God's Word

2 Pe 1:20  Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. 2Pe 1:21  For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

 The Bible, God’s Word, is GOD’S WORDS.  None of the scripture, none of the prophesies originated with the prophets, but were revealed to them by God.  The writers of the scripture were not just wise and godly men imparting their wisdom in scripture.  The writers of the scripture were wise and godly men who wrote that which the Holy Ghost gave them.  It has always been a trick of Satan to reduce God’s Word to just the writings of mere men.  God’s Word is GOD’S WORDS.  As such, it is infallible, complete and accurate.  We can depend on it.  We can trust our very souls to it.  Don’t let the wisdom of the age cause you to doubt God’s Word.  In a time when everything is shifting and changing, God’s Word remains steadfast and sure.  Depend on it.  Trust it. It is God’s Word.

Our light

2 Sa 22:29  For thou art my lamp, O LORD: and the LORD will lighten my darkness.

 God is our lamp; He is our light for the darkness, our hope for a brighter day.  God is able to light our path, to brighten our way and give us hope for the future.  When darkness seems to settle in on us, it is the Lord who can dispel the darkness with His light of hope.  When darkness makes the way hard to see, it is the light of the Lord that shows the way forward.  If it seems darkness is creeping in, look to the Lord for light to drive away the gloom.

Restore

Mat 18:15  Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.

 There are times when a fellow believer may trespass or sin against us.  If this happens, we are to go to that person alone, one on one, to point out the error.  The purpose of our going is always to resolve the problem and see that one restored.  The goal is not to just expose, to just convict, but rather, as privately as possible, to try to resolve and restore.  If we would follow this commandment of Jesus, rather than go around to everyone else soliciting support, the family of God would be much stronger.  Love demands that we work to rescue and restore our fellow believer when they stumble and fall.

Faithful

Luk_16:10  He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much.

 Our character shows in the everyday things of life, not just the big crisis events.  Character has been described as who we are and what we do when we think no one is watching.  If we are willing to be dishonest when it is small and we think there are no consequences, then we are really dishonest in our heart.  If we can’t be depended on in the small things of life, we also can’t be depended on to be faithful in the more important things of life.  Character is built in the small decisions of everyday life, as well as the biggies.  Let’s determine to do right in everything, everywhere, all the time. 

Buy the truth

(Prov 23:23 KJV)  Buy the truth, and sell it not; also wisdom, and instruction, and understanding.

 This passage tells us to buy the truth, obtain the truth, and then don’t let it go, hold to it.   Don’t sell it; don’t give it up for something else.  What is truth?  Truth is that which is correct, that which is right.  Truth is reality, the way things really are.  Truth is that which God has revealed to be right, to be correct. The purpose of God’s revelation of Himself was to lead us to know Him, to know about Him. It was also to instruct us how to live in harmony with God and in harmony with one another; how to live as love demands, how to live a holy life.  Hold to the truth you know.  Hold to God’s Word.  Don’t allow this world’s reasoning to cause you to give up the truth.

Sanctified by His word

(John 17:17 KJV)  Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.

 Truth is God’s revelation of Himself and His way in His Word.  God’s Word is truth.   Truth is the means by which we are made holy, sanctified.  Truth will always lead us to a holy life.  Any teaching which tends to draw us away from a life of holiness is not truth.

Near

Jer 23:23  Am I a God at hand, saith the LORD, and not a God afar off? Jer 23:24  Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him? saith the LORD. Do not I fill heaven and earth? saith the LORD.

 God is not far away in heaven, unaware of what is going on here on earth.  God is present everywhere, all the time.  God fills all the heaven and all the earth.  God knows all and sees all, both good and bad.  As God’s child, your situation has not gone unnoticed by God, nor is He unconcerned.  He hasn’t forgotten or forsaken us.  He knows all about us and has already prepared the way ahead of us.  God also sees the evil that is committed.  Nothing is done in secret that He doesn’t know about, none can hide from God.  We can trust our future to the God who is everywhere, who sees all and who knows all.  Trust Him.

In His presence

Psa 84:1  How amiable are thy tabernacles, O LORD of hosts! Psa 84:2  My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the courts of the LORD: my heart and my flesh crieth out for the living God. ……...    Psa 84:10  For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness.

 How pleasant is Thy dwelling place, O Lord!  What a thrill to be where the presence of God is!  My whole being desires to be in the presence of the living God, to experience the joy and assurance of His very presence. It is better to be in His presence for just a day, than to live a thousand elsewhere.  It is better to be at the lowest servant’s place in the Lord’s house than to live large in the tent of the wicked.  How we ought to value and long for the presence of God!  How careful we should be to live in a way that invites His approval and presence!

