Making a Differencewith Pastor Phil Erickson

Dec 20th Closed For Christmas?

Today’s Passages – Hebrews 10 – 11; Proverbs 20

(Second Milers also read – Psalms 96 – 100; Memorize – Luke 2:11)

Listen to this morning’s Scripture song – Matthew 6:33

Click here to view last year’s post from this passage – “Living by Faith”

“Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.” – (Hebrews 10:23-25)

This Sunday is Christmas. Now I have to confess to you that I personally prefer when Christmas falls on another day of the week besides Sunday. Our tradition during Christmas usually involves going to a candlelight service at the church on Christmas eve, and then we visit with some dear friends of ours for a couple of hours. On Christmas morning we take our time getting up, and then open up our gifts to each other. We usually have a big breakfast together, sometimes a few close friends will come over to join us. In the afternoon we travel up to my dad’s house in Brick where we exchange gifts again, and enjoy a wonderful Christmas dinner. Sometimes on the way home, we will look for those homes that are beautifully decorated with Christmas lights. My family enjoys our tradition. We look forward to it every year, and we savor every minute of it when it arrives.

This year, however, our schedule will be radically different from most years because Christmas falls upon a Sunday. It happens every seven years or so, and every time it happens I am tempted to make some changes to our normal Sunday schedule so that I can keep my Christmas tradition as close to normal as possible. I know that many churches have changed their schedule. Some have eliminated services altogether. Some have just removed their Sunday evening service. Others have cancelled Sunday school. It is not really my business to tell other churches what they should or should not do, nor is it my business to judge the decision that they might have made regarding this Sunday’s schedule. However, I do want to explain to the people of Jersey Shore Baptist Church the reason why we have chosen to keep everything the same as a normal Sunday.

Christmas is all about the birth of Christ. I got to thinking about my normal Christmas tradition, and I realized that it wasn’t really all about Jesus, it was all about my family. Now family is very important, and we certainly do not want to do anything that will hurt our family, but on the same token, neither do I want to do anything to hurt my Saviour. It is His birthday. Now I know what some of you may be thinking right now: we don’t have to physically go to church to worship Jesus because we can and should worship Jesus anywhere and everywhere. However, isn’t that the same argument some people use for not going to church at all; and isn’t it the same argument many churches have used through the years when they permanently eliminated their evening services and their prayer meetings.

If Christmas is about Christ, and it is, then we should give Him what He wants on His birthday, and He wants us to put Him first. The verses above from Hebrews chapter ten are not necessarily Christmas verses, but I think that they apply perfectly this year. Let’s keep Jesus right at the center of Christmas day this year. Some family members and friends may not understand our decision, but that’s OK. I love my family, but I must love my Savior more. There will be plenty of other opportunities this season to enjoy family and friends, but on Christmas Sunday, my immediate family and I will be in church for both the evening and the morning services; not because I have to, but because it is my delight to do so.

Read the verses above again. By assembling together we are holding fast the profession of our faith without wavering. In other words, we are letting the world know where we stand. We are also making ourselves available to some that may be in desperate need of edification and encouragement. I have discovered through the years that not every Christian has the same strong, loving family that I have, and they really need to be around other believers on Christmas. And let’s not forget that we are closer to the “approaching day” than we have ever been.

No, we will not be closing the church this Christmas.

Dec 17th His Love – The Saturday Morning Post by Camille Stahl

Titus 2:14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

Who gave himself for us, HIS LOVE

Close your eyes and think with me. Your in your yard sitting by a stream listening to the water flowing. You can smell the pure air and the fresh flowers near by. Inside your home there is a nice soft pillow you lay your head down on each night. A king sized down comforter to keep you warm. You ware the finest clothes, you eat the best food. You sit in a big comfy chair. There are always friends and family around you who love you. No one ever speaks an evil word.

Then you have to move. You can’t take anything with you. You are going alone. You know you have to go. There are people there who really need you. What now!

