God's Awesome Work

[stephen]

"If God did not spare the angels when they sinned.....If He did not spare the ancient world.......If by turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to ashes.........." - 2 Peter 2: 4 - 6 RSV

I am not going to look into the details of these verses except just to say that when Peter says that God did not spare the angels, and the ancient world, and the cities of the plain, because of their sin and the error and evil of their ways, he is not saying that God is a vengeful God.

Actually throughout this letter Peter emphasises the amazing patience of God....His forbearance that waits (1 Peter 3: 9). In 1 Peter 3: 20 he talks of the patience of God in the days of Noah.

The ark of God in judgment is that He is patient and forbearing and slow to anger. But in the end if men will not turn from their ways of evil and error, God will judge. It is Gods awesome work,...... but it is a work that He will and that He alone can do. Without that, the moral foundations of the universe would collapse.

Some see a division between the Old Testament and the New Testament picture of God. In Exodus 34: 6, God proclaimed His name to Moses:... this proclamation has never been abrogated, and remains true today. It is true that the revelation of God in the Old Testament is not complete till Jesus comes, but nonetheless it is not incorrect. And there is no greater description of God in the bible.

Moses asked God to reveal himself to him.....'The LOrd passed before him and proclaimed The LOrd, The LOrd, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness.....but who will by no means clear the guilty.....'
Moses quickly bowed his head towards the earth, and worshipped.....May we do the same

 

[Boanerges]

Amen Stephen. I thank God for His mercy and patience towards me. Daily I fall upon His grace and surrender my weakness. Our God is most glorified when His children are totally dependent on Him.

 

[Hekuran]

I've been reading the book of Jonah these past two weeks, which reveals an extra dimension to God's grace and patience:

God instructs Jonah to preach destruction to Ninevah because of its sin. But as soon as the Ninevites repent, God relents from his threat, and Ninevah is saved. Much to Jonah's annoyance.

 

[Boanerges]

Sadly Jonah was preferring his own wants to God's will showing his immaturity. That of course did not deter the Lord.

 

[DeaconBob3]

A servant's heart, surrendered to the will of God is what we must strive for. Otherwise, as my dear Grandmother used to say, "Bob, if you want to hear God laugh just tell Him what your plan is."