Sat.’s Devo - Saved By Faith

Read: Jeremiah 49:23-50:46; Titus 1:1-16; Psalm 97:1-98:9; Proverbs 26:13-16 God had a message for Damascus the capital of Syria. Syria had a history of being an enemy of Israel and especially, Judah. Jeremiah gives a vivid description of the capture of Damascus by the Assyrians. *** The people of Kedar were next to be judged. They were descendants of Ishmael who lived in black-haired tents to symbolized their separation from God. They would be scattered to the wind and no one would live there again. Elam which was called Elymais was situated closer to Judea than Persia. It had helped Nebuchadnezzar against Judea, so would now be punished. They were famous for their bowmen. They would be destroyed and their remnant taken into exile. But God would restore their fortunes one day. *** God’s message to Babylon must have been received with rejoicing. Babylon would fall. A nation would attack her from the north and bring such destruction that no one would live there again. Cyrus came first against Babylon, then Darius. Cyrus was the one would set the captives free and the send the exiles back home. *** Jeremiah warns them to leave when they can because a greater threat would be coming through Darius. Babylon who once was the greatest in the nations would be plundered and become the least of the nations. *** Those who return to Israel will be forgiven their sins. They will hear about the vengeance the Lord took out on Babylon because she defied the Lord. God would become her enemy and her day of reckoning had arrived. Her wise counselors would become fools and her mightiest warriors would become panicked. They would be plundered of their wealth because their whole land was full of idols. *** The land of Babylon would be filled with wild animals and no one will inhabit it again. The king of Babylon will faint in fear of what is coming. God would chase its leaders from the land and appoint his leader, Cyrus to rule. He would be the one to let the people of Israel return to their land. *** Paul wrote this next letter to Titus who lived in Crete while he was in prison in Corinth. He had sent Titus to this church to appoint elders. He gives the description of the lives they must be living and his qualifications. *** It seems there were people in the church who were insisting that its members be circumcised in order to be saved. He called them out for just doing this to make money. He called them liars, cruel animals, and lazy gluttons. He told the people to stop listening to their lies and stand strong in their faith that makes them saved. *** We need to hear that too. Sometimes we put self-imposed laws upon ourselves that defy the truth that we are saved by faith and not by works. *** Lord, help us to stand firm in our faith and the truth of your Word. Thank you for your deliverance and salvation that is freely ours through Christ.