Apr 27

“For there is no respect of persons with God.” Romans 2:11

Both in the Old and New Testament we find clear emphasis given to the impartiality of God in regards the outward condition and status of any individual. God’s judgment or reward is not affected by the person’s background, descent, talent, looks, personality or financial status. God looks at the heart of a person and the condition of their soul - that is what He bases His judgment upon. Our spiritual condition is the record and evidence, by which our eternal destiny is judged. The concept of justice is referenced on our own belief that in arbitrating matters, the judge should not be swayed by popular opinion, rank or status, friendship or fear. In fact, magistrates and others in such positions are often addressed in the Bible, and encouraged to strict impartiality, reflecting the manner and posture God takes. This powerful truth about God, serves well in dealing with three important issues. Firstly, there is no excuse for anyone, anywhere or from any walk of life, in believing they would not be accepted of God. So many times we hear the reasoning of being ‘too bad’ a person, or ‘not good enough’ to be wanted or received by the Lord. This biblical truth leaves no one out of the picture; there is no individual that cannot find grace and salvation with God, if they but desire to obey Him! Secondly, it does away with the notion that we can somehow by our good deeds or abilities find preference with God. It is true we can please God by faith and should walk in a way which keeps us in favour with Him and imprinted by His holiness. This however does not make us ‘better’ in God’s eyes, for it is but our ‘reasonable’ service! Thirdly, we can put aside all competition and striving against others. The impartiality of God leaves no room for contests of this nature. He measures our hearts and the purity to which we yield, not the accomplishments and successes which we may reckon. In this way even the least of achievements, carried with a pure heart, is valuable to the Lord and precious in His sight. In Christ, those with means and the poor, the talented and the ordinary, the young and the old, the personable and the not so affable, all find an even and equal basis to build upon, grow and become more of what God wants them to be. God does not have respect to where we come from and what we are in ourselves. He honours and blesses what we become in Him, and how perfectly we walk in His ways. In the final analysis it will be the status of our spiritual being – our ‘robes washed white in the blood of the Lamb’ and kept that way till He comes, that will matter with God!

http://www.pentecostalfamilychurch.com.au/devotion

Jan 24

“So I bought her to me…” Hosea 3:2

In yet another remarkable object lesson for the benefit of a backslidden and idolatrous Israel, God again directs the prophet to marry a wife. This woman too is compromised, this time by adulterous behaviour and as such is under penalty of death and the dowry which is paid for her, is but the half the price of a servant! Yet he is to love her and see her restored rather than destroyed by her sin. In this powerful object lesson, is the story not only of Israel and God’s dealings with His people, but also a fitting simile of our lives before we knew the merciful Lord and Saviour of our souls! We, as that woman, had given ourselves over to all kinds of iniquity and idolatry. Following the ways of the world and adulterating our souls with the filth and degradation of sin, we, like dumb sheep going to the slaughter, were doomed to eternal damnation in retribution for our rebellion, disobedience and loose living. We rendered ourselves worthless and miserable, without hope or future, and became the inheritors of death. That was until the Lord in His inimitable love, reached out to us, and while we were yet sinners, in our darkest spiritual fog, Jesus died for us! He paid the price for our sins, but not merely what we were worth, for that was precious little, even less than the price of a servant! No! He paid the highest price – He yielded the one ingredient which alone could cleanse sin and make repair for it. He submitted the one substance which all of heaven and earth could not replace or equate in value – His precious, sinless blood! How blessed are we to have this loving Benefactor and gracious Saviour, who willingly condescended to reach down and lift us up from the depths and miry clay of sure death and destruction, to heavenly places with Him!

http://www.pentecostalfamilychurch.com.au/devotion