You will shine in the world like bright stars
because you are offering it the word of life. PH2:15-16
ISAIAH 45:1,4-6 ©
My Soul's Beloved,
It is so easy to become discouraged and afraid when we look at the world today. War, terror, and mayhem are at our doorstep and we are living in uncertain times. The godless and those who worship false gods seem to grow more powerful and they threaten to annihilate those who stand firmly opposed to their evil ideologies.
However, we can draw comfort from these verses taken from Isaiah - all kings no matter how great are subject to You whether they know it or not and You use them to bring about what You desire. You command and they obey Your Word just as Cyrus the most powerful ruler did at the time. He was a pagan king and yet he was inspired to set God's people free from slavery. He sent them back to their land and gave them all that was necessary for them to build the temple as well as to establish themselves once again in their land.
Why? Because God's choice of Abraham and his Covenant with him and his descendants is irrevocable. God binds Himself to the He has chosen but You O Lord intend that this Covenant reaches out from them to include the whole world. No one is excluded for we are all God's creatures and God desires that we all be saved in and through You, His only, well-beloved Son. We must, however, listen to You and keep the Commandments in order to receive a share in the inheritance that You have won for us.
‘I am the Lord, unrivalled;
there is no other God besides me.
Though you do not know me, I arm you
that men may know from the rising to the setting of the sun
that, apart from me, all is nothing.’
PSALM 95(96):1,3-5,7-10 ©
O sing a new song to the Lord,
sing to the Lord all the earth.
Tell among the nations his glory
and his wonders among all the peoples.
Tell among the nations his glory
and his wonders among all the peoples.
The Lord is great and worthy of praise,
to be feared above all gods;
the gods of the heathens are naught.
It was the Lord who made the heavens,
the gods of the heathens are naught.
It was the Lord who made the heavens,
Give the Lord, you families of peoples,
give the Lord glory and power;
give the Lord the glory of his name.
Bring an offering and enter his courts.
give the Lord the glory of his name.
Bring an offering and enter his courts.
Worship the Lord in his temple.
O earth, tremble before him.
Proclaim to the nations: ‘God is king.’
He will judge the peoples in fairness.
Proclaim to the nations: ‘God is king.’
He will judge the peoples in fairness.
Give the Lord glory and power.
1 THESSALONIANS 1:1-5 ©
My Soul's Beloved,
Paul a fanatic Jew was chosen by God to become an apostle to the Gentiles. The same fervor that he showed in persecuting the Christians was now channeled with that same fervor and zeal in winning souls for You and for the Kingdom of God.
He worked tirelessly, faithfully, and passionately to preach and teach the Good News and to make You known until the day he was martyred. You call who You wish, You empower who You wish, You endow who You wish to do Your Work of preaching the Good News and establishing the Kingdom in the hearts of all mankind. How we respond though, is entirely up to us. But whoever believes and is baptized, no matter who he or she is, is granted the awesome grace of becoming a child of God, filled with the Holy Spirit, and an heir to the Kingdom of Heaven. Let us at least pray if nothing else to ensure that all come to know the truth and are saved.
We always mention you in our prayers and thank God for you all, and constantly remember before God our Father how you have shown your faith in action, worked for love and persevered through hope, in our Lord Jesus Christ.
We know, brothers, that God loves you and that you have been chosen, because when we brought the Good News to you, it came to you not only as words, but as power and as the Holy Spirit and as utter conviction.
MATTHEW 22:15-21 ©
My Soul's Beloved,
Everything belongs to You there is nothing that exists in all the heavens and on earth, or under the earth over which You do not have complete authority and sovereignty for You, O Lord, are God, the Son of the Most High. By the power of the Eternal Word God created all things and they were created to give You, the Son of the Father all glory for He has raised You up to the highest heavens. By Your victory, You have won for us as well victory over sin and death. By the power of Your Holy Spirit dwelling in us, we are more than conquerors. Eternal life in glory is ours because You have made us co-heirs with You. The Triune God who created us and has commanded us to be holy and perfect enables us to grow more and more in the image and likeness of our Father in and through You and the Holy Spirit.
Therefore nothing belongs to the Caesars of the world for the Caesars also belong to You. When we give You all, Beloved, for all that we have and are is Yours, we also fulfill our duties by giving what is due to civil authorities as well.
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