You are the salt of the earth

“Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.” - Matthew 5v13

Salt is probably the one mineral which has had the greatest impact on the history of the world. Wars have been fought and empires lost over salt. Economies have risen and collapsed over salt.

Salt has an important history for two reasons – 1) Its preserving power, and 2) its flavour enhancing capacities. Jesus used salt here to describe His followers as the “salt of the earth.” He mentions how that salt that has lost it flavour is only good to be thrown on the roads and paths to be walked on. Salt does not go off. Jesus is talking about common salt that is not pure, but mixed with other minerals and chemicals. This kind of salt is worthless – the only use for it is to clear ice or kill vegetation along the road. A good picture for us in road grit used in the winter the treat icy roads – we would never use this on our tables!

This is a perfect picture of one aspect of our ministry here on earth. We are to be the pure salt of the earth – undefiled by sin. When our saltiness is mixed with sin we are no better than road grit, we have no flavour and no preserving power. May God make us the pure salt in the world and may we flavour the world with His word.

Rejoice and be exceeding glad

“Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you”. - Matthew 5v12

“Rejoice and be exceeding glad,” sounds like a wonderful idea. Wouldn’t we all like to “rejoice and be exceeding glad?” Anyone who read just that phrase would be excited at the prospect.

The context however might be a little “put-offish.” Jesus said that we should rejoice and be exceeding glad when we are persecuted and reviled for His sake. Now we see one of the great paradoxes – when persecution comes for Jesus’ sake we are to rejoice!

It just doesn’t seem to make sense. Rejoice in persecution? How are we supposed to do that?

The key here, like so often, is looking beyond the present circumstances to what God is going to accomplish. We are not going to fit into this world – full stop. People are not going to get it, and eventually our stand for Christ may make it difficult as we face persecution.

What do we do? Rejoice, our reward in heaven is great, and beside – it has already happened to others!

Immediately they followed Him

“And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. And they straightway left their nets, and followed him.” - Matthew 4v19-20

Repentance is a vital theme of the New Testament. When Jesus began His public ministry He picked up the same message as John, “Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.” We must note the importance of His message – repentance is vital. Christ’s message is incomplete without repentance.

As He began to preach Jesus came across two men whom He had met as disciples of John. Peter and Andrew had returned to their nets. We don’t know whether their ministry with John had been temporary or whether they had left, but now they had a new task.

Jesus said, “Follow Me and I will make you fishers of men.” Their response is amazing and challenging for us. The Bible reports that they immediately they left their nets and followed Him. There was no discussion, no debate, and no delay. They simply followed.

What do we do when challenged in various areas to follow Him? Sadly it is too easy to sit back and debate if we should do what He wants. Our fears and trepidation can keep us back.

Lord, give me the strength to simply follow when you call.

Man does not live by bread alone

“And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward hungry. And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.” - Matthew 4v2-4

When I was watching television recently I heard a comment on a talk show that man’s three driving forces were food, sleep, and sex. This sort of summarises the mindset of the world today. If a person has enough food, sleep, and sex everything will basically be okay. There was no mention of anything outside the physical.

This kind of thinking drove Satan to the His first temptation of Christ. After praying and fasting for forty days Jesus was led into the wilderness where He encountered the devil. Knowing His physical hunger Satan tempted Him by challenging His deity and telling Him if He really were God He could turn the stones into bread.

Jesus shot down the whole theory of what life was all about. Man does not live by bread alone. To fit the quote above we might also say that man does not live by sleep alone or sex alone. What else is needed for real, complete life? Jesus said that he lives by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God. God’s word is a vital part of a real life.

That being the case we must take care never to neglect that part of our lives. Do we give God’s word as much emphasis as the areas mention on the talk show? How far off base we can become when we focus on the physical.

This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased

“And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” - Matthew 3v16-17

This is a unique passage in scripture. The baptism of Christ was an occasion of such import that all three persons of the Trinity were present. Jesus was there in the flesh, the Holy Spirit was there in the form of a dove, and God the Father spoke from heaven. In this way God put His public sanction on the ministry of Christ that He had approved and ordained before the foundation of the world.

There is more to it than that though – His words are a tremendous picture of His love when we consider what the ultimate purpose of His coming was for this beloved Son, with whom He was “well-pleased,” to go to the cross for my sins.

What a wonderful truth for us to remember. God loved us so much that He sent His beloved Son to die for our sins. All we can do in response to that kind of love is to respond by loving Him and serving Him.

Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand

“And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” - Matthew 3:2

After the excitement of a baby born in Bethlehem and angelic announcements nothing more happened for about thirty years. The next visitation from God came in the form of the prophet John boldly preaching and baptising in the wilderness. God’s message was the same it had been when He left off with Malachi – God’s people must repent of their sins.

John was laying the groundwork for the arrival of Messiah. Total repentance, as the Law had taught was impossible. John was trying to make people aware that they needed another avenue. Messiah would come with His message of grace and mercy to provide what they truly needed.

But the message of repentance would endure. Repentance would now be the sign of true salvation. Repentance does not change, but the good news is that Jesus makes it possible, and He is the only avenue.

Repentance is also for the believer, and we really have no excuse for with Emmanuel we have all the power needed to repent. The question is, do we really want to?

Emmanuel – God with us

“Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.” - Matthew 1v23

What an amazing God we have! When we think of God and man it is difficult to think of anything more different. He is perfect, holy, sinless, all-love, all-grace, all-mercy, and all-truth. He is omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent, eternal, and unchangeable. Man is none of these, we must work at being holy, loving, merciful, graceful, and truthful and we cannot be omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent, eternal, and unchangeable. All of this makes the truth of Emmanuel even more amazing.

Emmanuel means, “God with us.” This is one of the most amazing facts feasible. God with us – it doesn’t really even make any sense does it? How does it happen, this “God with us-ness?” It happens only by the grace and mercy of our loving, merciful, perfect, indescribable God.

