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Words of Wisdom for July 08, 2009
Words of Wisdom for July 08, 2009
Devotionals for Dieters
James 5:11
Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.
Gretchen wanted the job so badly. The doctor had told her she had to lose twenty pounds in order to pass the physical. Tina and Ann also had to lose weight to join the company. After a couple of weeks, Tina gave up. One week later, Ann folded, too. They both told Gretchen she was wasting her time. Gretchen didn't care. She held on, got her position, and never once regretted all she had to do to get it. She thanked the Lord that she had the strength to hold on when her friends had given up. Without His help, she never would have made it.
Today's thought: Job lost everything, and God blessed him greatly for what he suffered. If Job can endure, so can I!
CrossDaily.com. * ©Copyright 2009, Salem Web Network and its Content Providers. Crosswalk 111 Virginia St., Suite 500 Richmond, VA 23219 Devotions for Dieters. http://www.crosswalk.com/devotionals/fordieters/
~ † ~ ▒▒▒ ~ ♥ ~ ▒▒▒ ~ † ~
The Following Devotionals are from: Copyright © 1996-2009 The Good News Broadcasting Association, Inc. (Back to the Bible) Lincoln, Nebraska, USA Used by permission. All rights reserved http://www.backtothebible.org/
The Copyright Policy website: http://www.backtothebible.org/index.php/Web-Site-Copyright-Policy.html
DEVOTIONALS
Author: Woodrow Kroll, Tony Beckett
Source: FaithWalk
Scripture Reference: Acts 15:22-41 Job 36-37
Where Seldom Is Heard . . .
Job 36–37, Acts 15:22–41
Key Verse: Acts 15:32
Can you finish this line from an old song? “Where seldom is heard . . .”
The answer is “a discouraging word.” The song, “Home on the Range,” paints a picture of an idyllic place where even the words said are seldom discouraging. If only song lyrics and reality matched! Far too often home, work, school and even church are places where seldom is heard an encouraging word. We know how much we appreciate encouraging words; the question to consider is if our own words are encouraging.
The early church had a problem. They met, discussed it and handed down a decision that was then communicated to the churches by a hand-carried letter. It was sent with Paul and Barnabas, who were accompanied by Judas and Silas. Sometimes problems in a church are due to decisions—who makes them, how they are made or what they are. This one had the potential of stirring the issue rather than settling it. What tipped the scales toward settling was the encouraging words that were spoken.
Luke called it an “encouraging message” (v. 31). Also, Judas and Silas “said much to encourage and strengthen the brothers” (v. 32). The response of the church was to send off the brothers “with the blessing of peace” (v. 33).
Instead of merely dismissing the difficulty, church leaders resolved it, with encouraging words, and the church was strengthened and blessed. Now that’s an encouraging word!
Think about the words you say, especially when there is a disagreement. Next time, use encouraging words, ones that will build up, not tear down. Aim to not only settle the issue but to do so in a way that strengthens those involved.
Author: Woodrow Kroll
Source: Lessons on Living From Moses
Scripture Reference: Exodus 16:4 Isaiah 30:21
Exodus 16:4
Then the Lord said to Moses, "Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you. And the people shall go out and gather a certain quota every day, that I may test them, whether they will walk in My law or not."
Tested by the Blessings
Many tests come in the guise of hardship, illness or some other unpleasant experience—but not all of them. The good times can be just as much a test as the bad times.
When the people of Israel reached the Wilderness of Sin, they were unable to find food. This hot, barren wasteland offered nothing that would sustain a multitude of people. But God used this experience to test His children and teach them to trust Him. He graciously supplied a heavenly food that looked like a dewdrop, which the people called "manna." This miraculous gift was more than just a blessing, however. It was also God’s test to see whether they would walk in His law or not.
Being obedient in the midst of plenteous blessings is often more difficult than when we are experiencing a multitude of difficulties. Pleasures can easily dull our spiritual ears so we no longer hear the Lord saying, "This is the way, walk in it" (Isa. 30:21). A lack of trials lulls us into a false sense of security and leaves us vulnerable to the attacks of Satan. It’s no wonder that some people claim it’s easier to survive poverty than wealth. Agur, the writer of Proverbs 30 prayed, "Feed me with the food You prescribe for me; lest I be full and deny You, and say, ‘Who is the Lord?’" (vv. 8-9).