At first it’s not too bad. Your in a safe, warm comfortable place, with all the food and water you want. There’s a little bouncing around for awhile and then your there. Hmmmm. Things are different here. The first thing you hear are the sounds of sheep (baaa – baaa). Goats chewing on straw. There are no more smells of fresh air and flowers, just farm animals. There is no more soft pillow or comforter, just the hay the animals eat. The only clothes you have is something they call “swaddling”. At this point I would have turned back. In the beginning the food’s not bad but as the years go on, it’s mostly fish and flat bread, yum. Your comfy chair has become what they call a manger. And if that doesn’t get you down, there are only a few people who really love you. Evil words! You hear them often. Shortly after you arrive, some guy wants to kill you. Your on the move again. But in the end, well. I don’t know about you but I wouldn’t have moved. Would you?

HIS LOVE. (John15:13)

Dec 11th Pray for Me by Pastor Ted Stahl

Today’s Passages – Ephesians 4 – 6; Proverbs 11

(Second Milers also read – Psalms 51 – 55; Memorize – Micah 5:2)

Read this morning’s Scripture song – Listen to this morning’s Scripture song – Psalm 89:1

“Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel,” – (Ephesians 6:18-19)

Good morning. Are you ready to take on the world today? It’s a battle we face every day. Our war starts with the flesh. Our flesh is either too tired, or it’s too cold and wants to stay warm under the covers. Eventually your body does drag itself out of bed, takes a shower, gets dressed, and has breakfast. Now it’s ready to face the world, right? Wrong!

Take a look at the passage in Ephesians 6 about putting on the whole armour of God. If I had a favorite punctuation mark it would the colon found at the end of verse 17. This little colon is going add explanation to putting on God’s armour. What was missing from the scenario above? Prayer. Ephesians 6:18 says, “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints…”

We should always start the day with prayer. Would you go to work naked? Could you drive to the store without a car? How do you think you can face the world without prayer? You can’t, and neither can I. You need your prayer, all the saints need your prayer, and I need your prayer. Start your battle with the world today (and every day) in prayer.

Then pray for me. Pray for me what Paul requested: “And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel, For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.” (Ephesians 6:19-20)

This is how we all ought to speak. Will you join me? Please pray for me this morning while you are putting on the whole armor of God.

Peace. (Ephesians 6:23)

Dec 3rd Ya Got it? – The Saturday Morning Post by Pastor Ted Stahl

Good morning! Next year, corporately, we are going to start memorizing passages from God’s Word. Maybe 1Corinthians 13 is a good place to start, or at least be on the list. Jesus said, in John 15:12, “This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.” And in chapter 13, once again we see that the King James Bible is the perfect translation. Jesus loved us with the agape love: the giving love: charity. Let me ask you, “Ya got it?” Do you have charity, the giving love, the agape love?

Charity suffereth long and is kind. We know what kind of sinners we are, (Romans 5:8) “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”

Do you look at others with envy? Charity does not.

Charity does not lift itself up. Charity will cause you to do what’s right, it will not cause you to seek out others who will listen to your gossip: charity thinketh no evil. Has somebody made a comment that has made you angry? Charity is not easily provoked: they called Jesus: Beelzebub.

Do you rejoice in gossip (either giving or receiving, or any other iniquity for that matter). Charity rejoiceth in truth.

Charity beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. Ya got it?

Charity never fails. Do you have it?

And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity. Ya got it? If you have it, then give it.

Peace. (John 3:16)

Nov 24th Truly Blessed

Today’s Passages – Acts 26 – 28; Proverbs 24

(Second Milers also read – Psalms 116 – 118; Memorize – Romans 1:21)

Click here to read “Three Expressions of a Thankful Heart” by Pastor Paul Chappell

I am writing this post from my daughter and son-in-law’s house in Paradise, Texas. Everyone is still asleep here, except my son-in-law who left earlier to go hunting. My son, Phil is on a plane right now, and should arrive here a little later this morning. The only child we are missing this year is Samantha who is out at college in California and is spending the holiday with our dear friends, Dan and Carla Owens. This is the first Thanksgiving in 47 years where I will not be spending it at my parent’s home in New Jersey.

