Why did Jesus come?
Because, He had to.
Out of the loving heart of God, Jesus came to earth to pay the price for my sin.
Romans 3:23
All have sinned and come short of the glory of God.
Anyone that is honest can agree that they have not walked perfectly in accordance with the laws and commands that God put forth. We’ve fallen short of the GLORY of God – and we can’t even conceive of that Glory!(Romans 3:10-24)
This is what was set in motion when Adam and Eve sinned – sin came into the world, separating us from God. At that point, humans started to slowly die. If that wasn’t bad enough, God separated us from the tree of life – so that we would not choose evil AND eternal life. That was part of the consequence of our sin, separation from paradise and God. Therefore, they were dead in their sins, and going about dying. The same with us – and it is a struggle I have every day. I want to choose life – and yet, I often choose my own wisdom or knowledge, and end up messing up – and I am separated from the close fellowship with God through Christ. That fellowship is life! Without it, I am dead.
Romans 5:8
But God demonstrates His own love for us(me), For while we(I) was yet sinners, Christ died for us.
The price to pay for sin is death. It’s a death sentence. Either I die for the sins, or a sacrificial lamb, perfect and holy, dies in my place. There is much talk among Christians about ‘death to self’.
My flesh hungers – for foods that are not good for me.
My mind hungers – for stimulation that does not propel me towards my God given goals.
My emotions hunger – for having my needs met over others.
I must crucify the flesh – but the only way I’m able to do that is by taking part in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. I can’t do it on my own.
Because of Christ dying for us:
Romans 6:23b
…the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23b
By Jesus dying on a tree, He opened the door back up for us to participate in the fellowship with God, and gives us eternal life. When we cross over, we will see the tree of life. I have seen the gardens of Heaven, they are beyond imagination. It was not my time, so I did not see the tree of life. based upon what I saw, I can declare that this tree will be beautiful in ways that no tree on earth can express.
While the crucifixion of my own flesh is hard, receiving the gift of God is simple.
9 That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart
that God has raised Him from the dead,
you will be saved.
13 For whoever calls on the name of the LORD
shall be saved.”
I believe that Jesus is my Savior.
I believe that I am a sinner saved by Grace.
Daily, I need to confess my beliefs, not for the devil, but for me to remember.
another great song is
Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me.
I once was lost, but now I’m found, was blind, but now I see.
Thank you Lord Jesus for drawing me near to your heart, and saving me out of your great mercies.
Thank you for daily giving me mercies that are new every morning.
Thank you for giving me examples of those that have fallen, and gotten up again, by your gracious hand.
This year has been hard to remember that I believe.
But I do believe. And that not of myself, lest I boast – that is a gift from you, God.(Ephesians 2:8-10)
As I spend this month remembering, I am thankful most for this gift of faith, that has given me eternal life.
“The Lord does not give me rules, but He makes His standard very clear.
If my relationship to Him is that of love, I will do what He says without hesitation.
If I hesitate, it is because I love someone I have placed in competition with Him, namely, myself.” – from My Utmost for His highest
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Nahum 1 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB) Nahum 1:2
The Lord is a jealous and avenging God;
the Lord takes vengeance
and is fierce in wrath.
The Lord takes vengeance against His foes;
He is furious with His enemies.
2 The Lord is a jealous and avenging God;
the Lord takes vengeance
and is fierce in wrath. The Lord takes vengeance against His foes;
He is furious with His enemies.
This explains with whom God is angry, and to whom he focuses his wrath!
Yet the following gives us a picture of God on the believer’s behalf, and the reason that we want to be RIGHT WITH GOD:
Nahum 1:3
3 The Lord is slow to anger but great in power;
IT IS FOLLOWED BY A WARNING!:
the Lord will never leave the guilty unpunished.‘
Nahum seems to be quoting:
Numbers 14:18 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
18 The Lord is slow to anger and rich in faithful love, forgiving wrongdoing and rebellion. But He will not leave the guilty unpunished, bringing the consequences of the fathers’ wrongdoing on the children to the third and fourth generation.
THIS IS GOD!
slow to anger
rich in faithful love
forgiving wrong doing and rebellion
THIS IS ALSO GOD!
will not leave guilty unpunished
bring consequences….of the fathers sins on the children…to the third and fourth generation.
Deuteronomy 5:9 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
9 You must not bow down to them or worship them, because I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the fathers’ sin to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me,
There is a requirement for God’s blessing….
John 3:36 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
36 The one who believes in the Son has eternal life,
but the one who refuses to believe in the Son will not see life; instead, the wrath of God remains on him.
It’s all about our choice! Which side do we want to find ourselves on? Back in Nahum 1:2b, we talked about the Lord takes vengeance against his foes…furious with his enemies. I don’t want to be found to be an enemy of God!
Romans 8:7 King James Version (KJV)
7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
The carnal mind, the flesh serving and focused mind is an enemy to God – but only because it CANNOT turn to God…which is WHY we need to become new creatures!
God made a way so that we could choose NOT to be his enemy!
Our God is an AWESOME God…and we need to know both sides of him! We need to understand WHY there is a requirement to believe, to obey, to honor, to worship….why we need a relationship with God through Jesus Christ!
That says it in a nutshell…it’s the plan of salvation, but more importantly, the NEED for salvation.
Nahum 1:3-5 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
3…His path is in the whirlwind and storm,
and clouds are the dust beneath His feet.
4 He rebukes the sea so that it dries up,
and He makes all the rivers run dry.
Bashan and Carmel wither;
even the flower of Lebanon withers.
