July 29, 2021
Devotion for July 29
“To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven: ....A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones.” Ecclesiastes 3:1,5a
Unity is good if it is in Truth. God confused the languages at the Tower of Babel (see Genesis 11) because the people were uniting in apostasy. Their best chance to be saved was to be separated, that they might seek the Lord. The scattering that resulted was in their best interest.
God’s ultimate plan is for His people to unite in Truth. But all along the way there have been detours, captivity, and scatterings because of sin, rebellion, backsliding, and blending with pagan philosophies. The Written Word very often contains pleas of God to return to Him. You can hear how He longs to gather His beloved people together!
“and you return to the LORD your God and obey His voice, according to all that I command you today, you and your children, with all your heart and with all your soul, that the LORD your God will bring you back from captivity, and have compassion on you, and gather you again from all the nations where the LORD your God has scattered you. If any of you are driven out to the farthest parts under heaven, from there the Lord your God will gather you, and from there He will bring you.” Deuteronomy 30:2-4
Today we are seeing intense divisions and confederacies like never before. As we approach the time of the return of Jesus, our enemy is hard at work to divide God’s people and also to unite—by deception—all of the unsuspecting under a centralized ecumenical/political movement. It will be the largest scale apostasy in the history of the world. And, just like Judas, this system betrays Jesus with a kiss (Matthew 26:49). It is of top priority that we study diligently and ask for the guidance of the Holy Spirit. He has promised to guide you into all truth (John 16:13), in order to overcome the pitfalls ahead. The word all is a clue that elements of truth are incorporated into the message of the false system.
Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 2 Timothy 2:15
Beloved, be joyful about the task which the Lord has placed before you. We are laboring in the field for our Master who says the harvest will be soon. According to Jesus, His people will be united in all truth before He returns. There will be one flock and one shepherd, for He said:
“And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice; and there will be one flock and one shepherd.” John 10:16
Then they will see the Son of Man coming in the clouds with great power and glory. And then He will send His angels, and gather together His elect from the four winds, from the farthest part of earth to the farthest part of heaven. Mark 13:26-27
Oh! What a gathering that will be!