“Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.” Psalm 46:10
There is much fear in the world today. I have never known a
time when so many people are afraid of almost everything. Today is a day of
uncertainty. One hears of earthquakes, fires, hurricanes, illnesses, the
downfall of the economy, rumors of wars, and so many other things of which to
be afraid.
Why shouldn’t one be afraid?
What does God’s Word teach us about fear? We are to remember
that God is with us. “1. God is our refuge and strength, a very
present help in trouble. 2. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth
be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; 3. Though the waters thereof roar and
be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof”
(Psalm 46:1-3). If we walk with God, He will be with us.
Remember what Paul wrote to Timothy: “7. For God hath
not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. 8. Be
not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord …” (1 Timothy
1:7-8a). If one has Jesus in their heart and life, and is walking with Him,
that Christian should not be afraid.
However, there is one thing a Christian is to fear.
What is that? We are to fear the Lord, doing what His Word
says to do. “Be not wise in thine
own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil” (Proverbs 3:7). That
should be rather easy – for if we walk with God, we will depart
from evil. So that when all of the troubles of the world seem to come against
us, we can stop and be at rest knowing God is in control. “Be still, and know that I am
God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth”
(Psalm 46:10).
Do you take time to be still and
know that God is with you?
“Seek good, and not evil, that ye may live: and so the LORD, the God of hosts, shall be with you, as ye have spoken.” Amos 5:14
According to Amos 5:14, we are to seek good things in this
world, not evil. Many times, God’s people had quit seeking good and were
continually doing evil. God often sent a prophet to speak His words to the
people; frequently it was when God’s people were in sin and rebellion. The
prophets were sent to remind the people to seek God and follow His commands.
If you think about it, the prophets had a fascinating role in
history. Not only did God send His prophets to tell the people to seek God and
follow His commands, but they were entrusted with God’s Word to be delivered to
the people. Exposing the sins of the people and revealing the need for
repentance (turning a humble heart back to God) took much courage. Although it
was a difficult task, we see faithful men accomplish what God asked of them.
Even when the people refused to listen at the time, we see God working to
fulfill His plan. As students of the Bible, we should never be afraid to study
the words written in the books of prophecy. Understand that God knew and chose
these men.
God called Isaiah. God asked whom He could send; who
would go? Isaiah answered God’s call to go and tell. He obeyed when God called.
God knew Jeremiah before he was born. He knew Jeremiah
would be a prophet for God (see Jeremiah 1:4-10). He called, prepared, sent,
and promised to be with Jeremiah. Jeremiah prophesied for over forty years.
Ezekiel was called by God to speak to the children who
were born in captivity, for many of them would be the ones who would later
return to Jerusalem after the
seventy years of captivity. He helps us understand the importance of teaching
our children about the things of God.
Daniel proved himself worthy to be use by God when he
refused to obey the king and instead chose to obey God’s commands. He and his
three friends were not afraid to stand and choose to obey God rather than man. They
are mighty examples for us to remain a separate and faithful people, despite
adverse circumstances.
The prophets were called such because they were messengers of
God, men whom God called to proclaim “the word of the Lord” to His people, the
Israelites. The Gentile nations were usually only mentioned as either a source
of conflict with the nation or for being blessed because of Israel.
Primarily, the prophets were to expose the sins of the people, revealing the
need for repentance and to remind the people to obey God’s laws. “Seek good, and not evil, that ye may live:
and so the LORD, the God of hosts, shall be with you, as ye have spoken”
(Amos 5:14). The prophets told of
two very important events: the first and second coming of Jesus. They gave many
insights as to the timing, the place, and even the manner in which He would
come. Even when they could not fully understand everything they recorded in
God’s Word for us to read today, they were faithful to obey God and His
commands.
