ROLL Call

Main Scripture: 1 Chronicles 6

All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:16-17)

That certainly doesn't include the "begats" of this chapter, now does it? Why not? "All" does mean ALL. 

Isn't one of the tasks of the Holy Spirit, who indwells every true Christian, to guide us into ALL Truth?

However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. 

(John 16:13)

So help us, Holy Spirit, to come to terms with the "begats" throughout 1 and 2 Chronicles.

Because the Jews had just returned from years of being in captivity, Ezra, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit set out to remind them of their special heritage as the people of God, calling each person by his name. Not once, but several times! How reassuring this must have been to them at that time of insecurity, of doubt, of apprehension .....

If to God, numbering (Not counting, and there IS a difference) each strand of our hair, is important, then certainly our names and our identities are too. It is amazing how much data can and is stored in computers and other modern, high-tech devices. It is just mind-boggling. Yet God's record-keeping ability is infinitely superior to those. In Revelation it talks about books and books being opened, from which the dead will be judged:

Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them.  And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. (Revelation 20:11-12)

So undoubtedly lists, names and deeds matter to God. They should definitely matter to us too, but not only as a warning, but certainly as an encouragement as well. Contrary to the books mentioned above, which will deal only with condemnation, at the "Judgment Seat of Christ", true believers will be rewarded for their bona fide good deeds. You see, God keeps a record of those too, not so we can deserve entrance into heaven. That was conclusively taken care of by Jesus Christ on the cross. This record-keeping will be simply to reward good deeds done after our conversion.  Deeds done to impress others or for any other ulterior motive, will be burnt. No rewards will be received for those! (2 Corinthians 5:10)

So help us Lord not to shun away from these lists, but to read them carefully, with the eyes of the Holy Spirit, realizing that because of the intimate naming and numbering, we can have  quiet confidence, hope and joy for our future.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tSoA_8JDzso&feature=related

RE*J*oicita

When every intent of the thoughts of the heart of man is ONLY EVIL CONTINUALLY....

Main Scripture: Genesis 6

⁵ The Lord observed the extent of human wickedness on the earth, and he saw that everything they thought or imagined was consistently and totally evil. ⁶ So the Lord was sorry he had ever made them and put them on the earth. It broke his heart. ⁷ And the Lord said, "I will wipe this human race I have created from the face of the earth. Yes, and I will destroy every living thing—all the people, the large animals, the small animals that scurry along the ground, and even the birds of the sky. I am sorry I ever made them."⁸ But Noah found favor with the Lord. (Genesis 6:5-8 NLT) 

So, what happens when every intent of the thoughts of the heart of man is only evil continually?

For starters, it breaks the heart of God. We cannot begin to fathom the depth of His pain. Our God is personal, our God has feelings. We were made in His image, remember? Not only does He have feelings like us, but he also has an intellect and a will. Who consoles God? What assuages His pain?

Secondly, He uses aforementioned will to take action when the time is ripe. As is His magnificent love, so intense is His righteous judgment in the face of defiant, unrepentant and relentless sin.

Lastly, He singles out those who lead a blameless life, despite the pervasive corruption all around them, to shower blessings on them. Noah was by no means sinless, but as we begin to see in this chapter and the ensuing ones, his blamelessness is manifested in his unswerving obedience to God. There can be no doubt that he was ridiculed by the people of his day. "Loco" was probably his nickname. 

Who would have thought that a generation of people living so close to the creation of the world could have reached such a level of wickedness? So, where does that leave us in the 21st century?! At what stage of "ripeness" is our sinful condition? Hm ...

"When the Son of Man returns, it will be like it was in Noah's day. In those days, the people enjoyed banquets and parties and weddings right up to the time Noah entered his boat and the flood came and destroyed them all. (Luke 17:26-27 NLT) 

I conclude today's meditation with these questions from Romans 2:4 (NLT):

Don't you see how wonderfully kind, tolerant, and patient God is with you? Does this mean nothing to you? Can't you see that his kindness is intended to turn you from your sin?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Dtkj0TsT20

RE*J*oicita