Bible Scripture Reading

"Greetings in the Name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for 26 October 2012"

Today's Blog Title: "Hosea and the Adulteress"
Today's Blog Scripture Reading Hosea 3:1-5
Today's Blog Key Verse: Hosea 3:5 "Afterward shall the children of Israel return, and seek the Lord their God, and David their king; and shall fear the Lord and His goodness in the latter days."

If anyone had occasion to renounce his wife, Hosea did.  However he was instructed to love her still.  Similarly, God continues to love an unfaithful Israel.  "Flagons of wine" in verse 1 are raisin cakes.  They are similar, if not identical, to the cakes mentioned in Jeremiah 7:18 and 44:19, which were used in the idolatrous ceremonies in honor of the queen of heaven.

The price to redeem Gomer is indicative of the depth to which she had sunk.  30 pieces of silver was the price commonly paid for a slave.  Barley was considered to be a food fit only for animals, and was eaten only by the poorest people.  Gomer had sunk to such depths, that she was worth only half the price of a common slave and approximately 10 bushels of animal food.

The word "without" occurs five times in the Hebrew text.  Israel actually will be without three things: (1) the monarchy--she will have neither reigning monarch nor anyone in line to become one.  Ultimately, a king must come as promised to David and Israel in 2nd Samuel 7 (2) a sacrifice--she will not observe a God appointed sacrificial system during this long period, though during it the Messiah will in fact come and be the supreme Sacrifice and (3) Idolatry--even though she will not observe a true religious system, she will forsake idolatry and all its trappings.  In God's appointed time Israel will come to its senses and will have a national regeneration.

Although Christ will reign as sovereign in the kingdom, it is not clear whether He is the only One on the Throne.  Several passages suggest that David will reign in the Millennium (Isaiah 55:3; Jeremiah 30:9; 33:15,17,20,21; Ezekiel 34:23-24; 37:24-25; Hosea 3:5; Amos 9:11).  These verses may be interpreted: (1) typologically, with Jesus as the Son of David, fulfilling David in type, reigning or (2) literally, with David being resurrected, returning to the throne, and having a sphere of regal authority under the regency of Christ.

One of the Millennial Title reign of Christ is "King of kings and Lord of lords" (Revelation 19:16), may suggest the presence of lesser kings and lords.  So it could be that David will serve under the authority of Jesus as vice regent of Palestine, just as others may similarly rule other regions or cities,  Those who suffer for Christ will someday reign with Him (Praise God).

One day Israel's heart will again turn to God.  Hosea too is willing to bear the pain until his wife's heart turns to him again.

Clink on this link www.cindi-davis.blogspot.com for a Bible from Psalm 15:1.

Have a God Filled and Spirit Led Day. Go in Peace and Serve the Lord our God with Gladness. Love God More Today. Always remember that when you have a spiritual, emotional, physical, or financial issue in your life, and you yell out, "I CAN'T," GOD Whispers to you, "BUT I CAN."

JESUS REIGNS!!!  May God's Love, Peace, Strength, and Grace be with you all.

Your Sister in Christ,
Cindi

Bible Scripture Reading

"Greetings in the Name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for 24 October 2012"

Today's Blog Title: "God's Unfaithful People"
Today's Blog Scripture Reading: Hosea 2:1-23
Today's Blog key Verse: Hosea 2:23 'Then I will sow her for myself in the earth, and I will have mercy on her who had not obtained mercy; then I will say to those who were not My people, "You are My people!" and they shall say, "You are my God."

"Your mother" in verse 2, is Israel, the "children" are individual Israelites.  Both the historic nation and contemporary individuals are guilty of spiritual adultery in forsaking Almighty God. 

Verse 8, is one of Scriptures most touching verses.  God keeps on supplying us with good things, even when we do not acknowledge Him.  Even when we use His good gifts to finance our wickedness.  How amazing God's Grace and patience!  When patience does not bear fruit, God has other methods.  One is to withdraw the blessing and let us experience the consequences of our sins.

