213 Saturday, August 1, 2009

213 Hosea 10 - 14; Acts 22.30 - 23.10 Sat Aug 1

Hosea 10:1 (MSG)
1 Israel was once a lush vine, bountiful in grapes. The more lavish the harvest, the more promiscuous the worship. The more money they got, the more they squandered on gods-in-their-own-image.
When you read this opening verse what comes to mind? Is it mindboggling to you? Is it “what a waste?” Maybe it is, “How could this have happened?” I have all of those questions and many more when I read this verse. The other thing that comes to mind is a warning sign that is flashing with all the brilliance of a highway construction site on I-94. These people had been blessed with goods. These people also knew God and His commandments. These people grew complacent. Warning—it could happen to you or me. It is easy to drift when you live on easy street. What is also true for these people is that when God was even punishing them they still opted for their own way. In other words, just because someone is going through a tough time does not necessarily mean they will have a coming to Jesus meeting.
Hosea 11:1-3 (MSG)
1 "When Israel was only a child, I loved him. I called out, 'My son!'—called him out of Egypt.
2 But when others called him, he ran off and left me. He worshiped the popular sex gods, he played at religion with toy gods.
3 Still, I stuck with him. I led Ephraim. I rescued him from human bondage, But he never acknowledged my help,
In all that Israel had done in dishonoring God—God still stuck with them! God was made to stick. Trust Him this day for your needs and for your life.
Meanwhile, back at the ranch, we find Paul just being released because he was a Roman citizen. He was brought before the Jewish council and here we see a wise man at work. Acts 23:6 (MSG)
6 Paul, knowing some of the council was made up of Sadducees and others of Pharisees and how they hated each other, decided to exploit their antagonism: "Friends, I am a stalwart Pharisee from a long line of Pharisees. It's because of my Pharisee convictions—the hope and resurrection of the dead—that I've been hauled into this court."
Paul was able to testify and at the same time stir up a little trouble. The Bible tells us to be as harmless as a dove and as wise as a serpent. Paul was certainly all of that and maybe more. May God give us His wisdom from above.