Tom Dooley: Faith comes by Hearing "Todays Bible Read"
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DailyHope: "pray about the things that are worrying you"
“God clothes the grass in the field, which is alive today but tomorrow is thrown into the fire. So you can be even more sure that God will clothe you. Don’t have so little faith!” Matthew 6:30 (NCV)
| "Flowers are not made beautiful because of their anxiety. They are made beautiful because of the character of God." |
The disciples had good reason to worry in Matthew 8. They were fishermen, so they knew how dangerous the storm was that they faced. And yet, when they woke Jesus, he said to them, “Why are you afraid? You have so little faith!” (Matthew 8:26 NLT).
That statement is a big challenge to us. It reminds us that there is no reason good enough to worry. When we are in the midst of realities in our lives that might cause us to worry, Jesus is saying we need to choose faith instead.
How do you make this choice? You understand the character of God. You understand his love for you and how he wants to work in your life.
One of the pictures God used to help understand his character is the picture of flowers. Jesus said, “Look at the lilies and how they grow … if God cares so wonderfully for flowers that are here today and gone tomorrow, won’t he more surely care for you? You have so little faith!” (Matthew 6:28-30 NLT).
Flowers are not made beautiful because of their anxiety. They are made beautiful because of the character of God. God is at work in your life too. He is a generous and loving God.
How do you increase your faith when there are so many circumstances in life that cause you to worry? Start praying in advance. Most of the time you can see what’s coming, so you can either choose to worry about it or you can start putting your faith in God before it gets here.
Jesus tells this story in Luke 8, “The seed that fell among the thorny weeds is like those who hear God’s teaching, but they let the worries, riches and pleasures of this life keep them from growing and producing good fruit” (NCV).
If you pray about the things that are worrying you, your faith will produce a burst of growth, joy, productivity and significance like you have never seen before.
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TheBigPictureBibleRead: Moses Meets Pharaoh
Moses Meets Pharaoh
Exodus 4:27-6:8; Psalm 18:27-29; Proverbs 6:6-8
And the LORD said to Aaron, "Go into the wilderness to meet Moses." So he went and met him on the mountain of God, and kissed him. So Moses told Aaron all the words of the LORD who had sent him, and all the signs which He had commanded him. Then Moses and Aaron went and gathered together all the elders of the children of Israel. And Aaron spoke all the words which the LORD had spoken to Moses. Then he did the signs in the sight of the people. So the people believed; and when they heard that the LORD had visited the children of Israel and that He had looked on their affliction, then they bowed their heads and worshiped.Afterward Moses and Aaron went in and told Pharaoh, "Thus says the LORD God of Israel: 'Let My people go, that they may hold a feast to Me in the wilderness.'"
And Pharaoh said, "Who is the LORD, that I should obey His voice to let Israel go? I do not know the LORD, nor will I let Israel go."
So they said, "The God of the Hebrews has met with us. Please, let us go three days' journey into the desert and sacrifice to the LORD our God, lest He fall upon us with pestilence or with the sword."
Then the king of Egypt said to them, "Moses and Aaron, why do you take the people from their work? Get back to your labor." And Pharaoh said, "Look, the people of the land are many now, and you make them rest from their labor!"
So the same day Pharaoh commanded the taskmasters of the people and their officers, saying, "You shall no longer give the people straw to make brick as before. Let them go and gather straw for themselves. And you shall lay on them the quota of bricks which they made before. You shall not reduce it. For they are idle; therefore they cry out, saying, 'Let us go and sacrifice to our God.' Let more work be laid on the men, that they may labor in it, and let them not regard false words."
And the taskmasters of the people and their officers went out and spoke to the people, saying, "Thus says Pharaoh: 'I will not give you straw. Go, get yourselves straw where you can find it; yet none of your work will be reduced.'" So the people were scattered abroad throughout all the land of Egypt to gather stubble instead of straw. And the taskmasters forced them to hurry, saying, "Fulfill your work, your daily quota, as when there was straw." Also the officers of the children of Israel, whom Pharaoh's taskmasters had set over them, were beaten and were asked, "Why have you not fulfilled your task in making brick both yesterday and today, as before?"
Then the officers of the children of Israel came and cried out to Pharaoh, saying, "Why are you dealing thus with your servants? There is no straw given to your servants, and they say to us, 'Make brick!' And indeed your servants are beaten, but the fault is in your own people."
But he said, "You are idle! Idle! Therefore you say, 'Let us go and sacrifice to the LORD.' Therefore go now and work; for no straw shall be given you, yet you shall deliver the quota of bricks." And the officers of the children of Israel saw that they were in trouble after it was said, "You shall not reduce any bricks from your daily quota."
Then, as they came out from Pharaoh, they met Moses and Aaron who stood there to meet them. And they said to them, "Let the LORD look on you and judge, because you have made us abhorrent in the sight of Pharaoh and in the sight of his servants, to put a sword in their hand to kill us."
So Moses returned to the LORD and said, "Lord, why have You brought trouble on this people? Why is it You have sent me? For since I came to Pharaoh to speak in Your name, he has done evil to this people; neither have You delivered Your people at all."
Then the LORD said to Moses, "Now you shall see what I will do to Pharaoh. For with a strong hand he will let them go, and with a strong hand he will drive them out of his land."
And God spoke to Moses and said to him: "I am the LORD. I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, as God Almighty, but by My name LORD I was not known to them. I have also established My covenant with them, to give them the land of Canaan, the land of their pilgrimage, in which they were strangers. And I have also heard the groaning of the children of Israel whom the Egyptians keep in bondage, and I have remembered My covenant. Therefore say to the children of Israel: 'I am the LORD; I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, I will rescue you from their bondage, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great judgments. I will take you as My people, and I will be your God. Then you shall know that I am the LORD your God who brings you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians. And I will bring you into the land which I swore to give to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; and I will give it to you as a heritage: I am the LORD.'"
