Wicked

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Psalm 11:6 Wickedness Has A Price

Upon the wicked He will rain coals; fire and brimstone and a burning wind shall be the portion of their cup. Psalm 11:6

Every nation and community has set up laws against certain crimes. If a person commits a certain type of crime, there is a punishment that can be severe. It may just be a small fine but can go all the way up to federal prison time depending upon the severity of the crime and the rules that are set in place. Most people have accepted the results of committing a crime and paying the price for it.

David points out that God will rain coals, fire, brimstone and a burning wind upon the wicked as a portion for their wickedness.

People have no problems with there being some type of severe punishment against someone who does something wrong that they see as wrong. Laws are allowed to be in place to punish crimes against those who do wrong.

Yet, many do not believe that God should punish anyone for doing anything wrong. People often see God as just love and never punishing. The world does not see anything wrong with sin and even has made laws promoting and allowing sinful behavior to occur.

Although the world appears to get by with sinful behavior, God will pour out judgement upon them in the end. While on this earth, God’s judgement may occur in sickness, death or loss of something. He pours out coals, fire and brimstone upon the wicked to get their attention to look to Him for salvation and turn from their wickedness.

Jesus has provided a way out from that judgement by dying on the cross and raising from the dead to remove all sin. God, in His infinite love, calls all people to turn from wickedness so that may have an abundant and eternal life.

As a believer, you have been forgiven of your sins and all sin has been removed. Do not allow yourself to be like the world and turn towards the wickedness that God hates and will judge.

Love the righteousness and holiness that God loves and desires of you. Turn from sin and live the holy life God has called you to live so that God will not have to pour out punishment and judgement upon you in the end. Let the world know what is coming if they continue to live in sinful ways.

Today I pray that you will know Jesus as your Lord and Savior; that you will live the holy life God has called you to live; that God will give you strength to turn from wicked ways; and that you will be a witness of God’s true love for the world.

Picture by Dave Hoefler under Unsplash

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Psalm 10:4 Is God In Your Thoughts?

The wicked in his proud countenance does not seek God; God is in none of his thoughts. Psalm 10:4

Every day, every moment people are seeking and thinking about something. Most often it is seeking how they can make their lives better or more pleasurable and what is the next thing that needs to be accomplished in their day to day living. Their focus is in the moment, with no thought about eternity. In the lives of many, self is the greatest god there is, outside of self, there is no other that is important.

The writer of this psalm is talking about the wicked. He states that the wicked in his proudful self does not seek nor think about God at all.

The majority of the people in the world do not know God, nor think about God. Many of these follow false gods of various false religions, and the rest do not have any room for any god at all, they are a god in themselves.

People focus their lives on what is happening in the moment and how they can make their lives better. Day to day living, going to work, taking care of self, and finding pleasure in life are what is important and on the minds of most people. Very few take time to seek God or think about Him at all.

This problem has also crept into the church. Many in the church think about God on Sundays, but during the rest of the week, they do not read His word, pray, seek God, nor think about Him. God is only for in times of trouble or on Sunday for many.

True believers will live their lives seeking God and His will for their lives. They are constantly thinking about what God wants for them to have and do and how they can please God with their lives.

You have many things going on in your life each day. There are things you must do and accomplish, and these can easily consume your thoughts. As you go about doing these things, you must take time to seek God and think about what He wants you to accomplish in your life from day to day.

When you are faced with a choice, you must be willing to seek God first to help you make the right choice. Keep God at the front of your thoughts, so that you will not fall to temptation and sin.

Today I pray that you will know Jesus as your Lord and Savior; that you will seek God at all times and in every situation; that you will keep God at the front of your thoughts; and that you will obey what God tells you to do or not do.

Picture by Marcos Paulo Prado under Unsplash

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Job 21:7-9 Temporary Surface Success

Why do the wicked live and become old, yes, become mighty in power? Their descendants are established with them in their sight, and their offspring before their eyes. Their houses are safe from fear, neither is the rod of God upon them. Job 21:7-9

In every nation and community, a person can look around and see someone who is very wealthy or in high level of power and in older age. Many of those who are these positions do not have very high standards of living. Those with high standards of living appear to be in much lower positions in life.

Job complains about how the wicked can live and become old with a long line of descendants with no fear. God does not appear to punish them at all.

Looking on the surface, many people appear to have everything going great for them, having great success. There does not seem to be any problems or difficulties in their lives, and they are getting what they want.

Sinful lifestyles are lived and promoted by the wealthy and prominent of the world. On the surface God does not seem to care about what they are doing and is letting them get away with sin in their lives with no fear of punishment, while many believers are suffering from harm in many different ways, and this can be very discouraging.

Believers must remember that God is patient and does not want any to perish. He is also holding off punishment until the day of judgement when Jesus returns. Although the majority of the world is living in sin, there will come a day of judgement in which they will pay for their sins.

Instead of complaining about the world, believers must remember that at one time they were also just like the world. Living for God may cost today, but it will be worth it in the end.

It may feel like you are getting the raw end of the stick and are suffering while the world appears to be living it up in sin. Do not focus on what the world is getting by with today, but remember that there will come a day when they will be punished for their sins.

Just as they will be punished, you will be rewarded for your faithfulness to God. Hold on to the eternal hope you have that the world cannot know without Jesus.

Today I pray that you will know Jesus as your Lord and Savior; that you will know the hope you have in Jesus; that you will know the rewards God has for you some day; that you will trust God’s timing in your life; and that you will trust God’s timing in judging the world.

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Job 18:21 Not Knowing God

Surely such are the dwellings of the wicked, and this is the place of him who does not know God. Job 18:21

Every person on the earth has a physical place or location in which they dwell. Some are very simple and may be outdoors, while others are large and fancy homes or buildings. There is also another dwelling in which people may be in which it is not physical, but is of the spiritual realm. This realm has an effect upon their mind, spirit and emotional being. It is what brings about joy and fear, peace and disturbance.

Bildad describes how the wicked are punished and go through difficulties for their sins. He says that these places are the places in which the wicked or those who do not know God dwell.

Looking on the surface of most people, they appear to be doing fair. They are content on the surface with their lifestyle and living and doing as they want. Yet, underneath the surface many are living in fear, depression, pain, suffering, alone and much more. Rejecting God, they are willing to do whatever it takes to bring temporary satisfaction and joy, only to bring on more problems in life.

While the majority of the world do not really know about God, there are many who have been told about God, who still reject Him. They have turned away from God, not really knowing His great love that He has for them.

Anyone who does not know God will never know true peace in the heart, joy despite problems in life, forgiveness when having done something wrong, or the hope of something beyond this life.

Believers have all these things and much more, because they know God and have a relationship with Him. Everyone needs to make God their dwelling place.

You must ask yourself where your relationship with God is. It is one thing to know about God, but do you know God and His character?

Do not ignore God’s commands or the leading of the Holy Spirit in your life. Living for self and the world will only bring temporary satisfaction and then loss of everything in the end. Not knowing Him will bring on a judgement that you do not want.

God will provide all that you need and more when you put your focus upon Him and dwell with Him. Knowing God will give you true life.

Today I pray that you will know Jesus as your Lord and Savior; that you will know God’s character and love for you; that you will dwell in God’s plans for your life; that you will know the joy of living for God; and that you will know the peace in dwelling in God’s presence.