Wednesday February 8, 2017
“He speaks through creation and providence”
1 The heavens declare the glory of God;
And the firmament shows His handiwork.
2 Day unto day utters speech,
And night unto night reveals knowledge.
3 There is no speech nor language
Where their voice is not heard.
4 Their line has gone out through all the
earth,
And their words to the end of the world.
In them He has set a tabernacle for the sun, -
Psalm 19:1-4
Called by God
A. The
Call of God
1. Old Testament Background
B. General
Calling
God summons men to acknowledge him. He speaks through creation and providence. The same
God who reveals himself in acts and words is the same God whose autograph is
written in the heavens. The call to all men which declares God’s being, his
glory and his handiwork, rises above the barriers of language and culture. God’s
eternal power and beauty are clearly inscribed on all he is made.
In addition to this general
revelation of God to mankind, the word of the cross is also to be preached to
all men. It is the duty of the Christian church in every age and place to
proclaim to every person that there is provision for his needs in Christ. The
first disciples were to obey and transmit the command of the master: ‘Go into all the world and proclaim the
gospel to the whole creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but
whoever does not believe will be condemned’
(Mark 16:15 – 16).
This invitation to salvation is given in
the gospel of Christ (Acts 2:38; 17:30; Matthew 11:28 – 30). But clearly it is
not always received. Many are called,
but the chosen are few. In
fact, instead of softening hearts and drawing men to Christ, the preaching of
his message may result in a hardening which is increased by rejecting the grace
which is offered in the good news. For both old and New Testament profits, this
was one of the inexplicable realities of their ministry (Isaiah 6:9-10; Mark
4:12).
Challenge:
Are you one
of the “Chosen” few? Or are you part of the “many who are called” but
unresponsive? In the medical field, a person who is “unresponsive” is one who
may be unconscious or even dead. Your desires and affections are indicators of
your internal condition. Pray through Psalm 139:23-24 and perform a “self-evaluation”
with the Holy Spirit’s help.
This Day in Christian History:
February 8, 60 – the apostle
Paul set sail from Malta to Rome where he would spend the remainder of his
earthly life.
Memory Verse:
But you are
a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people,
that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of
darkness into His marvelous light; - 1 Peter 2:9
Ka ko kimoutolu ko e ha‘a fili, ko e tu‘unga
taula‘eiki fakatu‘i, ko e kakai tapu, ko e fa‘ahinga ‘oku ma‘ane me‘a tonu,
koe‘uhi ā ke mou ongoongoa atu ‘a e ngaahi lelei ‘o ‘Ene ‘Afio, ‘a ia na‘a ne ui mai kimoutolu mei he po‘uli ki
he maama fakaofo ‘a‘ana: - 1
Pita 2:9
Bible Reading Plan: (52 weeks; 5 days a week)
Week
6 – Exodus 25-27; Psalm 90; Philippians 1
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