Reading
SAA Notes
Cush is Ethiopia. In God’s good providence, Damascus was one of the first cities beyond the borders of Palestine that received the Gospel of Jesus Christ. When we read of judgment, we also need to remember God’s mercy and grace. The Gospel is for all nations and peoples – Syria’s original religion followed the LORD. They forgot God their Saviour! (17:10)
SJA Notes
* Dear Lord God, please help us today to hear what You have to say to us.
“For you have forgotten the God of your salvation and have not remembered the Rock of your refuge;”
These are words for us today as they were for ancient Israel!
People today have forgotten the God of their salvation, they have not remembered the Rock of their refuge!
And it will be to their eternal damnation unless they repent.
We read in 2 Thessalonians 1 of those who do not love Jesus, on the final day when King Jesus will return from heaven,
“They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might,”
This is what Jesus speaks of with the story, the fore-telling, of the Sheep and the Goats (Matthew 25).
We have a better story to tell people – That Jesus is the Good Shepherd that they must come to for salvation. He is our only refuge.
No doubt we will be laughed at and mocked. They did so to Noah. They laughed at King David. They even laughed at Jesus.
What then is a little scorn when we follow in the footsteps of our Lord!
Let us be encouraged to spread this word of hope and judgement, both sides of the same coin.
* Father God,
Thank You that You are our refuge, in times of trouble here on earth, but too on that final day – Found in Christ and Him alone!
On that final day as all humanity from go to woe looks and sees You our Maker, may we be found as Your sheep!
Please open the eyes of those around us to the wonderful truth found in You as refuge and salvation.
Amen.