Exodus 4:27-6:8
WORSHIP
For You will save the humble people,
But will bring down haughty looks.
For You will light my lamp;
The LORD my God will enlighten my darkness.
For by You I can run against a troop,
By my God I can leap over a wall.
Psalm 18:27-29
WISDOM
Go to the ant, you sluggard!
Consider her ways and be wise,
Which, having no captain,
Overseer or ruler,
Provides her supplies in the summer,
And gathers her food in the harvest.
Proverbs 6:6-8
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DailyLight: The Lord hath said unto you, Ye shall henceforth return no more that way.
February 4
MORNING
The Lord hath said unto you, Ye shall henceforth return no more that way.
Truly if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned. But now they desire a better country, that is a heavenly. Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt. — The just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition, but of them that believe to the saving of the soul. — No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.
God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world. — Come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.
He which hath begun a good work in you, will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.
DEUT. 17:16. Heb. 11:15,16,25,26. -Heb. 10:38,39. ‑Luke 9:62. Gal. 6:14. ‑II Cor. 6:17. Phi. 1:6.
EVENING
They talk to the grief of those whom thou hast wounded.
I was but a little displeased, and they helped forward the affliction.
Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.
He which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins. — Comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men.
Let us not ... judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother's way. — We ... that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak and not to please ourelves.
Charity ... rejoiceth not in iniquity. — Let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.
PSA. 69:26. Zech. 1:15. Gal. 6:1. Jas. 5:20. ‑I Thes. 5:14. Rom. 14:30. -Rom. 15:1. I Cor. 13:4,6. -I Cor. 10:12.
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DailyLeadership: Do you see people on your team as individuals? (159-5)
Do you see people on your team as individuals? (159-5)
Godly leaders are passionate in their concern for their team. Read Jeremiah 8:21-9:1.
Jeremiah is sometimes called the weeping prophet. He cared so much for the people that it broke his heart to have to pronounce God’s judgment on them. Like every truly God-honoring leader, Jeremiah did not shrink from his assignment but Jeremiah’s great moral leadership is revealed in his words in today’s verses. We can see why his leadership endured even while delivering difficult truths to a rebellious generation. Jeremiah genuinely cared for the people. He led his people well because he was passionate about their welfare.
No leader can truly understand God’s purpose in creating the universe and the people that populate it. He tells us in Isaiah 55:8-9 that His thoughts are higher than our thoughts and He tells us in 1 Corinthians 13:12 that our current understanding is like a poor reflection in a mirror – not clear. But it is an awesome thing when Christian leaders can discover and experience for themselves some portion of God’s deep passion for humans. It is only when leaders discover God’s deep passion and purpose for people that they gain a different perspective and a new level of respect for those on their team.
When leaders gain some understanding of the great love God has for every individual in the human race they treat people differently. They treat every individual as valuable. Leaders stop seeing the outer trappings and minor differences in various people’s abilities that tend to create selective value judgments and see every individual as a valuable commodity created specifically by God with unique talents and gifts, each having a purpose in His plan.
Do you see people on your team as individuals lovingly created by God? Do you believe that God has a plan for every individual on your team? Do you sense the responsibility and great gift God has given you to allow you to have input into their lives as their leader? Can you have the same empathy Jeremiah demonstrated even when your team falls short of expected standards? God has a passion for intimacy with his people, and leaders participate in His eternal purpose and passion when they see individuals the way He sees them.
John 3:16-17 “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him.”
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OneYearBible: Exodus 19:16-21:21 ~ Matthew 23:13-39 ~ Psalm 28:1-9 ~ Proverbs 7:1-5
February 4th One Year Bible Readings
Exodus 19:16-21:21 ~ Matthew 23:13-39 ~ Psalm 28:1-9 ~ Proverbs 7:1-5
~ Click here to read today's Scripture on BibleGateway.com ~ // Mobile Site Link
~ Listen to today's Scripture on OneYearAudioBible.org or DailyAudioBible.com (podcast) ~
TranslateOld Testament - Big day today! Ten Commandments day! This kind of snuck up on me, but it was a great surprise. Today in Exodus chapter 19 Mount Sinai plays quite a prominent role in the narrative. Below is an image of Mt. Sinai that I think correlates well with verse 18: "All Mount Sinai was covered with smoke because the LORD had descended on it in the form of fire. The smoke billowed into the sky like smoke from a furnace, and the whole mountain shook with a violent earthquake."
Exodus chapter 20 brings us the Ten Commandments. And as I like to do from time to time on this blog, I'd like to share with you Eugene Peterson's "The Message" paraphrase of the Ten Commandments from verses 1 - 20:
"GOD spoke all these words:
I am GOD, your God,
who brought you out of the land of Egypt,
out of a life of slavery.
No other gods, only me.
No carved gods of any size, shape, or form of anything whatever, whether of things that fly or walk or swim. Don't bow down to them and don't serve them because I am GOD your God, and I'm a most jealous God, punishing the children for any sins their parents pass on to them to the third, and yes, even to the fourth generation of those who hate me. But I'm unswervingly loyal to the thousands who love me and keep my commandments.
No using the name of GOD your God, in curses or silly banter; GOD won't put up with the irreverent use of his name.