Every day when I awake I need to remember that the God who brought the morning is here, with me. May and love, serve, praise, and sing to the God Who is with me!

Call His name Jesus

“And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.” - Matthew 1:21

Four hundred years had passed since God had spoken to Israel through Malachi. In our terms the people had not heard from God since about 1600. Four hundred years of silence from God – surely they had given up hope of ever hearing from God again.

Suddenly God spoke! First He spoke of a new prophet; John was to be born to bring a message of repentance. No one but his parents heard these words, but God was speaking and it was time for man to listen.

A few months later God spoke again. This time the words were of awesome import. He came to a little, insignificant carpenter in Nazareth. The words He spoke must have stunned poor Joseph. “Your fiancé is pregnant…” How he must have been gutted – he knew that he had not sinned with Mary. God didn’t make him wait long – “but don’t fret, this child is My son. You are going to call Him Jesus” Why Jesus, after all that was almost the same as Joseph’s name?

The answer shook the earth! “He will save His people from their sins.” Jesus – Saviour, the Messiah – the One who would, through death provide salvation for the world.

What wonderful news after four hundred years of silence. The most amazing thing is that He not only saved those people 2000 years ago, but He came to save me as well!

The Sun of Righteousness

“But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall.” - Malachi 4v2

God closes His word in the Old Testament with great words of comfort to those who choose to fear and trust Him. At the very end He says that those who don’t follow Him will one day face a curse. The sense of that curse is final destruction.

But praise God that is not where He leaves it. There is a message of hope before he gets to that point. “To those who fear my name the Sun of Righteousness will arise with healing in His wings…” Those who choose to fear God are not going to face the curse that the rest of the world will face.

Praise God for the healing in His wings. There is so much pain, hurt, and suffering in the world today that there is comfort in the knowledge that we have a Sun of Righteousness with healing in His wings. Lets avail ourselves of His marvellous healing!

I will make them my jewels

“And they shall be mine, saith the LORD of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him. Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not.” - Malachi 3v17-18

Many times in the Old Testament God makes comments and promises that do primarily apply to Israel. Yet these show an aspect of God’s character that also has an application for His people in the church. Here God mentions that the day will some when those who truly fear God will be honoured as He makes them His jewels and they will know right from wrong and behave accordingly.

The picture of becoming God’s jewels in beautiful. God will make those who fear Him into His jewels, His precious possession, or as Ephesians puts it, his workmanship.

It is an amazing fact that God could take rough, broken, dirty vessels and turn them into His jewels. Praise God that He is the Master Jewel Crafter!

God does not forget us

“Then they that feared the LORD spoke often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name.” - Malachi 3v16

Sometimes, if we are to be totally honest, we can have the same feelings as the people of Israel did. Sometimes, we too could be tempted to say, “What is the use of serving God? Is He really listening? Is He really going to do anything for us?” God doesn’t always act the way we think He should and sometimes we don’t like it.

Sadly, at that time we really are not fearing God the way we should. Those who fear the Lord talk about it to each other. God heard them and, to illustrate it in a way that we can understand, He created a book of remembrance for all that feared the Lord and thought on Him instead of their situations and their problems.

Of course God doesn’t need a book to remember us, but what a precious thought for us to dwell on. When it seems the darkest, lets remember that we are remembered where it counts – with God.

Will a man rob God?

"Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation. Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.” - Malachi 3v8-10

Can you imagine anything worse than robbing God? Israel was bound by Old Testament law to tithe and give a certain amount. They had stopped doing so and in doing that they had robbed God of what was rightfully His. By robbing God of what was His they were depriving themselves of what He wanted to do in their midst. God gave them a way out – “You want to see the blessings return? Try me out, go back to giving me what is mine and I will bless you so much that you will not be able to receive it all.

We, of course, are no longer bound by the Old Testament law. Praise God that it was our schoolmaster to bring us to Christ! Is it possible for us to rob God? Can we do the same thing Israel did?

Not exactly of course. We can’t break a law the does not bind us. We can however rob God by not giving Him what is His. When He purchased me on the cross I became His, My body became His temple. He bought me; I am His lock, stock, and barrel.

How do I rob God today? I do so when I don’t give Him my very best. When I hold back my time, my efforts, my resources, my talents, my abilities, and my very best I rob Him of what is rightfully His.

I wonder how God could bless if we all stopped robbing Him and gave God His due? I wonder if He could open the windows of heaven for us and pour out such a blessing that we would not be able to receive it?

If you return to me I will return to you

“Even from the days of your fathers ye are gone away from mine ordinances, and have not kept them. Return unto me, and I will return unto you, saith the LORD of hosts. But ye said, Wherein shall we return?” – Malachi 3v7

Today’s thought goes hand in hand with yesterday’s. God said, “I am the Lord, I do not change.” Pure and simple; uncomplicated – God does not change.

So what happens when we don’t feel close to God? What happens when the lines of communication seem broken? What happens when the joy of the Lord seems to have departed? What happens when our Christian life does not seem as vibrant and exciting as it used to?

Lets try to put two and two together here. If our relationship to God is not what it once was, and He never changes – who changed?

Praise God for the knowledge that He is still there, He hasn’t moved. All He is waiting for is for us to return to Him.

I am the Lord, I do not change

“For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.” - Malachi 3v6

I am the Lord – I do not change. There are many words of great comfort in the word of God, but His unchangeableness must be one of greatest comfort. Everything else in life changes; only He stays the same no matter what. We age, and eventually we die. Governments come and go. Even creation groans under the weight of sin and “waxes old like a garment.”

But God never changes – never. What does that mean for us? First of all we have the same God who said, “Let there be light” and who parted the Red Sea so that six million Jews could cross over in one night. This means that we have the all-powerful God of the universe “On our side” when we belong to Him.

What else does it mean? It means that “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” He is just as powerful and alive today as He was when He walked on earth. His power has not diminished nor will it ever diminish.