Remember that God never gives us anything to do that He won’t help us complete, if we only will trust Him. Because only God knows all, we sometimes have trouble obeying when we don’t understand. As we read, we can understand that the prophets were faithful men who followed God, even when they didn’t completely understand. Sometimes the prophet held only a piece of the future events. These prophets each held different pieces of information given to them by God. Now we can read the entirety, put those pieces together, and see they all point to Jesus.
“Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.” 1 Corinthians 10:11
God often reminded His people what He expected of them.
Before they were led into the land God promised to them, see what He told them:
“Ye shall not do after all the
things that we do here this day, every man whatsoever is right in
his own eyes” (Deuteronomy 12:8). He also told them: “… thou shalt hearken to the voice of the
LORD thy God, to keep all his commandments which I command thee this day, to do
that which is right in the eyes of the LORD thy God”
(Deuteronomy 13:18).
Not too long after the people were given these warnings, we
read about a particularly tragic time. It is recorded in the book of Judges. A
dominant theme is found within this book: “In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right
in his own eyes” (Judges 21:25).
Notice that it doesn’t say they did wrong; they thought what they
were doing was right. Although it didn’t appear wrong to them, it was wrong in
God’s eyes. They did not obey the commands God had given them. We can read that
the Israelites had rejected God as their king. They chose to be friends with
the enemy nations. They also continually chose to turn to the enemy’s idol
worship. However, we understand that God never left His people. When the enemy
oppressed, God sent a judge (a champion) to deliver them from the hands of
their enemies. Gideon and Samson are probably the most familiar judges. The
book of Judges reveals some terribly vile things that took place. One
excessively despicable event even led to civil war within the nation, almost
annihilating one of the twelve tribes.
God’s people were supposed to reveal to the world the love of
God for those who follow and obey His Words. “1. And it shall come to pass,
if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe
and to do all his commandments which I command thee this day, that the
LORD thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth: 2. And
all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt
hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God” (Deuteronomy 28:1-2). But
instead, they rejected God and His Word to do what they thought was right. “In
those days there was no king in Israel:
every man did that which was right in his own eyes” (Judges 21:25). Because of this, we read what God said
the consequences of not obeying the word of the Lord would be. “62. And ye
shall be left few in number, whereas ye were as the stars of heaven for
multitude; because thou wouldest not obey the voice of the LORD thy God. 63.
And it shall come to pass, that as the LORD rejoiced over you to do you
good, and to multiply you; so the LORD will rejoice over you to destroy you,
and to bring you to nought …” (Deuteronomy 28:62-63a). They were not a
light, revealing God in the world.
There are so many examples in the Bible of which we should
take notice. They are there to remind us of what happens when we cease to obey
God’s Word and choose our own path. “Now
all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our
admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come” (1 Corinthians
10:11). Jesus wants Christians to be
a light in this world. “14. Ye are the light of the world. A city that is
set on an hill cannot be hid. 15. Neither do men light a candle, and put
it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are
in the house. 16. Let your
light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your
Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 5:14-16). When the Christians in
the churches cease to be obedient to God’s Word, it is much like a light that
is put under a bushel. Compromising Christians hurt themselves, their families
and their churches. Worse than that, they can also contribute to the decay of a
whole nation. We can see this pictured in the book of Judges.
Are you a compromising Christian, hurting loved ones and contributing
to the decay of a nation?
“That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world.” Matthew 13:35
Have you ever been told a secret? Did you want to keep it a
secret or tell someone else? Secrets are hard to keep, yet the most important
“secret” ever is not shared nearly enough. God had secrets, and He told many of
them to His people. We can know those secrets today if we will just read His
Word.
The prophets of God revealed secrets that had been “kept
secret from the foundation of the world.” “That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, I
will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things which have been kept secret
from the foundation of the world” (Matthew 13:35). It is important to know about the prophets from
the Old Testament, and become familiar with what they had to say. The Old
Testament prophets were important then, and they are still important today. If
you have ever read any of the books of the prophets from the Old Testament,
they are full of strange events and tellings that, to the common person, make
no sense. They seem like mysteries or secrets.
