Read
A Terrible Day
14The great day of the Lord
is coming soon, very soon.
On that terrible day,
fearsome shouts of warriors
will be heard everywhere.
15It will be a time of anger—
of trouble and torment,
of disaster and destruction,
of darkness and despair,
of storm clouds and shadows,
16of trumpet calls
and battle cries
against fortified cities
and mighty fortresses.
17The Lord warns everyone
who has sinned against him,
“I'll strike you blind!
Then your blood and your insides
will gush out like vomit.
18Not even your silver or gold
can save you on that day
when I, the Lord, am angry.
My anger will flare up
like a furious fire
scorching the earth
and everyone on it.”
Turn to the Lord
1You disgraceful nation,
gather around,
2before it's too late.
The Lord has set a time
when his fierce anger
will strike like a storm
and sweep you away.
3If you humbly obey the Lord,
then come and worship him.
If you do right and are humble,
perhaps you will be safe
on that day when the Lord
turns loose his anger.
Reflect
Today you face a choice … Will you seek the Lord, or will you follow the idols of this world? Will you seek righteousness and obey God or will you do your own thing? Will you clothe yourself in humility or will you assert your own self-will and pride?
Humbly turn to the Lord with all your heart and soul and mind. Depend wholly on the Lord. Let his eye guide you in the affairs of life. Rest your faith in an uncontrollable, mysterious, holy God. Then you will be safe on that day when the Lord turns loose his anger. For the great day of the Lord is coming quickly. Emotionally this day will be a day of trouble and distress. Physically it will be a day of devastation and desolation. Psychologically it will be a day of darkness and gloominess. Cosmically it will be a day of clouds and thick darkness. Militarily it will be a day of trumpet and alarm. This day is coming because all of us have sinned against a holy and righteous God. On that day your money will not be able to save you.
God longs to show you mercy. God sent his son who humbly gave up everything to be like us, who obeyed God in everything he did, and died on the cross for your and my sins so that we might be children of God. God can be counted on to do what is right. The choice is yours … Will you with your mouth and heart and soul declare that Jesus is Lord and know peace and joy both now and on the day of the Lord, or will you continue in your sin and cry in despair on that great day of the Lord?
Respond
Gracious Father, who shows mercy to whom he will show mercy. Forgive our sins, and grant us mercy so that we might know peace and joy today, and be safe on the day of judgement. In the name of the Lamb who was slain, Jesus, Amen.
James Bruyn
Dr. James Bruyn is a bi-vocational visionary leader, writer and speaker who enjoys helping individuals integrate their faith in God with their daily life. James is passionate about connecting the rich promises of our loving Heavenly Father that we find in the Bible, with the joys and challenges of living out our faith in the workplace. James leads a ministry to Christians in the marketplace in Calgary, provides leadership coaching, and consults for the rail industry. Publications: God With Us At Work; Gifted To Do Our Work (Word Alive Press)