So the Lord was very angry with Israel and removed them from his presence. Only the tribe of Judah was left, and even Judah did not keep the commands of the Lord their God. They followed the practices Israel had introduced. Therefore the Lord rejected all the people of Israel; he afflicted them and gave them into the hands of plunderers, until he thrust them from his presence.

2 Kings 17

So the Lord was very angry with Israel and removed them from his presence. Only the tribe of Judah was left, and even Judah did not keep the commands of the Lord their God. They followed the practices Israel had introduced. Therefore the Lord rejected all the people of Israel; he afflicted them and gave them into the hands of plunderers, until he thrust them from his presence. v18-20

God is full of grace yet His patience is not unlimited.  We all die and will face judgement - if we have not accepted Jesus as our Lord and Savior then we face eternal damnation.  At the end of times, God waits until the very last moments to give people an opportunity to repent and turn towards Him yet even then the appointed time arrives.

We see this here with Israel where the case against Israel is laid out in v7-20.

God had seen enough with Israel and His patience had run out.

John Piper explains the limits of God's love and patience:

"This means that God’s patience with unrepentant sinners will not last forever. They eventually cross a line beyond which God will not pursue them anymore. He will let them go, and they will never be forgiven. At this point, whatever love he was pursuing them with (Romans 2:4) is gone, and they become the objects of his eternal wrath (Revelation 14:10-11)." 

Piper quotes Jesus to define the trigger for the end of God's patience:

Whoever shall speak against the Holy Spirit, it shall not be forgiven him, either in this age, or in the age to come” (Matthew 12:32).

Jesus also makes it clear that love of God is of paramount importance.

Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment.  Matthew 22:37-38

It is clear that Israel failed to do this and God's patience ran out.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who is full of compassion, grace and patience.  Your justice is perfect and Your love never runs out - even when You discipline us.  Thank You Jesus.  I am not worth such love because I worry.  Please forgive me and help me turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others. 

“Then the master told his servant, ‘Go out to the roads and country lanes and compel them to come in, so that my house will be full. I tell you, not one of those who were invited will get a taste of my banquet.’”

Luke 14

“Then the master told his servant, ‘Go out to the roads and country lanes and compel them to come in, so that my house will be full. I tell you, not one of those who were invited will get a taste of my banquet.’” v23-24

I've had wise Christians tell me that the Lord Jesus' patience is not unlimited...yet I really could not follow this without a scripture reference.  While I am not 100% certain here...this verse in Luke does imply that the Lord indeed does not have an unlimited patience in that those who hear the true word of God yet refuse to respond and accept Him will at some point be too late to be accepted into the Kingdom of God.

The question of course is when does this patience run out? 

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are indeed a God full of patience and second chances...Your love knows no boundaries.  Jesus, I am not worthy of such love and blessing because I am lazy, impatient, full of pride, selfish, etc.  These sin continue to plague me.  I am deeply sorry Jesus.  Thank You that You love me anyway but please forgive me Jesus.  Help me turn from such sin and help me be the man You intend for me.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength.

“Though I completely destroy all the nations among which I scatter you, I will not completely destroy you. I will discipline you but only in due measure; will not let you go entirely unpunished.”

Jeremiah 46

“Though I completely destroy all the nations among which I scatter you, I will not completely destroy you.  I will discipline you but only in due measure; will not let you go entirely unpunished.” v28

With the Jews living in divided kingdoms and as they are scattered throughout many nations, sin is rampant.  God shows enormous patience but this patience is of course not unlimited. 

I must not act as if God's patience for me is unlimited.  I must turn from sin, repent, and stay on the path God lays out for me.

My Prayer: Lord, it is amazing how many second chances you offer me and all of Your children.  Your patience, mercy, compassion and kindness is truly amazing.  I personally thank You Jesus.  I need You Jesus...desperately.  I am weak...please forgive me.  Help me grow in strength.  Help me find strength in You alone.