Although the Bible is full of mysteries, God wants us to
understand the mysteries, or secrets, of the Old Testament. He wants us to
realize that it all centered on the coming of Jesus, God’s Son. “25. Now to
him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching
of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept
secret since the world began, 26. But now is made manifest, and by the
scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting
God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith” (Romans
16:25-26). Once we have Jesus in our heart and read God’s Word daily, we can
understand those mysteries. We do not need prophets today because we have the
prophets’ words written in the Bible. Our job is to know God’s Word so we can
share this “secret” that has been revealed to the world. The books of the Old
Testament are very important.
Jesus told of a Rich Man and Lazarus in Luke 16:19-31. The Rich
Man died without trusting in Jesus. Lazarus, a very poor man on earth, died
trusting in Jesus. When the Rich Man was in hell, being in torments, he could
see Lazarus in the bosom of Abraham. The Rich Man cried out for some water to
cool his tongue. However, he was told that there was a great gulf fixed between
the two that could not be crossed. The Rich Man then asked for someone to be
sent back to warn his five brothers, lest they too end up in hell. Read
Abraham’s response to him: “30. And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one
went unto them from the dead, they will repent. 31. And he said unto him,
If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though
one rose from the dead” (Luke 16:30-31). Everything they needed to
hear to be warned about that place had been recorded in the words of Moses and
the Prophets. Remember, the mystery of the Gospel message of Jesus Christ was
revealed in the Old Testament “by the scriptures of the prophets” and it
was “made known to all nations” according to Romans 16:25-26.
Just as Jesus told of the Rich Man and Lazarus, the Law and the Prophets had the words that could have saved the Rich Man’s soul for eternity if he had only believed them. It is very important to understand that without Jesus in our hearts, it is never enough. Many of the prophet’s words were warnings to the people.
Are there any words of warning we need to share with our friends or family?
‘The Israelites sinned against God when they forsook Him
and worshiped creatures (golden calves, Baal, etc.). They also walked in the
ways of the heathen (the wicked and idolatrous nations around) instead of
walking in God’s Laws and statutes they had been taught. Notice that in the New
Testament, Paul preached to people in the same condition. He warned that the
wrath of God would fall upon those who knew the truth, but did not live it out in
their lives: “18. For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all
ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;
19. Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath
shewed it unto them. 21. Because that, when they knew God, they
glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in
their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 22. Professing
themselves to be wise, they became fools, 23. And changed the glory of the
uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and
fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. 24. Wherefore God also gave them up to
uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own
bodies between themselves: 25. Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and
worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for
ever. Amen” (Romans 1:18–19,
21–25).’
Notice that Paul portrayed a progressive departure from
the truth of righteousness they knew. It was not a sudden departure. Search
your heart to see if you are guilty of knowing the way of righteousness, yet
not living in the truth of it. This is an important question for each Christian
to consider!
‘What should we learn from Israel’s
obstinacy? Jesus should be our ultimate example. “21. … [B]ecause Christ
also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:
22. Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: 24. Who his own self
bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should
live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed” (2 Peter 2:21–22, 24).
When we know what is right, we should do it. “Therefore
to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin” (James
4:17). Seek God if one is not sure —
remember Amos’ plea, “Seek the LORD, and ye shall live …” (Amos 5:6). We
should never sin away our lives — as Israel
did. For, “… There is a sin unto death …” (1 John 5:16).’
Have you chosen to do good and to seek the Lord?
Excerpts from The Biblical Path of Life, Year Two Quarter One, Lesson 10; Shallum – Hoshea. www.biblicalpath.com
“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23
‘Just as the Israelites were told of their sin and called
to repentance, the same call is extended to us today. “For all have sinned,
and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).
All are guilty of sin, and there is a penalty to pay. “For the wages of sin is
death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord”
(Romans 6:23). In addition, God
provided one who paid the penalty for us — if only we would receive. “But
God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ
died for us” (Romans 5:8). Just as God extended a call to the Israelites,
warning them before judgment would fall, God warns us today. “And as it is
appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment” (Hebrews 9:27). What response does God require? “8.
