Daily Message 02.17.2022

​Leviticus 7:28-9:6.
Mark 3:31-4:25
Ps 37: 12-28
Prov. 10:5
 
Good Morning.  This is a cold winter's day in February with a strong north wind driving the wind-chill temps close to 0.   But the signs of spring are coming forth and the icy grip of winter won’t last much longer.  We enjoyed the fellowship of the Old Baptist Weekly so much last evening and one thought that was brought forth in particular. 
 
II Kings 7:3.  And there were four leprous men at the entering in of the gate: and they said one to another, Why sit we here till we die?
 
There is a lot of context to the passage that time here does not permit us to cover but rather recommend you might read and study the portion of the book of II Kings to gain insight on the condition these men fully faced.  We can say that these men were facing a grim situation both personally (they were leprous) and socially as the city was suffering famine.  The men had a decision facing them.  They could sit down and wait and probably die in that state or enter into the city and suffer the famine that was going on.  Both of these options were not good plus they had severe medical issues with the leprose.  They had no help as no one would associate with them  Any of us faced with the same empty conclusion would probably be as these men; desperate and dismayed.
But God does not think negative thoughts!  He is the God of ALL Hope and Life and all His thoughts are to this end.  It was the appropriate question to ask: “Why are we sitting here and doing nothing until we die of starvation?”  Many times the Child of God ends up in a similar situation not necessarily facing a famine of food but a famine of God’s words of encouragement and association with His people.  Or it may be that it's not the circumstances around us but ourselves who come to the conclusion of "Just sit down on the stool and do nothing."  We are prone to this condition as it focuses our thoughts on ourselves instead of Looking to the Lord.  Peter learned this lesson when he asked to come to the Lord as He walked on the water.  He was OK until he took his eyes off the Lord.  Then he began to sink and cried out: Lord save me.  And the Lord Did!
 
Instead of sitting around waiting for the end when troubles come there is much we can be doing to serve the Lord. This is not to say that we should not go to the Lord with our troubles and needs and rely entirely on ourselves. Just the opposite.  When trouble comes, that is when we need to draw ever closer to the Lord and take our troubles to Him and He will work them out.  And in doing so, we learn the meaning of a deeper faith in the Lord, a closer walk with Him in this life. And we can rejoice in His finished work even more.  As was mentioned, we need to be up and busy about considering:

• Where we were before the Lord changed our hearts.  No matter where we are today, the previous condition was worse.  (And you hath He quickened those who were dead in treaspasses and in sin.)
• Where are we now?  Now, today is much better because we are closer to the Lord than yesterday.  And hopefully we have been blessed to learn more of Him and walk closer to Him.
• Where are we going?  Those four men understood they were going nowhere just sitting there and waiting to die.  Life is a gift and offers many opportunities to Glorify and Honor God in our lives.  Even when troubles come.  For where our destiny lies is with Him and that is a far better place than where we may be today or yesterday.

 
May these thoughts have profit In our lives and we can find new meaning and purpose in serving the Lord each moment.  For with Him is Life eternal and He does not forsake nor forget us.   God bless you and yours on this day.  Please pray for His cause and for one another.
Love in Christ.
Brother Mike