THE RIGHTEOUS AND THE WICKED AND GOD'S RESPONSE

PRAY WITH ME FOR AFRICA: Bible translation work is in progress for 18 languages. Only 8 Malian languages have a New Testament and only one has the entire Bible. Pray for these translators and for God to use His Word in Mali. Literacy is only 19% and life expectancy is under 50 years so pray for literacy projects and oral and radio ministries. Pray for work among students. Pray for Mali.

 Djinguereber Mosque in Timbuktu, Mali was built in 1327 of local clay and is still in use today, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.




This week my attention has been drawn to how God responds to the righteous and the wicked. In reading Kings and Psalms and Revelation, the theme is evident and consistent - God loves the righteous and hates the wicked, and God cares and blesses the righteous but abandons and curses the wicked. This truth is most prominent in Revelation as all people stand before God in judgement. The righteous, those whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life, are ushered into God's eternal kingdom, but the wicked, whose names are not written in the Lamb's book of life, are cast into the Lake of Fire for eternity.

It will do you no good to complain against the Holy character of God and His promise of wrath and judgement on the wicked for this is reality. No human-rights tribunal can change the Holy character of God into our self-centered view of righteousness and justice and reduce God's judgement to what we call "fair".
We the righteous before God know without a doubt that we are not or could ever be righteous in ourselves and by our works. We have humbly accepted the reality of our rebellion against God, of our sinful nature, of our inability to ever please God and be righteous before Him, and with worship and gratitude have accepted the offer of God's free gift of salvation in the person and work of Jesus Christ. Christ is our righteousness so we make no boast of being better than others or make no claim of achievement. We are the righteous and blessed of God by Grace and by His mercy.
So if you are one of the righteous ones in Christ, rejoice and serve and worship and enjoy God and the hope that lies ahead. If you now see that you are unrighteous and unholy and a sinner before God, ask for the free gift of eternal life in Christ Jesus. "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of God".

Good Articles This Week:
China Detaining Muslims: The Goal "Transformation"‎
How to Avoid a Wonderful Retirement
A Time to Pray for Idlib