“He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’”

Luke 16

“He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’” v31

Last week I posted my thoughts about the extent to which God has patience for us.  Again here in Luke 16, my thoughts are confirmed that God does not have unlimited patience.  God may pursue us and be patient as He does, but we must respond in the affirmative with a decision to accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior.  If we don't, God does not guarantee that He will pursue You indefinitely.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are indeed a great God and full of patience for me.  You pursued me and were patient with me and You continue to be patient with me.  I am not worth such love and blessing, and patience.  I am not patient with others and for this I am deeply sorry.  Thank You Jesus that You love me anyway but please forgive me.  Help me turn from such sin and help me be the man You intend for me.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength.

The king of Israel answered Jehoshaphat, “There is still one prophet through whom we can inquire of the Lord, but I hate him because he never prophesies anything good about me, but always bad. He is Micaiah son of Imlah.”

1 Kings 22

The king of Israel answered Jehoshaphat, “There is still one prophet through whom we can inquire of the Lord, but I hate him because he never prophesies anything good about me, but always bad. He is Micaiah son of Imlah.” v8

God is slow to anger and abounding in love (see yesterday's post), giving Ahab an extended lease on life.  Yet Ahab, amazingly so, fails to see God's grace, he does not turn towards God, and within 3 years (relatively quickly) he dies just as prophesied in 1 Kings 21.  It's possible he could have lived even longer - who knows.

God's patience is not unlimited - see post here and the Parable of the Gold Coins where the "worthless servant [who failed to use and invest coins given to him by his master] [is thrown]
outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth".

We are to persistently deliver the Good News of Jesus Christ.  Yet for those who deny Jesus, God does not have unlimited patience.

Lord Jesus - help me persistently delivery the Good News of Jesus Christ to those I know who are lost.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who has rescued me and You love me and are enormously patient with me.  Thank You Jesus.  I am not worth such love patience.  I worry and I often fail to persistently deliver the Good News to the lost.  Please forgive me and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to accept You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

“‘Sir,’ the man replied, ‘leave it alone for one more year, and I’ll dig around it and fertilize it. If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down.’”

Luke 13

“‘Sir,’ the man replied, ‘leave it alone for one more year, and I’ll dig around it and fertilize it. If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down.’” v8-9

Jesus is indeed patient beyond what we deserve but it is my understanding that His patience is not unlimited and that all sin is punished either now or in heaven.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are indeed a great God, full of patience and second chances for me.  I am not worthy of such love and patience. I am impatient myself, also lazy, quick to anger, slow to listen, and full of pride.  Thank You that You love me anyway Jesus but please forgive me.  Help me turn from such sin and help me be the man You intend for me.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength.

The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

2 Peter 3

The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. v9

Peter's words remind me of Isaiah's words:

For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
    neither are your ways my ways,”
declares the Lord. Isaiah 55:8

Peter is preventing us from being suckered by false teachers and by Satan himself who is trying to goad you into disbelief and to weaken your faith.  Yet Peter is firm and he encourages us to be firm in our faith and to bring others to Jesus...and the 2nd sentence of verse 9 to me says it all:

Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

God is good - and He demonstrates this in part by being patient and by being merciful and compassionate.  He is patient with us (although I am reminded that His patience is not unlimited - I will die and the world as we know will come to an end perhaps during my earthly life - either way I must be ready) so we must repent and turn from our ways to His ways.  We must also bring others to Him.  We exist to glorify Him and to bring others to Him.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You indeed are a great God full of patience, compassion, and mercy for me - although I am completely undeserving of such blessings!  Thank You that You bless me so, but please forgive me Jesus for such sin and help me turn from such sin towards You instead.  Transform my heart and my life Jesus and help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength.  Please heal and cure her of this cancer.  Help me bring others to Him.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach and Dustin. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Be silent before the Sovereign Lord, for the day of the Lord is near. The Lord has prepared a sacrifice; he has consecrated those he has invited.

