And when he had restored the eleven hundred shekels of silver to his mother, his mother said, I had wholly dedicated the silver unto the LORD from my hand for my son, to make a graven image and a molten image: now therefore I will restore it unto thee. Yet he restored the money unto his mother; and his mother took two hundred shekels of silver, and gave them to the founder, who made thereof a graven image and a molten image: and they were in the house of Micah. And the man Micah had an house of gods, and made an ephod, and teraphim, and consecrated one of his sons, who became his priest. (Jdg 17:3-5)
The saddest epitaph written in the book of the Judges, in which it records that every man did that which was right in his own eyes. Eyes that can, and do, lie to us. Hearts that lead us astray because they are desperately wicked. Minds and thoughts tainted with sIn and corrupted by our sIn nature that lead to all sorts of wickedness and debauchery. Since Adam sinned, that has been the norm and the problem with mankind that Jesus died and rose again to deliver us from, that we might have life and have it more abundantly, free from sin and its power and wages, not free to sin more, but a new life of liberty and grace in Christ.
This man had stolen and hidden his own mothers silver and only returned when it was discovered. When she got it back she had it melted and made into an idol of silver and they called it god. They even declared the Lord's blessing upon it, in blasphemy toward GOD. Their worship of this false idol led to hiring a Levite to be his personal priest, instead of working in the tabernacle, and further sin of declaring his own prosperity because of his idol and his 'priest'. GOD didn't bless it, or him, and tragedy followed as others learned of his wealth, his silver idol, and his servant 'priest'.
If we are secure in Christ through our repentance of sin and our faith in Him and His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary, we cannot blatantly sin against our Holy and Righteous GOD and expect to continue in that sin. GOD will chastise and correct His own. We cannot expect His blessing on our sinful lifestyle, for He has already judged and condemned sin, both as an offense against Him and outright acts of rebellion, and declared those who are still in their sins, and not born again, as guilty sinners in need of Salvation. He paid the price of redemption in His own body on that cruel Roman cross that we might live, not in sIn, but in Him and for Him, new creatures in a covenant relationship and fellowship with Him.
That is the purpose of each of us, and His church as a whole, to live and work in Him to accomplish His will and do His work in this broken and sinful world, that others might come to know Jesus Christ and see Jesus in us, the hope of Glory. He has called His people to be His ambassadors while we sojourn in this world, not of the world, and to minister to those around us who are hurting and in need. He has commanded us to love one another and to disciple one another in His Word until we all grow up into the full measure of Him through the guidance and power of the Holy Spirit that is within us. He has commissioned us to go to this lost and dying world and as we go tell the Good News of reconciliation and redemption to all who will hear, that those who believe the Gospel, repent of their sin, and receive Jesus Christ by faith in Him might have life in His Name.
For GOD is not willing that any should perish, but that all would come to repentance and the knowledge of the the Truth. Jesus loves you and wants to establish a covenant relationship with you that is real and personal. Surrender to Him on His terms and He will give you a brand new life of discipleship and fellowship with Him that is abundant and everlasting. GOD calls you to trust Him and what He has already done for you to pay your sIn debt. He has provided the only way of reconciliation with GOD, forgiveness from GOD, and Salvation through Jesus Christ, the Son of GOD who is GOD the Son, to give you a new life in Christ. Turn away from yourself and your sIn and turn to Him alone for eternal Life, now and always.
In Christ,
Jefferson Sweet
This man had stolen and hidden his own mothers silver and only returned when it was discovered. When she got it back she had it melted and made into an idol of silver and they called it god. They even declared the Lord's blessing upon it, in blasphemy toward GOD. Their worship of this false idol led to hiring a Levite to be his personal priest, instead of working in the tabernacle, and further sin of declaring his own prosperity because of his idol and his 'priest'. GOD didn't bless it, or him, and tragedy followed as others learned of his wealth, his silver idol, and his servant 'priest'.
If we are secure in Christ through our repentance of sin and our faith in Him and His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary, we cannot blatantly sin against our Holy and Righteous GOD and expect to continue in that sin. GOD will chastise and correct His own. We cannot expect His blessing on our sinful lifestyle, for He has already judged and condemned sin, both as an offense against Him and outright acts of rebellion, and declared those who are still in their sins, and not born again, as guilty sinners in need of Salvation. He paid the price of redemption in His own body on that cruel Roman cross that we might live, not in sIn, but in Him and for Him, new creatures in a covenant relationship and fellowship with Him.
That is the purpose of each of us, and His church as a whole, to live and work in Him to accomplish His will and do His work in this broken and sinful world, that others might come to know Jesus Christ and see Jesus in us, the hope of Glory. He has called His people to be His ambassadors while we sojourn in this world, not of the world, and to minister to those around us who are hurting and in need. He has commanded us to love one another and to disciple one another in His Word until we all grow up into the full measure of Him through the guidance and power of the Holy Spirit that is within us. He has commissioned us to go to this lost and dying world and as we go tell the Good News of reconciliation and redemption to all who will hear, that those who believe the Gospel, repent of their sin, and receive Jesus Christ by faith in Him might have life in His Name.
For GOD is not willing that any should perish, but that all would come to repentance and the knowledge of the the Truth. Jesus loves you and wants to establish a covenant relationship with you that is real and personal. Surrender to Him on His terms and He will give you a brand new life of discipleship and fellowship with Him that is abundant and everlasting. GOD calls you to trust Him and what He has already done for you to pay your sIn debt. He has provided the only way of reconciliation with GOD, forgiveness from GOD, and Salvation through Jesus Christ, the Son of GOD who is GOD the Son, to give you a new life in Christ. Turn away from yourself and your sIn and turn to Him alone for eternal Life, now and always.
In Christ,
Jefferson Sweet
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