Scripture:
Psalm 75:6-8; Genesis 2:16; 3:6; Jeremiah 15:1-7
Tue, 27 December 2022

The Hand of God Against Sin

Observation:

How do these passages define sin?

Deeper Reflection
GENESIS 3:6 DOES NOT MENTION ANY HANDS, BUT YOU CAN use your imagination to trace the actions. The woman took some of the fruit from the tree that God had forbidden and ate it. She also gave some to her husband and he ate it. Each one of these actions portrays human hands exalted up against the will of God, thus incurring the wrath of God, in whose hands are the cup of judgment (v.8).This cup of judgment is still being poured out against sin today. In Hebrew, the second half of Jeremiah 15:6 says literally to God’s disobedient covenantal people, “My hand is stretched out against you and I will ruin you.” Our God does not condone sin, for sin ruins His good creation and purposes. He must act against sin.Amazingly, God’s action against sin leads Him to take upon Himself the burden of sin. In a passage that reminds us of Genesis 3:6, Paul in Philippians 2:6 describes Jesus the Messiah as not considering equality with God something to be grasped or taken. He has done it for us, and died on the cross to resolve the problem of sin. God struck Himself with His powerful hand against sin, for the judgment and salvation of the world.
Application:

As we come to the close of the year, reflect on whether there is any area of sin
in your life that you need to repent of.

Prayer:
Write a prayer to God as your response from your meditation on and application of the Scriptures.
Prayer Pointers:
  • Give thanks and praise
  • Pray for pastors and staff: To reconsecrate their lives in holiness before God as we prepare for 2023
  • Pray for significant people
  • Pray for those in need
  • Pray for self
 

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Daily Devo
Daily Devotional Journal
Scripture:
Daniel 10:11-12, 14-19
Tue, 26 September 2023

A Man of High Esteem

Observation:

What significant observations can you make about Daniel being called “man of high esteem” (vv.11, 19)?

Deeper Reflection
One of the heavenly beings called Daniel “man of high esteem” (v.11). This honour was bestowed on Daniel emphatically, in that it was repeated twice (v.19). This “high esteem” did not come from man, but from God Himself. God gave this honour to Daniel toward the end of his life when God called him to “enter into rest” (Dan 12:13). As a youth, Daniel “made up his mind not to defile himself with the king’s choice food” (Dan 1:8), and as an old man, he was faithful to God in spending time with Him in his “three times a day” devotion, even if it means to be thrown into the lions’ den (Dan 6:10). Daniel was finishing well in his life with “humbling yourself before your God” (v.12). When we think of finishing well in terms of successful accomplishments, we must be careful that we are not exalting ourselves.It is not for us to see ourselves in any way as a person of high esteem before God. It is for God to say that to us (2 Cor 10:17-18). Daniel never saw himself as a “man of high esteem”. A key emphasis in Daniel 10 is Daniel being greatly overwhelmed by the holiness and glory of God represented by the heavenly being with an awesome appearance (Dan 10:5-10, 15-18). And it was in this encounter with God when he was called “man of high esteem” that Daniel said, “How can such a servant of my Lord talk with such as my Lord?”50 (v.17). The man highly esteemed by God saw his unworthiness before God.
50 I have theologically translated “my lord” to “my Lord”, since the heavenly being is a representation of God.
Application:

What does being highly esteemed by God mean to me?

Prayer:
Write a prayer to God as your response from your meditation on and application of the Scriptures.
Prayer Pointers:
  • Give thanks and praise
  • Pray for pastors and staff: To be able to see oneself as God sees
  • Pray for significant people
  • Pray for those in need
  • Pray for self

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