Then arose Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, and the ten men that were with him, and smote Gedaliah the son of Ahikam the son of Shaphan with the sword, and slew him, whom the king of Babylon had made governor over the land. Ishmael also slew all the Jews that were with him, even with Gedaliah, at Mizpah, and the Chaldeans that were found there, and the men of war. And it came to pass the second day after he had slain Gedaliah, and no man knew it, That there came certain from Shechem, from Shiloh, and from Samaria, even fourscore men, having their beards shaven, and their clothes rent, and having cut themselves, with offerings and incense in their hand, to bring them to the house of the LORD. (Jeremiah 41:2-5)
The very thing that Gedaliah had ignored and refused to believe would happen, GOD allowed to occur. As a puppet governor of Judah, he was niave and ineffective. As a man, he was woefully unaware of other men's motives and capabilities. As we saw in the last chapter, Gedaliah believed that all men were as he was. He learned the hard way that sIn is present in all men, and they can choose to be wicked and even kill for their schemes and desires.
The rest of Israel was also ignorant. Turning a blind eye and carrying on as if nothing had happened to their governor. While they may have lamented the judgment on their nation, they were blissfully unaware of this change in the political arena. Too often we, like them, are neither aware or knowledgable of the political machinations that occur at every level of government. The visible church has set aside GOD's Word for political correctness, and then because they deny sIn, turn a blind eye to the sIn that corrupts our government and our leaders.
We have abandoned the Gospel we were commanded to preach. We have ignored our commission in order to 'fit in', and have sacrificed our holiness on the alter of expediency and acceptance. But, the world will never accept us, or we will become like the world and no longer be fit for the Kingdom. We are no longer salt and light in this world, making people thirsty for the living water and shining GOD's righteousness into the darkness. It is time to get back to GOD's Word, His Holiness, and to once again be about our Father's business. There is a remnant, and GOD still works through His people, who are obedient to His Word, to accomplish His work and do His will.
If you don't know GOD, if you have never been born again and received the free gift of Salvation that Jesus Christ has already paid for, it is not too late. GOD is not willing that any should perish, and calls you to repent, that is, turn from your sIn and surrender to Him on His terms. Believe Jesus Christ has paid for your sIn on the Cross of Calvary, and receive Him by faith that you might have life. Jesus loves you and wants to establish a covenant relationship with you that is real and personal. He wants to give you a brand new life of discipleship and fellowship with Him that is abundant and everlasting.
Christian, be discerning and aware, be obedient and on mission, until Jesus returns.
In Christ,
Jefferson Sweet
The rest of Israel was also ignorant. Turning a blind eye and carrying on as if nothing had happened to their governor. While they may have lamented the judgment on their nation, they were blissfully unaware of this change in the political arena. Too often we, like them, are neither aware or knowledgable of the political machinations that occur at every level of government. The visible church has set aside GOD's Word for political correctness, and then because they deny sIn, turn a blind eye to the sIn that corrupts our government and our leaders.
We have abandoned the Gospel we were commanded to preach. We have ignored our commission in order to 'fit in', and have sacrificed our holiness on the alter of expediency and acceptance. But, the world will never accept us, or we will become like the world and no longer be fit for the Kingdom. We are no longer salt and light in this world, making people thirsty for the living water and shining GOD's righteousness into the darkness. It is time to get back to GOD's Word, His Holiness, and to once again be about our Father's business. There is a remnant, and GOD still works through His people, who are obedient to His Word, to accomplish His work and do His will.
If you don't know GOD, if you have never been born again and received the free gift of Salvation that Jesus Christ has already paid for, it is not too late. GOD is not willing that any should perish, and calls you to repent, that is, turn from your sIn and surrender to Him on His terms. Believe Jesus Christ has paid for your sIn on the Cross of Calvary, and receive Him by faith that you might have life. Jesus loves you and wants to establish a covenant relationship with you that is real and personal. He wants to give you a brand new life of discipleship and fellowship with Him that is abundant and everlasting.
Christian, be discerning and aware, be obedient and on mission, until Jesus returns.
In Christ,
Jefferson Sweet
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