Daily Devotional, Year 3 – June 13 (Sodom Rising, Part 10: “Judge Ye Not!”)
By admin On February 16th, 2021.
.
Daily Devotional, Year 3 – June 13
.
.
.
.
Sodom Rising,
.
Part 10:
“Judge Ye Not!”
To read part 1 of this article, click here… “August 22nd (Sodom Rising!)”
.
.
.
.
.
“And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted unto heaven,
shalt be brought down to hell:
for if the mighty works,
which have been done in thee,
had been done in Sodom,
it would have remained until this day.
But I say unto you,
That it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom
in the day of judgment,
than for thee.”
Mathew 11:23, 24
.
.
.
.
.
This above passage from Matthew presents a huge truth and a great challenge to God’s people.
.
Yes, this above passage reveals that the wicked city of Sodom will be in less trouble on Judgment Day than a City of God will be!
.
.
.
.
.
.
“THEREFORE I SPEAK TO THEM IN PARABLES”
Matthew 13:13
.
But how can this be speaking to Christians when it is clearly addressed to the city of Capernaum?
.
Well, that’s how God wrote the Bible. In other words, there are many cities mentioned in the Old and New Testaments.
.
And yet, since the Bible is a spiritual Book, it is only concerned with the Gospel of Jesus.
.
And so, the city of Capernaum is symbolic of God’s people, made of both Jews and Gentiles alike.
.
ABOVE PHOTO: Speaker and Audience hands – Wikimedia – Public Domain
.
.
.
.
.
“THOU CAPERNAUM…SHALL BE BROUGHT DOWN TO HELL!”
.
But Jesus, here in the above passage from Matthew, is reprimanding Capernaum because of all its many privileges in hearing so much light of the Gospel, and yet falling short of its responsibility to live up to that light it had received.
.
And so, Jesus was letting them know that the wicked city of Sodom was in better standing with God than His own professed people!
.
Listen again…“for if the mighty works, which have been done in thee, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day.” Matthew 11:23
.
.
.
.
“SINNERS, OF WHO I AM CHIEF!”
1st Timothy 1:15
.
So how could this be!? How could the wicked city of Sodom be in better standing with God, than those who were seemingly much less sinners?
.
Well, the following verse from Luke’s Gospel answers that question…“And that servant, which knew his lord’s will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.” Luke 12:47, 48
.
So then, the city of Sodom, not having the privilege of receiving all the many truths that had been given to Capernaum, will be beaten with few stripes on Judgment Day, while Capernaum (God’s People) will be beaten with many stripes.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Now, just how does all this translate into our present-day dilemma?
.
Question Marks – At a loss – svg – Wikimedia Commons – Share-Alike License
.
.
.
.
.
“THOU ARE WEIGHED IN THE BALANCES, AND FOUND WANTING (lacking)!”
Daniel 5:27
.
Yes, what does all this have to do with today’s Christian community?
.
Well, for instance, in the Christian community, there is a tendency to look down our noses at the homosexual community, as though they are greater sinners above all others.
.
But it may just be, that when we are all standing before God’s Judgment throne, we will be surprised to discover that when weighed in the balances, we are in greater trouble than they!
.
Yes, we might just find that we had not been faithful in investing our time and talents as we should have been.
.
.
.
.
.
“LOVE NOT THE WORLD, NEITHER THE THINGS OF THE WORLD!”
1st John 2:15
.
Just think about it for a moment!
.
Instead of forsaking all to follow Jesus, many of us became all too invested and absorbed in the earthly pleasures and/or proud, ambitious pursuits of this opulent, cornucopian society!
.
Mall Market culture – Jakarta – Wikimedia – share-alike-lic.
.
.
.
.
.
PAUL, OUR ROLE-MODEL
.
But God gave us the Apostle, Paul, to be a human example of what He wanted His Church to be!
.
Yes, Paul exhorted us by saying, “Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.” 1st Corinthians 1:11
.
.
.
.
.
.
“IF ANY MAN LOVES THE WORLD, THE LOVE OF THE FATHER IS NOT IN HIM”
1st John 2:16
.
But instead of following Paul’s selfless example of self-sacrificing love for God’s people and dedication to preaching the Gospel, we instead began to pursue the same opulence and hedonism which ultimately led to the decline and destruction of Sodom!
.
Yes, the “Enemy of Souls” deceived us by creating this decadent, cornucopian super-society in which every conceivable earthly pleasure and ambitious dream was achievable! Television, Internet, radio, newspapers, magazines, novels, sports, politics, games, clubs, houses, gardens, recreational vehicles, restaurants, movies, theater, time-consuming-energy-sapping careers, social events, parties, lavish pleasure resorts, talk shows, dramas, comedies, dances, ballets, shopping malls, and on and on the list goes!
.
Oh no, some of these things are not inherently evil by themselves. But when they together collectively begin to overshadow our Divine commission to conform our life into Christ’s image, then they become a sinful detour from that right Way in which we must go!
.
New York Times Square – terabass – cropped – Wikipedia – Share-alike License
.
.
.
.
.
“AS IN THE DAYS OF LOT…THUS SHALL IT BE…WHEN THE SON OF MAN IS REVEALED”
Luke 17:28, 30
.
And now, as a witness and judgment against us, God has allowed Satan to once again raise up Sodom all around us!
.
