“He who sits in the heavens shall laugh; the Lord shall hold them in derision. Then He shall speak to them in His wrath, and distress them in His deep displeasure: ‘Yet I have set My King on My holy hill of Zion.’” Psalm 2:4-6
Though the peoples of this world and their rulers rebel against the LORD God and seek to keep Him from ruling over them, He laughs at mankind’s futile attempts to escape His rule and judgment. The true Lord has anointed His own King over His church, His only-begotten Son, who is now establishing an eternal kingdom made up of all who trust in Him for salvation. This kingdom and rule is eternal and will supplant all the kingdoms of this world (cf. Dan. 2:44).
Have mercy upon me, O God, and grant that I cease rebelling against You and place my faith in Your Son that I might receive Your pardon and forgiveness and a place in Your everlasting kingdom. Amen.
“Again, the next day, John stood with two of his disciples. And looking at Jesus as He walked, he said, ‘Behold the Lamb of God!’” John 1:35-36
John directed his own disciples to Jesus, their Savior! So also, faithful pastors and churches do not seek to keep disciples for themselves but point them to Jesus, “the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.”
God, grant that we, too, direct people to look in faith to Jesus, the Lamb of God who atoned for the sins of all and is the only Savior of fallen mankind. Amen.
“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits.” Matthew 7:15-16
Jesus warns His disciples to beware of false prophets — those who appear to be part of God’s flock but who are inwardly ravenous wolves, misleading, scattering, and destroying God’s flock with their lies and false teaching. Jesus said we would recognize them by their fruits. If their teaching or manner of living is contrary to the Bible, which is God’s Word, we should not expect to receive of them good and enduring fruit — true doctrine or a right application of God’s truth.
Give me the wisdom to recognize and avoid false prophets, O Lord, and preserve me in the true and saving faith unto life everlasting. Amen.
“Why do the nations rage, and the people plot a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD and against His Anointed, saying, ‘Let us break Their bonds in pieces and cast away Their cords from us.’” Psalm 2:1-3
Should we be surprised when our nation and rulers seek to cast off God and His promised Messiah so that they might live as they please and not be reminded of their utter sinfulness or of God’s impending judgment upon them? God’s Word says it will happen, but such attempts to escape Christ’s judgment are futile.
O gracious God, keep me in the true and saving faith in Christ Jesus and grant that I do not again rebel against You. Amen.
“Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.” Matthew 7:13-14
There is only one way to heaven, and that is to repent of our sinful and rebellious ways and trust in Jesus and His cross for pardon and forgiveness; all other ways lead to eternal death and destruction. Sadly, most try to enter God’s kingdom in other ways – by church membership, following certain man-made rites and traditions, doing charitable works, etc. – but the end is condemnation because only in Christ and His cross is there forgiveness of sins and eternal life.
Grant that I repent of my evil ways, O Lord, and look to You for mercy for the sake of Your blood, shed on the cross to atone for my sins and the sins of the world. Amen.
