Brett Hawthorn @BrettHawthorn@dingdash.com

How many of these issues do we struggle with today: joy in others destruction or failure; pleasure in others wickedness or weakness; racial hatred; and revenge? Perhaps in order to see God’s blessings rather than His wrath, we need to deal with these issues and meditate on Jesus’ words in: ‭‭*Matthew‬ ‭22:37-40‬ ‭AMP* “And Jesus replied to him, “ ‘Y OU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. The second is like it, ‘Y OU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF [that is, unselfishly seek the best or higher good for others].’ The whole Law and the [writings of the] Prophets depend on these two commandments.””

*Colossians‬ ‭3:13‬ ‭AMP* “bearing graciously with one another, and willingly forgiving each other if one has a cause for complaint against another; just as the Lord has forgiven you, so should you forgive.”‬‬

*3:13* The key to forgiving others is remembering how much God has forgiven you. Is it difficult for you to forgive someone who has wronged you a little when God has forgiven you so much? Realizing God’s infinite love and forgiveness can help you love and forgive others. Let God worry about the wrongs you’ve suffered. Don’t quench your life in bitter feuding; live renewed in love and joy.

Another amazing prayer from You Version:
*Prayer*
Lord, thank You for forgiving me. Your amazing kindness toward me overwhelms me, because I know I don’t deserve it. Just as You forgive me, please help me to forgive others. Make me more like You by giving me the courage to selflessly forgive. Let the way I treat others be a reflection of Your unconditional love. In Jesus’ name, Amen 🙏

*‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭13:20‬ ‭NIV* “She will never be inhabited or lived in through all generations; there no nomads will pitch their tents, there no shepherds will rest their flocks.”‬‬

*13:20* Even before Babylon became a world power, Isaiah prophesied that, though it would shine for a while, Babylonian’s destruction would be so complete that the land would never again be inhabited. Babylon, in present-day Iraq, still lies in utter ruin, burned under mounds of dirt and sand.

*‭‭Ezekiel‬ ‭24:6-13‬ ‭NIV* ““ ‘For this is what the Sovereign Lord says: “ ‘Woe to the city of bloodshed, to the pot now encrusted, whose deposit will not go away! Take the meat out piece by piece in whatever order it comes. “ ‘For the blood she shed is in her midst: She poured it on the bare rock; she did not pour it on the ground, where the dust would cover it. To stir up wrath and take revenge I put her blood on the bare rock, so that it would not be covered. “ ‘Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says: “ ‘Woe to the city of bloodshed! I, too, will pile the wood high. So heap on the wood and kindle the fire.

Cook the meat well, mixing in the spices; and let the bones be charred. Then set the empty pot on the coals till it becomes hot and its copper glows, so that its impurities may be melted and its deposit burned away. It has frustrated all efforts; its heavy deposit has not been removed, not even by fire. “ ‘Now your impurity is lewdness. Because I tried to cleanse you but you would not be cleansed from your impurity, you will not be clean again until my wrath against you has subsided.”‬‬

*24:6-13* The city of Jerusalem was like a pot so encrusted with sin that it would not come clean. God wanted to cleanse the lives of those who lived in Jerusalem, and he wants to cleanse our lives today. Sometimes he tries to purify us through difficulties and troublesome circumstances. When you face tough times, allow the sin to be burned from your life. Look at your problems as an opportunity for your faith to grow. When these times come, unnecessary priorities and diversions are purged away. We can re-examine our lives so that we will do what really counts.

*‭‭Ezekiel‬ ‭24:15-18‬ ‭NIV* “The word of the Lord came to me: “Son of man, with one blow I am about to take away from you the delight of your eyes. Yet do not lament or weep or shed any tears. Groan quietly; do not mourn for the dead. Keep your turban fastened and your sandals on your feet; do not cover your mustache and beard or eat the customary food of mourners.” So I spoke to the people in the morning, and in the evening my wife died. The next morning I did as I had been commanded.”‬‬

*24:15-18* God told Ezekiel that his wife would die and that he should not grieve for her. Ezekiel obeyed God fully, even as Hosea did when he was told to marry an unfaithful woman (Hosea 1:2,3). In both cases, these unusual events were intended as symbolic acts to picture God’s relationship with his people. Obeying God can carry a high cost. The only grief more excruciating than losing your spouse and not being allowed to grieve would be to miss out on eternal life because you did not turn to and obey God. Ezekiel always obeyed God wholeheartedly. We should be wholehearted in our obedience. We can begin by doing all that God commands us to do, even when we don’t feel like it. Are you willing to serve God as completely as Ezekiel did?

*Matthew‬ ‭5:14-16‬ ‭NIV* ““You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”‬‬

*5:14-16* Can you hide a city that is sitting on top of a hill? Its light at night can be seen for miles. If we live for Christ, we will glow like lights, showing others what Christ is like. We hide our light by (1) being quiet when we should speak, (2) going along with the crowd, (3) denying the light, (4) letting sin dim our light, (5) not explaining our light to others, or (6) ignoring the needs of others. Be a beacon of truth - don’t shut your light off from the rest of the world.

Here is another prayer that got from You Version today that really spoke to me that I wanted to share with you all:
*Prayer*
God, I want my life to make You known to the people around me. Give me the courage to live generously. Let my actions be filled with humility and love so that they bring You glory and draw others close to You. In Jesus’ name, Amen 🙏

*‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭12:1-6‬ ‭NIV* “In that day you will say: “I will praise you, Lord. Although you were angry with me, your anger has turned away and you have comforted me. Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The Lord, the Lord himself, is my strength and my defense; he has become my salvation.” With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation. In that day you will say: “Give praise to the Lord, proclaim his name; make known among the nations what he has done, and proclaim that his name is exalted. Sing to the Lord, for he has done glorious things; let this be known to all the world. Shout aloud and sing for joy, people of Zion, for great is the Holy One of Israel among you.””‬‬

*12:1-6* This chapter is a hymn of praise - another graphic description of the people’s joy when Jesus Christ comes to reign over the earth. Even now we need to express our gratitude to God - thanking him, praising him, and telling others about him. From the depths of our gratitude, we must praise him. And we should share the Good News with others