Observe the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Work six days and do everything you need to do. But the seventh day is a Sabbath to GOD your God. Don't do any work--not you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your servant, nor your maid, nor your animals, not even the foreign guest visiting in your town. For in six days GOD made Heaven, Earth, and sea, and everything in them; he rested on the seventh day. Therefore GOD blessed the Sabbath day; he set it apart as a holy day.
Honor your father and mother so that you'll live a long time in the land that GOD your God, is giving you.
No murder.
No adultery.
No stealing.
No lies about your neighbor.
No lusting after your neighbor's house--or wife or servant or maid or ox or donkey. Don't set your heart on anything that is your neighbor's."
Has anyone else noticed that The Message in the Old Testament doesn't really seem to stray too far from other translations, whereas The Message in the New Testament can take some wild leaps and twists and turns? Just something I noticed recently... I am curious - are there many Message One Year Bible readers participating with us this year? A great overview and commentary on the Ten Commandments is online at bible.org at this link. I think this image below is helpful in that it shows the first 4 commandments are about our relationship with God and the next 6 about our relationship with people:
Verse 19 in this chapter is intriguing as the Israelites speak to Moses: ""You tell us what God says, and we will listen. But don't let God speak directly to us. If he does, we will die!"" The NIV Study Bible commentary suggests that this is the first time that people asked for a "mediator" between them and God. And that mediator is initially fulfilled in Moses, then in the Aaronic / Levitical priests, then in the prophets, and then finally in Jesus Christ - our final mediator. Powerful for each of us to consider... Who is the mediator between you and God?
I liked reading and considering the simplicity of God's instructions on the proper use of altars in verses 24 & 25: ""The altars you make for me must be simple altars of earth.... Build altars in the places where I remind you who I am, and I will come and bless you there. If you build altars from stone, use only uncut stones. Do not chip or shape the stones with a tool, for that would make them unfit for holy use." For some reason the simplicity of these altars stood in stark contrast to the religiosity Jesus goes after in our Matthew readings today. Maybe God likes us to keep things simple? This is an interesting thing to consider. The gospel message is not complicated. It's simple. Sometimes I think we do a pretty good job of complicating it for ourselves or others though. When maybe instead we should just be sharing with others our simple altars to God....
Exodus chapter 21 dives into some regulations surrounding slavery. I know this brings up some questions. The One Year Bible Companion today covers this topic at a high level: "The Hebrews, though freed from slavery, had slaves themselves. A person could become a slave because of poverty, debt, or even crime. But Hebrew slaves were treated as humans, not property, and were allowed to work their way to freedom. The Bible acknowledges the existence of slavery but never encourages it." For further study on this topic - Bible.org has commentary on slavery in the Bible at this link, and at this link, and at this link.
New Testament - Today in Matthew 23 we read Jesus' "Woe to you!" warnings and teachings. Verses 25 & 26 stood out to me today: ""How terrible it will be for you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! You are so careful to clean the outside of the cup and the dish, but inside you are filthy--full of greed and self-indulgence! Blind Pharisees! First wash the inside of the cup, and then the outside will become clean, too." These verses reminded me a lot of the Sermon on the Mount, where Jesus very clearly goes to the heart of the matter with many of the Laws. These verses are such a strong reminder for us to guard our hearts - and what we let into our hearts - and the condition of our hearts. Because Jesus is much more concerned about the condition of our hearts than the condition of our skin. He wants to heal us from the inside out. How is the condition of your heart today? Will you allow Jesus to heal your heart? To heal you from the inside out? Where will you find true inner peace to heal you from the inside out?
Psalms - Psalm 28 verse 2 stood out to me today - "Listen to my prayer for mercy as I cry out to you for help, as I lift my hands toward your holy sanctuary." The thing that stood out to me is the image of the Psalmist "lifting his hands" in prayer. I'm curious about this - if you don't mind sharing in the Comments section below - do you periodically lift your hands in prayer? Do you kneel when you pray? Close your eyes? Bow your head? What do you do to really signify your worship and praise of God? Do you think lifting our hands or doing other body movements can change the way we pray to God - rather than doing nothing unique with our body? Let me know if you have Comments on this below... thanks... My quick thoughts are that we can absolutely pray at any time in any place without lifting our hands or closing our eyes or bowing, etc. I think this gets toward the idea of "praying unceasingly." However - I do think there is something special about the times in our day when we can really spend some quality quiet time with God in prayer. And the best way for me to personally do this is by really changing my body language first - by kneeling down, closing my eyes, bowing my head, maybe lifting my hands, etc. This somehow I think brings me closer to God - it doesn't bring God closer to me - he's always close. But, somehow, what I do with my body before & during prayer can definitely make a difference in how long I will actually pray to God and how deep into prayer & listening I will go. How about for you?
Proverbs - Proverbs chapter 7 verses 1 - 3 today are powerful: "Follow my advice, my son; always treasure my commands. Obey them and live! Guard my teachings as your most precious possession. Tie them on your fingers as a reminder. Write them deep within your heart." Do you guard God's teachings as your most precious possession? If not, what is your most precious possession? And then where do God's teachings rank in comparison to your other possessions?
Worship God: Today's readings about the Ten Commandments reminded me of this fantastic video of an 11 year old preacher, preaching "Jesus Throughout the Bible:"
Do you know Jesus who is throughout the Bible? Click here and meet Him!
Please join us in memorizing and meditating on a verse of Scripture today: "Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices—mint, dill and cummin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former." Matthew 23:3 NIV
Prayer Point: Pray that you won't ever neglect justice, mercy and faithfulness in your life. Pray for justice. Pray for mercy. Pray for faithfulness.
