Author Archives: Rod Reynolds

How You Can Know the Future

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Many have wondered, especially in times of tumult, of chaos and confusion, such as the time we are living in now, as many are bearing burdens of stress and worry, what does the future hold?

In every age, people have asked similar questions, and sought answers in various ways. As in past ages there are those who have claimed to know the future, predicting things to come in specific ways or at a specific time. Over the years people have predicted within a certain time frame things like a stock market crash, or catastrophic climate change, or the return of Jesus Christ on a certain date or within a certain time frame, such as five years or ten years. Very often, however, these predictions have failed to prove accurate.

However, the Bible tells us how it is possible for us, for you, to know the future.

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Psalm 119 — A Psalm of Devotion to God

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The 119th Psalm contains a range of sentiments, thoughts, emotions, states of mind. It speaks of affliction, of persecution, of trouble, anguish, sorrow and despondency, of pleading for relief and salvation, but also of hope, of rejoicing, of indignation towards evil, of assurance, of faith, of determination to resist evil and obey God, and of thanksgiving.

It seems to touch on almost the entire range of circumstances and emotions that a person of faith might experience over a lifetime. But the emphasis throughout the entire psalm is on a love of God’s word, seeking after it, and being faithful to it.

Discover some important lessons as we review the powerful words of Psalm 119.

“Palm 119 — A Psalm of Devotion to God” COGMessenger is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Why Did God Choose Israel — Part 2

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Because of the faith of their forefathers God chose Israel. But not only for the sake of Israel. Through them the world was to have an example, and be blessed as well. Israel failed to be the example God desired, but God will ultimately bring salvation to the peoples of Israel and all nations as Scripture explains.

“Why-Did-God-Choose-Israel-part-2” COGMessenger is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Why Did God Choose Israel — Part 1?

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God chose Israel to become a model nation because of the faithfulness of their forefathers. But he warned them that if they chose the path of rebellion and disobedience they would be dispossessed. What lessons can we learn from Israel’s example?

“Why Did God Choose Israel — Part 1?” COGMessenger is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Right and Wrong: Who Decides?

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When Abraham Lincoln was inaugurated as President of the United States on March 4, 1861, seven states in the South had already declared their secession from the Union. Despite what you may have heard or read to the contrary, the reason for secession was the question of slavery. Lincoln stated it in his inaugural address: “One section of our country believes slavery is right, and ought to be extended, while the other believes it is wrong, and ought not to be extended. This is the only substantial dispute.”

While whether slavery should be extended or not was the immediate political issue of the moment, the contention actually went deeper. There were many abolitionists who felt that slavery such as it existed in the United States at the time was a moral wrong, an evil that should be not just limited but abolished. Many abolitionists had in fact supported the proposition in the 1840’s that states favoring the abolition of slavery should separate from the South (en.wikipedia.org, “Secession in the United States,” retrieved July 17, 2020).

There were two starkly different views, as Lincoln said, of right and wrong. Who is to decide what is right and wrong?

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