Even more personal than that is the marvellous personally is the fact that Jesus Christ is just the same today as He was the day we first got saved. His love for us has not diminished. Even when we fall He does not change - He still loves and cherishes us. Even when we shamefully sin and make a mockery of His sacrifice on the cross, His love does not change. Even when we “kiss Him only to betray Him again” He still loves us. Praise God that He never changes!

You have wearied the Lord with your words

“Ye have wearied the LORD with your words. Yet ye say, Wherein have we wearied him? When ye say, Every one that doeth evil is good in the sight of the LORD, and he delighteth in them; or, Where is the God of judgment?” - Malachi 2v17

How does God get tired of our words? In this case Israel wearied God with their words when they went on they own merry way without worrying about their actions or their sin. Their attitude was, “Why not, God isn’t going to do anything about it.” Little did they know that God was about to send the worst kind of judgement on their sin. What could be worse that the judgements of the Old Testament? They were about to find out – four hundred years of silence from God.

There could be nothing worse than not hearing from God at all. Think of how it feels when fellowship is broken with a loved one. Think of the empty, hollow feeling consumes you. This is what Israel was about to experience.

God hates sin, and is going to deal with it. Today through the blood of Christ our sins are forgiven, washed over by the blood of Christ, and the judgement is paid. Yet, God still hates sin. As believers we must be aware of God’s attitude towards sin. We are still His children when we sin, but we can’t expect the sweet fellowship with Him that comes when we are living pure and holy lives.

If we truly want to hear from God and see Him at work we must see sin as He sees it, then confess and forsake it.

Giving God less than best

“And if ye offer the blind for sacrifice, is it not evil? and if ye offer the lame and sick, is it not evil? offer it now unto thy governor; will he be pleased with thee, or accept thy person? saith the LORD of hosts. And now, I pray you, beseech God that he will be gracious unto us: this hath been by your means: will he regard your persons? saith the LORD of hosts.” - Malachi 1v8-9

At the end of the Old Testament God laid out His “bill of particulars” against Israel. This little book summarises all that had gone wrong.

One major problem was their sacrifices. They were sacrificing things to God that they knew the government would not have accepted in taxation. The attitude was, “Well, since no one else will take it we will give it to God.”

We can look back and think about how wicked it was to give God second best. Or, we can see it there is something there for us to learn. How do we do when it comes to giving to God? Does God have the very best of our time, our possessions, and our efforts? Are we ever giving God what man would not accept?

Where is my honour?

“A son honoreth his father, and a servant his master: if then I be a father, where is mine honor? and if I be a master, where is my fear? saith the LORD of hosts unto you, O priests, that despise my name. And ye say, Wherein have we despised thy name?” - Malachi 1v6

Malachi is probably, in my mind, the most heart-breaking book in the Bible. In retrospect we know that it would be God’s last words to His people for four hundred years. In it we see God’s heart as He points out to the nation how they have continued to disobey and dishonour Him with their words and actions.

In this section God points out that it is natural foe a son to honour his father and a servant to respect his master. Yet God points out that though He is both Father and Master His people are not showing Him the honour and respect which He is due.

“If I am your Father, why aren’t you honouring Me? If I am your Master why don’t you respect Me?” You can almost hear His heart breaking as He knows that they are not going to respond.

What about our own lives? We claim that God is our Father and our Master. Do we show Him the honour and respect that He is due, or do we just keep Him around to help us in a jam?

Does God see us the same way He saw Israel in this passage?

HOLINESSS TO THE LORD

“In that day shall there be upon the bells of the horses, HOLINESS UNTO THE LORD; and the pots in the LORD's house shall be like the bowls before the altar.”

- Zechariah 14v20

During this present age God calls on us to live a holy life in a very unholy world. There is little around us conducive to living a life of holiness and separation. The world has a strong draw and we live everyday right in the middle of it.

Let’s look forward to the day of the Lord that Zechariah talks about. In that day even the bells an the horses harnesses will be holy. The cooking pots in every house will be as special and dedicated as the vessels in the Holy of Holies. There will be no differentiation between what is holy and what is unholy. All will be holiness to the Lord!

Can we even imagine what a day that will be? All the struggles with sin put away. Won’t it be a wonderful thing to live holy lives in a holy world?

The Lord shall be king

“And the LORD shall be king over all the earth: in that day shall there be one LORD, and his name one.” - Zechariah 14:9

Along with yesterdays entry there is another exciting aspect of the Lord’s one day return. When the Lord comes back again He is going to come as King of the whole world. During the millennial reign of Christ He is going to literally be reigning on earth as King of the world, and we are told that we are going to live and reign with Him for a thousand years!

It is a great joy today to know Jesus as our own King in an eternal, spiritual realm. One day it is going to be real and physical. He is going to reign on earth as the literal King of the world. There will be only one Lord. All false belief systems and all false gods will be done away with.

We have so much to look forward to! While we live and function here on earth may we look forward with excitement and anticipation that one day my King will be THE King!

The day of the Lord comes

“Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, and thy spoil shall be divided in the midst of thee.” - Zechariah 14v1

“The day of the Lord comes” is such a short little statement that we might overlook it if are not careful. Another danger is that we might be so accustomed to hearing a certain phrase that we forget the import of it. Yet, the fact that the Lord is coming should thrill our souls and we should always look forward to His return.

The fact that this theme preached by the prophets, expanded upon in the New Testament and concluded the Bible should remind us that it is a vital truth that we must never lose sight of. All through the years Christians have believed. Patrick, the evangelist to Ireland in the fifth century was looking forward to the :soon advent” of our Lord.

How can we be expected to keep looking and being excited about it? Because the Lord says the day of the Lord is coming. The fact that it doesn’t fit our timeframe doesn’t mean that it is not true.

The day of the Lord IS coming. What a day that will be!

These are the things you shall do

“These are the things that ye shall do; Speak ye every man the truth to his neighbour; execute the judgment of truth and peace in your gates: And let none of you imagine evil in your hearts against his neighbour; and love no false oath: for all these are things that I hate, saith the LORD.” - Zechariah 8v16-17

When God gives instructions to His nation Israel in a particular time and place in the Old Testament it is obvious that not all of them are for us or applicable to us. However sometimes God does lay down principles for us that reveal something of His character and what He wants to see.