Comments from You and Questions of the Day: Since we've arrived at the Ten Commandments in our readings today, now is an appropriate time to ask - are the Ten Commandments important to you? Why? Have they always been important to you? I will confess that there was a time early in my Christian walk where the Ten Commandments didn't really matter to me. All that mattered at that time was my faith in Jesus. But, then, I personally felt that I was not moving forward as a disciple of Jesus' without meditating upon and considering and, yes, applying the Ten Commandments to my life. Am I perfect when it comes to the Ten Commandments? Of course not, this side of heaven. But meditating upon the Ten Commandments and meditating upon my actions - in relationship with Jesus and inviting Jesus into this process - has changed my heart and my actions. Do you think that we should meditate upon the Ten Commandments and our actions? Also, what verses or insights stand out to you in today's readings? Please post up by clicking on the "Comments" link below!
God bless,
Mike
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C.H. Spurgeon: This Morning's Meditation ""The love of the Lord.""
Friday, February 04, 2011
This Morning's Meditation
C. H. Spurgeon
"The love of the Lord."—Hosea 3:1.
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GodCalling: "Just go step by step. My will shall be revealed as you go. "
| February 4 - Drop Your Crutch Just go step by step. My will shall be revealed as you go. You will never cease to be thankful for this time when you felt at peace and trustful, and yet had no human security. That is the time of the True learning of trust in Me. "When thy Father and Mother forsake thee, then the Lord will take thee up." This is a literal dependence on Me. When human support or material help of any kind is removed, then My power can become operative. I cannot teach a man to walk who is trusting to a crutch. Away with your crutch, and My power shall so invigorate you that you shall indeed walk on to victory. Never limit My power. It is limitless. "God has spoken once; twice have I heard this; |
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GodCalling: "Just go step by step. My will shall be revealed as you go. "
|
February 4 - Drop Your Crutch Just go step by step. My will shall be revealed as you go. You will never cease to be thankful for this time when you felt at peace and trustful, and yet had no human security. That is the time of the True learning of trust in Me. "When thy Father and Mother forsake thee, then the Lord will take thee up." This is a literal dependence on Me. When human support or material help of any kind is removed, then My power can become operative. I cannot teach a man to walk who is trusting to a crutch. Away with your crutch, and My power shall so invigorate you that you shall indeed walk on to victory. Never limit My power. It is limitless. "God has spoken once; twice have I heard this; |
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A.W.Tozer: "They saw God in everything"
JOY AND WONDER
It is tragic that men and women everywhere are losing the sense of wonder, confessing now only one interest in life-and that is utility! Even Christmas Day has been degraded. We ignore the beautiful and the majestic, asking only "How can I use it? How much profit will it bring?" The believing children of God once upon a time saw God in everything. They were enraptured with everything before them. There was no common hill-they were all the hills of God!
There was no common cloud-they were the chariots of God! They saw God in everything: in our day we never look up in happy surprise! But let me tell you that it has been a never-failing delight throughout my years to watch little children on Christmas morning. The gifts may be humble, but the child's burst of spontaneous delight and wonder is genuine and rewarding. That incredulous look in the child's face - everything is full of wonder and beauty! Sad, indeed, for adults to lose the wonder in worship - for worship is wonder and wonder is worship!
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StreamsInTheDesert: "I will make all my mountains a way"
February 4
Make a Way
"I will make all my mountains a way" (Isa.49:11).
God will make obstacles serve His purpose. We all have mountains in our lives. There are people and things that threaten to bar our progress in the Divine life. Those heavy claims, that uncongenial occupation, that thorn in the flesh, that daily cross--we think that if only these were removed we might live purer, tenderer, holier lives; and often we pray for their removal.
"Oh, fools, and slow of heart!" These are the very conditions of achievement; they have been put into our lives as the means to the very graces and virtues for which we have been praying so long. Thou hast prayed for patience through long years, but there is something that tries thee beyond endurance; thou hast fled from it, evaded it, accounted it an unsurmountable obstacle to the desired attainment, and supposed that its removal would secure thy immediate deliverance and victory.
Not so! Thou wouldest gain only the cessation of temptations to impatience. But this would not be patience. Patience can be acquired only through just such trials as now seem unbearable. Go back; submit thyself. Claim to be a partaker in the patience of Jesus. Meet thy trials in Him. There is nothing in life which harasses and annoys that may not become subservient to the highest ends. They are His mountains. He puts them there. We know that God will not fail to keep His promise. "God understandeth the way thereof and knoweth the place thereof. For he looketh to the ends of the earth, and seeth under the whole heaven"; and when we come to the foot of the mountains, we shall find the way.
--Christ in Isaiah, by Meyer
***
"The meaning of trial is not only to test worthiness, but to increase it; as the oak is not only tested by the storm, but toughened by them."
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MyUtmostForHisHighest: "Ye shall be witnesses unto Me."
 THE OVERMASTERING MAJESTY OF PERSONAL POWER | ||
| "For the love of Christ constraineth us." 2 Corinthians 5:14 Paul says he is overruled, overmastered, held as in a vice, by the love of Christ. Very few of us know what it means to be held in a grip by the love of God; we are held by the constraint of our experience only. The one thing that held Paul, until there was nothing else on his horizon, was the love of God. "The love of Christ constraineth us" - when you hear that note in a man or woman, you can never mistake it. You know that the Spirit of God is getting unhindered way in that life. When we are born again of the Spirit of God, the note of testimony is on what God has done for us, and rightly so. But the baptism of the Holy Ghost obliterates that for ever, and we begin to realize what Jesus meant when He said - "Ye shall be witnesses unto Me." Not witnesses to what Jesus can do - that is an elementary witness - but "witnesses unto Me." We will take everything that happens as happening to Him, whether it be praise or blame, persecution or commendation. No one can stand like that for Jesus Christ who is not constrained by the majesty of His personal power. It is the only thing that matters, and the strange thing is that it is the last thing realized by the Christian worker. Paul says he is gripped by the love of God, that is why he acts as he does. Men may call him mad or sober, but he does not care; there is only one thing he is living for, and that is to persuade men of the judgment seat of God, and of the love of Christ. This abandon to the love of Christ is the one thing that bears fruit in the life, and it will always leave the impression of the holiness and of the power of God, never of our personal holiness. | ||
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MikeMacIntosh: "Do you feel at peace today?"
