Walking in the Truth - Daniel 8-10 and III John
Many people discount personal responsibility and the reality that actions have consequences. They want to be able to live any way they want and not to have negative consequences. That is totally foreign to God's nature of holiness. As a holy and loving Father, He is trying to teach everyone that there is a connection between their actions and what happens next. This promotes righteousness and discourages sin. God hates sin, and He loves righteousness, so that is how He treats everyone. God desires for everyone to walk in truth, not in error. When people walk in truth, God blesses them, but when they walk in error, He punishes them.
Israel had every advantage. They had God's Word and the prophets, but they chose to walk in error. Therefore, God sent the curse and the oath against them, as Moses had told them He would do, if they failed to follow His way. We can read them in Deuteronomy 27 and 28. God made it clear, and Israel suffered greatly for their evil actions. This is true of anyone or any nation, who rebels against God. Truth is truth, and it applies to everyone. God makes sure of that.
Daniel was different. He walked in truth. The result was the blessing of God on his life. He prayed earnestly for God to answer his prayers, and God did, because He had God's favor for walking in the truth. In fact, God set out immediately to answer Daniel's prayers. He had God's ear in a special way, because his life so honored the Lord. We can enjoy that same favor if we walk in truth.
John revealed his heart and the heart of God, when he prayed for Gaius. Nothing caused him greater joy than to hear about Christians walking in the truth. His desire was for Gaius to be blessed financially, physically, and spiritually. However, John knew that there was a connection between walking in the truth and prospering. Remember Joshua chapter 1, if not read it again. Now, this is not a guarantee of riches and totally good health, even Paul had a thorn in the flesh, and at times, he lacked money. It is an assurance that when we walk in truth, God is pleased. Instead of sending a curse into our lives, He will send His blessings. They are based on His Word and our our walk with Him. I pray that we will all see this connection between walking in the truth and having God's blessing.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Daniel 11-12 and Jude.
Israel had every advantage. They had God's Word and the prophets, but they chose to walk in error. Therefore, God sent the curse and the oath against them, as Moses had told them He would do, if they failed to follow His way. We can read them in Deuteronomy 27 and 28. God made it clear, and Israel suffered greatly for their evil actions. This is true of anyone or any nation, who rebels against God. Truth is truth, and it applies to everyone. God makes sure of that.
Daniel was different. He walked in truth. The result was the blessing of God on his life. He prayed earnestly for God to answer his prayers, and God did, because He had God's favor for walking in the truth. In fact, God set out immediately to answer Daniel's prayers. He had God's ear in a special way, because his life so honored the Lord. We can enjoy that same favor if we walk in truth.
John revealed his heart and the heart of God, when he prayed for Gaius. Nothing caused him greater joy than to hear about Christians walking in the truth. His desire was for Gaius to be blessed financially, physically, and spiritually. However, John knew that there was a connection between walking in the truth and prospering. Remember Joshua chapter 1, if not read it again. Now, this is not a guarantee of riches and totally good health, even Paul had a thorn in the flesh, and at times, he lacked money. It is an assurance that when we walk in truth, God is pleased. Instead of sending a curse into our lives, He will send His blessings. They are based on His Word and our our walk with Him. I pray that we will all see this connection between walking in the truth and having God's blessing.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Daniel 11-12 and Jude.