Monday, July 18, 2022

 

Monday, July 18, 2022


Psalms 41; 44:1-9

Amos 5:18-6:7

Romans 1:26-32


They know God's decree, that those who practice such things deserve to die – yet they not only do them but even applaud others who practice them.


Last week, we finished with hearing Paul's teaching that there is no such thing as an atheist. People either love God and live in truth, or they hate God, and lie. Now we see (along with Amos) what happens to people when they lie to themselves.


The wealthy elite Amos warns have been lying to themselves. Living in luxury on their ivory couches, drinking so much wine they need to serve it in bowls, worshipping Moloch (the god of child-sacrifice), they have set themselves up for God's intervention: “the day of the Lord”. Many ancient prophets talk about the coming day of the Lord. We do too, when we affirm with joyful expectation during the Eucharist that “Christ will come again”. Do not be deceived, however, as to what to expect on this Day.


Justice will roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream. For those of us not held in Christ Jesus, those of us whose evil is not covered by His precious blood, that Day will be darkness, not light. It will be as if someone fled from a lion, and was met by a bear. God's love is only good for those who love God back. To everyone else, the pain of being met with the truth of their self-deception will be unbearable.


This is why God came to us in Jesus. God's holiness cannot abide imperfection; yet God still loves us, and so has given us a way to be perfect. Not an outwards perfection, but a spiritual perfection. The Holy Spirit, dwelling in us, the Son of God, imputing His righteousness to us, and the perfect and beautiful Father, beholding us in the Son in perfect love forever.




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