Zephaniah 1

Be silent before the Sovereign Lord, for the day of the Lord is near. The Lord has prepared a sacrifice; he has consecrated those he has invited. v7

Over the past few days, I've posted about the need for reverent fear of the Lord.  Here, we once again learn of an impending punishment for Judah. Although Judah obeyed God under King Josiah, they did not under Josiah's sons.  Punishment awaits not just Judah and the surrounding nations (see v3), but "all mankind on the face of the earth".  Such a punishment equates to the end of times and this message from Zephaniah is once again a warning that God's patience is not unlimited and that there will be an end and at that time all will be judged according to what they have done (Revelation 22:12)

We must act with a sense of urgency during the time we have here on earth.

Be merciful to those who doubt; save others by snatching them from the fire; to others show mercy, mixed with fear—hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh. Jude 1:22-23

Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near. Revelation 1:3

 

Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom. Psalm 90:12

 

The end of all things is near. Therefore be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray. Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. 1 Peter 4:7-8

 

My Prayer:  Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God....creator and author of all things and merciful Heavenly Father.  You have been SO patient with me...thank You Jesus.  I know I am not worth such love and patience because I often fail to dispense such patience, grace and mercy to others.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome such sin and turn towards You. Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself strength and wisdom.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Help me serve You, my family, the church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Turn now, each of you, from your evil ways and your evil practices, and you can stay in the land the Lord gave to you and your ancestors for ever and ever. Do not follow other gods to serve and worship them; do not arouse my anger with what your hands have made. Then I will not harm you.

Jeremiah 25

Turn now, each of you, from your evil ways and your evil practices, and you can stay in the land the Lord gave to you and your ancestors for ever and ever. Do not follow other gods to serve and worship them; do not arouse my anger with what your hands have made. Then I will not harm you. v5-6

The Lord sent many of his servants (v4) to deliver this message to the Israelites who had turned away from God.  Yet they did not listen (v7). God is extremely patient with us, full of grace and mercy, slow to anger and abounding in love, yet He does NOT have unlimited patience.

What is great is that we DO have a God who sent His Son to drink from the same cup of wrath taken by others before Him such as those who did so as described here in Jeremiah 25 and elsewhere in the Bible.

We all have earthly fathers we love but we none of us have an earthly father who can do what Jesus did for us at the cross.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God - You have done for me what no earthly father can or could ever do.  Thank You Jesus. Thank You for my earthly father and thank You for being so full of grace, mercy, and love for me.  I am not worthy of such love.  I miss the mark daily.  Please forgive me and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Please help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

How long will you refuse to keep my commands and my instructions?

Exodus 16

How long will you refuse to keep my commands and my instructions? v28

  
As the grumbling and complaining continued, the Lord became impatient.  The Israelites were rescued from Egypt and God had been providing for their needs, yet the Israelites lacked faith - they would not follow His instructions because they did not believe or trust Him fully (which is the most important commandment - see Matthew 22:37).  God is indeed a patient God but His patience is not unlimited. 

See the story of Ananias and Sapphira - both held onto their money tightly, and God desires us to be a cheerful giver.

As well, we don't know when Jesus will return and we need to be ready.  In Revelations, God is angry with the church at Laodicea - that they are luke warm in their faith and clearly not "ready". 

Jesus, help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and run the race with endurance - being ready and not dropping my focus on You - on good days and bad.  I know You are with me.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are indeed a great God!  Thank You for loving me and adopting my mom and for saving a place for her in Heaven where she is not enjoying everlasting life and peace.  Thank You Jesus.  Yet I fail to be more bold in sharing You with others.  Please forgive me and help me turn from such sin and towards You.  Help me be more bold.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself strength and wisdom.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

The Lord, the God of their ancestors, sent word to them through his messengers again and again, because he had pity on his people and on his dwelling place. But they mocked God’s messengers, despised his words and scoffed at his prophets until the wrath of the Lord was aroused against his people and there was no remedy.

