Reading
SAA Notes
Harbouring ancient hostilities and resentments brings God’s condemnation and judgment, not His understanding and approbation. God kept His promise here to Israel. Many exiles returned from Iraq and rebuilt their towns. He is the same today!
SJA Notes
* Lord God, please may we be open to Your word leading us today.
“But you, O mountains of Israel, shall shoot forth your branches and yield your fruit to my people Israel, for they will soon come home.”
We see here that God not only speaks to humanity, He also speaks to creation!
God has a special intent and care for the world, His creation.
We know from 2 Peter 3 that this present creation is going away.
We know from passages such as Isaiah 65:17, 2 Peter 3:13 and Revelation 21:1 that God is going to create a new heavens and a new earth.
This new creation is the culmination of God’s plans, and of His promises to us.
Revelation 21 goes on to tell us,
“And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God.’ … And he who was seated on the throne said, ‘Behold, I am making all things new.'”
How amazing with this in mind then it is that Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians 5,
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold the new has come.”
We see much symmetry here in God’s plan. His salvation for us, the sanctification He undertakes, the final day of hope and judgement where we, His people, will be joined with Him!
* Gracious God,
Thank You that in Jesus we are a new creation.
Thank You that You are making all things new.
Thank You that because You have saved us we can look forward to a new heavens and a new earth, joined together with You dwelling amongst us.
Hallelujah, what a Saviour!
Amen.