Preacher or Judge?

Preacher or Judge?
(KJV - Romans 2:1 Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things.)

Paul spends the majority of chapter one discussing his desire to preach the Gospel and the reasons for that desire. 1) It is the power of God unto salvation, 2) The righteousness of God is revealed in the Gospel; and 3) The necessity of preaching the Gospel is that that the WRATH of God is already revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and the reason for it is revealed. So, Paul desires to preach the Gospel to those against whom the wrath of God is revealed. He ends stating that those against whom God's wrath is revealed understand the judgment if God. Chapter two begins with the statement that because of those facts, we are inexcusable who judges another.

Who am I? Simply one against whom the wrath of God was revealed and to whom the righteousness of God was revealed through the preaching of the Gospel. What evidence is there against me that I judge people. The obvious are those times that I judge someone's thoughts or intents of their hearts. All I can see are the actions, but the thoughts and intents are hidden from me unless they reveal them. Why would God tie the revealing of His righteousness through the preaching of the Gospel to judgment? My failure to give someone the Gospel is because I judge them unworthy of hearing them, and therefore worthy of the wrath of God. Why else would I hold the truth in unrighteousness? Fear? Of what? The persons reaction. I have judged them as one who would reject the Gospel.

Foolishly Following Failure

(KJV - Deuteronomy 12:30 Take heed to thyself that thou be not snared by following them, after that they be destroyed from before thee; and that thou enquire not after their gods, saying, How did these nations serve their gods? even so will I do likewise.)

Why would any one follow after the ways of an individual who failed? Foolishness. Pride. Greed. Lust. Slothfulness. Any number of things or a combination of them. The inhabitants of Caanan were destroyed one after another, yet starting from the very first conquered city, Israel began to lust after the ways of the conquered, and foolishly follow failure.

How quickly I turn to do the same. The individual who loses his integrity, family, friends, health, and more to chase after posessions, power, and position. Those who love in much pleasure while forsaking the Lord and the wages of their sin eventually showing in the hardness of their eyes, their premature aging, their inability to give and receive love as their ow love grows cold. Sin is so attractive initially, so pleasurable for a season, so well advertised. The consequences of it are often hidden as well as the pleasures are adevrtised, but they surely come.

God has advertised the pleasures and benefits of following hard after Him. He announces and has shown the pleasures of being in His presence. What we give up in our flesh is rewarded one hundred fold both in this life and the life to come. He has promised it. No more fooloishly following failure.

Do You Know What I Know?

(KJV - Deuteronomy 10:17 For the LORD your God is God of gods, and Lord of lords, a great God, a mighty, and a terrible, which regardeth not persons, nor taketh reward:)

Reading this passage, I can almost here Moses ask, "Why dont't you know this?" The answer is simple: I havent spent the time Moses did with God. Moses took up his cross. I sometimes take up mine. Moses carried his cross, met with God, suffered much, needed much, walked into situations he would in no way walk out of, yet trusted God to bring him through. God did it. Not just sometimes, all the time. Even when Moses failed, got it wrong, and even got angry or impatient, God delivered him. He knows not from heresay, but from experience that God is the God of gods, Lord of lords, a great God a mighty and a terrible. That experience is available to me. The question is, will I take up my cross and learn of Him?

Bible Note

Is God Enough? -

KJV - Numbers 18:20 And the LORD spake unto Aaron, Thou shalt have no inheritance in their land, neither shalt thou have any part among them: I am thy part and thine inheritance among the children of Israel.

I have no inheritence in this land. I have no claim to the things that everyone else has. God is my inherirence. Is He enough? At times He is. While everyone else is on par with me in worldly posessions He is enough. As long as my wants are satisfied He is enough. As long as I am in agreement with my station in life he is enough. What about those other times? what about the times when i perceive a need that is unmet? What when hope is deferred and the heart grows sick. When I look round and see others getting far ahead of me in this world's goods?

Is God enough for me when He says I will have none of this world's goods, or will I leave Him and His provision for me? God, help to remember Thy promises and Thou hast done for me that I will never be discontent with Thy great provisions.

Bible Note

Is God Enough? - (KJV - Numbers 18:20 And the LORD spake unto Aaron, Thou shalt have no inheritance in their land, neither shalt thou have any part among them: I am thy part and thine inheritance among the children of Israel. I have no inheritence in this land. I have no claim to the things that everyone else has. God is my inherirence. Is He enough? At times He is. While everyone else is on par with me in worldly posessions He is enough. As long as my wants are satisfied He is enough. As long as I am in agreement with my station in life he is enough. What about those other times? what about the times when i perceive a need that is unmet? What when hope is deferred and the heart grows sick. When I look round and see others getting far ahead of me in this world's goods?

Is God enough for me when He says I will have none of this world's goods, or will I leave Him and His provision for me? God, help to remember Thy promises and Thou hast done for me that I will never be discontent with Thy great provisions. - recorded in CadreBible 3/7/10 3:32 PM