Here God gave Israel a few simple instructions about what He expected out of them.

• Speak the truth to your neighbour
• Do what is honest and peaceable
• Don’t think badly about your neighbour
• Don’t love dishonesty

Aren’t those practical thoughts in a day and age that generally teaches just the opposite of each of these points? Someone said recently that we should live radically different lives in order to draw men to Christ. Doing these things would certainly be considered radically different! Perhaps men could see the radical difference and be drawn to our Saviour if we took these things to heart and put them into action.

He cried and they would not hear

“Therefore it is come to pass, that as he cried, and they would not hear; so they cried, and I would not hear, saith the LORD of hosts:”

- Zechariah 7:13

Not everyone is willing to listen when the word of God is preached. There is a time when some people will not hear God’s word. They refuse to heat God when His man cries out.

God is patient. He wants all men to come to Him. He sends His word and His people to call all men to repentance. His great love draws all men to Him, yet there are some who will not listen when He calls.

God is patient. He waits patiently for men to call out to Him. Sadly, the day is going to come when it will be too late. God’s patience is not infinite – one day it will be too late to call out to God. Once man has crossed death’s door they can call all they want, but God will not hear.

We have a pressing need to see men come to Christ while they have a chance. May we be constantly praying and sharing while men have their chance.

Should you not obey

“Should ye not hear the words which the LORD hath cried by the former prophets, when Jerusalem was inhabited and in prosperity, and the cities thereof round about her, when men inhabited the south and the plain?” - Zechariah 7v7

Israel really thought they had it figured out and that they were doing it all right. They were praying and fasting on a regular basis for several years. When it didn’t seem to them like this was all “working” they came to the priests and asked them. They didn’t have an answer so they went to the prophet Zechariah. He did have an answer, but it might not be what they wanted to hear.

“Who are you fasting for?” Sometimes fasting can be misdirected. It is possible that we can fast for our own benefit, so that we feel like we are doing our duty, or even to have a goal that we want accomplished. There is a “feel good” factor to our fasting if we are not careful. The test of whether or not our fasting is proper is here in verse seven – “Should you not hear the words which the Lord has cried out?” Hearing God’s word implies obedience. There can be no doubt that God desires our prayer and fasting, but even more than that He wants our obedience.

We read in another place that to obey is better than sacrifice, from this passage we read that to obey is better than fasting.

Let us examine ourselves as we fast. The answer is not to stop fasting, but to always obey with our fasting.

Not by might or by power

“Then he answered and spoke unto me, saying, This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts.” – Zechariah 4v6

The work of the temple, as we already know was discouraging. Most of Zechariah’s prophecy was to encourage the people and little could have encouraged them more than these words. “You are not going to do this work in your own strength or your own power,” God told them, “you are going to do the work by My Spirit!”

When we try to serve the Lord today we are going to go through some tough spells. It is not always going to be a mountain top experience. Often when it gets like that we can try to do things our own way. We get desperate and we try to figure out what more we can do. We can even begin to see ourselves as failures.

God’s reminder is for all of us. We are not going to succeed on our own. God is going to do His work through us in His way if We are in fellowship and obedience to Him.. This does not take away our responsibility to be faithful in service and obedience, but it does help us with the pressure to succeed.

I am coming

“Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion: for, lo, I come, and I will dwell in the midst of thee, saith the LORD.” – Zechariah 2v10

When the Jews first read these words they naturally assumed that when Messiah came the first time it would be for the purpose of doing just what He said here, the live and reign in Jerusalem.

They didn’t know yet that God’s plan was so much bigger – He was going to open His arms and make provision for all men to be saved. He did that by going to the cross to pay the sin penalty so that all who will accept His gift can have the joy of eternity with Him.

The precious promise “I am coming to dwell in the midst of you” is still to be kept. One day He is coming back; first to take us with Him - then to reign on earth. Praise God for the precious promise “I am coming to dwell in your midst,” and thank God that it is available for us.

Return to Me and I will return to you

“Therefore say thou unto them, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Turn ye unto me, saith the LORD of hosts, and I will turn unto you, saith the LORD of hosts.” - Zechariah 1v3

Zechariah was a contemporary of Haggai. The both prophesied to a nation that had wandered away from their close fellowship with God. They had become preoccupied with their own busy-ness and left God out of their everyday lives.

We often use the term “backsliding” to describe this action. We cannot lose God – He is not going to forsake us. However, out sweet close communion and fellowship with Him is affected. We miss the blessings of seeing Him involved in our everyday lives when we turn away from that fellowship.

God doesn’t want us to do without Him. He wants what if best for us so He waits for us to forsake our sin and turn back to Him. If we do so He promises that He will be there for us and that we can expect Him to be there.

If we walk out of fellowship, why not return to Him and let Him return to us.

The desire of all nations

“And I will shake all nations, and the desire of all nations shall come: and I will fill this house with glory, saith the LORD of hosts. The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, saith the LORD of hosts. The glory of this latter house shall be greater than of the former, saith the LORD of hosts: and in this place will I give peace, saith the LORD of hosts.” - Haggai 2v7-9

God truly loves His people. He did not just tell them to stop being discouraged and to get their act together. He told them why they should not be discouraged. God told them to look forward to the day when He would “shake all nations, the Desire of Nations would come, He would fill His temple with glory, and He would give peace.

God wants us to do all we can here and now, but He wants us to be looking forward to what He will do.

At the end of the day all God wants us to do is to be faithful with what we have. As long as we are doing all to His glory we can rest assured no matter how it looks. One day He is going to use it all for His glory and we will rejoice in what He has done.

Wouldn’t it be wise if we started rejoicing in what He is doing today?