In the quietness of the hour, I am thinking about all of the ways that I have beeen blessed by the Lord. God has been wonderful to me throughout my life, and this year has certainly not been an exception. I have been provided for in every way possible. I got to thinking, however, about what I was thankful for more than anything else in life. Did you ever think about that? What would be at the top of your list? I guess, we would all have to say that the greatest blessing that God has given to us who are saved is the gift of His marvelous salvation. But apart from my relationship with Christ, what am I the most thankful for? The answer to that question is easy for me: I am the most thankful for the people that God has placed in my life. God has given me a wonderful wife and family. I cannot imagine what life would be like without them. I am not just referring to my immediate family, either. I include all of my extended family as well. I even enjoy being around my daughter-in-law’s, and son-in-law’s families down here in Texas. In fact, a strange thought occurred to me while writing this: I don’t have any family members that I have anything against, or that (to my knowledge) have anything against me. I not only love them all – I like them all. That’s bizarre if you think about it.

I need to broaden the list a little further. God has also given me a number of good friends that have been as close to me as my family is. I believe that I have some friends that would take a bullet for me. God has been very good to me in many ways, but this Thanksgiving, I am the most thankful for the family and friends that God has brought into my life. I am truly blessed. If you think about it, people are much better than possessions because they are eternal. I will be able to enjoy the friends and family members that are also saved for all eternity. Houses and cars won’t be with us in heaven, but people will. A little later today, I will be sitting down to a meal with some of my friends and family. It will be just a little slice of what Heaven will be like.

To all of my family and friends who I won’t see today, have a wonderful Thanksgiving.

Oct 29th Put Away Your Flame Thrower

Today’s Passages – Luke 8 & 9; Proverbs 29

(Second Milers also read – Psalms 136 – 140; Memorize Psalm 126:5 & 6)

Listen to this morning’s Scripture song – Psalm 25

Note – this is a repost from last year’s blog.

“And when his disciples James and John saw this, they said, Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did?” (Luke 9:54)

As I was writing the article this morning for the blog, and was all finished with it, the internet went down, and I lost all that I had written. I guarantee you that I wanted to call down fire on my computer when it happened. Oh well, let’s try again.

The context of the above verse is found in Luke 9:51 – 56. Jesus is traveling from Galilee to Jerusalem in order to attend the Feat of Tabernacles in the last year of His earthly ministry. It is getting close to the time of His crucifixion, and His ministry will now be primarily in Jerusalem rather than in Galilee. On the way, He wants to stop and rest overnight in Samaria. This was something that most Jews would not even consider, but you may remember that Jesus had a good history with the people of Samaria. Very early in His public ministry when Jesus was on His way to Galilee, He insisted on going through Samaria. It was there that He had the encounter with “the woman at the well” which ultimately lead to her salvation and a great revival in her village. Jesus spent a couple of days there ministering to the people of Samaria.

However, on this trip, the Samaritans are not too receptive to the idea of Jesus lodging with them. They seem to be offended because Jesus is just passing through them on His way to Jerusalem. The Samaritans and the Jews still despised each other, and the Samaritans did not believe that anybody had to go to Jerusalem to observe one of their rituals. If they weren’t going to be the primary focus of Jesus’ visit, then they would rather not have Him come at all. This did not sit tool well with the Jewish disciples of Jesus. They decided that these Samaritans should be done away with for “snubbing” the Lord, and they ask Jesus if they could call down fire from Heaven like Elijah did to the prophets of Baal. Jesus recognizes that these disciples were reacting “in the flesh” to the Samaritans, and rebukes them for their attitude. He tells them that by reacting in a fleshly manner to the Samaritans’ unkindness they were playing right into the hand of the Satan.

