October 15, 2006 - Isaiah 45-46 and I Thessalonians 3
Most people do not grasp the fact that God is in control of the leaders of the world and the circumstances in the world. They think that people are in control, and God can't or won't stop them from doing what they are able to do, whether good or evil. Nothing could be farther from the truth. God cares, and God is sovereign over this world. He is working His purposes to bring about His ultimate will, while giving each person the choice of whether to follow Him or not. We see this truth clearly in our reading today. I pray that all of us will let God speak to us about this important truth.
Isaiah 45 tells us how God was using the pagan king, Cyrus, to do His will. Cyrus did not know God, but that did not keep God from using him to free Israel and to allow them to rebuild Jerusalem. (v.5,13) There is no one who can fight against God's ultimate will. He is the Maker, and He will rule over His creation as He sees fit. (v.9) However, Isaiah 46 shows us the other side of the same coin. Even though God is sovereign, He gives us a choice. His people had chosen to follow idols instead of following Him. That is why He had to punish them. Now, He was leading them back to Himself. He was making sure that salvation was near to them. (v.13) However, some of His people would not turn to Him, even though He had delivered them from Exile and allowed them to return to Jerusalem. What a terrible reality. Many people reject God even though He cares, and He does everything to draw them to Himself. I pray that you will not reject God as He draws you to Himself.
I Thessalonians 3 says basically the same thing. Paul had preached the gospel to the believers in Thessalonica. Then, he did not hear from them for a while. He sent Timothy to them, so he could find out how they were doing. Paul was concerned that the tribulations had caused them to turn away from God. Why was He concerned about this? They had the will to choose. They were not robots who had to follow God's will. The same is true for you and me. We have to love the Lord and decide to follow Him in love. If we don't continue to love Him, the Bible tells us that we never really became His children. God does the saving, but we do the trusting. Have you trusted Christ? Are you continuing in that love relationship with Him? That is the main way we know that we are really His children.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Isaiah 47-49 and I Thessalonians 4.
Isaiah 45 tells us how God was using the pagan king, Cyrus, to do His will. Cyrus did not know God, but that did not keep God from using him to free Israel and to allow them to rebuild Jerusalem. (v.5,13) There is no one who can fight against God's ultimate will. He is the Maker, and He will rule over His creation as He sees fit. (v.9) However, Isaiah 46 shows us the other side of the same coin. Even though God is sovereign, He gives us a choice. His people had chosen to follow idols instead of following Him. That is why He had to punish them. Now, He was leading them back to Himself. He was making sure that salvation was near to them. (v.13) However, some of His people would not turn to Him, even though He had delivered them from Exile and allowed them to return to Jerusalem. What a terrible reality. Many people reject God even though He cares, and He does everything to draw them to Himself. I pray that you will not reject God as He draws you to Himself.
I Thessalonians 3 says basically the same thing. Paul had preached the gospel to the believers in Thessalonica. Then, he did not hear from them for a while. He sent Timothy to them, so he could find out how they were doing. Paul was concerned that the tribulations had caused them to turn away from God. Why was He concerned about this? They had the will to choose. They were not robots who had to follow God's will. The same is true for you and me. We have to love the Lord and decide to follow Him in love. If we don't continue to love Him, the Bible tells us that we never really became His children. God does the saving, but we do the trusting. Have you trusted Christ? Are you continuing in that love relationship with Him? That is the main way we know that we are really His children.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Isaiah 47-49 and I Thessalonians 4.