Thursday, November 10, 2011

Psalm 24, Jeremiah 23:1-20, Matthew 25:14-30 - Lectionary for 11/10/11

Today's readings are Psalm 24, Jeremiah 23:1-20, and Matthew 25:14-30.

God's judgment is upon people. The Scripture says that the one who does not believe in Jesus has been condemned already (Jn. 3:18). Yet what do we hear all around us? God is a God of love, he wouldn't ever condemn anyone. Did you ever notice that when you hear people talking about someone who has been deep in a coma or appeared dead and has come back to life, the person, if he has a report, always seems to say that everyone is fine and that their dearly beloved relatives say there's no need to fear? Yet look at the prophecy of Jeremiah today. It announces woe on the false prophet who says everything is all right. On the contrary, God's judgment is on his people. He expects no less than perfect obedience, perfect righteousness. And lacking that, what does he do? In the Gospel reading today he throws the unfaithful servant to a place of darkness and torture.

How are we to stand up to that judgment? I referred to it already. In John 3:18 we see that the person who believes on Jesus is not condemned. It's the one who doesn't believe that is condemned. And our deliverance from condemnation comes simply through trusting in Jesus. We are unable to do enough good well enough to deliver ourselves. A demand of perfection is something none of us can reach. It is only through Jesus' righteousness applied to us by faith in him that we can stand in God's judgment.

Thanks be to God that he has raised up Jesus as a deliverer.

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