GOD’S WORD FOR DECEMBER 20 ~ ~ II Timothy 3:16&17 ~ ~ “All scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:  that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works”

MOVING TO PART 4 OF THE SAME BOOK, “THE FALL OF THE KINGDOM OF ISRAEL” AND CHAPTER 10 ~ ”FALL OF ISRAEL, BROKEN COVENANT, BROKEN KINGDOM”

The nation of Israel began with God’s promise to Abraham in Genesis 12:12: “I will make of you a great nation.”  In time, the Israelite people rose in prominence on the world stage.  They escaped from slavery under Moses, conquered the Promised Land under Joshua, established a monarchy under Saul, and became a powerful empire under David and Solomon.  But their kingdom began to decline before the end of Solomon’s reign, when his wisdom failed and he led the nation into idolatry.

As a White House official, Charles Colson found Christ after being sentenced to prison for his role in the Watergate scandal.  In 1976, he founded Prison Fellowship, an international Christian outreach to prisoners and their families.

In the late 1990’s, Colson received a phone call from Jack Eckerd, owner of the Eckerd drugstore chain, inviting him to Florida to learn about that state’s criminal justice crisis.  Colson traveled with Eckerd, visiting prisons and speaking with officials and advocacy groups.

When they addressed audiences, the drugstore mogul would always introduce Colson by saying, “This is Chuck Colson, my friend.  He’s born again, I’m not.  I wish I were.”  Afterward, Colson would talk to Eckerd about Jesus, but he would not receive Christ.  This happened many times.

Before Colson left Florida, he gave Eckard a copy of C.S.Lewis’s “Mere Christianity” – the book that had drawn him to Christ.  In the months that followed, they kept in touch.  Finally, Eckerd told Colson he believed that Jesus had died and risen again.

Colson asked if Eckerd had confessed to God that he was a sinner, and asked Jesus to take control of his life.  Yes, Eckerd said, he had.  To which Colson responded, “Then you’re born again!”

“No, I’m not,” Eckerd said, “I haven’t felt anything.”

“Yes, you are,” Colson said.  “Pray with me right now.”  They prayed together over the phone –_and at that time, Eckerd realized he was truly born again.

Soon afterward, Eckerd discovered that his drugstore chain sold pornographic magazines and ordered them removed from all his stores.  When his staff told him that would cost the company $3 million in annual profits, he repeated, “Take them out!”

Colson later asked Eckerd if his newfound faith in Christ has prompted that decision.

“Why else would I give away three million dollars?”  Eckerd said. “The Lord wouldn’t let me off the hook.”

Eckerd lobbied other companies to follow his lead, and many did – all because God wouldn’t let Jack Eckerd off the hook.

In ancient times, too, God did not let His people off the hook.  He set forth His commandments and expected His people to keep them.

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James 1:17

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.

2Corinthians 1:20

For all the promises of God in Him are yeah, and in Him Amen, unto

the Glory of God by us.

Romans 5:8

But God commended his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

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POEM BY HELEN STEINER RICE

“NEVER BORROW SORROW FROM TOMORROW”

Deal only with the present, never step into tomorrow, For God asks us to just trust Him and to never borrow sorrow.

For the future is not ours to know and it may never be, so let us live and give our best, and give it lavishly.

For to meet tomorrow’s troubles before they are even ours is to anticipate the Savior and to doubt His all wise powers.

So let us be content to solve our problems one by one, asking nothing of tomorrow except “THY WILL BE DONE.”

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Matthew 6:33-34

“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added to you.  Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself.”

Ps 107:8-9

Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness,

And for His wonderful works to the children of men!   For He satisfies the longing soul and fills the hungry soul with goodness.

Jeremiah 23:29

“Is not My Word like a fire” says the Lord, “And like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces?”

Isaiah 45:6

..…”Is there any God besides Me, or is there any other Rock?  I know of none.”

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