Prayer-Soldier Newbie
Joined: Apr 18, 2009 Posts: 1001
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Posted: Mon Jan 31, 2011 1:41 am Post subject: The Remnant Few of God |
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Seek the LORD, all you humble of the earth, who have observed his law; Seek justice, seek humility; perhaps you may be sheltered on the day of the anger of the LORD. (Zephaniah 2:3) But I will leave as a remnant in your midst a people humble and lowly, Who shall take refuge in the name of the LORD; the remnant of Israel. They shall do no wrong and speak no lies; Nor shall there be found in their mouths a deceitful tongue; They shall pasture and couch their flocks with none to disturb them. (Zephaniah 3:12-13)
If we look at the history of the world, leaders who sought to serve the people brought peace, justice and prosperity; but those who sought selfish power brought oppression, injustice and war. The innocent were trampled. Great woe and misery is brought to all; and what of such leaders, those who live lavishly upon the suffering of their people; and what of those who enable them, the lieutenants who seek scraps of power, mortal lords over the oppressed and the impoverished; what is the life of such people and to what end do they come?
It is not just the dictators, the corrupt heads of state and politicians of the land; but such leaders appear as lords of crime, in gangs, in groups of terror; but not just there either, for they are found in the scam artists of business, those who cheat, those who take what is not theirs, that which is not earned. All are possessed by selfishness, all bring evil to their lives and to those who surround them. They may bring lavish comforts to some, but they are deceptive, they exist only for a short time, they will soon fade and the misery of evil will eventually consume them. Woe, the innocents who are hurt while the evil learn their lessons; but fear not, for on the last day, the lowly will be raised to heaven while the evil will be swallowed up by evil to be left in an eternity of misery.
Consider your own calling, brothers. Not many of you were wise by human standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. Rather, God chose the foolish of the world to shame the wise, and God chose the weak of the world to shame the strong, and God chose the lowly and despised of the world, those who count for nothing, to reduce to nothing those who are something, so that no human being might boast before God. It is due to him that you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God, as well as righteousness, sanctification, and redemption, so that, as it is written, “Whoever boasts, should boast in the Lord.” (1 Corinthians 1:21-31)
The Lord does not call just the holy, the great priests, the monarchs, the affluent; no, He calls to all of His children. Who did Jesus seek out to be His apostles, the Pharisees, the high priests, kings or emperors? No, he called to tax collectors and fishermen. He called to the lowly, the humble, those who had sinned, even to those who persecuted His flock. He calls to all of us, no matter our station in life; for He has given each of us a gift to which we can serve Him and provide for the good of all according to His Word.
The just will rule with the blessings of God, but the corrupt will eventually be brought to account. Their deceptions will be revealed. The children of God may suffer for a time at the hands of the tyrant, the corrupt official, the manipulator of truth; but the Lord will hear the cry of the poor and the wails of the anguished. The Lord will see those who live by deception, those who hide behind a mask of lies; the innocent may be deceived for a time, but He will raise the mask, for no one can forever hide deception or the evil in their hearts.
When he saw the crowds, he went up the mountain, and after he had sat down, his disciples came to him. He began to teach them, saying: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are they who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the land. Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the clean of heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you and utter every kind of evil against you (falsely) because of me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven. Thus they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” (Matthew 5:1-12)
The poor in spirit are the lowly, the humble, those devout in the ways of the Lord. The Lord will not forget them, for whatever their trials are in this world, they will be blessed in heaven. While they may be persecuted by the misguided or the evil, their devotion to the Lord will save them for eternity. Blessed are they who stand for the Lord, for He will not deny those who do not deny Him.
May the peace and blessings of the Lord be with you always,
Prayer Soldier
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