March 2, 2009

Remember His Mercy

We have sinned with our fathers, We have committed iniquity, We have done wickedly. Our fathers in Egypt did not understand Your wonders; They did not remember the multitude of Your mercies, But rebelled by the sea—the Red Sea. Nevertheless He saved them for His name’s sake, That He might make His mighty power known. He rebuked the Red Sea also, and it dried up; So He led them through the depths, As through the wilderness. He saved them from the hand of him who hated [them], And redeemed them from the hand of the enemy. The waters covered their enemies; There was not one of them left. Then they believed His words; They sang His praise. (Psalms 106:6-12 NKJV)

How quickly we forget the great things God has done for us. Time and again God has rescued us from our self-made messes. Each time He pulls out of an impossible situation, we shout to the mountains how He has delivered us by His powerful hand.

Unfortunately, we sometimes emulate Israel by the Red Sea. We forget from calamity to calamity that we serve a mighty God. We forget we serve a jealous God to our own hurt.

Thankfully, God often delivers us anyway that His power might be know. However, let us take care not to despise the goodness of God. There is a limit to what God will endure. As Paul spoke about the Jewish leaders in his day, we can fill up the measure of our sins (1 Thess. 2:16). For the wicked, unregenerate that means God’s wrath will come upon them to the uttermost. The redeemed must be concerned also, while not appointed to wrath, there is a limit to what God will allow without taking action.

Clearly some people died because they partook of the Lord’s supper in an improper fashion. For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body. For this reason many [are] weak and sick among you, and many sleep. (1 Corinthians 11:29-30 NKJV)

It is likely this speaks to believers because it uses the term sleep instead of died. This term is used of a believers death (1 Cor. 15:51). Also, it is clear that some believers might die as a result of their sins as Paul tells the Corinthians to put a fellow out that the his body might perish and his soul be saved. Notice the following passage. Deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. (1 Corinthians 5:5 NKJV) It is true that the outcome of this action was not certain at the time of the command. However, subsequent Scripture seems to argue that this one repented of his sin (2 Cor. 2:5).

Whether you think a believer might be taken home for his sins or not, a professing believer might prove to be an unbeliever. Therefore, you should flee all forms of idolatry. Keep yourself unspotted from the world. Don’t risk the judgment of God.

Instead, remember all the great things He has done for you. You will be less prone to sin if you recount your blessings each day. May our God bless you as you live for Him today.