Daily Readings and Thought for August 23rd. “EACH ONE’S WORK WILL BECOME MANIFEST”
Our Old Testament chapters today (1 Kings 18 & Jeremiah 44) both illustrate the ungodly actions of those who fail to remain faithful to the one true God – but it seems even worse today!
King Ahab follows the false god of Baal – a god of human imagination – as all such God’s are. Elijah alone is the only prophet who is outspokenly faithful to the one true God. Baal’s prophets are proved false – and are killed – but this, as we will see tomorrow creates a test – and a faith-challenging experience for Elijah!
Almost the whole world has abandoned any belief that there is a Creator – we can say they worship the god of evolution – which allows them to ‘worship’ whatever attracts them. There is no doubt that a God-ordained tragedy lies ahead. Let us remember what we read in Romans a few weeks ago – about Abraham’s example of faith!
“No unbelief made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised. That is why his faith was “counted to him as righteousness.” [Ch. 4 v.20-22] Our faith “ will become manifest” by our “work” for our Lord: this will be made known when Christ returns – and how soon now!
Our thoughts followed along this path as we read 1st Corinthians, ch. 3 today. “Each one’s work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward.” [v.13]. What work for our Lord can we do today? And all the days until our Lord comes – and how soon will that be now?
And what is the foundation? Verse 11 tells us it “is Jesus Christ.”
Let us make sure that our relationship with him is truly genuine!