And truth-be-told, we are like poor Lot, who found himself stuck smack-dab in the middle of Sodom until the morning of its destruction!
.
Yes, we are like Lot.
.
This is our wretched condition!
.
The Sodomites are smitten with blindness – Wikipedia – US Public Domain
.
.
.
.
.
.
So what can I do? What is the remedy for my lukewarm spiritual condition?
.
Question Marks – At a loss – svg – Wikimedia Commons – Share-Alike License
.
.
.
.
.
“TAKE AWAY…THE (POINTING) FINGER”
Isaiah 58:9
.
Yes, what can I do about my undone spiritual condition?
.
Well, first of all, instead of looking down my nose at those “sinful Sodomites over there”, I rather need to fall prostrate before God, confessing that my own sins are much greater than theirs!
.
Because I should know better, while their sins are borne out of ignorance, to a greater degree!
.
Finger pointing – Wikimedia – Public domain
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
SATAN STEALS OUR PERFECT PEACE
.
One great problem with listening to Satan’s whisperings, is that this is how this “Accuser of our Brethren” gains access into our hearts and minds. And once we allow him access, he often begins to torment us with all sorts of “evil surmisings” about the motives of others. (Revelation 12:10 & 1st 
Timothy 6:4)
.
We must remember the Wise Man’s advice…“Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life. Put away from thee a froward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee. Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee. Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established. Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil.” Proverbs 4:24-27
.
Yes, to guard the avenues to the soul, not allowing Satan any access, is our first and foremost duty!
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
What else can I do to find forgiveness and restoration?
.
Question Marks – At a loss – svg – Wikimedia Commons – Share-Alike License
.
.
.
.
.
“BE AFFLICTED, MOURN AND WEEP!”
.
Well, I need to seek after the remedy for my sinful love of this world: such remedy being found in the Book of James.
.
Listen to this prescription for spiritual healing found in James…“Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God….Draw nigh to God, and He will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He shall lift you up.” James 4:4, 8-10
.
Here is God’s prescribed remedy for my Laodicean miasma!
.
This was the remedy which David partook of, in the day of his great sin.
.
David’s sorrow – Wikigallery – Public Domain
.
.
.
.
.
“A FRIEND OF THE WORLD…THE ENEMY OF GOD”
.
Yes, James 4:4 reveals that God judges me as being, “a friend of the world”, thus making me, “the enemy of God”!
.
How awful! How terrible! How fearful! “Me!” “The enemy of God!” How unthinkable!
.
And so, in my sorrow, it must be my determined purpose to fall prostrate before my Heavenly Father, begging and pleading for forgiveness and restoration from my love of this world!
.
Girl Praying – Wikimedia – Public Domain
.
.
.
.
.
And I must not cease from such heartfelt repentance until the dawning of the day comes when I can joyfully say…
.
“He brought me up also out of an horrible pit,
out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a Rock,
and established my goings.
And He hath put a new song in my mouth,
even praise unto our God:”
Psalm 40:2, 3
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
TO READ PART 11, GO HERE…
August 12 (Sodom Rising, Part 11: “Homosexuality: A Physical or Spiritual Malady?)”
Christian and Apollyon – Pilgrim’s Progress – Wikipedia – US Public Domain
.
.
.
.
TODAY’S PRAYER…
“Dear Lord, Help me to be wise as a serpent concerning the power and influence of the modern-day media. Spare me and my loved ones…
USMC – Prayer before Bible study – Wikimedia – Public Domain
.
.
.
.
READ MORE…
To explore deeper into this subject, please read…Today’s Devotional – October 29th (Thou Art Weighed in the Balances…) or you can also read… January 20th (3 Fingered Judgment-Day)
Question book magnify svg – Wikimedia – GNU license
.
.
.
.
THE END
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
TODAY’S FEATURED HEAVENLY SIGN
.
.
.
FLEEING WOMAN CONSTELLATION
.
FROM WHERE &TO WHERE DOES SHE FLEE? WOMAN ROTATES THROUGH THE SEASONS…
.
This page is about the Big Dipper, also called the Great Bear constellation (Ursa Major ). However, the ancient pagan cultures did not see this constellation as God intended it to be seen. It is actually a headless woman in childbirth. This is seen in springtime. It is seen in the northern skies.
.
But as the seasons progress, this travailing woman flips upside down, now appearing as a woman with upraised arms like eagle wings who is running (eventually flying, as shown in sketch on right) into the wilderness (westward). The single star representing her birth-child (Christ) now becomes her head (“Christ is the head of the church.” Ephesians 5:23
.
The 7 Stars (Big Dipper) is easy to see with its very bright 7 stars. But the Revelation 12 Woman (Ursa Major) must be seen on a dark starry night, away from city lights.
.
These are star charts from Wikipedia, with sketches of the Woman added.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
READ MORE…
To explore deeper into this subject, please read… Woman of Revelation 12 (Flees to the Wilderness)
.
.
.
.
TOMORROW…
June 14 (The Four Horsemen of Revelation 6, Part 1: “How To Understand Revelation”)
Revelation – Wikimedia – courtesy of www.pri.org
.
.
.
.
.
Those who are interested in using photos on this page may click on provided link below each photo, to get to Wikimedia Commons for various licensing details & tags, and all other necessary information on any particular photo. Most tall, narrow photos have been cropped or reduced by this website to make them a better fit on phone screens.