Did you ever want to call down fire from Heaven to destroy someone? Did you ever want to get even with someone for something they did to you? If you did, you must understand that those thoughts do not come from God’s Spirit, they originate in your “old man”, your carnal, sinful flesh. We all have an “old man” to contend with, and it does not matter how long you have been saved or how much you have grown in the Lord; the flesh will still be a problem. The apostle Paul recognized this plague within himself when he said, “for I know that in me, that is in my flesh, dwelleth no good thing”. He knew that his flesh was a real problem. We must recognize when our flesh is resurrecting itself. We must realize that the thoughts and feelings of lust, hatred, etc. from within us are not of God. And we must yield to the Spirit of God within us as He directs us to conform to the image of Christ. We are not to be in the business of destroying men’s lives, but bringing men closer to the Lord.

Sep 11th We Still Haven’t Forgotten

Today’s Passages -Ezekiel 38 – 40; Proverbs 11

(Second Milers also read – 1 Timothy 1 – 4; 2 Chronicles 7:14)

“Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” – (John 15:13)

10 years ago today our nation was attacked by radical Muslim terrorists filled with hatred for our culture and our freedom. I have not forgotten that day, and I am sure that all of you who read this who were alive on September 11th have not forgotten either. We remember exactly where we were and what we were doing on that day. It is my prayer that as the years go by  the memory of 9 – 11 will remain vivid in our hearts and minds for several reasons:

1  I do not want to forget that there is an enemy out there that wants to destroy us. In this world of distraction, we go about busily living our lives almost oblivious to the fact that evil still exists in our world. Satan is still very active, and His hatred for God and God’s people has only become more intense as years have passed. His influence on people has also increased; and there are more people than ever out there who are under his influence, and are willing to do his evil bidding. As Christians, we are admonished to be alert:

“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:” – (1 Peter 5:8)

2  I do not want to forget that there is still a cause worth fighting for. The evil that exists in the world reminds me that I must be daily in the battle, fighting the devil, and working to deliver people from his spell. The gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ is still the most powerful weapon in our arsenal against the wiles of the devil. The more people that we can reach with the message of salvation, the less people Satan will have to do his bidding. Evil cannot be removed by more evil. It can only be eradicated through the love of Christ.

3  I do not want to forget that there are still people out there that are willing to die for that cause; and there are still folks out there worth dying for. Jesus died to set us free:

“And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” – (John 8:32)

“If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.” – (John 8:36)

“For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.” – (Romans 8:2)

“Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.” – (Galatians 5:1)

Jesus died to give us liberty, and there are many still today who are willing to lay down there life for the same cause. The men and woman who are fighting today are fighting for our liberty and freedom. The men and women who were murdered by the terrorists ten years ago were murdered because the concept of liberty and freedom was under attack.

The greatest demonstration of love is sacrifice. Jesus commended His love for us by dying on the cross for our sins. Parents show their love for their children by what they sacrifice for them.  The men and women that went into those buildings in order to save lives were putting their lives on the line for other people. The men and women that fight for our freedom today are putting their lives in jeopardy for the cause of our liberty. They are sacrificing their own liberty in order to help us keep ours.

Let’s not forget these things. Let’s not forget these people. And let’s get in the battle ourselves, and be willing to sacrifice some of our liberty so that we can help others enjoy theirs.

Sep 10th The Saturday Morning Post By Camille Stahl

 

THIS TO         THIS ??               OR THIS

Judges 2:1-12
And an angel of the LORD came up from Gilgal to Bochim, and said, I made you to go up out of Egypt, and have brought you unto the land which I sware unto your fathers; and I said, I will never break my covenant with you. And ye shall make no league with the inhabitants of this land; ye shall throw down their altars: but ye have not obeyed my voice: why have ye done this? Wherefore I also said, I will not drive them out from before you;
but they shall be as thorns in your sides, and their gods shall be a snare unto you. And it came to pass, when the angel of the LORD spake these words unto all the children of Israel, that the people lifted up their voice, and wept. And they called the name of that place Bochim: and they sacrificed there unto the LORD. And when Joshua had let the people go, the children of Israel went every man unto his inheritance to possess the land. And the people served the LORD all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders that outlived Joshua, who had seen all the great works of the LORD, that he did for Israel. And Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of the LORD, died, being an hundred and ten years old. And they buried him in the border of his inheritance in Timnathheres, in the mount of Ephraim, on the north side of the hill Gaash. And also all that generation were gathered unto their fathers: and there arose another generation after them, which knew not the LORD, nor yet the works which he had done for Israel. And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD, and served Baalim: And they forsook the LORD God of their fathers, which brought them out of the land of Egypt, and followed other gods, of the gods of the people that were round about them, and bowed themselves unto them, and provoked the
LORD to anger. 