If you are experiencing a time of blessing, that’s wonderful—but be sensitive to the potential for danger. Testing doesn’t stop just because the trials have ceased. The need for obedience is constant whether the sun shines or not.
Trust and obey—every day.
Author: Warren Wiersbe
Source: Prayer, Praise and Promises
Scripture Reference: Psalm 74:12-23
A Night Season
Read Psalm 74:12-23
For God is my King from of old, working salvation in the midst of the earth" (v. 12). Asaph wrote those words after surveying the damage the Babylonians wrought in Jerusalem and the temple. In verses 1-11 he looked around and saw perpetual desolations. He saw the enemy had wrecked the sanctuary of God. The Babylonians had removed God's banners and set up their own. All the beauty, all the splendor of Jerusalem had gone up in smoke. When you look around and see the Enemy's destructive influence, remember: "God is my King from of old, working salvation in the midst of the earth" (v. 12).
In verse 12 Asaph stopped looking around and looked up. He realized that God was on the throne. At times we cry, "How long, O Lord? How long? Why are these things happening? Why don't You do something?" We know why He permitted the Babylonians to destroy Jerusalem and the temple: The spiritual leaders of the people had led the nation into idolatry and blasphemy, so God disciplined them. Asaph looked up and said, "God is King. He has never failed, and He is working salvation. The Enemy may be working destruction; but my God is King, and He is working salvation in the midst of the earth."
Asaph had a third encouragement. He remembered what God had done in the past (vv. 13-23). God divided the Red Sea. He broke the armies that attacked His people. He led His people through the wilderness. He opened the rock and provided water. He dried up the rivers. I like verse 16: "The day is Yours, the night also is Yours." We like the day but not the night. Remember, God controls the night as well as the day. Asaph was going through a night season in his soul as he saw everything around him falling apart. What was his solution? Trust. "For God is my King from of old, working salvation in the midst of the earth" (v. 12).
* * *
Has the Enemy been doing his destructive work in your life? Lay hold of the encouragements of this psalm: God is on the throne; He is helping to deliver you; and He is faithful to act as He has in the past. Start by acknowledging His control in your life. Ask Him to help you and courageously place your trust in Him.
Author: Theodore Epp
Source: Strength for the Journey
Scripture Reference: Proverbs 16:25 1 Samuel 23:6-14
Beware of Circumstances!
1 Samuel 23:6-14
We learn from this chapter that people who intend evil can also speak of the Lord and His work in a very pious way.
Saul was told that David had delivered Keilah, and he said, "God hath delivered him into mine hand; for he is shut in, by entering into a town that hath gates and bars" (1 Sam. 23:7). This was Saul speaking, a man who had been so disobedient to God that the Spirit of God had departed from him. He was a man who, no matter how he prayed, received no answer from God because his heart was not right toward God. Yet here he was saying that God had delivered David into his hands. We must always be careful of our interpretation of circumstances. On a number of occasions I have counseled with different persons who were very obviously following a selfish path. Their one strong argument was that the circumstances favored the course they wanted to take; but it was obvious to me, at least, that they were viewing circumstances in a false light. I was able to check the subsequent history of some of these people and found them miserable in heart with no joy in the Lord. If our wills are not wholly submitted to the Lord, we are bound to misinterpret the circumstances around us.
"There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death" (Prov. 16:25).
Author: Woodrow Kroll
Source: Early in the Morning
Scripture Reference: Joshua 7:1-26
Sin in the Camp
Joshua rose up early in the morning, and brought Israel by their tribes; and the tribe of Judah was taken.
Israel had just won the biggest battle in its military history. The impregnable fortress of Jericho was destroyed by the mighty hand of God. The inhabitants of Canaan trembled in terror before the armies of Israel. But as is frequently the case, a great victory had made them susceptible to a great defeat.
With the ashes of Jericho behind it, Israel now faced the next battle in its conquest of Canaan. Situated east of Bethel, in the foothills of the Judean highlands, was the tiny town of Ai. When spies returned from scouting this town they reported that three thousand soldiers were needed to seize this tiny, indefensible town. What they did not know was that, whereas God had gone with them into battle at Jericho, because of sin in their ranks God would not go with them in battle at Ai. The Israelites soon learned that the difference between victory and defeat is not military strength but the presence of the Lord.
The men of Ai routed the Israelite force, slaying thirty-six of them and chasing the rest all the way to Shebarim. Licking their wounds, they returned to Joshua and the elders who immediately fell on their faces before the ark of the Lord. Joshua thought he had been abandoned by God, but the Lord quickly revealed to him that the defeat at Ai was due to sin in the camp of Israel. "So he rose up early in the morning, and brought Israel by their tribes (Joshua 7:16). The tribe of Judah was indicated. Then all the families of Judah were marched before Joshua and Zerah pointed out as head of the sinning family. From the family Zerahites, man by man, they were escorted into the presence Joshua and Zabdi was taken. The household of Zabdi remained and Achan, the son of Carmi, was accused.
Joshua bade Achan to give glory to the Lord God of Israel and make a public confession. Achan confessed that his sin began innocently enough when he saw the spoils of war. But immediately that simple sight degenerated into covetousness and to actually taking the accursed thing. But worse than that, because he thought he could get away with his sin, he hid the beautiful garment and the silver and gold he took in the earth beneath his tent. Although succumbing to the temptation to sin was evil enough, Achan's greatest mistake was thinking that he could hide that sin from God.
That we can never successfully hide our sin from God is the teaching of Jesus' parable of the lighted candle. Luke 8:16-17 records, "No man, when he hath lighted a candle, covereth it with a vessel, or putteth it under a bed; but setteth it on a candle-stick, that they which enter in may see the light. For nothing is secret, that shall not be made manifest; neither anything hid, that shall not be made known and come abroad." The seeing eye of God searches even the innermost secrets of men. No sin, however large or small, escapes the eye of God.
Exodus 2 describes how Moses spied an Egyptian smiting a Hebrew, and he looked this way and that way, and when he saw no man watching him he slew the Egyptian and hid him in the sand (Exodus 2:12). The very next day however Moses' sin was discovered and he had to flee from the land of the Pharaoh and spend the next forty years in Midian. Moses' sin was unsuccessfully hidden. Beloved King David had a similar experience. After sinning with Bathsheba and attempting to cover his sin through the death of Uriah the Hittite, the trespass of David soon came to light when Nathan the prophet pointed his finger in the king's face and said, "Thou art the man" (2 Samuel 12:7). In remorse King David said, "O God, Thou knowest my foolishness; and my sins are not hid from Thee" (Psalm 69:5).
From the sad experiences of Achan and these others, let us learn well the truth that sin is never successfully hidden. We cannot hide our sin from God; we only can deal with it. "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9). Don't try to hide sin today; let God forgive it instead.
MORNING HYMN
Depth of mercy! Can there be
mercy still reserved for me?
Can my God His wrath forbear
Me, the chief of sinners spare?
Author: Elisabeth Elliot
Source: A Lamp For My Feet
Scripture Reference: Romans 12:1-2
Discerning the Will of God
The primary condition for learning what God wants of us is putting ourselves wholly at his disposal. It is just here that we are often blocked. We hold certain reservations about how far we are willing to go, what we will or will not do, how much God can have of us or of what we treasure. Then we pray for guidance. It will not work. We must begin by laying it all down--ourselves, our treasures, our destiny. Then we are in a position to think with renewed minds and act with a transformed nature. The withholding of any part of ourselves is the same as saying, "Thy will be done up to a point, mine from there on."
Paul gives four important steps to discerning the will of God:
1. "Offer your very selves to Him,"
2. "Adapt yourselves no longer to the pattern of this present world."
3. "Let your minds be remade."
4. "Your whole nature transformed."
"Then you will be able to discern the will of God" (Rom 12:1,2 NEB).
~ † ~ ▒▒▒ ~ ♥ ~ ▒▒▒ ~ † ~
BIBLE STUDY
Promises, Promises
Date: Jul 8, 2009
Topic: Christian Living/Situational, Faith/Trust
I'm looking for a new place to live and that means all those crazy questions I hate to deal with. Do I get an apartment or a townhome or a house? Should I rent or buy? And then there's the packing and moving. Not something I'm excited about. That's one reason I look longingly at a promise Jesus made.
What Does God Say?
In John 14, Jesus is preparing His disciples for what's ahead: His death, Resurrection and return to heaven. He promises them several important things including, "In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also" (John 14:2-3, ESV).
Take a few minutes to read through John 14.
* What promises do you find Jesus making?
* Which promises have already been fulfilled?
* Which ones are you still waiting for?
* How is God the Father involved?
* What reassurance does Jesus give you as you wait on His promises?
* How do you find peace and comfort?
If you want to do a little more, read John 15 and 16, too, asking the same questions.
My Thoughts
One reason Jesus returned to heaven was to prepare a place for those who believe and follow Him. I like that--there's a home waiting for me--one I don't have to worry about or pack for, and that's a very good thing.
Jesus goes one better in His promise. Not only is He getting it ready, but He will come back and take us there. Personal service from the Lord Himself!
This is a future promise; it hasn't happened yet. But we can trust that it will because it fits with all the other promises made by Jesus the Son and God the Father. For example, in John 14:15-17, Jesus promises "If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you" (ESV). What will this helper do? John 14:26 tells us, "But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you."
The Spirit has come; He takes up residence in all who believe. That's a promise kept. And it gives us confidence that God keeps other promises too.
My Part
From the very beginning God made and kept promises--to Adam and Eve, to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, David, etc. Through Jesus, He kept the promise of redemption and eternal life. And through Jesus, we're also promised help for living today and peace for what comes in the future. God's track record is superior in the promise department; it's based on His faithful, purposeful, unchanging character.
So, how have you seen God deliver on His promises? Which ones do you struggle to trust Him for? Which promises have you found in the Bible that mean the most to you?
Take a moment to thank God for making and keeping His promises, and ask Him to help you trust Him for those you still struggle to understand.
"All I have seen teaches me to trust the Creator for all I have not seen." (Ralph Waldo Emerson).
All rights reserved http://www.bibleminute.org/
~ † ~ ▒▒▒ ~ ♥ ~ ▒▒▒ ~ † ~
Words of Wisdom for July 08, 2009
Devotionals for Dieters
James 5:11
Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.
Gretchen wanted the job so badly. The doctor had told her she had to lose twenty pounds in order to pass the physical. Tina and Ann also had to lose weight to join the company. After a couple of weeks, Tina gave up. One week later, Ann folded, too. They both told Gretchen she was wasting her time. Gretchen didn't care. She held on, got her position, and never once regretted all she had to do to get it. She thanked the Lord that she had the strength to hold on when her friends had given up. Without His help, she never would have made it.
Today's thought: Job lost everything, and God blessed him greatly for what he suffered. If Job can endure, so can I!
CrossDaily.com. * ©Copyright 2009, Salem Web Network and its Content Providers. Crosswalk 111 Virginia St., Suite 500 Richmond, VA 23219 Devotions for Dieters. http://www.crosswalk.com/devotionals/fordieters/
~ † ~ ▒▒▒ ~ ♥ ~ ▒▒▒ ~ † ~
The Following Devotionals are from: Copyright © 1996-2009 The Good News Broadcasting Association, Inc. (Back to the Bible) Lincoln, Nebraska, USA Used by permission. All rights reserved http://www.backtothebible.org/
The Copyright Policy website: http://www.backtothebible.org/index.php/Web-Site-Copyright-Policy.html
DEVOTIONALS
Author: Woodrow Kroll, Tony Beckett
Source: FaithWalk
Scripture Reference: Acts 15:22-41 Job 36-37
Where Seldom Is Heard . . .
Job 36–37, Acts 15:22–41
Key Verse: Acts 15:32
Can you finish this line from an old song? “Where seldom is heard . . .”
The answer is “a discouraging word.” The song, “Home on the Range,” paints a picture of an idyllic place where even the words said are seldom discouraging. If only song lyrics and reality matched! Far too often home, work, school and even church are places where seldom is heard an encouraging word. We know how much we appreciate encouraging words; the question to consider is if our own words are encouraging.
The early church had a problem. They met, discussed it and handed down a decision that was then communicated to the churches by a hand-carried letter. It was sent with Paul and Barnabas, who were accompanied by Judas and Silas. Sometimes problems in a church are due to decisions—who makes them, how they are made or what they are. This one had the potential of stirring the issue rather than settling it. What tipped the scales toward settling was the encouraging words that were spoken.
Luke called it an “encouraging message” (v. 31). Also, Judas and Silas “said much to encourage and strengthen the brothers” (v. 32). The response of the church was to send off the brothers “with the blessing of peace” (v. 33).
Instead of merely dismissing the difficulty, church leaders resolved it, with encouraging words, and the church was strengthened and blessed. Now that’s an encouraging word!
Think about the words you say, especially when there is a disagreement. Next time, use encouraging words, ones that will build up, not tear down. Aim to not only settle the issue but to do so in a way that strengthens those involved.
Author: Woodrow Kroll
Source: Lessons on Living From Moses
Scripture Reference: Exodus 16:4 Isaiah 30:21
Exodus 16:4
Then the Lord said to Moses, "Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you. And the people shall go out and gather a certain quota every day, that I may test them, whether they will walk in My law or not."
Tested by the Blessings
Many tests come in the guise of hardship, illness or some other unpleasant experience—but not all of them. The good times can be just as much a test as the bad times.
When the people of Israel reached the Wilderness of Sin, they were unable to find food. This hot, barren wasteland offered nothing that would sustain a multitude of people. But God used this experience to test His children and teach them to trust Him. He graciously supplied a heavenly food that looked like a dewdrop, which the people called "manna." This miraculous gift was more than just a blessing, however. It was also God’s test to see whether they would walk in His law or not.
Being obedient in the midst of plenteous blessings is often more difficult than when we are experiencing a multitude of difficulties. Pleasures can easily dull our spiritual ears so we no longer hear the Lord saying, "This is the way, walk in it" (Isa. 30:21). A lack of trials lulls us into a false sense of security and leaves us vulnerable to the attacks of Satan. It’s no wonder that some people claim it’s easier to survive poverty than wealth. Agur, the writer of Proverbs 30 prayed, "Feed me with the food You prescribe for me; lest I be full and deny You, and say, ‘Who is the Lord?’" (vv. 8-9).
If you are experiencing a time of blessing, that’s wonderful—but be sensitive to the potential for danger. Testing doesn’t stop just because the trials have ceased. The need for obedience is constant whether the sun shines or not.
Trust and obey—every day.
Author: Warren Wiersbe
Source: Prayer, Praise and Promises
Scripture Reference: Psalm 74:12-23
A Night Season
Read Psalm 74:12-23
For God is my King from of old, working salvation in the midst of the earth" (v. 12). Asaph wrote those words after surveying the damage the Babylonians wrought in Jerusalem and the temple. In verses 1-11 he looked around and saw perpetual desolations. He saw the enemy had wrecked the sanctuary of God. The Babylonians had removed God's banners and set up their own. All the beauty, all the splendor of Jerusalem had gone up in smoke. When you look around and see the Enemy's destructive influence, remember: "God is my King from of old, working salvation in the midst of the earth" (v. 12).
In verse 12 Asaph stopped looking around and looked up. He realized that God was on the throne. At times we cry, "How long, O Lord? How long? Why are these things happening? Why don't You do something?" We know why He permitted the Babylonians to destroy Jerusalem and the temple: The spiritual leaders of the people had led the nation into idolatry and blasphemy, so God disciplined them. Asaph looked up and said, "God is King. He has never failed, and He is working salvation. The Enemy may be working destruction; but my God is King, and He is working salvation in the midst of the earth."
Asaph had a third encouragement. He remembered what God had done in the past (vv. 13-23). God divided the Red Sea. He broke the armies that attacked His people. He led His people through the wilderness. He opened the rock and provided water. He dried up the rivers. I like verse 16: "The day is Yours, the night also is Yours." We like the day but not the night. Remember, God controls the night as well as the day. Asaph was going through a night season in his soul as he saw everything around him falling apart. What was his solution? Trust. "For God is my King from of old, working salvation in the midst of the earth" (v. 12).