2 Chronicles 36

The Lord, the God of their ancestors, sent word to them through his messengers again and again, because he had pity on his people and on his dwelling place. But they mocked God’s messengers, despised his words and scoffed at his prophets until the wrath of the Lord was aroused against his people and there was no remedy. v15-16

As I wrap up my study of Chronicles and the various kings of Israel and Judah, I can see how patient and full of grace God is.  In v1-14 we see three other kings who "did evil in the eyes of the Lord" and the resulting punishment and consequences of these sins.  This is the primary story of Chronicles - the grace and faithfulness of God - that He made a promise to David that there would also be someone from His line on the throne.  Although once again we see that God's patience is not unlimited, we do see how "again and again" God provided opportunities for His people to repent.  I can never tire of expressing in this blog the incredible nature of God's grace - not just for Israel and Judah - but for me!

God is slow to anger and abounding in love. 

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned[.] John 3:16-18

My Prayer:  Lord Jesus, what an awesome God You are - that You give me SO many opportunities to turn from my sin - You are full of grace, slow to anger, and abounding in love...You also give me You Son...thank You God!  I am not worth such love.  I worry.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

They say, ‘The Lord does not see us; the Lord has forsaken the land.’

Ezekiel 8

They say, ‘The Lord does not see us; the Lord has forsaken the land.’

There are times when I knowingly sin and I say to myself "I will be forgiven", or "God knows I am imperfect"....both of which (and there are other things I say to myself) are LIES I tell myself to excuse my own sin.  What I do is no different than what the elders of Israel are doing with idols in the temple in this chapter in Ezekiel. 

The Lord knows all and sees all.

My eyes are on all their ways; they are not hidden from me, nor is their sin concealed from my eyes.  Jeremiah 16:17

...

For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil. Ecclesiastes 12:14

...

My Prayer:  Lord Jesus, You DO know all, and You have power over all.  While forgiveness is available to me, I must not abuse this grace given to me as Your patience and grace is not unlimited for me.  I must not openly and willfully sin.  Please help me Jesus so that I don't tell lies to myself about my sin.  I know You see all and I am deserving of harsh punishment.  Help me turn from sin and be strong.  Give me strength Jesus.

The Lord is a jealous and avenging God; the Lord takes vengeance and is filled with wrath. The Lord takes vengeance on his foes and vents his wrath against his enemies. The Lord is slow to anger but great in power; the Lord will not leave the guilty unpunished.

Nahum 1

The Lord is a jealous and avenging God; the Lord takes vengeance and is filled with wrath.
The Lord takes vengeance on his foes and vents his wrath against his enemies. The Lord is slow to anger but great in power; the Lord will not leave the guilty unpunished. v2-3

Nahum, according to this commentary, is a story of how God does not let the guilty go unpunished.  Nineveh, in Jonah's time, repented and God showed His great patience, mercy and compassion by sparing punishment for the city.  Yet Nineveh went back to it's sinful ways and failed to turn TO God.

Repentance means to turn away from our sin and towards God.  We must acknowledge we need Him, that He is in control, and that His ways are good...for Him and for us.  This is freedom FROM the sting of sin and death.

I am reminded how God's patience is not unlimited and it is up to Him when and how He is patient.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who is slow to anger and abounding in love.  You have shown Your great mercy and compassion to me many times - thank You Jesus!  I am not worth such love.  I am often harsh with my words and actions.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my towards YOU.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.

Ezekiel 36

I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. v26

Throughout the Old Testament, you can read about how sinful Israel was - yet God restores. 

27 And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. 28 Then you will live in the land I gave your ancestors; you will be my people, and I will be your God. 29 I will save you from all your uncleanness. I will call for the grain and make it plentiful and will not bring famine upon you. 30 I will increase the fruit of the trees and the crops of the field, so that you will no longer suffer disgrace among the nations because of famine. 31 Then you will remember your evil ways and wicked deeds, and you will loathe yourselves for your sins and detestable practices. 32 I want you to know that I am not doing this for your sake, declares the Sovereign Lord. Be ashamed and disgraced for your conduct, people of Israel! v27-32

Key things I need to remember is that God's patience is not unlimited - God reserves the right to punish me.  Also, everything He does is for HIS glory....not for me.   My Prayer: Lord, Your works and Your will are perfect.  I have seen and witnessed Your work in my life and I am amazed.  You are also so patient and merciful with me.  I am not deserving of such blessing and patience.  I fail to love You with all of my heart mind and soul.  Thank You that You love me anyway but please forgive me for my weakness and failings.  Encourage and energize me.  Give me strength.  Help me be the man You intend for me.  Help me glorify You.

