The Mighty In Love
Views: 161
The Daily Mail Online carried a story on January 7, 2019 with the caption,
“Elephant tramples a man to death as he tried to hypnotize it in Sri Lanka!”
Video footage showed the man walking up to a male elephant grazing in a forest clearing; then gesturing to get the huge animal’s attention, after which it began charging at him! Interestingly, the man did not make any attempt to run away and was trampled to death! It was alleged he tried to ‘hypnotize’ the elephant and stop it in its track! He might have gotten too comfortable with the gentleness of elephants; which are used for carrying people and goods in parts of the Asian sub-continent. The elephant showed him the other side of its gentleness and usefulness.
God also shows us different sides of Himself on occasion. Sometimes He is the fierce and mighty God who comes in judgment; but mostly He is very gentle and loving.
God showed a bit of His might to the Israelites, three months after He gently and lovingly brought them out of Egypt.
READ Exodus 19: 1-2, 16-19
“In the third month after the children of Israel had gone out of the land of Egypt, on the same day, they came to the Wilderness of Sinai. For they had departed from Rephidim, had come to the Wilderness of Sinai, and camped in the wilderness. So Israel camped there before the mountain.” (Exodus 19: 1-2)
Then the Lord said to Moses,
‘Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow, and let them wash their clothes. And let them be ready for the third day. For on the third day the Lord will come down upon Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people.’ (Exodus 19: 10-11)
Then it came to pass on the third day, in the morning, that there were thunderings and lightnings, and a thick cloud on the mountain; and the sound of the trumpet was very loud, so that all the people who were in the camp trembled. And Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet with God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain. Now Mount Sinai was completely in smoke, because the Lord descended upon it in fire. Its smoke ascended like the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mountain quaked greatly. And when the blast of the trumpet sounded long and became louder and louder, Moses spoke, and God answered him by voice.” (Exodus 19: 16-19)
Moses had succeeded in bringing the Israelites out of Egypt; and they had, in the third month, encamped at the foot of the Sinai (believed to be a fulfillment of the promise God made in Exodus 3:12). Early in the morning on the third day, there was thunder and lightning, and a thick cloud on the mountain; and there was loud sound of the trumpet, and Mount Sinai smoked all over so that all the people who were in the camp trembled!
But in James 4:8, we are told,
“Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.”
The J.B. Phillips New Testament puts it this way:
“Come close to God and he will come close to you. Realize that you have sinned and get your hands clean again. Realize that you have been disloyal and get your hearts made true once more.”
The same God who showed so much might and the people trembled, also calls us to draw close to Him and He will draw close to us. The only condition is that we must realize we are sinners; and confess, denounce and turn away from our sins. God is holy, and we must approach Him in holiness.
God is mighty, but He is also the embodiment of Love. Will you heed the call today?
MEMORY VERSE
“Come close to God and he will come close to you.” (James 4:8)
QUESTIONS
1. Have you been thinking you have gone so far away that God has given up on you?
2. Why not come to him in true repentance? His might is demonstrated in His immense love.
PRAYER TIP
Almighty Father, please help us to understand that You are mighty; but at the same time gentle and loving!
Written by:
BENNY MALM
For:
TESTIMONY DEVOTIONAL
URGENT CALL
By nature, we are all sinful, and alienated from God. We ultimately face the wrath of God!
But God in His mercy and love gives us a chance to reverse this trend, join His family, be part of His household, and become His children.
The first step to becoming a member of God’s household is for us to be saved.
Salvation comes through accepting Jesus Christ as our Lord and Personal Savior.
It is a very personal decision. No one can make for you.
If you make that decision today, there will be great singing and rejoicing in heaven; because one new member has joined the family and household of God!
Do you want to make that decision today?
Please visit “The Believer’s Prayer” for guidance if you want to make that decision.
We will be happy to hear from you through the contact information on that page.
God richly bless you
SPECIAL GRATITUDE
Thank you for visiting the Testimony Devotional Website.
We would not have gotten here without your prayers, goodwill and overall support. We are grateful, and humbled.
We thank God for counting us worthy to share in His Great Commission; and we thank you for sticking with us through this journey.
God richly bless you.
The Testimony Devotional website addresses are:
Kuku Malm
Nice devotional👍👍