God's will and our present temptations.

Posted : 26 Jun, 2012 06:15 AM

Bible Reading:



1 Peter 4:17�19



17 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?



18 And if the righteous scarcely be saved , where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear ?



19 Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.



Devotional:



The Old Testament prophets warn that those who speak of God's coming to earth as a big celebration do not know what they are talking about. "Who can endure the day of his coming? ... For he will be like a refiner's fire" (Mal. 3:2).



And now, says the New Testament apostle, the time has come. The fire has been kindled.



The whole world must pass through the refiner's fire, so that only the gold remains. But the church goes first. The people of God are first in all things because the church has the gospel, and the gospel is the beginning of the end. By faith in Jesus we are already sharing in the power of his resurrection. The order of the new age has already begun in the love and peace the church possesses here and now.



But the judgment has also already begun for God's people. Now it must become apparent whether we are loyal to Christ and to the way of the gospel. This is the hour of our tribulation.



Some Christians today readily agree with Peter that the final judgment has begun. Others disagree. Or, maybe, we are so blind to the ways of God that we are unable to observe God's final test.



May God enlighten the eyes of our faith so that we can clearly discern both God's will and our present temptations.



by the Rev. Andrew Kuyvenhoven

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