Archive for the ‘Devotions’ Category

  • 08 Apr

    Posted by


    Category

    TILL THERE WAS NO REMEDY

    0

    “But they mocked the messengers of God, and despised his words, and misused his prophets, until the wrath of the LORD arose against his people, till there was no remedy. Therefore he brought upon them the king of the Chaldees, who slew their young men with the sword in the house of their sanctuary, and had no compassion upon young man or maiden, old man, or him that stooped for age: he gave them all into his hand.”
    II Chronicles 36:16, 17

    There is a limit to God’s forbearance. His people repeatedly disobeyed Him and turned to the idols of the heathen. When God would chasten them, they would temporarily reform, but it was always short-lived. When God sent prophets to warn them, they “misused his prophets, until the wrath of the LORD arose against his people.” They did not want to hear what God’s servants had to say.

    Finally, the Word of God tells us, “there was no remedy.” Our text records that God sent the “king of the Chaldees” who “slew their young men with the sword in the house of their sanctuary, and had no compassion.” Because His people would not repent, God sorely chastened them. People somehow have the idea that God should always, and will always, grant leniency to His wayward people. This is the commonly-held view of most. They act as though God is unaware or unconcerned with their rebellion. This attitude is prevalent among the unsaved, but too often, it exists among those who profess to know Christ.

    When God appears to be judging sin, He is frequently criticized as the One that is guilty of wrongdoing. God is definitely merciful and forgiving, and is more patient than we could ever deserve. But His forbearance should not be interpreted as a lack of chastisement. God has supplied us with multiple warnings in His Word. He also provides faithful servants who proclaim the truth, calling us to repentance and obedience. He indwells His children in the Person of the Holy Spirit, who convicts us of sin. The preferred response is to obey His promptings and turn from those things that are displeasing to God.

    However, as with the Israelites, if we refuse to repent, there may come a time when “there was no remedy.” God has no choice but to severely chasten when His will is met with stubbornness and disobedience. May our hearts be sensitive to His direction, and be ever willing to submit to the reproof of His Word.

  • 07 Apr

    Posted by


    Category

    BEHOLD THE WORKS OF THE LORD

    0

    “Come, behold the works of the LORD, what desolations he hath made in the earth.”
    Psalm 46:8

    We miss opportunities for great encouragement and blessing by failing to observe our surroundings more closely. The world that we live in moves at such a fast pace that we are almost programmed to see only the obvious. And yet, our Scripture beckons us to “Come, behold the works of the LORD.” The word behold is defined as “to gaze at, perceive, to contemplate.” It means more than a look or a fleeting glance. It is to observe, and also to ponder the significance of that which we behold.

    The first word of our text is, “Come. ” We are invited to fully see and consider “the works of the LORD.” God’s great power is seen in His wonderful works. For instance, He would have us to behold His work in His creation and the elements of nature. I can remember when I first stood and gazed upon the vastness of an ocean. Our Bible tells us that He “measured the waters in the hollow of his hand” (Isaiah 40:12).

    How clearly God’s works speak of His power and glory! He made the towering mountains, and He “weighed the mountains in scales” (Isaiah 40:12). Jeremiah says that He causes it to rain, makes the lightning, and brings the wind out of His treasures (Jeremiah 10:13). By God’s breath, the “frost is given” (Job 37:10). “The LORD hath his way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet” (Nahum 1:3). The stars in the heaven testify to God’s greatness. “He telleth the number of the stars, he calleth them all by their names” (Psalm 147:4). We have only discovered a portion of the vast universe, and yet God is so infinite that He can measure the heavens with His hand (Isaiah 40:12).

    We can also behold His works as He transforms the lives of people. Of all His mighty works, this is one of the greatest. When a guilty sinner repents to God and receives Christ as Savior, He makes him a new creature in Christ. He births him into His forever family, gives new desires, and pardons all sins. He leads the Christian like a shepherd into God’s perfect will. What a great God we serve! It is good for us to “behold the works of the Lord.” Gazing at and contemplating His handiwork strengthens our faith in God. Our situations are not hopeless, and God has not forgotten to be good. Beholding His works reminds us that He is there and He is able.