But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy
heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; 9. That if thou shalt
confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that
God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10. For with the heart
man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto
salvation” (Romans 10:8–10). What are we to do with that information? “Seek
ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near”
(Isaiah 55:6).’
Have you called upon the Lord while he is near?
Excerpt from The Biblical Path of Life, Year Two Quarter One, Lesson 9; God’s Enduring Love. www.biblicalpath.com
“But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.” Psalm 1:2
We are taught that obeying laws is important and that there
are penalties to be paid if we break them. Consider the importance of laws. We
are to understand that God has laws. His laws are significant, and obedience is
very important to God as we can see throughout His Word, and most notably in
the Old Testament. Often we recognize God’s discipline on those who break His
laws.
The first five books in the Old Testament are referred to as
“The Law.” Within these books we find the first 2,500 years of history recorded
by Moses. The first book, Genesis, begins with the creation, records the ruin
of man through sin, but it also reveals the sovereignty of God. The word sovereignty
means “supreme in power; possessing supreme dominion; as a sovereign ruler of
the universe.” We understand that God is the sovereign God of all who love and
obey Him.
One easy way to remember Genesis and the events within is to
recognize:
Four main events take place:
The Creation
The Fall
The Flood
The Tower
of Babel
Genesis deals mainly with Four People:
Abraham
Isaac
Jacob
Joseph
After about four hundred years, God’s people grew into a
nation numbering around two to three million people in Egypt.
This is where Exodus (which means “the way out” or “outgoing”) begins. At the
culmination of the ten plagues, we see the mighty deliverance of God’s people
from a land of bondage. Shortly after this they meet at the foot of Mount
Sinai. It was at Mount Sinai that the Law
was given (beginning with the Ten Commandments; Exodus 19-20). The Israelites
were taught that obedience to God is necessary. They could not be a redeemed,
set-apart people unless they obeyed God’s command.
In Leviticus, God spoke to Moses from the tabernacle instead
of Mount Sinai. The people needed to know how to live. God
instituted the offerings, the priesthood, a clean lifestyle, and the different
feasts. These things were teach the people how to live as a people wholly given
to God in every aspect of their lives. Leviticus shows the ability to have
fellowship with God when we come to Him as a sanctified people (because He is
holy, and we are a sinful people). Leviticus ends with the blessings of
obedience and the penalties for disobedience. Only about a month’s time passes
during Leviticus.
The name Numbers comes from a numbering of the people at the
beginning of the book and then again at the end. There were two groups of
people, an old generation and a new generation. When the twelve spies were sent
into the land promised to Abraham, only Joshua and Caleb brought back report
that God would allow them to conquer the land. When the Israelites disobeyed
God’s command to cross over into the Promised Land, they were disciplined. The
old generation would die and not enter because they refused to obey God. Only
Joshua and Caleb escaped God’s discipline (wandering in the wilderness for
forty years). Fewer than forty years elapse during Numbers where we see God
guiding, providing, and protecting His people.
Deuteronomy begins by looking back to what God had done for
His people and then looking forward. The entire book shows the faithfulness of
God revealing that God loves His people. Moses warned the people to not forget
the words of God’s Law, revealing the blessings for following God’s Law and the
curse of God if they failed to obey. Joshua is appointed the new leader of the
new generation, and Moses dies.
After remembering the books of “The Law,” see that they help us understand God and what He expects from His people. We also learn that it is quite impossible to obey every law that God has given us. In the New Testament we gain some insight as to why it is important to know “The Law” of the Old Testament. “24. Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. 25. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster. 26. For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:24-26).
Have you understood “The Law” is a schoolmaster to show the need for Jesus?
“And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment” Hebrews 9:27
Have you ever had an appointment that changed the course of
your life? What about a missed opportunity that you can never go back to
correct?
