S. O. A. P
Here’s your 90 second AM devotional!
S-cripture:
Nahum 1:3
The Lord is slow to anger but great in power; the Lord will not leave the guilty unpunished.
O-bservation:
This short book of Nahum is a continual prophecy against Israel’s longtime nemesis, Nineveh (AKA Babylon). Two things are promoted in this passage. #1- For God to move in anger takes a long time of someone continually rejecting His Law and Love. And why would anyone? God’s power is unlimited! #2- The guilty will be punished. But what kind of guilty? Refer back to #1. Those who over a long period of time continually rebel against God’s will … are subject to His wrath.
A-pplication:
Those who would reject this notion do so by arguing that God is forever merciful. I would have to agree with that, but I would add that His character is forever just and so demands a response to those who would continually reject His precepts. Furthermore, judgment is already built in to the precept. When you keep it, life goes well, when you break it there’s a penalty to pay. The law of gravity only proves the one who defies it by jumping off a building to disprove it is an idiot. But that’s what SIN is. INSANITY! I always taught my sons when they were little that when they kicked against something that wouldn’t move there would be instant pain. “Don’t touch the burning stove … Okay you touched it. Daddy won’t need to get the belt, instead I’ll get the ice and the butter and the gauze to wrap your blisters until they heal.” For every KICK, there is a KICKBACK.
P-rayer:
Dear Jesus,
I thank You that Your desire is for me to do good and to win. Thank You that You take a long time to judge me, but also that there are Kickbacks built in for my Kicks against Your precepts. Love you! Amen
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