  • 06 Apr

    Posted by


    Category

    APPROVED OF MEN

    0

    “For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men.”
    Romans 14:17, 18

    It matters what God and others think of us. How might we be “acceptable to God, and approved of men”? These verses teach us that our concentration should be on keeping our hearts pleasing to God. In our text, the kingdom of God is speaking of His reign in our hearts. It is not measured or distinguished by outward ceremony or ritual, but rather by the inward work of the Spirit of God. By grace, we experience His imputed righteousness, pardon, and forgiveness for our sins. We have found a peace that passes all understanding, and joy unspeakable. This is the fruit of Christ’s kingdom, as He rules and reigns in our hearts. Paul goes on to say, “For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men.”

    The Christian life is not defined by adhering to a strict code of morals or ordinances. It is not just conforming to a system of rules for appearance or conduct; the unconverted are able to imitate external standards. The most important difference that Christ makes is in the heart. Loving and trusting Him by faith, and embracing His Word as our daily bread, exemplify God’s kingdom in our hearts. It is rejoicing in His grace and provision, obeying Him from the heart, and enjoying the peace and comfort of His presence.

    Our text speaks of knowing God’s approval, as well as men’s. God is interested in our outward testimony, but He is initially and primarily concerned about the condition of our hearts. A person can display outward standards and be far from God in his heart. However, if a person is surrendered to Christ’s lordship in his heart, it will definitely influence his conduct and behavior. Not only will God be pleased, but also those men who are spiritually discerning will approve of our lives.

    All of us would like to find acceptance with others. We also know that we will never please everyone. All the people were not pleased with Jesus, or with His disciples. We can, however, enjoy fellowship and acceptance from those who love Him and recognize His work and His ways. If we serve Christ in our hearts, seeking always to please Him, we will be “acceptable to God, and approved of men.”

  • 05 Apr

    Posted by


    Category

    ENCOURAGING GOD’S SERVANTS

    0

    “Moreover he commanded the people that dwelt in Jerusalem to give the portion of the priests and the Levites, that they might be encouraged in the law of the LORD.”
    II Chronicles 31:4

    Great reforms were being seen in Israel under the godly leadership of King Hezekiah. The temple was being repaired and cleansed. Altars of idolatry were destroyed and the Passover was restored. Our text includes another of the changes that Hezekiah commanded. He ordered God’s people to bring the tithes to the priests and Levites as was required in the Word of God “that they might be encouraged in the law of the LORD.”

    The priests and Levites were chosen from among the tribes of Israel to give themselves to the study and teaching of the Word of God and to the service of the sanctuary. They were, in turn, to be supported by the tithes and offerings of God’s people. However, because the tithes were being neglected, they were not able to devote themselves entirely to their primary duty. Instead, they would find it necessary to engage in secular occupations to care for their physical needs. To rectify this, Hezekiah “commanded the people that dwelt in Jerusalem to give the portion of the priests and the Levites.” This would be a great encouragement to God’s servants.

    It is a privilege to be called to serve the Lord and to minister to His people. I personally owe a great debt to the faithful pastors and servants of God who have taught me the Word of God and watched for my soul. Hezekiah enforced changes that were designed to encourage God’s servants by allowing them more time to spend in the ministry of the Word of God. Christians probably think that their spiritual leaders do not need encouragement, but this certainly is not true. There are many helpful and thoughtful ways to encourage your preacher.

    Every true servant of the Lord feels the need to spend time in prayer, Bible study, and ministering to the needs of people. One of the greatest ways we can encourage our pastor is to do things that free up his schedule to allow him more time with God and the gospel ministry. The pattern we find in our Scripture is still true in New Testament times. The faithful tithes and offerings of God’s people provide for the needs of His servants, that they might have more time to devote to the calling God has placed on their lives.