Today's Devotion
From Mike MacIntosh
The Angel of God said to him, "Take the meat and the unleavened bread and lay them on this rock, and pour out the broth." And he did so. And then the Angel of the Lord put out the end of the staff that was in His hand, and touched the meat and the unleavened bread; and fire rose out of the rock and consumed the meat and the unleavened bread. And the Angel of the Lord departed out of his sight. Now Gideon perceived that He was the Angel of the Lord so Gideon said, 'Alas oh Lord God for I have seen the angel of the lord face to face.' Then the Lord said to him, 'Peace be with you. Do not fear. You shall not die.' So Gideon built an altar there to the Lord and, called it, The-Lord-is-Peace. To this day it is still in Ophrah of the Abiezrites.
Judges 6:20-24
Do you feel at peace today? The Lord wants to give you peace, and it's free from Him to you. Gideon called the place where the Angel of the Lord met him "Yahweh Shalom," or, "The Lord is Peace." You know, this word peace ("shalom") is more than just a cessation of hostilities; it conveys the idea of well-being, both in physical and emotional health and prosperity. The world bombards us with all sorts of things that they claim brings peace. But the God of well-being, the God of cessation of hostilities, the God of health, the God of prosperity--that's (He's) the kind of peace that you want, isn't it?
Isaiah 9:6 says that Jesus is called Wonderful, Counselor, Almighty God, Everlasting Father, and the Prince of Peace. This is the very One who was standing there with Gideon as his nation faced poverty and affliction. This is the One who shows Gideon, through a wonderful act of His power, that He is the God of peace.
The Bible says that you can receive the peace that passes all understanding (Philippians 4:7). As Christians, no matter what difficulties you may be facing, whether it's a loss of a loved one or financial adversities, God Himself is standing with you, pouring out His peace into your life.
"Through the tender mercy of our God, with which the Dayspring from on high has visited us; to give light to those who sit in darkness in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace" (Luke 1:78).
"These things I [Jesus] have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world" (John 16:33).
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ExperiencingGod: "Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened the Scriptures to us?"
The Living Word
Daily Devotional for Friday, February 4th, 2011
And they said to one another, "Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened the Scriptures to us?" (Luke 24:32)
Jesus joins those who are earnestly seeking Him. Two men walked along the road to Emmaus discussing the confusing events that had just occurred_in Jerusalem. They thought they had understood the happenings of their day, but the death of Jesus had left them disoriented to God and His activity in their world. They had hoped that Jesus was the Messiah, but His_death had left them perplexed and discouraged. They needed answers.
God reads the heart and knows the honest pursuit of His will by His children. Jesus drew near to these men, walked with them, and opened their minds to what the Scriptures said about Him and about the events of their day. As Jesus was speaking, their hearts burned within them! As they listened to Jesus relate the Scriptures to what they were experiencing, they knew in their hearts that they were hearing God's truth. Their doubts vanished, excitement overcame them, and they raced back to share the truth with their friends!
If you become bewildered by circumstances in your life, Jesus can reorient you to Himself through the Scriptures just as He did for these two men. From your human perspective, the situation may be confusing and discouraging. It takes the presence of Christ to open your eyes to the truth of the Scriptures. Have your circumstances confused you? You need Jesus to give you His perspective. Once you've heard from Him, you'll be like these two men, excited to join God in what He is doing around you and eager to include others in the experience.
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DailyBread: Has anything changed since King Jesus came into your heart?
When Royalty Comes To Town
Exodus 34-35; Matthew 22:23-46
My friend Tim Davis tells the story of being in Trinidad as a little boy when Queen Elizabeth came to visit their town. He recalls going with his missionary parents to join hundreds of others who gathered to greet the queen. Waving his little flag, he watched as the entourage came down the street—first the soldiers, then the mounted guard, and then the limousine from which she waved to the cheering crowd. He looked on as the queen drove out of town, leaving everyone to return to life as usual. In Tim’s words, “Royalty came to town and nothing changed!”
For those of us who have accepted Jesus as Savior, there was a day when royalty arrived—in our heart. As Paul put it, our body is “the temple of the Holy Spirit” (1 Cor. 6:19)—a reality that has huge ramifications. His residence in our life is intended to transform us to live in a way that brings glory to Him. Our relationships, the way we serve our employer, how we use our money, how we treat our enemies, and everything else in our lives should reflect the wonderful reality that royalty lives within.
Has anything changed since King Jesus came into your heart? Does your world notice or do they think He was just passing through?
By this shall every person know
That we serve God above:
His Spirit dwells within our hearts
And fills us with His love. —D. De Haan
If Jesus has taken up residence in us,
the world should notice a lasting change.
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RayStedman: "The Pursuit Of Pleasure"
The Pursuit Of Pleasure
1 I thought in my heart, "Come now, I will test you with pleasure to find out what is good." But that also proved to be meaningless. 2 "Laughter," I said, "is foolish. And what does pleasure accomplish?" 3 I tried cheering myself with wine, and embracing folly—my mind still guiding me with wisdom. I wanted to see what was worthwhile for men to do under heaven during the few days of their lives.
4 I undertook great projects: I built houses for myself and planted vineyards. 5 I made gardens and parks and planted all kinds of fruit trees in them. 6 I made reservoirs to water groves of flourishing trees. 7 I bought male and female slaves and had other slaves who were born in my house. I also owned more herds and flocks than anyone in Jerusalem before me. 8 I amassed silver and gold for myself, and the treasure of kings and provinces. I acquired men and women singers, and a harem as well—the delights of the heart of man. 9 I became greater by far than anyone in Jerusalem before me. In all this my wisdom stayed with me.
10 I denied myself nothing my eyes desired;
I refused my heart no pleasure.
My heart took delight in all my work,
and this was the reward for all my labor.
11 Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done
and what I had toiled to achieve,
everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind;
nothing was gained under the sun.
I thought in my heart, Come now, I will test you with pleasure to find out what is good. But that also proved to be meaningless (Ecclesiastes 2:1).
In chapter 2 we are introduced to the record of what Solomon found in this search. We have an examination of the various ways by which humans have sought through the ages to find contentment, enjoyment, and delight in life. The first way, the one that is most popular today and always has been, is his examination of what philosophers call hedonism, the pursuit of pleasure. All of us instinctively feel that if we can just have fun, we will find happiness. That is what the Searcher examines first to see whether it is true.
He gives us details of what he experienced. First, Solomon tells himself, Enjoy yourself, so he went in for mirth, laughter, and pleasure. You can let your mind fill in the gaps here. Imagine how the palace must have rocked with laughter. Every night they had stand-up comics and lavish feasts, with wine flowing like water.
Solomon gives us the result of the search. Laughter, he said to himself, is foolish. I wonder if each of us has not experienced this to some degree. Have you ever spent time with a group of your friends, giving yourself to laughing, having fun, and telling stories? If you think carefully about it, you will recall that at least parts of the stories were based on exaggeration; they did not have much basis in reality.
It is the same with laughter. Laughter deals only with the peripheries of life. There is no solid content to it. Like the crackling of thorns under the pot, so is the laughter of fools (Ecclesiastes 7:6). Laughter is only a crackling noise. It leaves one with a sense of unfulfillment. I have had such afternoons and evenings that were delightful occasions. We laughed all the time as we rehashed experiences and told jokes, but when all was said and done, we went to bed feeling rather empty. That was Solomon's experience. He is not saying that this is wrong. He says that laughter is empty, it does not fulfill or satisfy.
Of pleasure, Solomon's comment is, What use is it? What does it contribute to life? Nothing, is his answer. Pleasure consumes resources; it does not build them up. Most of us cannot afford a night out more than once or twice a year because it costs so much. Going out uses up resources that have been acquired through hard work. Pleasure, Solomon concludes, adds nothing.
Solomon says there were some positive things. First, he gained a degree of notoriety. He became great, surpassing all who went before him in Jerusalem. Many people think that fame will satisfy the emptiness of the heart. Solomon found fame. I enjoyed it for a while, he says. I found pleasure in all my toil, but that was all the reward I got for my labor—momentary enjoyment. Each time I repeated it, I got a little less enjoyment out of it.
My conclusion, Solomon says, is that it was not worth it. Like a candle, it all burned away, leaving me jaded and surfeited. Nothing could excite me after that. He concludes that it was all emptiness, a striving after wind. He was burned out.
Lord, I too have sought for my satisfaction in fun, laughter, and pleasure, and, like Solomon, I have come up empty. Let me enjoy those pleasures You give as gifts from Your hand, but let me find my heart's delight in You.
Life Application: Do we live as consumers, using every resource & person in our quest for fulfillment? Has the well of hedonistic pleasures gone dry? Where do we go after burn out?
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RaulRies: "Worship God Alone"
Worship God Alone
So Moses the servant of the LORD died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of the LORD. And He buried him in a valley in the land of Moab, opposite Beth Peor; but no one knows his grave to this day.
Deuteronomy 34:5-6
At the end of Deuteronomy, the Scriptures tell us God buried Moses in a place unknown to the people. Can you imagine? Moses is the only person who was buried by God? I can imagine the funeral. There were probably angels in attendance.
Isn’t it interesting how God made sure no one knew the location of where the body was buried? Even though it was done in secret, people have been looking for the grave for years. But God had a plan, as He always does.
Moses was still strong, but God said his time was up. He did not have a heart attack. God did not allow a disease to kill him. He just took him, and the people mourned for Moses for 30 days because he was a great leader. Although they mourned, the people accepted Joshua as their new leader.
God does not want us to get focused on a person. He does not want us to depend on or worship anyone other than Himself. Moses was God’s leader. He was not to take the place of God, but to lead the people to God.
We should never allow ourselves to depend on people, or think only this person or that person can lead us. Our eyes should always be set upon the Lord. He is where our help comes from.
An idol may be defined as any person or thing that has usurped in the heart the place of pre-eminence that belongs to the Lord.
-Arthur Wallis-
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MyUtmostForHisHighest: You can refuse to let God count you as one who is “separated to the gospel . . . .” Or you can say
The Compelling Majesty of His Power
Paul said that he was overpowered, subdued, and held as in a vise by “the love of Christ.” Very few of us really know what it means to be held in the grip of the love of God. We tend so often to be controlled simply by our own experience. The one thing that gripped and held Paul, to the exclusion of everything else, was the love of God. “The love of Christ compels us . . . .” When you hear that coming from the life of a man or woman it is unmistakable. You will know that the Spirit of God is completely unhindered in that person’s life.
When we are born again by the Spirit of God, our testimony is based solely on what God has done for us, and rightly so. But that will change and be removed forever once you “receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you . . .” (Acts 1:8). Only then will you begin to realize what Jesus meant when He went on to say, “. . . you shall be witnesses to Me . . . .” Not witnesses to what Jesus can do— that is basic and understood— but “witnesses to Me . . . .” We will accept everything that happens as if it were happening to Him, whether we receive praise or blame, persecution or reward. No one is able to take this stand for Jesus Christ who is not totally compelled by the majesty of His power. It is the only thing that matters, and yet it is strange that it’s the last thing we as Christian workers realize. Paul said that he was gripped by the love of God and that is why he acted as he did. People could perceive him as mad or sane-he did not care. There was only one thing he lived for— to persuade people of the coming judgment of God and to tell them of “the love of Christ.” This total surrender to “the love of Christ” is the only thing that will bear fruit in your life. And it will always leave the mark of God’s holiness and His power, never drawing attention to your personal holiness.
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BobCaldwell: Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the LORD your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you."
Friday, February 4, 2011 (top)
God's Promise a Reality
(Deuteronomy 31:1-29)
The promise of a land flowing with milk and honey lay before God's people. Three things in this chapter are given to Israel that will prepare and enable them to possess this land of promise. First, they must transform their thinking about who they are, and more importantly, who God is. No longer can they see themselves as an oppressed nation of slaves as they had been for 400 years in Egypt. They must see themselves as a new nation, one that has seen proof that it can go in and possess the land. They had just experienced victory over Ammonites and should expect the same victories as they go into the land of Canaan (v. 4).
Second, they must face their natural fears of defeat with an unflinching confidence that God Himself will go with them (v. 6). The same God that led them out of the slavery of Egypt can lead them into the land of promise. They need faith that God works through them as they face the impossible odds that are against them. Going forward, they must fight knowing that God will prosper their obedient efforts with success regardless of the odds.
Third, they must accept the fact that it is only as they continue to live in faithfulness to God's will that they will live in God's promised blessing and prosperity. Therefore, the word of God must be the centerpiece of the life of Israel, young and old (v. 12).
These three principles of experiencing God's promises are still applicable today. We too must free ourselves from lives lived in bondage to past sins. We must see ourselves as God sees us--people He is recreating to be more than conquerors over the opposition and enslavement of sin and a fallen world. As long as we see ourselves in light of who we are in God, we too can step into the battles of life and experience the promises of God as our own.
NKJV Bible Text
Deuteronomy 31:1-29
1 Then Moses went and spoke these words to all Israel. 2 And he said to them: "I am one hundred and twenty years old today. I can no longer go out and come in. Also the LORD has said to me, 'You shall not cross over this Jordan.' 3 The LORD your God Himself crosses over before you; He will destroy these nations from before you, and you shall dispossess them. Joshua himself crosses over before you, just as the LORD has said. 4 And the LORD will do to them as He did to Sihon and Og, the kings of the Amorites and their land, when He destroyed them. 5 The LORD will give them over to you, that you may do to them according to every commandment which I have commanded you. 6 Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the LORD your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you."
7 Then Moses called Joshua and said to him in the sight of all Israel, "Be strong and of good courage, for you must go with this people to the land which the LORD has sworn to their fathers to give them, and you shall cause them to inherit it. 8 And the LORD, He is the One who goes before you. He will be with you, He will not leave you nor forsake you; do not fear nor be dismayed."
| Joshua the New Leader of Israel v. 1 Moses Went And Spoke These Words To All Israel – These were Moses' last words, as he knew that he was about to die and would not enter the Promised Land. In this final address, he wanted to encourage Joshua and the people of Israel to trust the Lord and to enter boldly into the inheritance that God had promised them, knowing that God would be with them as long as they were with Him. v. 2 Go Out – In the Old Testament, to "go out" meant a variety of things, but usually it spoke of a leader performing his duties as a leader of his people. It could speak of a general leading of his troops into war, or a governor or king making capable leadership decisions. v. 3 Joshua – In the plan of God, Moses was not to lead Israel into the Promised Land. Rather, Joshua would be the one to lead them in and settle them in Canaan, the Land of rest, fruitfulness, and blessing. | v. 4 As He Did Unto Sihon And Og – Just as God caused all of their enemies to fall at their feet while they were en route to the Promised Land, He continued to give them supernatural victory as they entered the Promised Land. v. 6 Fear Not, Nor Be Afraid Of Them – This exhortation is repeated numerous times in the book of Joshua. The children of Israel were tempted to be afraid any time they took their eyes off of the Lord and His power and put them on the obstacles in their way. Because the Canaanites were a particularly fierce people (some living in cities which seemed impenetrable and many of giant physical stature), it would have been an incredible act of faith just to step out into war against them. |
The Law to Be Read Every Seven Years
9 So Moses wrote this law and delivered it to the priests, the sons of Levi, who bore the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and to all the elders of Israel. 10 And Moses commanded them, saying: "At the end of every seven years, at the appointed time in the year of release, at the Feast of Tabernacles, 11 when all Israel comes to appear before the LORD your God in the place which He chooses, you shall read this law before all Israel in their hearing. 12 Gather the people together, men and women and little ones, and the stranger who is within your gates, that they may hear and that they may learn to fear the LORD your God and carefully observe all the words of this law, 13 and that their children, who have not known it, may hear and learn to fear the LORD your God as long as you live in the land which you cross the Jordan to possess."
Prediction of Israel's Rebellion
14 Then the LORD said to Moses, "Behold, the days approach when you must die; call Joshua, and present yourselves in the tabernacle of meeting, that I may inaugurate him."
So Moses and Joshua went and presented themselves in the tabernacle of meeting. 15 Now the LORD appeared at the tabernacle in a pillar of cloud, and the pillar of cloud stood above the door of the tabernacle.
| The Law to Be Read Every Seven Years v. 10 At The End Of Seven Years, At The Set Time Of Release – Every seventh year on the Jewish calendar was to be a year of rest (Sabbath) for the land, as well as a year of remission of debts for the poor and freedom for the slaves. Moses commanded that on every seventh year of their calendar, when all of Israel gathered in Jerusalem for the Feast of Tabernacles, they were to read aloud the entire book of the Law so all could be reminded of the importance of keeping the Lord's commands. v. 12 The Stranger That Is Within Your Gates – God's desire was always that Israel be a light to the Gentiles. Therefore, here He commanded that all who lived in Israel, including those people that were not Jews by birth, be given the opportunity to hear the words of the Law and be blessed by choosing to obey them. | v. 13 That Their Children, Who Have Not Known, May Hear – Again, God's desire was also that the children of the next generation be given an opportunity to hear His Word. Every seven years, there were children present at the Feast in Jerusalem, who had not yet heard the words of the Law. God was adamant that those children also be brought up in the understanding of the Law and the fear of the Lord. Prediction of Israel's Rebellion v. 14 Presented Themselves – As part of the process of handing the reigns of leadership over to Joshua, Moses took him into the Tabernacle to meet with God and be commissioned by Him. The following verses of this passage describe how they entered the Tabernacle and the pillar, and how the cloud descended over them, representative of the presence of the Lord. |
16 And the LORD said to Moses: "Behold, you will rest with your fathers; and this people will rise and play the harlot with the gods of the foreigners of the land, where they go to be among them, and they will forsake Me and break My covenant which I have made with them. 17 Then My anger shall be aroused against them in that day, and I will forsake them, and I will hide My face from them, and they shall be devoured. And many evils and troubles shall befall them, so that they will say in that day, 'Have not these evils come upon us because our God is not among us?' 18 And I will surely hide My face in that day because of all the evil which they have done, in that they have turned to other gods.
19 "Now therefore, write down this song for yourselves, and teach it to the children of Israel; put it in their mouths, that this song may be a witness for Me against the children of Israel. 20 When I have brought them to the land flowing with milk and honey, of which I swore to their fathers, and they have eaten and filled themselves and grown fat, then they will turn to other gods and serve them; and they will provoke Me and break My covenant. 21 Then it shall be, when many evils and troubles have come upon them, that this song will testify against them as a witness; for it will not be forgotten in the mouths of their descendants, for I know the inclination of their behavior today, even before I have brought them to the land of which I swore to give them."
22 Therefore Moses wrote this song the same day, and taught it to the children of Israel. 23 Then He inaugurated Joshua the son of Nun, and said, "Be strong and of good courage; for you shall bring the children of Israel into the land of which I swore to them, and I will be with you."
24 So it was, when Moses had completed writing the words of this law in a book, when they were finished, 25 that Moses commanded the Levites, who bore the ark of the covenant of the LORD, saying: 26 "Take this Book of the Law, and put it beside the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, that it may be there as a witness against you; 27 for I know your rebellion and your stiff neck. If today, while I am yet alive with you, you have been rebellious against the LORD, then how much more after my death? 28 Gather to me all the elders of your tribes, and your officers, that I may speak these words in their hearing and call heaven and earth to witness against them. 29 For I know that after my death you will become utterly corrupt, and turn aside from the way which I have commanded you. And evil will befall you in the latter days, because you will do evil in the sight of the LORD, to provoke Him to anger through the work of your hands."
| v. 16 Sleep With Your Fathers – "Sleep" in the Scriptures is a euphemism for physical death, as the body's senses shut down, much as in actual sleep. However, the soul and spirit would not "sleep," for they would remain (Luke 16:22-26) in a place of comfort, awaiting the day that Jesus would pay the full price of sin by being resurrected and ascending into Heaven, bringing with Him all those that had died in faith (Eph. 4:8-10, 1 Pet. 3:18-19). v. 19 Write This Song For You And Teach It – God dictated the words of a song so that Moses could write it down and pass it along to the children of Israel. In that day, songs were used to help people learn and memorize truths in a manner that they could pass down to their children. In this instance, the Lord wanted His people to have a song passed down through their generations that would remind them of the day Israel stood before Him and heard and agreed to all of the promised blessings and curses in the Law. | v. 27 I Know Your Rebellion And Your Stiff Neck – "Stiff-necked" was a term derived from their dealings with animals of labor. An animal with a stiff neck was resistant to the yoke of its master, always wanting to go its own way, thus worthless to its owner. Both God and Moses were at this point well familiar with the rebellion and stiff necks of the children of Israel. v. 29 In The Latter Days – The term "latter days" is most often used in Scripture to designate the last days of history as we know it, usually referring to the time between Jesus' first and second comings. Here, it is an expression which revealed that Moses, seeing into the future by the Spirit of God, knew that Israel would resist God's leading all the way up until the present time and even into the future. The last seven-year period of history before Jesus returns is called the "time of Jacob's trouble" in Jeremiah 30:7. It is the period of history during which Israel will go through much tribulation and persecution in order to break their pride and self-sufficiency, and turn toward Jesus as their Messiah. |
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