* * *
Has the Enemy been doing his destructive work in your life? Lay hold of the encouragements of this psalm: God is on the throne; He is helping to deliver you; and He is faithful to act as He has in the past. Start by acknowledging His control in your life. Ask Him to help you and courageously place your trust in Him.
Author: Theodore Epp
Source: Strength for the Journey
Scripture Reference: Proverbs 16:25 1 Samuel 23:6-14
Beware of Circumstances!
1 Samuel 23:6-14
We learn from this chapter that people who intend evil can also speak of the Lord and His work in a very pious way.
Saul was told that David had delivered Keilah, and he said, "God hath delivered him into mine hand; for he is shut in, by entering into a town that hath gates and bars" (1 Sam. 23:7). This was Saul speaking, a man who had been so disobedient to God that the Spirit of God had departed from him. He was a man who, no matter how he prayed, received no answer from God because his heart was not right toward God. Yet here he was saying that God had delivered David into his hands. We must always be careful of our interpretation of circumstances. On a number of occasions I have counseled with different persons who were very obviously following a selfish path. Their one strong argument was that the circumstances favored the course they wanted to take; but it was obvious to me, at least, that they were viewing circumstances in a false light. I was able to check the subsequent history of some of these people and found them miserable in heart with no joy in the Lord. If our wills are not wholly submitted to the Lord, we are bound to misinterpret the circumstances around us.
"There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death" (Prov. 16:25).
Author: Woodrow Kroll
Source: Early in the Morning
Scripture Reference: Joshua 7:1-26
Sin in the Camp
Joshua rose up early in the morning, and brought Israel by their tribes; and the tribe of Judah was taken.
Israel had just won the biggest battle in its military history. The impregnable fortress of Jericho was destroyed by the mighty hand of God. The inhabitants of Canaan trembled in terror before the armies of Israel. But as is frequently the case, a great victory had made them susceptible to a great defeat.
With the ashes of Jericho behind it, Israel now faced the next battle in its conquest of Canaan. Situated east of Bethel, in the foothills of the Judean highlands, was the tiny town of Ai. When spies returned from scouting this town they reported that three thousand soldiers were needed to seize this tiny, indefensible town. What they did not know was that, whereas God had gone with them into battle at Jericho, because of sin in their ranks God would not go with them in battle at Ai. The Israelites soon learned that the difference between victory and defeat is not military strength but the presence of the Lord.
The men of Ai routed the Israelite force, slaying thirty-six of them and chasing the rest all the way to Shebarim. Licking their wounds, they returned to Joshua and the elders who immediately fell on their faces before the ark of the Lord. Joshua thought he had been abandoned by God, but the Lord quickly revealed to him that the defeat at Ai was due to sin in the camp of Israel. "So he rose up early in the morning, and brought Israel by their tribes (Joshua 7:16). The tribe of Judah was indicated. Then all the families of Judah were marched before Joshua and Zerah pointed out as head of the sinning family. From the family Zerahites, man by man, they were escorted into the presence Joshua and Zabdi was taken. The household of Zabdi remained and Achan, the son of Carmi, was accused.
Joshua bade Achan to give glory to the Lord God of Israel and make a public confession. Achan confessed that his sin began innocently enough when he saw the spoils of war. But immediately that simple sight degenerated into covetousness and to actually taking the accursed thing. But worse than that, because he thought he could get away with his sin, he hid the beautiful garment and the silver and gold he took in the earth beneath his tent. Although succumbing to the temptation to sin was evil enough, Achan's greatest mistake was thinking that he could hide that sin from God.
That we can never successfully hide our sin from God is the teaching of Jesus' parable of the lighted candle. Luke 8:16-17 records, "No man, when he hath lighted a candle, covereth it with a vessel, or putteth it under a bed; but setteth it on a candle-stick, that they which enter in may see the light. For nothing is secret, that shall not be made manifest; neither anything hid, that shall not be made known and come abroad." The seeing eye of God searches even the innermost secrets of men. No sin, however large or small, escapes the eye of God.