Then Manasseh knew that the Lord is God.

2 Chronicles 33

Then Manasseh knew that the Lord is God. v13

For believers we need to go to God daily, to remind ourselves of God's greatness, to thank Him for what He has done, and to cleanse ourselves of our sin.  If we do not, we remain separated from God and this wedge grows.  Although God's patience is not unlimited, He does want us to come back to Him so that we can reconciled and restored.  Manasseh does come back and his story is our story - we all wander.  The key then is to not wait to be restored and reconciled.  Go to God daily, if not more, for what we have done so that we can turn from our sin towards Him who can better direct our steps then we can. 

For God to remain visible in our lives, we must have a heart of gratitude - this reminds us of how much God has done, how great He is, and how we all need a Savior.

My Prayer:  Lord You are indeed a great God, who has done many signs of wonder in my life.  I am amazed at how You work.  Thank You Jesus for how You have blessed me.  My cup overflows.  I am not worth such a God.  I worry.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me turn from and overcome my sin and turn towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

The rest of mankind who were not killed by these plagues still did not repent of the work of their hands; they did not stop worshiping demons, and idols of gold, silver, bronze, stone and wood—idols that cannot see or hear or walk. Nor did they repent of their murders, their magic arts, their sexual immorality or their thefts.

Revelation 9

The rest of mankind who were not killed by these plagues still did not repent of the work of their hands; they did not stop worshiping demons, and idols of gold, silver, bronze, stone and wood—idols that cannot see or hear or walk. Nor did they repent of their murders, their magic arts, their sexual immorality or their thefts.  v20-21

Holy mackerel!  After all of the destruction they witnessed earlier in Revelation 8-9, the rest of mankind refused to acknowledge that God reigns and to repent for their sins...God is patient but He does not have unlimited patience...please help me live with the end in mind.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus - You DO reign. You created the heavens and the earth and all of its inhabitants.  You came to earth as flesh, experienced all that we do as Your children, yet You lived a pure, holy, and blameless life.  You then suffered and died on the cross, taking the sting of sin with You and giving us eternal life - if only we repent and acknowledge Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior.  I do yet I often pursue other idols so please forgive me Jesus!  Help me turn from such sin and towards You. Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my strength.  Help me turn from all of my sin towards You and "make every effort" to love, obey, and follow You.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength.  Please heal and cure Lisa of this cancer.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach, and Dustin.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

“So I will put an end to lewdness in the land, that all women may take warning and not imitate you. You will suffer the penalty for your lewdness and bear the consequences of your sins of idolatry. Then you will know that I am the Sovereign Lord.”

Ezekiel 23, 2 Kings 24-25, 2 Chronicles 36, Jeremiah 39 and 52 

“So I will put an end to lewdness in the land, that all women may take warning and not imitate you. You will suffer the penalty for your lewdness and bear the consequences of your sins of idolatry. Then you will know that I am the Sovereign Lord.” Ezekiel 23:48-49

Day 230 of my chronological study of the Bible with The Daily Bible® - In Chronological Order (NIV®) (available by purchase through Amazon - author F. LaGard Smith) continues with my study of Ezekiel. My commentary* this morning describes what has long been prophesied by Ezekiel and many other prophets regarding the sin of both Judah and Israel.  God gives Ezekiel a message to deliver to both Judah and Israel that my commentary* describes as "probably no more graphic an indictment...in all of Scripture.  Modern readers are almost offended by the candid exposure of two promiscuous sisters, representing Israel and Judah. One gets at least some idea of the degree to which God himself is offended by his people’s infidelity."  My commentary* goes on to describe how "God feels deeply the shame and disgrace that his “bride” has brought him. Her disrespect for his spiritual leadership, her chasing after material satisfaction, and her many adulteries with lesser gods have left him no choice. Israel must be put away until she repents. The time has come. Even now it [siege of Jerusalem] begins."

