by Don Ruhl

I have a question for you, well, actually the Lord has a question:

11 To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices to Me? (Isaiah 1:11). 

He asked this of the rebellious leaders of Israel, so His motive was different than why I present the question here, but it is still a good question to ponder during the day. You make sacrifices for the Lord all the time. Why? What is your motive? What are you expecting from the Lord?

by Don Ruhl

Studying marriages of people you know is both fascinating and depressing. Fascinating because it is a wonderful union created by God for a man and a woman. Depressing because some do not fulfill the God-ordained role of marriage.

Why do young couples desire to marry? Generally they want to be with one another. Before marriage they can hardly think of anything else, but being together. After marriage they can hardly think of anything else, but doing their own thing.

Take a cue from Solomon and his wife, taking up their desire for togetherness:

11 Come, my beloved, Let us go forth to the field; Let us lodge in the villages. 12 Let us get up early to the vineyards; Let us see if the vine has budded, Whether the grape blossoms are open, And the pomegranates are in bloom. There I will give you my love. (Song of Solomon 7:11, 12).

See how they wanted to be together? In other places in the Song, they are separated and they are pained at the same time.

Revive the memory of why you married and seek that union again.

by Don Ruhl

Tearing and Healing

Why are there times when we are torn and struck down? Hosea 6:1 addresses this question.

Come, let us return to the LORD; for he has torn us, that he may heal us; he has struck us down, and he will bind us up. (Hos. 6:1, ESV).

God struck Israel that He might heal her. She would not listen any other way. When she suffered severely, she was ready to hear the Lord. That shows that He was not taking pleasure in hurting her, but it was to get her attention and then He was able to heal her.

Does this mean that every time we suffer it is God trying to get our attention? No, for there are plenty of examples in the Bible showing that suffering is just a part of this life, but we can use those times, nevertheless, to gain valuable insight into our own lives.

What should you do when you suffer? Do we have to fret over whether it is God doing it to us? No, but do what Hosea said at the beginning of the verse sited above. That is, look at your life and see if you have strayed from the Lord, and if so, return to Him. If you have strayed from Him, see what other things you can learn from your experience.

Don Ruhl Church of Christ 220 NE Savage Street Grants Pass, Oregon 97526-1310 541-476-3100

by Don Ruhl

I know that sounds oxymoronic, but that is the picture of Jesus Christ in Revelation 6:16, 17. Speaking of the enemies of Christ, John writes that they will say,

16 to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! 17 For the great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand? (Rev. 6:16, 17).

Look at the almost comical scene. The world's most powerful men running from a Lamb! They see His wrath and know that they have no power to stand before Him.

Even more interesting is that these powerful people put their trust in a beast that seems invincible. In fact, Revelation 13:4 shows what is said about that beast.

4 So they worshiped the dragon who gave authority to the beast; and they worshiped the beast, saying, Who is like the beast? Who is able to make war with him? (Rev. 13:4).

The Book of Revelation shows the war between these two competing forces, the Lamb of God and the Beast. Who is able to stand against these awesome powers? This is the great paradox of the last Book of the Bible and the paradox of the world. A Lamb defeats the ferocious Beast.

On whose side are you?

by Don Ruhl

God speaks severely in the Book of Hosea, prophesying what He was going to do to Israel for her persistent sin. Did He enjoy speaking this way? Did He take pleasure in punishing Israel? No and no. Just listen to Hosea 8:11.

8 How can I give you up, O Ephraim? How can I hand you over, O Israel? How can I make you like Admah? How can I treat you like Zeboiim? My heart recoils within me; my compassion grows warm and tender. (Hos. 8:11, ESV).

My normal study Bible is the New King James Version, but this morning I read Hosea chapters 9 through 11 in the English Standard Version and this verse caught my attention more than usual. When I came to the part that says, My heart recoils within me, I literally recoiled. Out loud I said, Whoa! God's heart recoils at the thought of giving up the people whom He loves!

When I read that some of my first thoughts were of firing a rifle and the experience of the recoil. Even as the gun jumps back, so God jumps back at the thought of handing over those whom He loves to their enemies.

Friends, God's compassion is warm and tender toward you. Please worship Him that you not experience rejection from Him.