When we see nothing

“Who is left among you that saw this house in her first glory? and how do ye see it now? is it not in your eyes in comparison of it as nothing?” - Haggai 2v3

Finally the work was done, the temple was built. For some there was great excitement over what they had done, but for those who had seen the old temple this was like nothing. It was not what they had hoped for, they felt dejected to the point of tears. “You call this a temple?” they may have asked, “This is nothing.”

The problem was that they were not seeing things from God’s point of view. They were looking at the things they could see instead of the things they could not see. Our problem too often is that we have “geovision” where we see only the things of this world.

When we are faithfully serving God there is never “nothing.” We may not see it, but God is at work. Let’s replace our geovision with Deovision where we learn to see God in all that is happening.

They came and worked

“And the LORD stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest, and the spirit of all the remnant of the people; and they came and did work in the house of the LORD of hosts, their God,” - Haggai 1v14

When it comes right down to it there is only way to fix procrastination. After fourteen years of focusing on themselves the people finally got busy when they heard God’s word from Haggai. The decided to obey God, and when they did they got words of great encouragement from God Himself – “I am with you.”

Imagine that; when God tells us to serve Him He does not send us out all alone. He says here, and many times in the Bible, that He will go out with us. In our own power we can do absolutely nothing – nothing at all. But when God goes with us we can do anything, nothing is impossible.

The people of Israel did what we should do today – they went out and did the work. No deliberation, no debate, no more procrastination – the simply went out and did the work.

What does God want us to stop procrastinating and do today?

You have sown much, but you bring in little

“Ye have sown much, and bring in little; ye eat, but ye have not enough; ye drink, but ye are not filled with drink; ye clothe you, but there is none warm; and he that earneth wages earneth wages to put it into a bag with holes.” - Haggai 1v6

Do you ever wonder why we can’t seem to get ahead in life? Doesn’t it seem sometimes like the harder we work, the less we end up with? Does it always seem like there is more month than there is money?

Perhaps we need to heed Haggai’s words in verse 5 and verse 7 – “Consider your ways.” Israel’s problem came from their misdirected priorities. God lays down the same principle in the New Testament, “Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things we be added unto you.” If we could ever learn to truly trust God with the things of this world, He would sort out the rest for us. Wrong focus is always going to lead to problems and we are never going to feel like we are getting ahead.

Let’s spend out time, our money, and our effort seeking Him and His kingdom and let Him sort out the rest.

Consider Your Ways

Thus saith the Lord of Hosts, "Consider your ways." Haggai 1v5

Haggai came to God's people in a very difficult time. A few years before they had returned to Jerusalem with great excitement and great fervency. The captivity was over and now they had the chance to rebuild the city and the Temple. They started work with a fervour. Pretty soon however things went sour. Opposition came, the enemy didn't like what they were doing, the work got hard and they eventually just laid it aside and went about their own business. They built nice homes for themselves and forgot about serving God. Fourteen years passed and they were still saying, "Oh, its not time to do God.s work yet!"

God sent the prophet Haggai to speak to them in this time. He point out to them that while God's house was in ruins they were all living in their finely furnished houses. They were grand with it all, but God was not happy with their complacency and procrastination.

"Consider your ways!" The words from Haggai's lips were a stinging rebuke to the people. "Think about what you are saying and what you are doing." These words from God's man are as appropriate now as they were then. We can get so caught up in wrong goals and wrong priorities that we forget all about God's work and doing the things He wants us to do.

Lets all take time to consider our ways this morning and every morning. Are the things on tap for today the things He would have us to do?

Wait on me, says the Lord…He will save

“Therefore wait ye upon me, saith the LORD, until the day that I rise up to the prey…The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing.” - Zephaniah 3v8,17

It seems sometimes like there is a lot of waiting on God in the Bible. No one likes waiting. We are all kind of like children when it comes to wait. We get excited about what is coming and we want what we want when we want it. We can be like kids fidgeting in the back seat saying, “Are we there yet?”

Generally, we know what is best what is coming and what is best for our children. God does so more than generally. He always knows what is best and He always knows what timing is best. The problem is that like those kids we don’t always “get it.”

One day it is all going to make sense – the Lord knows best. Like impatient children we need to sit down, carry on with what we need to do, and trust that He is going to always do the right thing!

The Lord will do no wrong

“The just LORD is in the midst thereof; he will not do iniquity: every morning doth he bring his judgment to light, he faileth not; but the unjust knoweth no shame.” - Zephaniah 3v5

I find it interesting that the so often in the midst of our trials and testings we can be tempted to doubt and question God. “Can He really understand this? Does He know what is going on?” How do we ever overcome that? How do we get to the point where we don’t doubt God?

A huge part of that comes down to faith. When we doubt God we are in essence questioning His heart and His character. Often in the Old Testament, in the midst of God’s wrath, He makes a point to remind us that He is always doing the right thing. His judgement is always right. As His children live our lives He is always in our midst, and He never does what is wrong, He never fails us.

Once again it comes down to faith – do we have the faith to trust God even when we can’t see what He is doing?

Neither silver nor gold will deliver them

"Neither their silver nor their gold will be able to deliver them in the day of the Lord's wrath..." - Zephaniah 1v18

It is sad today that so much of the world today is "running a hundred miles and hour in the wrong direction." Everything about their lives is focused on getting and having more land, money, houses, cars, possessions, and "stuff" in general. It is even sadder that God's people get caught up in the same trap. Churches are full of folks who spend most of their time trying to get more and more things while leaving God on the shelf.

At the end of the day all of that stuff is not going to mean anything. The only thing that is important is our love for God and our love for others. That is, after all, the great commandment that Jesus gave.

Lets make sure that we have our focus always in the right place. All of these temporal things are going to be gone one day.

To be fit for God

Balance my mind in all varying circumstances
and help me to cultivate a disposition
that renders every duty a spiritual privilage.

