, if the offense is so great, they may lump all Christians together and determine never to join our group through trusting in Jesus to save them.

In other words, handle lost people with 'kid gloves,' so that nothing you say will stand in the way of them seriously consider the claims of Jesus and the message of the Gospel that can save their souls.

Does this mean that sometimes you will overlook an offense? Does this mean that sometimes you may be horribly wronged but you will determine to accept the wrong so as not to be a stumbling block to a non-believer? Yep. The greater good is that lost person spending eternity in Heaven. If something we do can move them closer to that moment where they give their life to Jesus, then we must do it.

Forgiving others as Jesus forgives us

DAILY BIBLE READING:

Jeremiah 8:8–9:26 
Colossians 3:1-17 
Psalm 78:32-55 
Proverbs 24:27

TODAY'S BIBLE VERSE(S):

Colossians 3:13 "bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive."

REFLECTIONS ON TODAY'S BIBLE VERSE(S):

Quite often, as we read our Bibles, we are confronted with the reality that we cannot live the life that God has called us to live. We simply cannot obey His commandments to the degree that He has called us to obey them.

For instance, I was just reflectively reading though Colossians 3:1-17 and came across the second half of verse 13. It says: "As the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive."

That command is insane, my friend. If we think that we are living up to that standard, we are ill-informed as to the true condition of our heart. Absolutely none of us can completely forgive and love the person who daily lives in opposition to God and His Word and who is actively working toward our destruction and death.

As men surrounded Jesus who had cried out for His death and who had nailed him to the torturous cross, Jesus looked on them with compassion and said: "Father, forgive them for they know not what they do." (Luke 23:34).

Friend, can you forgive to that level? I cannot. To be completely honest, I don't have it in me.

So, then why would God call us to live up to a standard that is impossible for us to obey? Does He want us to live in a constant state of frustration and self-loathing at our inability to comply with His good commands?

No. Of course not. God loves us too much to set us up for failure.

So, what is God doing when He gives us commands that are impossible for us to comply with?

Simply put, God's standards are a clear reminder that we are no more able, on our own, to live the Christian life after we are saved than before we are saved. The only way we can live up to the standard God has called us to is to realize that it requires our dependence upon and submission to Jesus who lives inside every believer in the person of the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:9). We cannot obey God's commands but Jesus in us can and will if we fully depend upon and submit to Him.

So, friend, are you trying to live the Christian life in your own strength? Good luck with that and get accustomed to failure.

But, if you realize that you cannot do it but Jesus in you can, and as you, moment-by-moment, depend upon Him to live His life out through you, you will experience spiritual victory much more often. But, you won't be filled with pride at your growing degree of holiness. You will be filled with gratitude for what Jesus is doing in and through you.

"I can do all things through him who strengthens me." (Philippians 4:13)

DAILY BIBLE READING:

Jeremiah 6:16–8:7 
Colossians 2:8-23 
Psalm 78:1-31 
Proverbs 24:26

TODAY'S BIBLE VERSE(S):



REFLECTIONS ON TODAY'S BIBLE VERSE(S):


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DAILY BIBLE READING:

Jeremiah 4:19–6:15 
Colossians 1:18–2:7 
Psalm 77:1-20 
Proverbs 24:23-25

TODAY'S BIBLE VERSE(S):



REFLECTIONS ON TODAY'S BIBLE VERSE(S):


A

DAILY BIBLE READING:

Jeremiah 2:31–4:18 
Colossians 1:1-17 
Psalm 76:1-12 
Proverbs 24:21-22

TODAY'S BIBLE VERSE(S):



REFLECTIONS ON TODAY'S BIBLE VERSE(S):



A

DAILY BIBLE READING:

Jeremiah 1:1–2:30 
Philippians 4:1-23 
Psalm 75:1-10 
Proverbs 24:17-20

TODAY'S BIBLE VERSE(S):



REFLECTIONS ON TODAY'S BIBLE VERSE(S):


