Unchanging Plan, Our Choice - Day 109 Month 4-19 Week 16-4

Today's Reading (Bible in 1 year)


Numbers 23, Psalm 88, Jeremiah 7, Luke 17:22-37

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Numbers%2023%2C%20Psalm%2088%2C%20Jeremiah%207%2C%20Luke%2017%3A22-37&version=NASB1995


Unchanging Plan, Our Choice 


When God has chosen to do something, He doesn’t change His mind.  However, sometimes He provides an “if” in order to relent on His judgement.


As we read in Numbers today, Balak has finally achieved his goal of getting Balaam to come to him but he wants Balaam to put a curse on the Israelites.  They go through the process of doing seven sacrifices and then Balaam goes away from the spot, hears from God, comes back and blesses Israel rather than cursing them.  Balak thinks by moving to a different spot, Balaam might have a different message.  What Balak does not understand is that God has a plan and His plan will be accomplished.


As we read in Jeremiah today God tells Judah, “Amend your ways and your deeds, and I will let you dwell in this place.”  He’s proclaiming judgement on a nation but what He really wants is the people of Judah to repent from their wrong ways.  He wants them to:

  • Practice justice

  • Not oppress the alien, the orphan, or the widow

  • Not shed blood in this place

  • Not Walk after other gods to their own ruin

God simply wants them to turn back to Him.


I can’t resist this little side note.  This a message for our southern neighbours who are Christian Nationalists, and support the current happenings in their country.  Take heed of what God is saying through Jeremiah to Judah.  Not following God’s standard of treatment towards others turns out badly.  Judah in our reading ended up in captivity for not changing their ways.


Just as God would not change His plan for Israel or Balak and the Moabites, God does not change His plan today for the future.  That being said, we can choose to be with God or against God.  This applies to the world and this applies to each and every one of us personally.


Make a decision to be with God, not against.  Become a Jesus follower and you can turn what God asked Judah to do into a promise.  That’s right, as a Jesus follower, and living in a close relationship to Jesus, those commands become promises because you will have the heart of God, who will help you to achieve these promises through the power of His Holy Spirit.  Those directions will sound like this:

  • You will not have other gods (gods can be items, job, goals or a plethora of things) , because you love the real God

  • You will practice justice

  • You will not oppress the alien, the orphan, or the widow (you are more likely to openly defend them)

  • You will not shed blood for any reason or anywhere because God is Love


As for me today, I need to pray for my country Canada, for the US and for the leaders of the rest of the world.  We know the world is destined for great change when God establishes His kingdom here on earth.  In the meantime, we can pray for peace and love and for all the people of this world to turn to God, including those we may consider to be unreachable or even enemies


Have a great Day

Steve

steve.d.pauls@gmail.com 


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