In the Old Testament...
Daniel and his friends... exiled...
even though they were faithful...
the nation as a whole would not bend...
faithful and unfaithful alike...
swept out of their homeland...
As it is written in the Law of Moses, all this calamity
has come upon us; yet we have not entreated the
favor of the Lord our God, turning from our iniquities
and gaining insight by your truth.
Daniel 9:13 ESV
In the New Testament... Paul... writing to Timothy... as one church leader to another... counseled him... encouraged him... on upright behavior for the household of God...
I hope to come to you soon, but I am writing these things
to you so that, if I delay, you may know how one ought
to behave in the household of God, which is the church
of the living God, a pillar and buttress of the truth.
1 Timothy 3:14-15 ESV
Knowing His will... His way... and obeying...
empowers the church... brings light to the world...
and upholds the truth of the gospel...
Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of godliness:
He was manifested in the flesh, vindicated by the Spirit,
seen by angels, proclaimed by nations,
believed on in the world, taken up in glory.
1 Timothy 3:16 ESV
Bending to the truth of the Gospel...
glorifies Him... brings Light to a dark world...
and reveals the Way of salvation...
But because of sin... people have always had a hard time bending to His will... both in and outside the church...
Maybe... bending is the sign of those who truly believe...
those willing to die to self will...
choosing instead... to obey His will...
Even in the End...
Some will be refined... purified... bent...
some will not...
He said, "Go your way, Daniel, for the words are shut up
and sealed until the time of the end.
Many shall purify themselves and make themselves white
and be refined, but the wicked shall act wickedly.
And none of the wicked shall understand,
but those who are wise shall understand. ..."
Daniel 12:9-10 ESV
Those with understanding...
those who know who He is...
and who they are before Him...
will bend...
the wicked...
will break...
Bending... always an issue...
then... now... and until the End...
This week's readings...
Monday 2 Timothy 3-4
Tuesday Titus 1-3
Wednesday Ezekiel 1:1 - 3:15
Thursday Ezekiel 3:16 - 5:17
Friday Ezekiel 6-7
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