Sunday, August 26, 2018

The Lord is Close 8/26-31/18

26-31 August 2018 - The Lord is Close (8/6-7/14) Manna by Dorothy & Tony
Psalm 145:18 KJV: “The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon Him, to all that call upon Him in truth.” NLT: “The Lord is close to all who call on Him, yes, to all who call on Him sincerely.”

Some researches I find it enriching and want to share them with you. Deuteronomy 4:7 KJV, “For what nation is there so great, who hath God so nigh (close) unto them, as the Lord our God is in all things that we call upon Him for?” We can call upon our lovely God at any time because He is so close to us. I love that thought! More to come!

Reading from Deut. 4:5-7 NLT – Moses urges Israel to obey when the Israel was about to enter the Promised Land. 5) “You must obey these laws and regulations when you arrive in the land you are about to enter and occupy. The Lord my God gave them to me and commanded me to pass them on to you. 6) If you obey them carefully, you will display your wisdom and intelligence to the surrounding nations. When they hear about these laws, they will exclaim, ‘What other nation is as wise and prudent as this!’ 7) For what great nation has a god as near to them as the Lord our God is near to us whenever we call on Him?”

What does this mean? Compare to other nations who worshiped their gods and those nations did not have the Lord God like the Israel had. Israel’s God was far better than their gods who were not close to them at all. Other nations that worshiped their gods were made of stones and woods. Some of their gods were stuck in one place.

God had chosen Israel, a nation to reveal Himself through them. Israel was a great nation because they had worshiped God, the Holy One of Israel.  David, the psalmist wrote that the Israel’s God were always close by whenever Israel call upon Him for help. 

Today like Israel, New Testament believers are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, and God’s possession—a people whom God wants to proclaim His excellences and Lordship. 1 Peter 2:9 “But you are a chosen people, royal priests, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession. You were chosen to tell about the wonderful acts of God, who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light (NCV).

KJV define a peculiar people who should show forth the praises of Him who has called us out of darkness into His marvelous light. Peculiar people are characteristic of only one kind of thing … Christ in our lives … So what other nations, the world needs is Jesus.

Song: What the World Needs is Jesus
What the world needs is Jesus,
      just a glimpse of Him;
What the world needs is Jesus,
     just a glimpse of Him;
He will bring joy and gladness,
     take away sin and sadness;
What the world needs is Jesus,
     just a glimpse of Him.
      (Inspiring Choruses)

May the Lord bless you! 

Dorothy 

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