Bible Reading: Leviticus 9; Psalm 10; Proverbs 24; 1 Thessalonians 3
Proverbs 24:11-12 If thou forbear to deliver them that are drawn unto death, and those that are ready to be slain; 12 If thou sayest, Behold, we knew it not; doth not he that pondereth the heart consider it? and he that keepeth thy soul, doth not he know it? and shall not he render to every man according to his works?
God wants us to help when we can. Here we have a hypothetical situation presented to us and some rhetorical questions about not helping when someone is in peril. The proverb gives us a 'what if?' situation. If you forbear (refuse) to deliver someone who is drawn unto death and those ready to be slain. Who might this be? Well, it could be that you know of a situation where an innocent person is going to die. What about a situation where someone will perish unless they cry out to Jesus Christ for deliverance? What about those who are lost are headed for an eternity of hell?
But sometimes we make excuses, don't we?
If we say, "I did not know!" God will consider this because he ponders the heart. He knows what we think when no one else does. God is the one who keeps our soul. He knows what we are thinking. Our excuses will not work with him.
Psalms 139:1-3 O LORD, thou hast searched me, and known me. 2 Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off. 3 Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways.
Hebrews 4:13 Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.
We have the keys to the kingdom of heaven! We have the gospel of Jesus Christ. However, most people have never really heard a CLEAR presentation of the gospel. They have a jumbled up bunch of half-truths floating around in their heads mingled with a bunch of superstition. We can do what God told Habakkuk to do: MAKE IT PLAIN! (Habakkuk 2:2)
We have the gospel of Jesus Christ! There is something that you and I can do about men's lost condition!
Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
God has good works for us to do. Not to earn our salvation, but because we are saved. Don't ignore those who are drawn away unto death. Don't make excuses. We know it and we can do something about it.
Romans 10:14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?
In Christ,
Rody