Wine upon the lees

“And it shall come to pass at that time, that I will search Jerusalem with candles, and punish the men that are settled on their lees: that say in their heart, The LORD will not do good, neither will he do evil.” - Zephaniah 1v12

One of the many reasons for the judgement on God’s people in Jerusalem was that they had become complacent about their sin. The people of the city, and the nation in general had come to the point where they though that God would do nothing about their sin. They had “settled on their lees” of sin. Lees are the thick, sticky, mucky, sludge left in a wine vat after the good wine has been poured out. It is nasty, think, gunky, and gooey.

Sadly, even Christians can settle in the lees of their sin, as nasty and ugly as it is. God is never happy when we settle back into our sins. Whether we admit it or not, we are essentially saying, “God doesn’t care if I sin.” What a slap in the face of a Holy God!

If we ever find ourselves comfortable and complacent in out sins it is time for a wake up call! Time to confess our sins, accept His forgiveness, and clean up that nasty gunk that we were stuck in!

Yet I will rejoice

“Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labor of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls: Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation. The LORD God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds' feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places. To the chief singer on my stringed instruments.” - Habakkuk 3v17-19

After all was said and done Habakkuk truly figured it out. He realised that God’s methods and God’s ways are not always going to be His ways. Even after God laid things out for him he did not understand, so he came to a conclusion – I will still rejoice.

Habakkuk said, “I don’t care if the fig trees don’t blossom, if the grapes fail, if the olives don’t produce, f the crops fail, if the sheep and the cattle all die – even then I am going to rejoice in the Lord.”

How could he say that? He because He had learned that he was not the source of his power and he was not the source of His stability. He knew that the truth of “The Lord is my strength. The Lord will let me walk numbly above all this stuff! He knew the truth of Ephesians 2 where the Lord will lift us up to the high places!

If we could have the same perspective we could learn to say “I will rejoice” in the Lord no matter what the circumstances!”

The Lord is in His holy temple

“But the LORD is in his holy temple: let all the earth keep silence before him.” - Habakkuk 2v20

Habakkuk finally got things sorted out in His mind. At the end of the day, when we just can’t get it sorted in our heads – it is time, as the song goes, to bow the knee and realise that the Lord is still in His holy temple. When that time comes it is the chance for us to simply keep silence before Him and let Him do His work.

When we think about it, what better choice could we make than to let God have control? God is love, God is good, and God is my daddy! After we have said our piece, why not just let Him do what He will and rest in that.

He is still in control no matter what we are going through – may we be silent and rest calmly in that!

Living by faith

“Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith.” - Habakkuk 2v4

The concept of faith living is often thought of as something in the New Testament alone. We don’t often thing about Old Testament faith, or the concept of daily living by faith. However, as part of what God was showing Habakkuk he let it be done that the just live by faith in God and His perfect way. Habakkuk didn’t understand what was going on – God said, the just live by faith and trust me.

Living by faith is the only way for God’s people to live. At some time we must just learn to trust Him and go on our way. The greatest test of who is truly just is when they are willing to keep living daily while trusting Him!

I will stand on my watch

“I will stand upon my watch, and set me upon the tower, and will watch to see what he will say unto me, and what I shall answer when I am reproved.” - Habakkuk 2v1

Habakkuk gives us a great example of how to deal with situations where we don’t understand what God is doing. First he poured out his heart to God, he did not hold back how he felt about the situation, he prayed about all that was wrong – then he took the bold step of faith.

“I will stand on my watch,” he said, “I will see what God will say and then see how I respond when God sorts me out.” It is interesting to note that Habakkuk did not think that he was going to get God to change His mind or His way, but that God would teach him what was going on. He knew that God was right; he just knew that he didn’t know what was going on.

What would it be like if we behaved like Habakkuk. God wants our openness and honesty. He wants us to bring our concerns to Him. At those times our heart should not be expecting God to act our way, but to let Him teach us the perfectness of His work in every situation.

You are too pure to look at evil

“Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity: wherefore lookest thou upon them that deal treacherously, and holdest thy tongue when the wicked devoureth the man that is more righteous than he?” - Habakkuk 1v13

Habakkuk was in questioning mode. He was trying to reconcile what he knew about God with what he was seeing. He saw wicked Isreal prospering, then he heard God say He was going to use the even more wicked Assyria to punish Israel for their sins. How could he reconcile the two in his mind?

There is a great truth expressed in the middle of this discussion between Habakkuk and God. Habakkuk said, “You are of purer eyes that to behold evil.” Regardless of the arguments here, this is an absolute true statement. God cannot behold evil. The conflict is not quite as confusing as it might seem. God could not behold evil. His people were enjoying their sin, God is so pure that He could not tolerate His people’s sin and was willing to use a wicked nation to judge their sin.

It is vital that we have the same view of sin that God does.

He knows those who trust in Him

“The LORD is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him.” - Nahum 1v7

Nineveh really messed up. Only about a hundred years after the great spiritual awakening under Jonah’s preaching they had reverted to their old ways. After an initial positive response they next generations had rushed back into their sin.

God is just and holy. He cannot tolerate sin in any measure. Their sins had to be judged. The prophet Nahum was sent to Nineveh to let them know of the coming judgement. His little book is full of God’s wrath on the people for their sin.

Yet, early on Nineveh has a few words of comfort for those who are truly the Lord’s. There must be some there who had never turned from God. To them God has great words of comfort for them to hold on to during the pending doom:

• The Lord is good
• He is a stronghold in the day of trouble
• He know them that trust in Him

Years ago I chose this as my own special “life verse” because of the depth of the comfort He provides. First is the statement of God’s inherent goodness. This is foundational to the rest of the passage. In all things and all circumstances he must remember that He is good, all good, and always good. Because He is good He is a stronghold that we can cling to in the worst days of trouble and conflict. There is a place we can turn in the very worst of days. Finally – we have the full knowledge that He knows those that put their trust in Him. He knows all about our deepest and darkest struggles. He knows us better than anyone else even could.

We are living in dark and troublesome days. Praise my Almighty God for His goodness, for the fact that I can hold on to Him in the darkest days, and that He knows me.

Imagine that, the God Who said, “Let there be light, knows Roger Parrow!!

