April 8
Deut 32:28-52 | PS 78:56-64 | Prov 12:24 | Luke 12:35-59
God is not impressed with our titles and resumes. We might be. Others can be fooled by these titles. But God cares about what is within us. Some call themselves Jewish because they can prove they are one genetically. But many, if not most Jewish people deny submission to the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Some call themselves Christians because they were raised a certain denomination and jumped through the necessary hoops as a child in the form of rituals. But many, have never honestly repented of their sins (which means change your minds about them), and entered into a personal relationship by accepting Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. Politicians often describe themselves as “public servants”, but in reality have chosen to serve themselves in terms of power and greed. A physician is defined as one who is concerned with promoting, maintaining, or restoring health through the study, diagnosis, prognosis and treatment of disease, etc. Yet there are many who perform abortions, perform euthanasia, perform gender altering surgeries, and chose to stop critically thinking during the recent pandemic due to fear. The list could go on and on. We must remember that our titles can fool others, but God sees through the titles and knows the workings of our heart, our desires, our motives, etc.
The Jewish people were and are chosen by God. But for much of their history they failed to submit to Him. Therefore they often received His discipline, His curses, rather than His blessings. They held the title, but failed to honestly submit to His Lordship. We read in Psalm 78:56-64, “ Yet they tested and provoked the Most High God, And did not keep His testimonies, But turned back and acted unfaithfully like their fathers; They were turned aside like a deceitful bow. For they provoked Him to anger with their high places, And moved Him to jealousy with their carved images, When God heard this, He was furious, And greatly abhorred Israel, So that He forsook the tabernacle of Shiloh, The tent He had placed among men, And delivered His strength into captivity, And His glory into the enemy’s hand. He also gave His people over to the sword, And was furious with His inheritance. The fire consumed their young men, And their maidens were not given in marriage. Their priests fell by the sword, And their widows made no lamentation.” Yes, this what fell upon those Jewish people who held the title, but failed to hold a true relationship with the true and living God.
With this in context, we come to a portion of Scripture which troubles many in Luke 12:51-53, “Do you suppose that I came to give peace on earth? I tell you, not at all, but rather division. For from now on five in one house will be divided: three against two, and two against three. Father will be divided against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.”” Many say, how can this be. Don’t all or most in the same family carry the same title, such as “Christian”? This comes true when one chooses to actually enter into a relationship with Jesus Christ. Then following the Great Commission, both in submission to their Lord and out of love for their family members they excitedly tell them about entering into a relationship with Jesus. No one likes to hear that they are not what they call themselves, even though some probably know the truth. But as we read with the Psalm above, one’s title does not help anyone before an all seeing and all knowing God. Repent today if you have not already done so. Accept Him today while there is still time. You might lose some of your earthly family and friends, but by so doing you become His friend and God’s child, and nothing else compares to this.
Messages from Pastor Lloyd Pulley: