NOVEMBER 27 "GOD'S JUDGMENTS ARE JUST"

One thing we can learn from today's reading, is God's judgments are just. Very few times in life will we get to see the chances God gave a person before he judged him. Most often we only see the final scene and think of God as quite a harsh judge. For once we get to see the behind the scenes, we get to see the "before" the judgment. Nebuchadnezzar is not the only person every to be warned of impending judgment and given a chance to alter his course, it's simply the only one that we were privy too. I believe God has done the same for many. I myself have often dealt with people and forewarned them not to continue on a particular course and not everyone is privy to that either, especially as a pastor and parishioner confidentiality must be maintained, all most people ever see if the final judgment or the disciplinary action that was brought. Such an opportunity of Grace and Mercy Nebuchadnezzar was given, Daniel gives him once last prod, just in case he is dense enough to even think of continuing in his path after the dream he has had, Daniel pleads with him, "please accept my advice. Stop sinning and do what is right. Break from your wicked past." Eventually Nebuchadnezzar ends up doing what he is going to do and God ends up doing what He said He was going to do. It was a harsh judgment that Nebuchadnezzar faced, especially to those looking from the outside in, with no knowledge of the grace and the chance that was offered. It will seem as if God's judgment was too harsh, it will seem like it was unmerited but to you and I who read the story and were privy to the history of this relationship we are able to step back and say, "God's judgments are just!" Be very careful in siding with your BFF over God. Be very careful in siding with a family over God. Oh we might not verbalize to God that we are siding with them, but deep inside resides a little resentment to God, over the judgment that has been passed on our friend or family member or church member or whomever. Next time you want to be quick to jump to conclusions that God has been quick to judgement and too harsh in his judgments and that the punishment is unjust, remember this story, remember that God is no respecter of persons and what He does for one He does for the other. More than likely, your friend, your family was warned by God, was warned by a spiritual leader, was warned by a sermon, was warned by another Christian, was warned by the Holy Spirit; was not only warned but given a chance to makes things right and yet did not.