Reading for today
Old Testament: Exodus 20, 21, 22
New Testament: Matthew 24
Thoughts from today’s reading
Exodus 20. This chapter begins to reveal the many instructions, strict laws and commandments that the Israelites were to observe. As Christians, the right way to view these instructions is from the paradigm of love as Jesus said in Matthew 22:34-40, every command hangs on love. They only make sense and relevance from that perspective, for if I truly love, I would not do anything to hurt my God or fellow man.
Matthew 24:4-14. Jesus reveals the signs of the end times in these verses. Apart from the external events like famines, pestilences and earthquakes that will be prevalent, there will be a rise of offences, lawlessness and hate which arise from the inside of man.
We have promises in the word that speak of our safety from the external events, but God has left us with the responsibility of dealing with the internal events. The only way to overcome these things is by walking in the love of God, if our love waxes cold, we are loosing that battle. Christ has poured out love in our hearts through the Holy Spirit (Romans 5:5), we should engage and express the love of Christ in us freely every moment we can and forgive any offences, this is the way it will burn hot in our hearts.
Prayers
- Lord Jesus you revealed the greatest commandment as love for God and love for my fellow man. May I walk in this consciousness of love for you and for others. You loved me first and freed me from the bondage of sin so I can respond in your love. Thank you Fathers for this in Jesus name.
- Lord you said you have given me a spirit of power, love and a sound mind. These are the attitudes I need to defeat the traps that make my love wax cold. I stir them up in my life right now in Jesus name.