Ps. 81-83
The human heart is a stubborn thing. Why on earth, when we have a God who wants to give us all good things, do we insist on going our own way? Why would we chase after anything that is not God? I am convinced that part of the Bible’s purpose is to reveal this truth about us. If we are not aware of our own hopeless condition, how will we ever understand our need for God and the enormity of all that He did for us? Even when we know that one road leads to death and one road leads to life, we cannot consistently choose life on our own. Even when we desire to follow God, we need Him to make it happen.
Rev. 8
The book of revelation tells us a lot about the awesome power of God’s wrath that He will one day unleash upon the earth. We have seen in the past couple of chapters that God will protect those who are faithful to Him. And we see in this chapter that the prayers of the saints are as a pleasing incense to God. Why would anybody choose to face what is coming rather than to serve the God who is above all but desires nothing but good for us? Their blinded eyes won’t let them see. Their stopped up ears won’t let them hear. And their stubborn hearts won’t let them believe the Truth.
I am humbled and grateful beyond words that God chose to have mercy on me. He replaced my heart of stone with a heart of flesh so that I could see, hear and believe. Because of His great grace, I am able to choose life.