"Therefore, behold, I will allure her" the Lord here would seek to win the nation of Israel back by making romantic overtures and wooing her with tender words of love.  A relationship with God looks more attractive from the depths of discipline than the pinnacle of prosperity.

The words "I will betroth you to Me forever" in verse 19, shows us that God acts in Love, Compassion, Faithfulness, and Justice, all to win His people to Himself.  Our part is to respond to His initiatives, and to acknowledge Him.

When we acknowledge God, He responds to us and showers us with blessings.  And the greatest blessing of all?  "I will say to those people...You are My people"; and they will say, "You are my God."

Have a God Filled and Spirit Led Day. Go in Peace and Serve the Lord our God with Gladness. Love God More Today. Always remember that when you have a spiritual, emotional, physical, or financial dilemma in your life, and you yell out, "I CAN'T," God Whispers to you, "BUT I CAN."

Click on this link www.cindi-davis.blogspot.com for a Bible Verse Writing from Exodus 3:5.

JESUS REIGNS!!!  May God's Love, Peace, Strength, and grace be with you all.

Your Sister in Christ,
Cindi
  
 

Bible Scripture Reading

"Greetings in the Name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for 22 October 2012"

Today's Blog Title: "Hosea's Unfaithful Wife" 
Today's Blog Scripture Reading: Hosea 1:1-11
Today's Blog Key Verse: Hosea 1:2 "When the LORD began to speak by Hosea, the LORD said to Hosea: "Go take yourself a wife of harlotry And children of harlotry, For the land has committed great harlotry By departing from the LORD."

Gomer may have been a common prostitute at the time Hosea married her, or perhaps she had participated in a ritual sexual act as part of the Baal cult.  However, it is more likely that the descriptive phrase anticipates what Gomer would become following her marriage to Hosea.

The words "children of harlotry" would mean that if Gomer was a prostitute when she married Hosea, this would refer to children that Gomer already had, and that Hosea had adopted at the time of his marriage.  A more likely possibility is that the title anticipated children born to a mother whose reputation and escapades would make their lineage suspect.  Gomer's martial infidelity is a picture of Israel's idolatry and unfaithfulness to its covenant with Almighty God.

Jezreel in verse 4, means, "God Sows."  He is to be a reminder that God will Judge the house of Jehu for the bloodshed in Jezreel, when the kingdom was wrested from Ahab and Jezebel and God's judgement was poured out against them.

Lo-ruhamah in verses 6 and 7, means,  "No Mercy" or "Not Pitied."  Her significance is twofold: (1) God's compassion has come to an end for Israel, and (2) her judgment in imminent.

Lo-ammi in verse 9, means, "Not My People" to the Israel of his day, that they were not the Lord's people, and that the Lord was not their God.  This should in no sense be understood as an annulment of the Abrahamic Covenant of Genesis 12:1-3, which was an unconditional covenant depending solely upon God for its fulfillment.

The experience of Hosea reminds us of a greater truth, that adultery, or any sin, is first of all grounds for forgiveness!  Considering the example of our Loving and Faithful God, we as Hosea may be led to suffer the pain, and seek a reconciliation.

Have a God Filled and Spirit Led Day. Go in Peace and Serve the Lord our God with Gladness. Love God More Today.  Always remember that when you have a spiritual, emotional, physical, or financial dilemma in your life, and you yell out, "I CAN'T," GOD Whispers to you, "BUT I CAN."

JESUS REIGNS!!!  May God's Love, Peace, Strength, and Grace be with all of you.

Your Sister in Christ,
Cindi

 

Bible Scripture Reading

"Greeting in the Name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for 12 October 2012"

Today's Blog Title: "Introduction to the Book of Hosea."

Hosea, whose name means "salvation," has been called the "gentlest" of the Old Testament prophets.  He was called to one of sacred history's most difficult missions.  Hosea married a wife, Gomer who abandoned him for a series of lovers, breaking the marriage covenant which bound them together.  Yet Hosea's love for his wife was so great that he could not give up.

