" Israel at the Center "

Deuteronomy 32:7-14  " Remember the days of old, consider the years of many generations: ask thy father, and he will show thee; thy elders, and they will tell thee. When the MOST HIGH divided to the nations their inheritance, when HE separated the sons of Adam, HE set the bounds of the people according to the number of the children of Israel. For the LORD's portion is HIS people; Jacob is the lot of HIS inheritance. HE found him in a desert land, and in the waste howling wilderness; HE led him about, HE instructed him, HE kept him as the apple of HIS eye.

As an eagle stirs up her nest, flutters over her young, spreads abroad her wings, takes them, bears them on her wings: So the LORD alone did lead him, and there was no strange god with him. HE made him ride on the high places of the earth, that he might eat the increase of the fields; and HE made him to suck honey out of the rock, and oil out of the flinty rock; Butter of kine, and milk of sheep, with fat of lambs, and rams of the breed of Bashan, and goats, with the fat of kidneys of wheat; and thou did drink the pure blood of the grape. "

   " When the MOST HIGH divided to the nations their inheritance, when HE separated the sons of Adam, HE set the bounds of the people according to the number of the children of Israel " (vs.8). Without claiming to uncover all the mysteries of this fascinating passage, at the very least this can be said: When GOD set the boundaries for all the nations, HE had Israel in mind, and HE wonderfully provided for HIS chosen nation. Let us realize GOD's sovereignty even in geography !

" Therefore is the name of it called Babel; because the LORD did there confound the language of all the earth: and from thence did the LORD scatter them abroad upon the face of all the earth. " Genesis 11:9

   After the Babel dispersion (Genesis Chapter 11), the sons of Adam spread out over the earth, doing their own thing and acting independently of GOD. However, the nations that formed from this migration and the boundaries that resulted were all predetermined by GOD (Acts 17:26). In GOD's sovereign planning, Israel was central. The LORD knew exactly what territory to give them based upon their population and all other factors.

The land of Israel is in the exact center of the world, based upon its proximity to the world's major land masses. It is nestled in the middle of three large continents. This land of Canaan is not a sizable strip of land, but consider all of the vital historical events that have taken place there, including, most importantly, JESUS CHRIST's death, burial and resurrection. Consider also the great prophetic events that are yet to occur in this specific geographical location. Indeed, in the kingdom age, Jerusalem will be the very capital of the world, with CHRIST sitting on David's throne. How foolish it is for people to believe or teach that Israel has no place in the future plan of GOD ! Israel has been the preeminent focus of the LORD's sovereign planning from the very beginning ! GWZ

Your servant in CHRIST,

Julie

Copyright, Feature : A Daily Bible Study Guide

Used with permission.   www.feasite.org 

" Do You Have Eternal Life ? "

John 3:14-21  " And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the SON of MAN be lifted up: that whosoever believes in HIM should not perish, but have eternal life. For GOD so loved the world, that HE gave HIS only begotten SON, that whosoever believes in HIM should not perish, but have everlasting life. For GOD sent not HIS SON into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through HIM might be saved.

He that believes on HIM is not condemned: BUT he that believes not is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten SON of GOD. And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that does evil hates the light, neither comes to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved (exposed). But he that does truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest (clearly seen), that they are wrought (done) in GOD. "

   Do you know CHRIST as your SAVIOR ? Do you know for sure you are a Christian ? These questions and others relating to the Gospel and our spiritual condition should never offend a " True " Christian. We should be grateful that someone cares enough to ask. When posed with such questions, however, what kind of answers are we able to give ? When you ask these questions to others, what sort of answers have you been given ? Every Christian should be able to clearly articulate his or her knowledge of personal sin (Romans 3:23). Because of sin, no one is able to save him or herself (Romans 6:23); everyone needs the SAVIOR, GOD's REDEEMER, WHO died in our place, paying the penalty for our sin (Romans 5:8). It is by faith alone in the person and in the finished work of JESUS on the cross as our substitute that we have eternal life (John 1:12; 3:16-17).

   The purpose of CHRIST's first coming was to save sinners (Matthew 20:28; Luke 19:10). HE came to pay the price for our sins so that sinners would have the opportunity, by faith, to receive eternal life. Bible-believing Christians have faith (knowledge, assent, trust) that the LORD JESUS CHRIST's death on Calvary's cross was the only payment for sin that was acceptable to GOD the FATHER. Furthermore, we also believe that GOD demonstrated HIS acceptance of the price that HIS SON paid when HE raised JESUS from the dead. In a nutshell, the death, burial, and resurrection of JESUS CHRIST for our sins IS THE GOSPEL (1st.Corinthians 15:3-4). Back to the initial question: Do you know CHRIST as your personal SAVIOR ? Do you believe that HE died to pay the penalty for your sin and that HE is risen from the dead ? Have you trusted in JESUS as your personal SAVIOR from the wages of sin ? GDF

Your servant in CHRIST,

Julie

Copyright, Feature: A Daily Bible Study Guide.

Used with permission.   www.feasite.org

" Peace with GOD "

Romans 5:1-5  " Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with GOD through our LORD JESUS CHRIST: by WHOM also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of GOD. And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; and patience, experience; and experience, hope: and hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of GOD is shed abroad in our hearts by the HOLY GHOST which is given unto us. "

     We hear so much today about peace. Many people claim that one can experience personal peace by following one's own ideas or someones else's ideas, but this will not give anyone genuine peace. Others are striving for world peace which, they think, can become a reality if all the nations of the world would disarm.

     Nothing, however, is more important than having peace with GOD, and Scripture tells us that it is indeed possible to have peace with GOD. But in order to obtain this peace, man must accept it on GOD's terms. Every person born into this world can only enjoy peace through the person and work of JESUS CHRIST. " There is no peace, saith my GOD, to the wicked " (Isaiah 57:21). Man is separated from the LORD by their sin, and yet anyone can have peace with the Holy GOD by placing their faith in the work of CHRIST, WHO died for all sinners and will cleanse them from their sin by HIS shed blood (Romans 5:8-9; Ephesians 1:7; Colossians 1:14). We can only be justified ("declared righteous") by faith in JESUS' finished work on the cross. Have you received HIM as your SAVIOR (John 1:12) ?

     Verse five of the text spells out many blessings enjoyed by the believer. First of all, those who have peace with GOD have access into HIS grace and enjoy the hope of being in CHRIST (Romans 5:2). We can always glory in all our trials and tribulations and know that the LORD is seeking to teach us patience (Romans 5:3). We possess incomparable hope in CHRIST (Romans 5:4), and the love of GOD is shed abroad in our hearts as we yield to the LORD (Romans 5:5). How thankful we should be to have peace with the LORD by HIS marvelous grace. Peace with GOD is the most important peace that any person could ever possess. DLF

Your servant in CHRIST,

Julie

Feature: A Daily Bible Study Guide

Used with permission: www.feasite.org