  • 04 Apr

    Posted by


    Category

    HIS WORD WAS WITH POWER

    0

    “And came down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee, and taught them on the sabbath days. And they were astonished at his doctrine: for his word was with power.”
    Luke 4:31, 32

    Those who heard our Lord teach were amazed that His words were so powerful. He spoke with an authority unlike that of any other religious teachers of their day. We, too, can testify to the miraculous effect God’s Word has on its hearers. We have heard His words of truth in our hearts. God’s Word can do what none other can do. The Word of God has the power to break up the most stubborn and hardened hearts. Jeremiah said it is “like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces” (Jeremiah 23:29). It can convict the lost sinner of his hopeless condition and convince him of his need of salvation.

    Like a sword, the Bible is able to divide the soul and the spirit and is a “discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12). God knows our hearts when we ourselves are not able to know them. The heart is deceitful and desperately wicked, but God’s Word can make our motives known to us. The Scripture has the power to convert the sinner and break the bondage of sin. We are born again by that incorruptible seed. His Word is “able to build you up” (Acts 20:32). The Word of God cleanses us, like the “washing of water” (Ephesians 5:26). It is able to equip God’s servants, making them “throughly furnished unto all good works” (II Timothy 3:17).

    What a great privilege we have to possess a copy of this supernatural Book. We enjoy a gift that multiplied millions of people have never known. However, the great power of this Book is not realized because we possess it, but more so because we believe it and apply it. We ought to love this old Book that we call the Bible. It reveals the greatest truths known to man. It shows the way of salvation and the consequences of sin. It points the wayward soul to Calvary’s hill and to the sacrifice for transgressors. It tells of a home beyond the stars that awaits those who have claimed the gift of eternal life as their own. It instructs us in the matters of godly living, the family as God intended it, and the church that Jesus loved and died for. We owe it to ourselves, to our neighbors, and to our God to discover this powerful treasure, live in the pages of this glorious Book, and let its words be forever written on the tables of our hearts.

  • 03 Apr

    Posted by


    Category

    TAKE AWAY THE DROSS

    0

    “Take away the dross from the silver, and there shall come forth a vessel for the finer.”
    Proverbs 25:4

    The process of purifying ore gives us some very practical insight and encouragement regarding our own growth and potential. In its original state, the silver is not capable of being molded and used as a fit vessel. In order for the silver to be suitable for the refiner, the dross or impurities must first be removed. Once the silver is purged of the dross, it is prepared to fulfill its purpose, and the capable hands of the silversmith can shape it into the vessel of his choosing.

    The same is true for each of us. As God’s children, we have tremendous potential for His use. Our potential cannot be measured by our natural talents or abilities alone, but by our usefulness in His hands. He wants to make us vessels that can be used for His glory. Only the Master knows what He ultimately has planned for us. However, there is a necessary process that we all must go through. The dross, or impurities, must be removed from our lives. Our potential will be greatly limited if this purifying process does not take place.

    This process of purging begins the moment we are saved and should be continued until He takes us home to Heaven. He will work in our hearts and lives to remove the spiritual dross that hinders us from being worthy vessels for Christ. There may be attitudes that we have that are not fitting for a servant of Christ. Perhaps, we have bitterness or unforgiveness toward someone who has offended us. Maybe pride causes us to be condescending or self-centered. Sometimes bad habits such as slothfulness or lack of punctuality are hindrances. Self-pity and jealousy are also unseemly for a servant of Christ. Inconsistency or unfaithfulness renders us unusable. All of these impurities, and many more like them, adversely affect our potential as God’s vessels.

    As the Lord works in us to make us what He would have us be, He is preparing us for His service. What does the refiner normally use in this process of removing the dross? The silver is subjected to tremendous heat, turning the ore into liquid form, and then separating the impurities. In a similar way, it is often the experiences of fiery trials that are God’s tools to remove undesirable traits from our lives. This may not always be pleasurable, but God knows what it will take to make us fit vessels.