When her profligate ways led to slavery, Hosea brought her back home, to lead a holy life.  In this the prophet shared God's own experience with His people, Israel.  Though bound to the Lord in a covenant relationship, Israel turned away from Him to pursue idols and the adulterous life style associated with paganism.

That idolatry would ultimately lead that nation to enslavement too.  Yet God would not stop loving, anymore than Hosea could.  God too will one day bring His humbled people home, and they will again commit themselves to Him.

The Book of Hosea is deeply moving.  As we sense the prophet's pain, we also enter into the pain God feels when His beloved  people are unfaithful to Him.  God's love, truly is love that will not let us go.

The Key People of Hosea are:

Hosea: The gentle prophet whose persistent love ultimately wins the prize.
Gomer: The unfaithful wife, whose choices lead to ever deeper degradation until, helpless
               she is rescued by her abandoned husband.

Key Passages of Hosea are:

Consequences (Hosea 8-9): Breaking covenant with God leads to despair
Endless love (Hosea 11): God's love will not permit Him to give His people up
Blessing ahead (Hosea 14): Ultimately repentance will bring blessing

Have a God Filled and Spirit Led Day. Go in Peace and Serve the Lord our God with Gladness. Love God More Today. Always remember that when you have a spiritual, emotional, physical, or financial dilemma in your life, and you yell out, "I CAN'T," GOD Whispers to you, "BUT I CAN."

Your Sister in Christ,
Cindi 

Bible Scripture Reading

"Greetings in the Name of our Lord and savior Jesus Christ for 10 October 2012"

Today's Blog Title: "Service to the Brethren"
Today's Blog Scripture Reading: 3rd John 1-14
Today's Blog Key Verse: 3rd John: 11 "Beloved, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good.  He who does good is of God, he who does evil has not seen God."

John's third letter is written to an individual named Gaius.  Like John's other epistles, this letter emphasizes love, truth, and obedience.  It also indicates some of the tensions and difficulties which made life in the early church much like that of today.  They too tired to build their own kingdom and rule over the church, rather than be part of the larger fellowship of faith.  John's letter reminds us that the church truly is one and that we ought to "work together for the truth."

"Above all things" in verse 2, is better translated "in all respects."  Gaius was clearly a dear friend of John.  His physical health is as important to John as his spiritual health.  John looks back to a time prior to writing this letter when he had heard of the steadfastness of Gaius and rejoiced as a result.

"Children" refers to those whom John has in some way helped lead to Christ.  In 2nd John, mention is made of hospitality to traveling Christian workers.  This was of crucial importance in the early Church (Romans 12:13; 1st Timothy 3;2; 5:10; Titus 1:8; Hebrews 13:2; and 1st Peter 4:9).

Some of those whom Gaius had helped along, had evidently brought word back to John of the  exemplary labors of Gaius. To "bring forward" would entail the full range of financial, travel, and other assistant necessary to host and then send along a visiting Christians leader, whose only support was the generosity of other believers.  Literally "for the name they went out," that is, the Name of Jesus. They took nothing from the Gentiles, lest they appear to be hawking the gospel for personal gain. 

To help missionaries and similar workers to continue in their calling, is to share in their work.  We as Christians, are obligated to bear their share of the burden of such work.  The Church in verse 9, is probably the fellowship of which Gaius was a member.  What the elder has written up to this point, seems to serve as a prologue for his major concern, which he takes up now.

To "prate" is to indulge in idle or trivial chatter. John here characterizes the talking of Diotrephes', as meaningless gossip.  Diotrephes, opposes John's teachings on either the nature of Christ, or the need for Christians to demonstrate love at all times. He also opposed the exercise of hospitality such as earned high praise for Gaius from the elder.