Who is a God like You?

“Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger forever, because he delighteth in mercy. He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.” - Micah 7v18-19

Thou hast given me to read my pardon
in the wounds of Jesus,
and my soul doth trust in him, my God incarnate,
the ground of my life, the spring of my hope.

Perhaps the Puritan writer of this thought had the end of Micah in mind when he wrote these words. Micah was overwhelmed at the goodness of God in wiping out his sins. “Who is a God like You,” he asked he tried to cop on to what God does when He forgives sin. Micah did not have the advantage of seeing how all of this would be accomplished in Christ, but he did understand the depth of God’s forgiveness.

• He will pardon iniquity
• He will pass over transgression
• He will not remain angry forever
• He will bless again
• He will have compassion
• He will subdue our iniquities
• He will cast our sins in the depths of the sea

Why would He do all that – because He is a God Who delights in mercy! He delights in it so much that He sent His Son to pay the price to cover over all of our sins so that He could do all of the things Micah mentioned!

Praise the Mighty Lamb of God that my sins are cast into the very depths of the see by the blood of Christ, because my Abba Father delights in showing mercy!

I will behold His righteousness

“I will bear the indignation of the LORD, because I have sinned against him, until he plead my cause, and execute judgment for me: he will bring me forth to the light, and I shall behold his righteousness.” - Micah 7v9

Sometime we may ask ourselves when it is going to begin to make sense. We keep on sinning and suffering the consequences. The “bad guys” seem to prosper while the church seems to struggle along. Putting in a common vernacular we might well say, “What’s the story?”

One day it is all going to make sense. Micah could be bold before his enemies when he said, “Though I fall I will arise” because He had an ultimate hope and confidence – he knew that one day he would see the righteousness of the Lord. Righteousness is basically just “rightness,” or “rightwiseness” as the English word used to be.

God always does right – always. It may not always make sense to us, but it is always right. Micah knew that one day he would see the rightness of it all. One day it will all make sense to us. All the pieces of the puzzle will fall into place. What confidence that should give us – one day we will see the rightwiseness of God!

When I fall, I will arise

“Rejoice not against me, O mine enemy: when I fall, I shall arise; when I sit in darkness, the LORD shall be a light unto me.” - Micah 7v8

The Bible tells that a righteous man will fall seven times and then rise up again. If we would be honest we would admit that we are all susceptible to falling. In fact, we are probably far too familiar with what it means to fall. The can be a fear, as one songwriter puts it, that we can “fall one too many times.” This fear is based on a “fear that His love is no better than mine.”

Micah too knew what it was like to fall. He told his enemies not to get too excited about his falling, because he would arise. Though he might be in darkness at the moment he would sit in great light. He had the faith to know that God would allow him to arise again – and again, and again – because God’s love for us is greater than our love. We get tired of watching people fall, we can give up on them, but if God can allow us to rise up again should we now give others the same chance?

Praise the Almighty Creator of the universe – He is the One who lifts me up EVERY time I fall.

Thank you Abba Father – for lifting me up in my darkest hours!

I will look to the Lord

“Therefore I will look unto the LORD; I will wait for the God of my salvation: my God will hear me.” - Micah 7v7

When Micah looked around him he must have been tempted to despair. There was nothing good to be seen. Sin was rampant, the political and religious leaders were corrupt, and even family and friends could not be trusted.

I think we probably have all been through times like that. It just seems like everything is coming down around our heads. At times like that I think we have all been tempted to just through up our hands and quit.

I’m sure Micah was tempted to do the same, but he made another choice. He decided that he would look to the Lord and wait on Him for His answer. How could he simply decide to just sit back and wait on God?

The answer is that he had the faith to say – “My God will hear me!” Micah knew that no matter what happened God would hear Him. He had the kind of raw faith that could just say, “God is going to do the right thing and I will rest in that.”

How often do we respond this way when things are coming apart at the seems? By God’s grace may we learn to respond like Micah did!

What does the Lord require of you?

“He hath showed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?” - Micah 6v8

Israel could be religious with the best of them. They had the sacrifices down pat, their religious rituals were the pride of the area, and everything seemed okay on the surface.

But deeper down there were serious issues. There hearts were corrupt, the treated their neighbours poorly, they were proud and arrogant in their demeanour. They showed no love of God in their lives.

As God reasoned with them He let them know that this was not the way. He summarised all that He wanted from them with a short list of this that He really desired to see.

• Do what is right to others
• Love and demonstrate God’s mercy
• Walk in humility before God

That doesn’t look like too much to ask does it? Yet when these are combined the summarise all that true godly living is all about. The fruit of the Spirit can easily be seen in this short list.

Lets take chance today to examine our lives in the light of what God really requires of us.

This man shall be peace

“But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting. Therefore will he give them up, until the time that she which travaileth hath brought forth: then the remnant of his brethren shall return unto the children of Israel. And he shall stand and feed in the strength of the LORD, in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God; and they shall abide: for now shall he be great unto the ends of the earth. And this man shall be the peace…” - Micah 5v2-5

Many Christians are familiar with Micah 5v2 in the Christmas story. It is the prophecy of Messiah being born in Bethlehem. We all are aware that Jesus miraculously fulfilled that prophecy. He also fulfilled several other things that were prophesied.

• He indeed did stand and feed the nation in the strength of the Lord
• He opened the door for them, and us, the abide in the majesty of His name
• He is great in all the ends of the earth

There is one more blessed promise here – This man shall be the peace among the nations. In one way He will literally fulfil that one day when He sets up His kingdom. In a more personal way He is already fulfilling that promise in being our peace in a troubled world. Praise God that He is our peace – for only then can He provide the peace that we need.

I am full of power by the Spirit of the Lord

“But truly I am full of power by the spirit of the LORD, and of judgment, and of might, to declare unto Jacob his transgression, and to Israel his sin.” - Micah 3v8

Micah knew the only source of his power. He knew that when he proclaimed the word of God he was not doing so on the basis of anything he had done or who is was. All around him were false prophets trying to proclaim things in their own authority and on the basis of their strength.

