Restore Us

Today’s readings are Jeremiah 47-49, Psalm 80, and 2 Peter 2.

The title in my Bible for 2 Peter 3 is “The Day of the Lord Will Come” speaking of the 2nd coming of Jesus. Our reading for today, 2 Peter 2 is titled “False Prophets and Teachers.

Here are some verses from 2 Peter 2…

And many will follow their sensuality and because of them the way of the truth will be blasphemed.

2 Peter 2:2

For speaking loud boasts of folly, they entice for sensual passions of the flesh those who are barely escaping from those who live in error. They promise freedom, but they themselves are slaves of corruption. For whatever overcomes a person, to that he is enslaved.

2 Peter 2:20

Be whatever or whoever you want to be. Do whatever what every you want to do. Do whatever you feel you want to do. It’s your choice. Follow the science…until it doesn’t fit what you want or how you feel.. or the agenda.

These are common themes of the world we live in today, and this world sounds an awfully lot like what Peter describes in 2 Peter 2…especially in the United States.  I’m not going to try to predict the end times will happen soon even though it may seem like it based on Peter’s description and what’s going on in our world. Most can a agree though that regardless of when it will occur…each day we’re getting closer in same way that we don’t know the day each of us will die, but we know today we are closer than we were yesterday.

Our readings in the book of Jeremiah from chapters 47-49 describe the judgement on or fall of the Philistines, Moab, Ammon, Edom, Damascus, Kedar, Hazor, and Elam. Most all of these were caused by them turning away from God and His truth. While one could say the United States is not mentioned in Biblical end times prophecies due to not being near Israel geographically, others say it’s because it’s because we don’t exist then which could be as a result of our turning away from God like the aforementioned peoples or cities.

However, there is hope for the United States and us as Christians.

Let us learn from the Psalmist who cries for help for Israel in Psalm 80  where we read in Psalm 80:3.

Restore us O God;

Let your face shine, that we may be saved!

Psalm 80:7 and Psalm 80:19 say nearly the same. We can see where God has protected Israel through thousands of years and even through tumultuous events in the just last few months which could have brought Israel’s end, despite all of Israels flaws and mistakes throughout generations.

We can also read in 2 Peter 2:9…

Then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials, and keep the unrighteous under punishment until the day of judgement,

As a Christ follower in the US, I will pray for our country to turn back to Jesus and the truth He gives us in the Bible which is the only real truth on how we are to live, and we know that in following Jesus He will protect us and our souls through His saving grace and Resurrection.

And while we wait, I can only borrow the words of Joshua…

..But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.

Joshua 24:15

One Name

Today’s reading is Psalm 54.

In whom or in what do you trust? In whom or what do you put your faith and hope in?

Last year brought us arguably the most hyper partisan election in U.S. history with each side claiming the other would end democracy as we know if the other won. With the election result nearly a 50/50 split, half the country was really happy with the outcome and half the country was really disappointed.  Unfortunately, most who voted looked at their candidate to solve our country’s problems and also many to fix their own problems and to rescue them so to speak.

If you did not put your hope and trust in one of these leaders, or even if you did, we can likely find ourselves putting our hope or trust in other political figures, leaders, athletes, or celebrities. We can also find ourselves putting our hope and trust in our careers, money or belongings, or even our spouses, parents, or children looking to them to solve our problems. Sadly, most of us we form our identity or measure our self-worth based on our career, our money or belongings, or relationships. The problem is we end up finding out politicians do not solve all our problems, careers end unexpectedly or due to retirement, money does not bring happiness and can run out no matter the amount, and relationships can end due to death or falter no matter how good of a job we do to nourish them because we are all sinful humans who make mistakes. All these things are futile and end.

As I read Psalm 54, what kept coming to my mind was….one name.

“God save me by your name

and vindicate me by your might.”

Psalm 54:1

Life is short..even if we live 90 to 100 years. There is only one thing we should really fear and that is death. There is only one name that can save us from death and give us eternal life through His sacrifice on the cross. In only Him should we put our hope and trust.

“It is better to take refuge in the

Lord

than to trust in man.

It is better to take refuge in the

Lord

than to trust in princes.”

Psalm 118:8-9

Ross Blumhorst wrote in a Bible Journal post back in January, “God is always right, we never have to guess if He is right or wrong, and you that makes me rejoice-how thankful I am that there’s something in this crazy world I can always know to be true!” Wow..powerful words that are so true. Thank you, Ross. I posted this quote to my social media and my Mom reminded me of this great verse.

“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”
Hebrews 13:8

Thanks, Mom. How great it is to know this in our messed up world?!

Earlier I asked the questions, in whom or in what do you trust? In whom do you put your faith and hope in?

We should strive to constantly remember the words of David here in Psalm 54.

“Behold, God is my helper;

the Lord is the upholder of my

life. “
Psalm 54:4

“For He has delivered me from

every trouble…”

Psalm 54:7

Let us then respond as David does…

“..I will give thank to your

Name O Lord, for it is

good.”

Psalm 54:6

By only one name are we saved. Only one name should we call on and put our faith, hope, and trust in. By only one name should we form our identity. And only in one name should we give our thanks, glory, and praise. That name is Jesus.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ypXUd_vGmI