In verse 11, we see John saying that faith which not result in works is no faith at all. Salvation is not by works, but it does produce them (Galatians 2:8-10).  Demetrius probably delivered the letter to Gaius. He was known to the elder, and perhaps he was one of the brethren who Diotrephes had cast out in verse 10.  The elders warm remarks would reassure Gaius, that he could take Demetrius in and show him the favor he usually accorded visitors who were serving the truth.

John closes this 3rd letter as he did in 2nd John, expressing his desire to see Gaius soon and talk about these issues at greater length.  "Separation is from sin," not from Christians brothers and sisters.

This writing concludes the 3 letters of John.  Beginning in the next writing, we will go into the Minor Prophets beginning with the book of Hosea.

Click on this link at www.cindi-davis.blogspot.com for a Bible Verse from John 10:217-30.

Have a God Filled and Spirit Led Day. Go in Peace and Serve the Lord our God with Gladness. Love God More Today. Always remember that when you have a spiritual, emotional, physical or financial dilemma in your life, and you tell out, "I CAN'T," GOD Whispers to you, "BUT I CAN." 

JESUS REIGNS!!!  May God's Love, Peace, Strength, and Grace be with you all.

Your Sister in Christ,
Cindi



       

Bible Scripture Reading

"Greetings in the Name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for 9 October 2012"

Today's Blog Title: "The Commandment of Love"
Today's Blog Reading: 2nd John 1-13
Today's Blog Key Verse: 2nd John 7 "For many deceivers have gone out into the world who do not confess Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh.  This is a deceiver and antichrist."

In this brief letter the "chosen lady" John addresses here, may be a church and its members.  Like 1st John, this this letter will emphasize the importance of love, and links love to obedience.  This letter contains a greeting in verses 1-3, advice and warning in verses 4-11, and a conclusion in verses 12-13.

The elder in verse 1, is the aged John the apostle, who according to ancient tradition lived into his nineties.  To "love in truth" means (1) truly, really to love, and (2) to love in a fashion consistent with the Christian meaning of factual knowledge regarding the Word of God and personal knowledge of Jesus Christ.

John loved his readers  "for the truth's sake" or "because of the truth," which likely has reference to the personal presence of Christ (John 14:6).  The cardinal fruit of the Spirit of Christ is "love" (Galatians 5:22).

"Grace," "Mercy," and "Peace" were not common words in John's writings.  In this greeting he is likely reflecting common usage in Christian circles of the time and area.  God, and Jesus Christ, are placed on virtually the same level here, since "Son of the Father" is a title that implies equality with the Father (John 5:18).  

"Of Thy children" means "some of your children," that is, some believers in the fellowship or family, that John is addressing.  "Walking" is a Jewish idiom for "living."  John is saying we should "live by the truth," or in accordance with God's revealed word and will.  Emphasis on "love" is a hallmark of the writings of John.  In Luke, for example, the word "love" occurs about a dozen times, but in the Gospel's of John alone, it occurs more than 40 times.  For some, "love" has little to do with obedience.  Yet John, following Jesus, stresses that to "love" is to "obey."  As one of the closest disciples to Jesus, John would have heard the Master raise the question, "And why call Me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?" (Luke 6:46).

The deceivers in verse 7, seem to have been Gnostic's, pseudo-Christian individuals who denied that the Son of God had really taken on human flesh.  John realizes that to attack the doctrine of the Incarnation (the taking on of human flesh by Jesus) is to strike at the very root of Christianity. 

The first and third "we" in verse 8, should probably be "you" according to many ancient manuscripts.  It is dangerous for any person, including a believer, to follow teachings that are contrary to Scripture.  John make Christology the central doctrine of the Faith.

In the early decades of Christianity, local churches were planted and sustained by itinerant preachers and teachers.  For these workers to survive, it was necessary for believers to show hospitality.  However, one had to be sure that he was not aiding and abetting false teachers, that is, those with unorthodox views of the person and work of Christ.  To take such people in, John says, is to endorse their teachings.  John's command forbids "true " Christians to actively support the ministry of false teachers.  It is not a prohibition against having non-Christians into one's house--unless, of course, they are spreading anti-Christian doctrine, and seeking to use one's home as a base of operations!