Teach me

Psa 119:68  Thou art good, and doest good; teach me thy statutes.

 God is good, altogether and completely good.  God is good all the time, in everything, all the time.  God is good, He is holy, He is just.  He is pure in every thought, every intention and every action.  Everything He does is good.  Everything He does is right. Everything God does is absolutely the best in every way.  Therefore, we should want to know His ways.  Our heart should desire to know His commandments so that we might do them.  We should seek to be taught His ways in order to incorporate them into our lives, so that we also may then do what is good.

Come

Isa 55:1  Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.

 There are some possessions in this life that are beyond the reach of most of us….some very expensive cars, some mansion-like houses, that most of us can only look at and read about.  However, this verse tells us that the greatest riches of all are available to everyone.  Everyone who is thirsty may take of the water of life.  Anyone who has a spiritual hunger may come and eat and drink of the very finest for free.  The blessing of salvation is available to all, freely available.  All that is required is a true hunger and thirst, a real desire to know God.  There is no price we must bring, just a humble and willing heart, thirsting after God and His Way.  All of us can be truly rich, truly blessed with the things that make life happy, contented and satisfying. 

Don't give up

(2 Th 3:13 KJV)  But ye, brethren, be not weary in well doing.

 One of the dangers of this Christian life is that we just get tired, weary, and want to quit.  In times of discouragement, often our greatest danger is the temptation to just quit. When we have been in a long difficulty, or been disappointed, we can begin to think that living this Christian life just isn’t worth the effort.  When it looks like those who have no regard for God are prospering and we are struggling, we are tempted to quit.  Don’t grow weary of doing what is right.  God is just and good.  In due time you will see that His way is best.  Are you tired and weary?  Hold on a little longer, continue to do what you know pleases God.  God is faithful.

God of love and peace shall be with you

2 Co 13:11  Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you.

  This is Paul’s closing admonition to the church at Corinth.  There is a promise attached to following this admonition.  The promise is that the God of love and peace will be with us.  What a promise! What more could we ask?  God will be with us and for us.  God, in whose presence is love and peace, assurance and security, will be with us.  The route to having the presence of God with us is this: strive to grow in holiness, to be mature (perfect), complete.  We are to encourage one another, strengthen one another, live at peace with one another.  We are to be in unity of the Spirit, striving together toward the common goal of doing the work of God and helping others come to know Him.  If we make these things our focus, the presence of God will be with us.      

Wherwith shall I come before the Lord?

(Micah 6:6 KJV)  Wherewith shall I come before the LORD, and bow myself before the high God? shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves of a year old?(Micah 6:7 KJV)  Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, or with ten thousands of rivers of oil? shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?(Micah 6:8 KJV)  He hath showed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?

       How shall we come to worship God?  What do we bring that will please Him? Our text tells us what God is looking for, what pleases Him.  First of all, it isn’t just about being religious, not just going through the form, the rituals.  It isn’t about doing some great sacrifice, not about self inflicted suffering, pain.  What the Lord requires, what it takes to make heaven our home is still pretty simple:  Our text summarizes it this way:  do justly, love mercy and walk humbly with thy God.  First of all, we are instructed to do justly, do what is right. This is the standard we are to apply to our selves, this is how we are to judge our own life. We need to cultivate a sincere desire to know what is right and to live that way. We need to give serious attention to doing what is right in every situation, with every one, all the time.  We cannot allow those things that are wrong to continue in our life and expect to be pleasing to God.

      The first instruction was how we are to deal with our self; the next is how we are to deal with others.  We are to love mercy. This has to do with the attitude in which we view others, how we deal with others.  Not with a hard, harsh spirit or attitude, but with an attitude that loves mercy. This is a heart like Gods, one that prefers mercy, is bent toward mercy. There is a tendency to grow harsh in our judgment of others if we resent the strong discipline, strict obedience we are to apply to our own life.  We are to be compassionate, kind, merciful toward those around us.  This is not condoning sin, ignoring sin.  But it is an attitude of one who has been forgiven to desire that others find forgiveness as well, patient in our dealing with others. 

Not utterly cast down

Psa 37:24  Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand.