A

DAILY BIBLE READING:

Isaiah 66:1-24 
Philippians 3:5-21 
Psalm 74:1-23 
Proverbs 24:15-16

TODAY'S BIBLE VERSE(S):



REFLECTIONS ON TODAY'S BIBLE VERSE(S):


A

DAILY BIBLE READING:

Isaiah 62:6–65:25 
Philippians 2:19–3:4 
Psalm 73:1-28 
Proverbs 24:13-14

TODAY'S BIBLE VERSE(S):



REFLECTIONS ON TODAY'S BIBLE VERSE(S):


A

How to Become More Like Jesus

DAILY BIBLE READING:

Isaiah 60:1–62:5 
Philippians 1:27–2:18 
Psalm 72:1-20 
Proverbs 24:11-12

TODAY'S BIBLE VERSE(S):

Phillipians 2:12-13 (ESV) "Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for  it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. 

REFLECTIONS ON TODAY'S BIBLE VERSE(S):

Every child of God needs to grow. And our growth will not be complete until we are like Jesus. While that will not be completely true of us until we are perfected when we walk through death's door and stand before Him, our aim in this life should be to continually head in that direction.

So how does that happen? How do we become more and more like Jesus as the time passes? Are we supposed to dig in and find the self-discipline to become more like Him? Or do we sit back and wait for God to do the work?

The answer is ... both! It is our job and God's job to make us more like Jesus and our Verses for Today state that clearly.

In verse 12, we are clearly told to work out our own salvation with fear and trembling. This refers to the fact that when we were saved, Jesus came to live within us. So that perfection and the complete righteousness that we have within us needs to be "worked out" so that the outside of us more and more resembles the inside of us.

In verse 13, we come to understand that our growth does not originate with us. Any desire, self-discipline, and effectiveness that we have that helps us to become more like Jesus originates with God. 

Let's dig a little deeper for a few moments: Realize that any growth that we have toward Christlikeness is because we put ourselves in a place where God can grow us. 

For instance, someone who wants to develop his muscles begins to lift weights. He may think that lifting weights is what is causing his muscles to grow but he would be wrong. Lifting weights would actually accomplish nothing if his body wasn't responding positively by repairing and building his muscles after each workout. Working out with weights is simply an activity that puts the guy in a place where growth can happen.

That's how it is with us. Reading the Bible doesn't make us more like Jesus. Praying doesn't do it. Silence and solitude doesn't do it. And any other Christian discipline does not grow us in the area of holiness. It simply puts us in a place where God can grow us. They are necessary for growth but, in reality, it is God who grows us, not our activities.

Read your Bible, friend. Pray. Serve. Fast. Worship. Journal. But realize that these Christian activities don't grow you. They simply put you in a place where God can grow you.

So pursue Christlikeness today. Engage in the spiritual disciplines. And realize that it is God who is working in you to help you accomplish that goal. It is you AND God.

When you stumble and fall into sin, simply call out for his forgiveness, receive it, and then join Him again on your route to holiness. Believe me, friend, He is working with you in this. He wants you to be more like His Son. So join Him in becoming more like Jesus.

One last thought: If you want to grow in Christlikeness and want to know how to engage in the spiritual disciplines, I would highly recommend the book, "Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life," by Don Whitney.

God and injustice

DAILY BIBLE READING:

Isaiah 57:15–59:21 
Philippians 1:1-26 
Psalm 71:1-24 
Proverbs 24:9-10

TODAY'S BIBLE VERSE(S):

Isaiah 59:15-16 (NLT) "... The LORD looked and was displeased to find there was no justice. He was amazed to see that no one intervened to help the oppressed. So he himself stepped in to save them with his strong arm, and his justice sustained him."
REFLECTIONS ON TODAY'S BIBLE VERSE(S):

We serve a big God. He does whatever He pleases (Psalm 115:3) and nothing can stop Him (Job 42:2). If God weren't such a loving God (1 John 4:8,16), we would have legitimate reason to be terrified of Him. But, because He loves us so much, we have reason to "fear" (stand in awe) of Him. We can love Him because He first loved us (1 John 4:19). 