*Smith, F. LaGard. The Daily Bible® - In Chronological Order (NIV®). Harvest House Publishers. Kindle Edition. 

Yes...God is slow to anger and abounding in love, but God's patience is not unlimited (see also RC Sproul on this).  That is why believers are commanded to snatch others from the fire as this "the fire" will be the destination for those who do not accept Jesus - either when they die or when Jesus returns (whichever comes first). 

Be merciful to those who doubt; save others by snatching them from the fire; to others show mercy, mixed with fear—hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh. Jude 1:22-23

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and You have snatched me from the fire - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such a gift.  I sin...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom, energy and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Then they will know that I am the Lord.

Ezekiel 6

Then they will know that I am the Lord. v14

God repeats these words four times.  As a follow up to my post yesterday, it should be clear to us when God is at work, particularly in our own lives.  Now we see in chapter 5-6 that God's anger grows more fierce and terrifying in terms of the punishment that is to be meted out. Yet the question in my mind becomes - how do we wait so long to not notice that God is real, He reigns and wants our submission and obedience.  We should not be frightened by God but instead drawn to Him because He is slow to anger, abounding in love, and full of compassion and grace for He sent His Son so we could be free from the sting of sin and death.

We ALL sin and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23, 1 John 1:8) and we all need a Savior.  Jesus Christ is that Savior.

God is waiting for us to accept Him as our Savior, but His patience is not unlimited.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who loves me and who is SO patient with me, even though You know everything about me, including my sin.  Thank You Jesus.  I am not worth such a God as You.  I worry far too much...I should not even worry at all.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin. Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

"I tell you, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny.”

Luke 12

"I tell you, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny.” v59

I know that I am to be prepared for no one know the hour of Jesus' return.  Being prepared for Jesus' return of course means accepting Him as your Lord and Savior.  It is also means committing to get to know Him better every day...through prayer, study, and reflection.  It also means action - doing what the Word says.  From this verse in Luke today I am reminded that we must also have a healthy fear of Christ in that his patience is not unlimited and we will all be held accountable for our actions or lack thereof...regardless of whether we have accepted Christ.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You indeed are a great God...full of love, mercy, kindness, patience, generosity...etc.  Of course all of the fruits of the spirit are present in You.  You are worthy of my worship...yet I am not worthy of You love...I sin - I am impatient, quick to anger, slow to listen, critical of others, etc.  Thank You that You love me anyway but please forgive me Jesus.  Help me turn from such sin.  Help me be the man You intend for me.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength.

"Believe in the light while you have the light, so that you may become children of light.”

John 12

"Believe in the light while you have the light, so that you may become children of light.” v36

Many people will say that Jesus' patience is unlimited and I don't believe this to be true...we only have the time we are living to live as Jesus commands us to live and then all believers are held accountable for their life.  If you are not a believer then unfortunately (what an understatement) you are eternally damned to hell.

God is patient of course more so than we can ever be, but He does not guarantee us that His patience will never run out.

Ultimately, as Billy Graham points here on page 21 of this PDF:

"Believers will not be judged for their sin, for Christ dealt with our sin on the cross at Calvary.   Instead, at the judgment seat, our work on earth for Christ’s Kingdom will be evaluated and rewarded according to God’s perfect righteousness and justice".

The Bible is clear elsewhere that our days are numbered - see here.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are a great God and You have enormous patience for me and You have already provided more 2nd chances than I deserve.  I am weak, lazy, selfish, etc.  Thank You for Your patience and for loving me no less - despite my sin.  Please forgive me for such sin and help me turn from such sin and towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength.  Help me love others as myself and help me grow in my faith.