Micah had a job to do – he had to preach against sin in the land. He knew that he too was a sinner, but that was not the basis for his preaching. His preached was not strengthened by who he was, or the sort of man he was. It was based totally on the fact that he was preaching in the power of the Holy Spirit.

What a lesson for us! When we proclaim God’s word, whether it be in the pulpit or the shop, we don’t do so based on our power or who we are. If we don’t do this in the power and might of the Holy Spirit than we are going to fail every single time.

Do not my words do good the him that walks uprightly?

“O thou that art named the house of Jacob, is the spirit of the LORD straitened? are these his doings? do not my words do good to him that walketh uprightly?” - Micah 2v7

God’s people did not seem like they were ever going to learn. Troubles came and the priests were saying that it was not God’s judgement. God used Micah to tell them that it really was Him. God said, in essence, “are you trying to say what I can and can’t do?”

God did not only show them His judgement, but He reminded them of another great truth – “My words do go to them that walk uprightly.” The key reminder is this – God is always at work, to the wicked he pours out judgement, but to those who choose to walk uprightly He will allow His words to do good!

Should not I spare Nineveh?

“And should not I spare Nineveh, that great city, wherein are more than sixscore thousand persons that cannot discern between their right hand and their left hand; and also much cattle?” - Jonah 4v11

I never cease to be amazed at God’s love and mercy. In our eyes He could not have chosen a more unsuitable target for His mercy than Nineveh. There were quite possibly the most wicked city in the known world at the time – vicious, brutal, pagans – they had no regard for human life. It seems like God would have just killed them all.

Yet God saw something else – there were 120,000 children there as well. God chose to give Nineveh a chance – and when the city repented of their sin God marvellously and graciously saved them. His mercy saw beyond what any of us would have seen.

We all deal with similar situations daily. We look around and see the most “hopeless cases” and think that they are never going to turn to God. We must learn to see the world around us with the eyes of Christ. If we are indeed His body – why aren’t His eyes seeing the needy all around us?

You are a gracious God

“But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was very angry. And he prayed unto the LORD, and said, I pray thee, O LORD, was not this my saying, when I was yet in my country? Therefore I fled before unto Tarshish: for I knew that thou art a gracious God, and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repentest thee of the evil.” - Jonah 4v1-2

Just when you think you can start to like an appreciate Jonah he goes and says something silly like this.

“I knew You were a gracious, merciful, patient, and kind God who would show mercy on these people – that’s why I ran away to Spain. I didn’t want you to save those people!”

Jonah was really mixed up in his thinking. He hated these people so much that he really did not want to see them saved! How short sighted and selfish Jonah was!

Let us make sure that we always see ALL people like God does, not like Jonah did. God is indeed gracious, merciful, patient, and kind. May we pray for His grace and mercy on all around us.

God saw their works

"And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God repented of the evil, that he had said that he would do unto them; and he did it not.” - Jonah 3v10

What was it that spared the city of Nineveh from the judgement that God had planned? They were certainly on God’s judgement list for their sins – they only had thirty days to repent or destruction was coming. However they heard Jonah’s message and responded – they turned to God.

Some have claimed that the revival was not genuine, that it was only a response to being afraid of God’s wrath. Yet. God spared them from the wrath that was planned for them – something must have happened.

I believe that Nineveh saw a genuine turning to God. Why? Because God saw their works - that they repented of the evil that they had down. True repentance is going to manifest itself in good works. God could not be tricked – He knew that they had repented because their lives changed.

When God works in our hearts there is going to be change. When someone is saved there is going to be a change. True change is ALWAYS marked by good works.

Then Jonah arose

“So Jonah arose, and went unto Nineveh, according to the word of the LORD. Now Nineveh was an exceeding great city of three days' journey.” - Jonah 3v3

Why did Jonah go this time when God told him to go to Nineveh and preach? Some would say, “If you have just been in a storm, thrown out of a boat, nearly drowned, then swallowed and spit up by a whale you would listen to God the second time as well!”

Perhaps his only motivation was fear of what God might do is he refused again, but it is fairly possible that there may have been another motivation. A few verse previous Jonah talked about his “sacrifice of thanksgiving.” Thanksgiving is best seen when it is put into practice. It is one thing to say “thank you” and quite another to show it by action.

Either way, this time Jonah did what called him to do. Delayed or not, he was now in obedience to God.

I will sacrifice with a voice of thanksgiving

“But I will sacrifice unto thee with the voice of thanksgiving; I will pay that that I have vowed. Salvation is of the LORD.” - Jonah 2v9

Jonah knew the importance of thanksgiving. A couple of other places in Scripture thanksgiving is referred to as a sacrifice as well. Why is thanksgiving called a sacrifice? Why did Jonah say that he would sacrifice to God with a voice of thanksgiving?

There is a hint in the end of the verse – “salvation is of the Lord.” Jonah knew at this stage that he could not save himself. He had to swallow any pride that would let him think that he could do something about. The sacrifice here is of any pride in self-sufficiency. When that happens all we can do is to give thanks to the only One who can do anything to help.

When my soul fainted I remembered the Lord

“When my soul fainted within me I remembered the LORD: and my prayer came in unto thee, into thine holy temple.” - Jonah 2v7

Jonah had reached rock bottom, literally. He recounted all that had happened. He was at the bottom of the ocean with seaweed wrapped around his head. It was only at the time when his “soul fainted” that he would finally remember and call on His Lord.

Sometimes today people have to reach rock bottom before they look up. The prodigal son was eating pig scraps before he realised what he had done. He finally saw the results of his sin. It was not until then that he would confess and forsake of his sin, repent, and return to his father.

When we see one we care about going further and further down we must not despair and we must keep loving them. It may be that they have to get stuck on the bottom of the ocean with no way up before they will remember and turn back to the Lord. Lets just be sure that we are there for them when that happens.