So, each morning is an invitation to wake up and enjoy another day with our God. Regardless of what the day brings, we can enjoy relationship with Him knowing He's fully in control of all things and loves us immensely.

But, if we aren't careful, we will read through those previous paragraphs and think that our relationship with God is self-centered. It is ultimately for our therapy. It makes us feel good as an end in itself. 

And that would be so far from the truth.

God is not 'man-centered.' He is 'God-centered.' Each day is an opportunity to discover what God is doing and join Him in that activity.

Well, what is God up to? As we enjoy Him today, what might He be doing around us? In my Bible reading a few moments ago, I came across an answer to those questions.

Isaiah 59:15-16 (NLT) "... The LORD looked and was displeased to find there was no justice. He was amazed to see that no one intervened to help the oppressed. So he himself stepped in to save them with his strong arm, and his justice sustained him."

One of the things God might be doing around you today is to seek justice for those who are oppressed. Whether it is a fellow student who is being bullied, or an elderly parent who got scammed by a salesman, or someone who is mistreated because of the color of their skin.

Wherever injustice can be found, you can be sure that God is looking for someone to intercede.

Now, Christians typically don't fight for our own rights. We follow Jesus' example (Philippians 2:3-8) and periodically give up our rights for the benefit of others. But, when it comes to other people whose rights have been violated - well, that's a different matter.

Friend, if you see injustice today, ask yourself what God might be doing in that situation. With your mind informed by regular intake of Scripture, ask what God might desire to happen in that situation. And then ask what He might desire to do through you to intercede on behalf of the oppressed.

If you do this, you will be moving away from a 'me-centered' theology to one that is 'God-centered' and 'others-centered.' These are much more biblical and are the essence of the two greatest commandments (Matthew 22:34-40).

Why responding to God quickly is so important

DAILY BIBLE READING:

Isaiah 54:1–57:14 
Ephesians 6:1-24 
Psalm 70:1-5 
Proverbs 24:8

TODAY'S BIBLE VERSE(S):

Isaiah 55:6-7 (ESV) "Seek the LORD while he may be found; call upon him while he is near; let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the LORD, that he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon."

REFLECTIONS ON TODAY'S BIBLE VERSE(S):

The second part of our Verses for Today is wonderful, isn't it? We are told that we can turn away from sin and back to the Lord and He will completely forgive us. Further, we are told that the Lord will do so because He is compassionate - He really cares for us!

But, the first part of our Verses for Today should cause us to sit up and pay attention.

"Seek the LORD while he may be found; call upon him while he is near;" (Isaiah 55:6)

Friend, this verse clearly tells us that there is a limited time in which we can return to the Lord. There is only a certain amount of time in which "he may be found" "while he is near."

Clearly, from this verse (and others that say the same thing), we realize that there may be times when we cannot return to the Lord.

Sometimes, folks say "no" to the Lord so many times that their heart becomes calloused to Him. They have completely shut down the Spirit's work in their life (1 Thessalonians 5:19). So, they will no longer feel a desire to return to the Lord.

Sometimes, folks grow into old age and dementia sets in. They can no longer return to the Lord because their mind is no longer cooperating.

Sometimes, folks can get so locked into a sin that to get out would be so painful and the consequences so dire that they are essentially entrenched in that lifestyle.

Friend, if you are in sin and God is calling you back into a love relationship with Him, then repent and return today. Right now! Because there may come a time when repentance is no longer an option.

To be sure, your salvation is not on the line. If you are one of God's children because you have put your faith in the finished work of Jesus on the cross, then you are Heaven-bound. But, your life will have little to show for it and there will be far few rewards to receive on the day of judgment if you live apart from Him. But, even greater still, you will have foregone the ability to enjoy your God while you are on this earth.

So, repent and return, friend, while God is calling. Don't wait. Do it now.