5 The mountains quake before Him,
and the hills melt;
the earth trembles at His presence—
the world and all who live in it.
As I said above, we do NOT want to be his enemies…and I’m trying to make it clear how we can become his enemies, and how can be part of his family!
Psalm 2:12 King James Version (KJV)
12 Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.
Nehemiah 9:16-17 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
16 But our ancestors acted arrogantly;
they became stiff-necked and did not listen to Your commands.
17 They refused to listen
and did not remember Your wonders
You performed among them.
They became stiff-necked and appointed a leader
to return to their slavery in Egypt.[a]
But You are a forgiving God, gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in faithful love,
and You did not abandon them.
Even in the midst of His people being rebellious, He still offers forgiveness…for repentance!
2 Chronicles 7:14 speaks to people that are CALLED BY HIS NAME! on the Bible hub link, you can read it in ANY version you would like!
I prefer Amplified:
2 Chronicles 7:14 Amplified Bible (AMP)
14 and My people, who are called by My Name, humble themselves, and pray and seek (crave, require as a necessity) My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear [them] from heaven, and forgive their sin and heal their land.
THIS IS WRITTEN TO GOD’S PEOPLE…NOT THE UNBELIEVERS!!!!
This is OUR responsibility! Not just to ourselves, but to our communities, our families, our churches, our states, our nations and our world! We are the change that God places in this world!
Back to Nahum.
Even in the midst of describing the destruction of Nineveh, it’s as if God doesn’t want us overwhelmed by His vengeance, He wants us to remember the other side of Him! The side that HIS children enjoy!
We can look at Psalm 91 – and remember specifically verses 1-2
Psalm 91:1-2 King James Version (KJV)
91 He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
2 I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.
Psalm 46:1-2 King James Version (KJV)
46 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
2 Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;
Back to Nahum:
Nahum 1:8-10 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
8 But He will completely destroy Nineveh[d]
with an overwhelming flood,
and He will chase His enemies into darkness.
9 Whatever you plot against the Lord,
He will bring it to complete destruction;
oppression will not rise up a second time.
10 For they will be consumed
like entangled thorns,
like the drink of a drunkard
and like straw that is fully dry.
God is in control…We who believe KNOW this.
Some judgments we see here on earth…some, at a future time.
Romans 2:5 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
5 But because of your hardness and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath for yourself in the day of wrath, when God’s righteous judgment is revealed.
KJV says “hardness and impenitent hearts”
one says “unwillingness to change.”
many others say “stubbornness.”
This concerns me because of THIS verse:
1 Samuel 15:23 King James Version (KJV)
23 For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the Lord, he hath also rejected thee from being king.
Bible Hub gives you other versions in which to read 1 Samuel 15:23 – but the warning is still very similar!
Hard hearts
Stubborn hearts
impenitent hearts
rebellious hearts
IT’S A HEART ISSUE!
Let’s compare Egypt, Nahum’s prophecy of deliverance for Judah, and Salvation:
Enslaved
Exodus – enslaved to Pharoah
Nahum – enslaved to Sennecharib and Assyria
Salvation – enslaved to Sin
Cruelty
Exodus – forced to work in labor camps
Nahum – Sennecharib was hated for his cruelty, even by his allies
Salvation – we are cruelly kept from peace, hope, and joy, used for his purposes
In Darkness
Exodus – the plague of darkness descended, but they were in darkness of hopelessness
Salvation – The Sermon on the Mount is a great start, Matthew 5, 6, and 7
What is my point in all of this?
The Bible is ONE story – the story about how God created us to enjoy HIS presence, we messed up, like a parent he has to discipline us, but he calls us back to HIM! and when we cannot make it, which none of us can, HE made the way!
Not all counselors are good ones…some are wolves in sheep’s clothing….
Nahum 1:12-13
12 This is what the Lord says:
Though they are strong[h] and numerous,
they will still be mowed down,
and he[i] will pass away.
Though I have afflicted you,[j]
I will afflict you no longer.
13 For I will now break off his yoke from you
and tear off your shackles.
The Promise of deliverance in the midst of an overwhelming enemy!
Nahum 1:14
14 The Lord has issued an order concerning you:
There will be no offspring
to carry on your name.[k]
I will eliminate the carved idol and cast image
from the house of your gods;
I will prepare your grave,
for you are contemptible.
Complete annihilation of the enemy…makes me think of Revelation!!!
Nahum 1:15 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
15 [l]Look to the mountains—
the feet of one bringing good news
and proclaiming peace!
Celebrate your festivals, Judah;
fulfill your vows.
For the wicked one will never again
march through you;
he will be entirely wiped out.
2 Chronicles 20:15 King James Version (KJV)
15 And he said, Hearken ye, all Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem, and thou king Jehoshaphat, Thus saith the Lord unto you, Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God’s.
Read Exodus 14:14 in all of it’s versions…the LORD will fight for US! for ME! for YOU!
No matter what a mess we have made of our lives, God can straighten it out.
No matter how big the enemy, God can take them down.
No matter how long the trial, God can see us through!
Hi!
My hope in the midst of despair and my joy in the face of depression is because of my relationship with Jesus Christ. If you do not have one, or are not sure you will join him in heaven, please check out these links.
Got Questions provides a detailed explanation of The Roman’s Road.
Thanks for joining me in this journey, In His hands and under His wings, ~Christi Ps 63:7 Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.
“The Lord does not give me rules, but He makes His standard very clear.
If my relationship to Him is that of love, I will do what He says without hesitation.
If I hesitate, it is because I love someone I have placed in competition with Him, namely, myself.” – from My Utmost for His highest
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