A Curse…..

This is only for mature Christians. If you are not mature, just put this away for another time. If I were to ask you, who is “cursed”?, you would probably take me to all the “woes” in Mth 23. You may take me to Gen 9:25, Canaan. You may take me to all the curses in Deut 27:15ff. We are all familiar with verses such as Col 3: 23. So, lets join a cursed and Col 3: 23. But story first. Ex 32: 27 brother killed brother, friend and neighbour, who worshipped the calf idol. Verse 30 such a deep commitment to YHWH required to put God first. Even if Jesus said the same thing in Mth 10: 37, with also the intensity of Lk 14:26; there was nowhere here the sword. So, work hard, curse, killing close relatives, how does it all tie up? Jer 48:10- cursed is he who does the LORD’s work with slackness, and from withholding sword from bloodshed. This is a very powerful verse in NOT being wholehearted for the LORD’s work. And this is a verse for God’s people. How can we relate today, in the New Covenant, these verses? I guess, first we must decipher is that which we do, for us, or for the LORD. Clearly in Mth 7: 22 the works done, were for the individual, for the Lord Jesus says- I do not know you. So we must be very mindful of what we do and why we do it. And Lk 14: 26 answers the blood shed part. We must nevertheless be radical in our approach to Christ- not literal pulling out of eyes, ears, cutting hands- but taking radically the decisions we must make in order to really stand for the LORD amongst family, friends and community. Radical killings in Num 31: 17 by Moses. Judges 5: 23 cursed are people who do not stand for the LORD. 1 Sam 15: 3 here; total destruction. Because the radical way of dealing with things in the OT is not so in the NT, we must not underestimate the “softer” meaning of compromise. A bit of yeast. Be separate. Come out. Have nothing to do with them. The instructions are just as real in the New Covenant. But the manner of those disobeying, will be real, upon death. Because we are no longer killed at disobedience, or compromise, does not mean the punishment will still not be there upon death 1 Tim 5: 24- some sins going ahead to punishment, others dragging behind. But all will arrive at the time of judgement. Perhaps people lull themselves into a false sense of...well, its all I can do…when instead it’s not. It’s all a person wants to do. Not all they can do. Very big difference. And only the LORD knows if you or I are lax, compromising, failing to take seriously God, his ministry, his people; or if you are on fire for Christ. The requirements of what God expects from his people, never ever change. The manner of punishment does change. It used to be physical, instant death. This served as a warning for all. Now, as no instant death, compromise and laxness, flow through the church. And as no instant death, there is a perception that lax behaviour is acceptable. But, there are a few, only a few, who understand the remnant principle. Not all Jews are Jews. Not all Israelites are Israelites. And not all Christians are Christians. Titles change; meaning does not. Don’t be lax.

MCC Admin

6 Tishrei 5781