Exodus 2 describes how Moses spied an Egyptian smiting a Hebrew, and he looked this way and that way, and when he saw no man watching him he slew the Egyptian and hid him in the sand (Exodus 2:12). The very next day however Moses' sin was discovered and he had to flee from the land of the Pharaoh and spend the next forty years in Midian. Moses' sin was unsuccessfully hidden. Beloved King David had a similar experience. After sinning with Bathsheba and attempting to cover his sin through the death of Uriah the Hittite, the trespass of David soon came to light when Nathan the prophet pointed his finger in the king's face and said, "Thou art the man" (2 Samuel 12:7). In remorse King David said, "O God, Thou knowest my foolishness; and my sins are not hid from Thee" (Psalm 69:5).
From the sad experiences of Achan and these others, let us learn well the truth that sin is never successfully hidden. We cannot hide our sin from God; we only can deal with it. "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9). Don't try to hide sin today; let God forgive it instead.
MORNING HYMN
Depth of mercy! Can there be
mercy still reserved for me?
Can my God His wrath forbear
Me, the chief of sinners spare?
Author: Elisabeth Elliot
Source: A Lamp For My Feet
Scripture Reference: Romans 12:1-2
Discerning the Will of God
The primary condition for learning what God wants of us is putting ourselves wholly at his disposal. It is just here that we are often blocked. We hold certain reservations about how far we are willing to go, what we will or will not do, how much God can have of us or of what we treasure. Then we pray for guidance. It will not work. We must begin by laying it all down--ourselves, our treasures, our destiny. Then we are in a position to think with renewed minds and act with a transformed nature. The withholding of any part of ourselves is the same as saying, "Thy will be done up to a point, mine from there on."
Paul gives four important steps to discerning the will of God:
1. "Offer your very selves to Him,"
2. "Adapt yourselves no longer to the pattern of this present world."
3. "Let your minds be remade."
4. "Your whole nature transformed."
"Then you will be able to discern the will of God" (Rom 12:1,2 NEB).
~ † ~ ▒▒▒ ~ ♥ ~ ▒▒▒ ~ † ~
BIBLE STUDY
Promises, Promises
Date: Jul 8, 2009
Topic: Christian Living/Situational, Faith/Trust
I'm looking for a new place to live and that means all those crazy questions I hate to deal with. Do I get an apartment or a townhome or a house? Should I rent or buy? And then there's the packing and moving. Not something I'm excited about. That's one reason I look longingly at a promise Jesus made.
What Does God Say?
In John 14, Jesus is preparing His disciples for what's ahead: His death, Resurrection and return to heaven. He promises them several important things including, "In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also" (John 14:2-3, ESV).
Take a few minutes to read through John 14.
* What promises do you find Jesus making?
* Which promises have already been fulfilled?
* Which ones are you still waiting for?
* How is God the Father involved?
* What reassurance does Jesus give you as you wait on His promises?
* How do you find peace and comfort?
If you want to do a little more, read John 15 and 16, too, asking the same questions.
My Thoughts
One reason Jesus returned to heaven was to prepare a place for those who believe and follow Him. I like that--there's a home waiting for me--one I don't have to worry about or pack for, and that's a very good thing.
Jesus goes one better in His promise. Not only is He getting it ready, but He will come back and take us there. Personal service from the Lord Himself!
This is a future promise; it hasn't happened yet. But we can trust that it will because it fits with all the other promises made by Jesus the Son and God the Father. For example, in John 14:15-17, Jesus promises "If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you" (ESV). What will this helper do? John 14:26 tells us, "But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you."
The Spirit has come; He takes up residence in all who believe. That's a promise kept. And it gives us confidence that God keeps other promises too.
My Part
From the very beginning God made and kept promises--to Adam and Eve, to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, David, etc. Through Jesus, He kept the promise of redemption and eternal life. And through Jesus, we're also promised help for living today and peace for what comes in the future. God's track record is superior in the promise department; it's based on His faithful, purposeful, unchanging character.
So, how have you seen God deliver on His promises? Which ones do you struggle to trust Him for? Which promises have you found in the Bible that mean the most to you?
Take a moment to thank God for making and keeping His promises, and ask Him to help you trust Him for those you still struggle to understand.
"All I have seen teaches me to trust the Creator for all I have not seen." (Ralph Waldo Emerson).
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Words of Wisdom for July 08, 2009
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