One cannot help but remember an event that took place in the
Bible. Jesus had been teaching the people when a young man came to Him with a
question. “And when he was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and
kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit
eternal life?” (Mark 10:17). This is an important question for
each person to ask. He had the right question. Read Jesus’ reply, “ And
Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but
one, that is, God” (Mark 10:18). Jesus was making a point.
The man recognized Jesus as a great man and a good teacher, but he had not
acknowledged that Jesus was God. That makes all of the difference! Jesus asked
this young man about the commandments (for people understood that God expects
people to obey His commands). Jesus began to list from the Ten Commandments. “Thou
knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do
not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honour thy father and mother”
(Mark 10:19). Each of these has to
do with an outward duty as opposed to a change of an inward nature. They deal
with people’s relationship with one another. Do you notice what is missing? The
first four of the Ten Commandments that have to do with one’s relationship with
God are missing. After Jesus had listed the final six of the Ten Commandments,
see the young man’s response, “And he answered and said unto him, Master,
all these have I observed from my youth” (Mark 10:20).
Here we come to the heart of the matter – a time of decision.
Notice that Jesus loved him, but would this young man follow Jesus’
requirement? “Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou
lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou
shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me”
(Mark 10:21). Did this young man truly desire eternal life? Was he willing to
give the temporal things this world has to offer in exchange for a life
pleasing God and eternity with Him? Would he continue as he was, or would he
choose Jesus? Read his response. “And he was sad at that saying, and went
away grieved: for he had great possessions” (Mark 10:22). He was sad, yet he just went away
grieved. He was not willing to part with his possessions for a relationship
with Jesus. Read what Jesus had previously warned: “No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love
the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot
serve God and mammon” (Matthew 6:24).
This young man had not understood a very important thing: “24. Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to
bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. 25. But after
that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster” (Galatians 3:24-25).
Remember: “And as it is appointed unto men once to
die, but after this the judgment” (Hebrews 9:27). This young man would be judged according to the
decision he made concerning Jesus.
“My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous” 1 John 2:1
“God has
revealed himself gradually through the years. Hebrews 1:1-2a: ‘1.
God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the
fathers by the prophets, 2a. Hath in these last days spoken unto us
by his Son …’ (remember that Hebrews 1:1 refers to the incremental
and progressive manner in which God disclosed Himself up until the appearance
of the Son. It was fragmentary and piece by piece, sort of like pieces of a
puzzle). We see him as the God of creation in Genesis 1. We then see he is a
God who cannot look upon sinful man in Genesis 3. We see that there is a limit
to his tolerance of sinful man in Genesis 6 (the flood that destroys the
world), yet we also see that God shows grace to those who continually seek him
(Noah; Genesis 6:8). God then revealed himself to an individual man (Abraham;
Genesis 12) and extended that revelation to his descendants (Exodus 3:15). God showed Himself mightily to His
people in the ten plagues and the exodus of His people from bondage (Exodus 7–14).
He then showed Himself as their provider (in the wilderness; Exodus 15–17). We
see He is a God who expects His people to hear His voice and obey Him (Exodus
19–20). Once the people accomplish the great task of building a tabernacle
where God’s presence can dwell among His people (Exodus 40), He then reveals
just what it takes to become a “clean and forgiven” people in the presence of a
sinless, perfect God (Leviticus).
God has mandated a blood sacrifice for man’s sins since the
garden. When man sinned, God shed the blood of an animal to make a covering for
man (for he was naked before God; his sins were exposed). When God made the
clothes to “cover” Adam and Eve, it was a great picture of what the Old
Testament sacrifices did for man. They covered mankind’s sins for a season.
