2 CHRONICLES 30:1 - 31:21
"COME BACK TO THE LORD": "Turn again" means "return, be converted, to return to the possession of anything, to recover." "Stiffnecked", means "to be hardened so you can't return; to rebel." Coming back to the Lord included "sanctifying themselves" through repentance and cleansing. It included repentance, worship and praise to the Lord, "making confession to the Lord God", rejoicing, and offerings and sacrifices, and bringing in the tithes. Once again, the offerings were outward PROOF of the inward working.
RESPONSE: We will find all through the OT that the proof of the people's intentions to walk with God was always in their offerings. It shows our dependence and trust in God. Remember, giving never diminishes a believer.
ROMANS 15:1-22
PRESERVING UNITY: The unity God approves is only possible when we are submitted to the Holy Spirit, Who then delivers us from independence. This is how we get along with brothers whose convictions are different from ours. Love is never selfish or self-serving; not even Jesus lived to please Himself.
JEWS & GENTILES TOGETHER: It was ALWAYS God's plan for Gentiles to be saved and be a part of God's purpose. In fact, Paul lines up several OT Scriptures as proof! We are all saved the same way and make up ONE BODY. Salvation has always been by faith.
"PATIENCE & COMFORT OF THE SCRIPTURES": The Scriptures and the Holy Spirit dispel grief and pain by imparting strength and the endurance to go the distance--- because they strengthen our HOPE.
JESUS "CONFIRMED" THE "PROMISES" MADE TO OUR FATHERS: OUR fathers are Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, David, etc. When Jesus "confirmed" the promises, he enforced our covenant, redeeming all the promises from the FALSE RELIGIOUS HEIRS. Because of Jesus, I am a partaker of the covenants of God. Paul does not speak of what he does not know first-hand. He established Gentile churches. The Gospel is for ALL NATIONS.
RESPONSE: There is only One Body - not two. There is only One Covenant people, not two. There is only One Sanctified People - not two. I think Paul has very aptly proven that. Do not destroy any unity that the Holy Spirit wrought. We must fulfill our purpose in the context of the Body of Christ, not independently.
PSALM 25:1-15
PROVERBS 20:13-15
The opposite of poverty is not wealth, but it is stewardship. When we are wise with our money, and careful of our possessions, we will always have enough, and most times God adds to it besides. But when we don't take responsibility for what we have, then we lose it all. People who know what they are talking about are even more rare than rubies and gold!
RESPONSE: What we really require for daily living is to live by the energy of God. Not just strength and vigor, but influence, drive, the way God thinks, wisdom, grace, know-how, discernment, faith, favor. Whatever proceeds out from God, is what we need to live by. This is what Psalms is all about. In this Psalm, we acknowledge that we have a lot to learn. When God thinks about teaching me and about all that I still have to learn, I want Him to forget my sins and transgressions, and to remember how much He loves me and wants to help me. I want to live by His kindness, His Truth, His righteousness, His holiness, His faith, His compassion, etc. etc. That is my prayer when I wake up in the morning.
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