Today's encouragement comes from Exodus 33:4a, where we read these words:
"And when the people heard this bad news, they mourned . . . “Bad news tends to make people sad, especially when it has to do with suf-fering some of the natural consequences of sin. But wherever there is bad news, there is also good news. In fact, the gospel of grace would not be news at all—let alone good news—if there was not sin and its resultant sadness in the world.
What makes the good news of Christ's atonement operative for us sinners, who would otherwise be swamped with nothing but horrible tidings of doom and damnation? God-given, Spirit-wrought faith in Jesus. And what does faith render? Love for God in and through Christ. And what does love result in? A happy Spirit-filled walk with God, characterized by a hopeful present and fu-ture. This is the inheritance of the faithful and faith-filled Christian church members.
[Puritan quote of the day: "It would not be worthwhile to live in a world devoid of God and Providence.” —John Flavel, in, "The Mystery of Providence"]