 Yesterday, in the previous verse, we saw that God is directing the course of our life.  However, that does not exempt us from difficulty.  “Though he fall”…..It has the idea of falling in the sense of calamity, or falling into loss, being knocked down by an event of life; trouble and adversity coming into our life.  One can have the course of their life directed by God and yet fall, or be knocked down.  The encouragement of this passage is found in this verse: Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down.  Not utterly cast down, not cast headlong, not wiped out.  Calamity is temporary in the life of one who is directed by God.  Mistakes, failures, losses don’t have to dictate our life’s course. Failure is not permanent.  Notice, we are not utterly cast down because of God’s strength:    for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand. God is able to lift us back up.  The fall does not remove us from the course of life God is establishing us in.  This is a source of great confidence and strength in our life; this is a source of great joy in our life.  Press forward with confidence in the Lord.

God directs our life

Psa 37:23  The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.

 What a blessing to know God directs our life!  God establishes the overall course of our life.  God providentially cares for us in the course of our life.  There is a security that comes from our life being under God’s control. The control, care and supervision exercised by God over His children is called the Providence of God. The Providence of God refers to God’s wise planning – in advance.  God knows the beginning from the end.  God sees the future, nothing takes Him by surprise.  Therefore, God is able to successfully plan the course of our life. There is a confidence, a sense of safety and protection knowing that the God who looks out for us is both wise and good.  There is a joy that comes from knowing God is directing our life.  We can delight, or find joy in living our life under His direction. 

Don't repay evil for evil

(Rom 12:17 KJV)  Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. (Rom 12:18 KJV)  If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.

 We are instructed to not repay evil with evil. What is one of the first responses we feel when we are done wrong?  We are going to even the score, pay them back.  As Christians we are instructed not to get even, not pay back evil for evil. This passage tells us to “Provide things honest in the sight of all men”, or as another translation renders it, Take thought for what is noble in the sight of all.  We are to make sure the way we respond is fitting of one who takes the name of Christ.  We represent Christ before a watching world.  There is something more important than our own rights; …it is the reputation of Jesus Christ and His salvation. (Rom 12:18 KJV)  If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. As much as lieth in you, as much as it depends on you, seek to live at peace with everyone.  Do your part to insure peace and right relationships with everyone.  Let’s show the world the change that salvation brings.

My God shall supply

(Phil 4:19 KJV)  But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

 Paul was thanking the church at Phillipi for remembering him and helping supply his needs. Paul was unable to repay them for their love and care, but he was confident that God wouldn’t overlook what they had done.  The promise was that “My God shall supply all your needs”. This isn’t limited to things spiritual. My God shall supply all your needs, ALL our needs. ALL our needs, all those things we are tempted to worry about. God will supply all our needs according to His riches in glory. Does God have enough to get the job done?  Enough wealth, enough wisdom, enough love, enough grace? Resist the temptation to worry. Resist the temptation to focus your time and attention on the things of this world. Continue faithful, continue to trust God. My God shall supply all your needs.

Our Father

(2 Cor 6:18 KJV)  And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

God identifies Himself as our Father… the Supreme Being, the Creator of the universe, is our Father.   What more could we ask for?  We have been brought into a special personal relationship with the very creator of the universe.  The One who knows all, sees all, the very Creator of all, has promised to take us as His children.  Is there anything too hard for our Father?  Is there anything beyond His knowledge?   Is there any need too great for His resources?  Trust your Father, He loves and cares for you.  He is truly all we need. 

Pray

(1 Th 5:17 KJV)  Pray without ceasing.

 Don’t let anything keep you from maintaining your prayer life.  This is how our relationship and faith grows, by talking to God, by seeking what we need, by seeing God answer our prayers. We are to be consistent in our prayer, and we are also to be continual in our prayer.  By that, I mean we are to learn to live with God throughout the day.  Talk to God all day long as we live out the day, seeking His help in everything.  This is how our relationship grows and how we experience the felt presence of God in a greater way.

(Sorry for the missed devotionals….I was out of town for a few days)

Wait on the Lord

(Psa 130:5 KJV)  I wait for the LORD, my soul doth wait, and in his word do I hope. (Psa 130:6 KJV)  My soul waiteth for the Lord more than they that watch for the morning: I say, more than they that watch for the morning.

There are times when disappointment and discouragement seem to come in like a flood.  In such times, our hope is in God and in the promises of His Word.  The Psalmist expresses an intense longing for God’s help.  The expectation and intensity is even more than that of those who are waiting for the dark night to pass with the dawning of morning. We share that same longing during times of intense or prolonged trouble and trials.  Notice in this passage that we have more than hope; we have an expectation.  There is an expectant waiting and looking for His help and deliverance.  Stay steady, continue to trust and expectantly wait; God’s help is as certain as the bright morning of a new day after a long night.