Throughout the Old Testament, we see the shedding of blood (from an animal) to
cover mankind’s sins. It isn’t until we come to Leviticus that God reveals the
intricacies and details of the way it is required. The ritualistic sacrifices
(explained in Leviticus) that must be fulfilled, completely and perfectly, are
to show us the great sacrifice it would take to cleanse sinful man from his
sins. It is to reveal to mankind the impossibility of entering into God’s
presence without the perfect
sacrifice, only found in Jesus. All throughout the books of the Law we see God
gradually reveal Himself to mankind, only a piece at a time, through revelation—only
as much as we could handle.”
“And he (Jesus) is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world” (1 John 2:2). The word propitiation means “the means of putting away sin and establishing righteousness not by man’s ability to appease God with an of his offerings, (for man is unable to offer anything to placate God), Jesus is presented as the righteous One; … reconciling us to God, allowing us to be acceptable for fellowship with God (see also Romans 3:25). The propitiation of Christ is very personal – the propitiation for our sins.”
Have you asked Jesus to be your Advocate with God, the Father?
“Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.” 1 Corinthians 10:11
After reading 1 Corinthians 10:11, one can
understand that God’s Word was written for us. In the Bible, we find examples
of how we are to live our lives and to show us a picture of God’s plan. We are
to learn from what is written in His Word. Each Bible “story” we have learned
through the years is just a piece of the “puzzle” to complete the picture of
God’s plan. History may appear boring, but we must understand how fascinating,
and especially important, it is to be in our lives.
Because the history found in the Bible is so
important, we should desire to know that history – just like Peter, Stephen,
and Paul knew it. We are to understand that history is there to help us better
understand and know Jesus. The more we read in God’s Word, the more we begin to
understand that God had a plan. In the Old Testament, men didn’t fully
understand what that plan was, but through faith they believed. In the New
Testament, God’s plan was revealed through His Son, Jesus. Men still didn’t
understand until Jesus died, resurrected and ascended into heaven. But once
they understood, they could not keep silent. They shared what they learned with
others so they could know of God’s wonderful plan as well.
After Jesus ascended back into heaven with the promise to
return, Peter preached the Old Testament history. He had a new understanding of
who Jesus was ,why He had come, and that He would return one day. And what an
amazing response he received! Three thousand believed! And when he preached
again shortly thereafter, five thousand believed!
But there was another man named Stephen who preached the same
history, and he found a very different response to his message. The religious
leaders stoned him to death. There was one specific young man who consented to
Stephen’s death. His name was Saul. His initial response to the Gospel message
of Jesus was to seek out anyone who believed in Jesus and imprison or even kill
them.
He made a special trip to find anyone, man or woman, who
believed in Jesus. But on his way, he met Jesus. There was quite a
transformation in his life. Instead of wanting to kill those who believed in
Jesus, Saul (later called Paul) became a mighty preacher, and teacher, of the
history revealing Jesus.
Each of these men came to the understanding that all of the
Old Testament teachings were just pieces of a great picture. As they began to
contemplate the truths they had learned, they realized that they revealed the
picture of God’s plan to send Jesus into the world to take away their sin – if
they would only believe and receive Him.
Have you ever worked on a puzzle? Each piece is only part of
a greater picture. The picture is not complete without all of the pieces. You
could guess what the picture was going to be, but you wouldn’t completely know
without the final pieces. Once you put all of the pieces together, you can see
that greater picture. But when you are missing a piece, the picture is
incomplete. This is much like knowing some of the events of the Old Testament
and missing pieces of it. You cannot see the complete picture without reading
and learning all of the events in that Old Testament text. Throughout history,
people would try to understand what God was showing them. They trusted that He
held all of the pieces and would fit them into place in His own time. Once
Jesus came, many understood that all of the Old Testament was recorded for us
to understand God’s plan to send His Son, Jesus, into the world to redeem a
sinful people back to Himself. He wants us to understand this plan so that we
will know just how important it is to place our lives into God’s hand by trusting
in Jesus.
Do you enjoy doing a puzzle that doesn’t have all of the pieces?
Have you ever been so excited about Jesus that you shared with others what you have learned so they could know of God’s wonderful plan as well?