  I would like to focus on verse 10, where it says: and there arose another generation after them, which knew not the LORD, nor yet the works which he had done for Israel. Unanswered
prayers of slavery, hunger, hard bondage misery for 400 years. Praying for freedom……. BUT!! they forgot to teach their children about the Lord and the great things He had done for them. The people got caught up in the world and forgot about God. Remember, God made a covenant with Israel and told them that He would never break it (verse 1).  God
also warned them,

Deuteronomy 4:23 Take heed unto yourselves, lest ye forget the covenant of the LORD your God, which he made with you, and make you a graven image, or the likeness of any thing, which the LORD thy God hath forbidden thee. Deu 4:24 For the LORD thy God is a consuming fire, even a jealous God. Deu 4:25 When thou shalt beget children, and children’s children, and ye
shall have remained long in the land, and shall corrupt yourselves, and make a graven image, or
the likeness of any thing, and shall do evil in the sight of the LORD thy God, to provoke him to
anger:

 I watch a young mother holding her little baby in her arms, looking down at him with so much love. I think to myself, will this mom tell her son about God? Will she share the blessings she’s experienced in her life? What chance does a child have if they are not taught about the Love of God? How could that innocent baby grow up so wrong to provoke God to anger?  Look at the difference in the life of Moses.

Exodus 2:2 And the woman conceived, and bare a son: and when she saw him that
he was a goodly child, she hid him three months. Exodus 2:3 And when she could not longer hide him, she took for him an ark of bulrushes, and daubed it with slime and with pitch, and put the child therein; and she laid it in the flags by the river’s brink. Exodus 2:4 And his sister stood afar off, to wit what would be done to him.  Exodus 2:5 And the daughter of Pharaoh came down to wash herself at the river; and her maidens walked along by the river’s side; and when she saw the ark among the flags, she sent her maid to fetch it. Exodus 2:6 And when she had opened it,
she saw the child: and, behold, the babe wept. And she had compassion on him, and said, This is
one of the Hebrews’ children. Exodus 2:7 Then said his sister to Pharaoh’s daughter, Shall I go and call to thee a nurse of the Hebrew women, that she may nurse the child for thee? Exodus
2:8 And Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, Go. And the maid went and called the child’s mother. Exodus 2:9 And Pharaoh’s daughter said unto her, Take this child away, and
nurse it for me, and I will give thee thy wages. And the woman took the child, and nursed it.

 Moses’ mom not only nursed him, she taught him about Jehovah God. Moses grew up in Pharaoh’s house. No doubt he learned the “Egyptian Ways”, but he did God’s will, I believe, because his mother taught him to do so. 

The devil is after you. The devil is after our children.

1Peter 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about,  seeking whom he may devour: 

We serve a great God who loves us very much. Lets be about the Fathers business and be an example to not only our children, but to others as well.

 God Bless.

Sep 8th Don’t Forget Who Butters Your Bread

Check out the great article posted on Paul Chappell’s website – The Pastor’s Perspective – “Where’s the Tolerance”

Today’s Passages – Ezekiel 28 – 31; Proverbs 8

(Second Milers also read – Colossians 1 – 4; Memorize – Psalm 85:6)

“Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire. Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee.” – (Ezekiel 28:14-15)

These passages of Ezekiel can certainly be mysterious. I have been studying the Bible now for over twenty years, and there is still much about this particular Book that I do not fully comprehend. I do appreciate the fact that as I grow and continue reading these truths that the scales on my eyes are slowly being removed, and my understanding increases. However, I will never understand it all. In fact, I have discovered that the more I learn, the more I realize how much I don’t understand. Thus with my increased learning comes the realization of increased ignorance. Does that make sense? I’m not sure if I fully understand what I just said.

