CHOOSE GOD'S WAY!

CHOOSE GOD'S WAY!

"Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it." (Matthew 7:13-14).

   The general picture here is clear enough: there are two gates, two roads, two crowds, two destinations. The "narrow' gate is clearly restrictive and does not permit entrance to what Jesus prohibits. The "wide" gate seems far more inviting. The "broad" road is spacious and accommodates the crowd and their baggage; the other road is 'narrow" and restricting, because it is the way of persecution and opposition.

   But the two roads are not ends in themselves. The narrow road leads to life, i.e., to the consummated kingdom (cf. vv.21-23); but the broad road leads to eternal death (cf. 25:34, 46). Democratic decisions do not determine truth and righteousness in the kingdom; the way that leads to life is exclusively by revelation. {Zondervan NIV BIBLE COMMENTARY Volume 2; New Testament}. [http://twitter.com/SowersOfTheWord]. JESUS IS LORD.

A CALL TO WORSHIP THE LORD!

A CALL TO WORSHIP THE LORD!

"O COME, let us sing to the Lord; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation! Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to Him with songs of praise!" (Read: Psalm 95).

The community is summoned to come together for the purpose of celebration. The object of the joyous ceremony is no other than 'the LORD", and the occasion is an act of deliverance. "The Rock of our salvation" defends and delivers his people, and the people respond with 'thanksgiving." The community worships the Lord in word and music.

{ZONDERVAN NIV BIBLE COMMENTARY Volume 1: Old Testament}.

[http://twitter.com/SowersOfTheWord]. JESUS IS LORD.

GIVE THANKS TO THE LORD, FOR HE IS GOOD!

"GIVE THANKS to the LORD, for he is good. His love endures forever. Give thanks to the God of gods. His love endures forever." (Read: Psalm 136).

The hymn opens on a note of thanksgiving familiar from other psalms. However, this psalm is different in that it repeats the liturgical formula "His love endures forever" after every colon. The reason for praising the Lord lies in his beneficent acts. Since he is "the God of gods" and "the Lord of lords," he alone is to be thanked for all the acts in creation and in redemption.

{ZONDERVAN NIV BIBLE COMMENTARY Volume 1: Old Testament}.

Give thanks means 'to give public acknowledgment"; it is one of the principal words for praise in the Psalms (35:18; 105:1; 122:4). Mercy, which may also be translated 'loyal love," is the most significant term used in the Psalms to describe the character of God. His mercy is 'forever", it is part of His eternal character. God of gods: The poet uses Hebrew superlatives to proclaim the Lord as the Supreme Deity. {THE NKJV STUDY BIBLE Second Edition}.

[http://twitter.com/SowersOfTheWord]. JESUS IS LORD.

A DAY OF NATIONAL DISGRACE!

"Righteousness exalts a nation, But sin is a disgrace to any people." (Proverbs 14:34).

The prosperity and power of a nation depend on its righteousness. The verb 'exalt" means that people's condition in that nation is elevated. On the other hand, widespread sin is a disgrace. {ZONDERVAN NIV BIBLE COMMENTARY Volume 1: Old Testament}.

Although each individual is responsible for his or her actions, the effects extend to the whole community.

{THE NKJV STUDY BIBLE Second Edition}.

[http://twitter.com/SowersOfTheWord]. 

JESUS IS LORD.