One of the reasons that this letter was so short was because John is planning to speak to his readers in person very soon.

Have a God Filled and Spirit Led Day. Go in Peace and Serve the Lord our God with Gladness. Love God More Today. Always remember that when you have a spiritual, emotional, physical, or financial dilemma in your life and you yell out, "I CAN'T," GOD Whispers to you, "BUT I CAN."

JESUS REIGNS!!!  May God's Love, Peace, Strength, and Grace be with all of you.

Your Sister in Christ,
Cindi
   

Bible Scripture Reading

"Greetings in the Name of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for 1 October 2012"

Today's Blog Title: "Ending Summary for 1st John (Part 2)

First John as a whole is clearly founded on the doctrine of the Trinity.  From evidence throughout Scripture, it is clear that God is both one and three.  God the Father, God the Son, and God the Spirit are one God, but they are also distinct Persons of the Godhead.  Throughout 1st John , the apostle John illustrates how each Person of the Godhead works with and through the others to accomplish God's plan of salvation for us.

GOD THE FATHER 

Through Christ, we have fellowship with Father (1st John 1:3)
God is Light (1st John 1:5)
The Father has great love for His children (1st John 3:1)
God is "greater than our heart, and knows all things (1st John 3:20)
God is Love (1st John 4:8)
God "sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins (1st John 4:10)
God abides in believers, and they in Him (1st John 4:15)
God is the giver of eternal Life through Jesus Christ (1 John 5:11)

GOD THE SON

Jesus is called "the Word of Life (1st John 1:1)
The blood of Jesus cleanses us from ALL sin (1st John 1:7)
Jesus is our advocate with the Father (1st John 2:1)
Jesus is the propitiation for our sin (1st John 2:2)
Jesus is sinless (1st John 3:5)
The Son of Go destroyed the works of the devil (1st John 3:8)
The Son is the source of eternal life (1st John 5:11)
Believing in the Son of God is necessary for us to inherit eternal life (1st John 5:13)

GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT

The Spirit indwells us and gives assurance of salvation (1st John 3:24)
The Spirit causes us to confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh (1st John 4:2)
The Spirit is the gift of God to all believers (1st John 4:13)
The Spirit bears witness to the truth and to Jesus Christ (1st John 5:6)
The Spirit is one with the Father and the Son (1st John 5:7-8)

In the previous five short chapters of 1st John, John uses different forms of the word love 46 times.  He wanted to teach us, his readers, the importance of love in the Christian walk.

Keeping God's Word is the proof that we love God (1st John 2:5; 5:2-3). When we love our brother, we will live without stumbling (1st John 2:10).  We are not to love the world nor the things in the world, for we cannot love the world and love God also (1st John 2:15).  God's love for us, prompted Him to make us His children, through the death of His Son, Jesus Christ (1st John 3:1,16; 4:9-11).

 We as Christians, are to love each other, and is a fundamental requirement of the Christian Life (1st John 3:11,16,23; 4:7,11-12).  When we fail to love others Christians, just a Christ has loved us, it raises serious questions about the genuineness of our faith (1st John 3:10,14; 4:8,20).  When we as Christians have genuine love, it will always result in action, not merely sentimental words (1st John 3:17-18). 

Our Abba Father, is the source of all love (1st John 4:7,16).  A Christian who has mature love, does not produce fear, but instead imparts courage (1st John 4:17-18).  We as Christians, as I close this summary on 1st John, need to always remember, that  before we loved God, He first loved us (1st John 4:19).

Have a God Filled and Spirit Led Day. Go in Peace and Serve the Lord our God with Gladness. Love God More Today. Always remember that when you have a spiritual, emotional, physical, or a financial dilemma in your life, and you yell out, "I CAN'T," GOD Whispers to you, "BUT I CAN." 

JESUS REIGNS!!!  May God's Love, Peace, Strength, and Grace be with you all.

Your Sister in Christ,
Cindi