Anyway, in chapter 28 of Ezekiel we first read about the “Prince of Tyrus”. Tyre was a nation that had a long history with Israel. At some points in their history, we know that they were close allies with the people of God; but it is clear from these chapters that they had become bitters enemies to the Israelites; and it is also clear that they were a people that did not worship Israel’s God. Ezekiel writes much about the judgment of God upon His own people, but here we see that God also judges the nations that surrounded Israel. Tyre was one of these nations. Tyre seems to have been a very prosperous nation that thought that they had no need of God.

An interesting thing happens when we get to verse 11, however. Here Ezekiel is told to take up a lamentation against the “King of Tyrus”. The Bible then begins to describe this king. Notice the description given in vv 12 – 14:

“… Thus saith the Lord GOD; Thou sealest up the sum, full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty. Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created. Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire.” – (Ezekiel 28:12-14)

It is fairly clear to me that God is no longer referring here to any earthly ruler, as perhaps He was in the beginning of the chapter. It is apparent that the individual being discussed here is none other than Lucifer himself. Now we can understand better why the nation of Tyre was having the problems that she was having; because she was really under the control of Satan. Notice that when Satan controls a nation, He allows you (at least for a while) to worship yourself. In those early verses of chapter 28, it mentioned a couple of times that the earthly ruler of Tyrus considered himself to be a god. Satan’s game plan really hasn’t changed much through the years. He told Eve that she could be “like God”. In Isaiah 14 Satan said about himself that he would “be like the most high”. One of Satan’s tactics is to offer us the throne of our own lives. I know that’s my problem. Inside, I want to obey God, but there is also a part of me that wants the dominion.

Notice very carefully though what it says in v 14 about Who gave Lucifer all that he once had: “I have set thee so”. Somewhere along the line Satan forgot Who buttered his bread. He is just a created being like the rest of us. He has no powers to create in himself. God set him up, and God will someday take him out.

How about you? Have you forgotten Who it is that butters your bread? Everything you are, and everything you have is from God. Don’t bite the hand that feeds you, and don’t forget Who it is that butters your bread.

Sep 7th Aha

Today’s Passages – Ezekiel 24 – 27; Proverbs 7

(Second Milers also read – Philippians 1 – 4; Memorize – Psalm 85:6)

“And it came to pass in the eleventh year, in the first day of the month, that the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, Son of man, because that Tyrus hath said against Jerusalem, Aha, she is broken that was the gates of the people: she is turned unto me: I shall be replenished, now she is laid waste: Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against thee, O Tyrus, and will cause many nations to come up against thee, as the sea causeth his waves to come up.” – (Ezekiel 26:1-3)

This Book of Ezekiel was written thousands of years ago; in fact it was written several hundred years before the time of Christ. Yet, the word, “Aha”, is still very much in our vocabulary today, and it is used much the same way. When we here some dirt about somebody, we say, “Aha!”. Well, after reading today’s passage from Ezekiel we may want to reconsider what we say, and even what we think about people.

For much of the Book of Ezekiel, God has been pronouncing judgment on the people of Israel (including Judah). They had forsaken God, and though God had sent them many warnings via the prophets, they continued in their rebellion. God’s judgment eventually came, and when it did some of Israel’s neighbors rejoiced. They were happy that Israel was being punished. Two of her neighbors, Amman and Tyre, actually said, Aha. However, God was not at all pleased with these nations because of their attitude toward Israel’s hardship.

How do we react when we hear about bad things happening to the people around us? I’m not talking about people who are close to us; but people with whom we have had problems in the past. Do we say, “Aha”? Do we inwardly rejoice because they are finally getting what we think they deserve. We had better be careful about that attitude. God is not at all pleased with it. We ought to just be very thankful that we are not getting the judgment that we deserve.

“Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth: Lest the LORD see it, and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him.” – (Proverbs 24:17-18)