  • 02 Apr

    Posted by


    Category

    MAKE US GODS

    0

    “And when the people saw that Moses delayed to come down out of the mount, the people gathered themselves together unto Aaron, and said unto him, Up, make us gods,
    which shall go before us; for as for this Moses, the man that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we wot not what is become of him.”

    Exodus 32:1

    When the children of Israel became unhappy with their leader, they went to Aaron and said, “Up, make us gods.” How could this be possible? This tendency to create new gods is definitely worth our consideration. On the surface, their actions are shocking. How could they turn away from God and Moses so quickly? How could they be tempted to forsake the living God, after all He had done for them?

    The closer we look at their reaction, however, the more we realize it is not all that uncommon. What caused the Israelites to turn to idolatry? They “saw that Moses delayed to come down out of the mount.” They were displeased with their spiritual leader. They did not approve of Moses’ spending so much time with God. Therefore, the simple solution was to get a new commander and new gods. Herein lies the problem. People want gods and spiritual leaders who please them.

    However, this is not what we really need. We do not need gods who please us. Rather, we ought to make it our life’s ambition to please God. We are not to search for men who seek to meet our conditions and desires, but for leaders who take us where God wants us to go. It is man’s selfishness and pride that causes him to seek gods of his own creation. What could be more arrogant than thinking we know better than God? There is a sense in which we can all be affected by this evil thinking.

    The God of the Bible, the true God, is holy, perfect, all-wise, and does all things well. Our loyalty to Him should not be based on how His actions meet our approval. His decisions may not always be according to our preference, but we can know that they are always perfect. It is not our place to sit in judgment of God Almighty. Many people have made the same mistake the Israelites made in our text. When God or His leader disappoints them, they are ready to jump ship. When God does not do as they wish, or as soon as they wish, they are quick to blame God and go another direction. We do not need new gods, but we need faith to follow and love our great God and Savior.

  • 01 Apr

    Posted by


    Category

    REASON OR REVELATION

    0

    “And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.”
    Matthew 16:16, 17

    Jesus had just asked His disciples what others were saying about Him; who did those in the community think He was? The disciples answered that the opinion was varied, some thinking that Jesus was John the Baptist, others Elijah, or Jeremiah, or one of the other prophets. Then Jesus asked the disciples the same question: “whom say ye that I am?”(15) Simon answered first by declaring, “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.” This was one occasion when Simon delivered in a big way. Jesus was more than a prophet; He was the Messiah, Emmanuel, and God in the flesh. In response to Peter’s statement, Jesus pointed out where the disciple had gotten his information, saying, “flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.”

    Peter had the right answer about Christ, but it was not because he figured it out on his own. God revealed it to him. The residents of Caesarea Philippi reasoned that Jesus might be any number of different characters, but Peter knew exactly who Jesus was because God made it clear to him. This provides for us the basis of where we obtain our opinions, especially concerning God, His work, and His ways. It is either by REASON OR REVELATION. There is a world of difference between reason and revelation. Many misguided souls are basing their views of eternal things on that which seems right or logical to them, rather than on the revelation of God. This is one reason why there are so many diverse positions on matters of great spiritual consequence. Christians are embracing contemporary and popular positions that are clearly in violation of sound doctrine and Biblical principles.

    Peter gave the correct response because he confessed what God had shown him. This should bring great encouragement to each of us, knowing that God wants to reveal His
    truth to us. God does not want us blinded by error, personal opinion, or wrong traditions. He wants to guide us into His perfect truth. If we are going to have the truth revealed to us, we must be willing to submit to the only true source of divine revelation, the pure Word of God.

  • 31 Mar

    Posted by


    Category

    THY FACE, LORD, WILL I SEEK

    0

    “When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, LORD, will I seek.”
    Psalm 27:8

    These words of David express the heart of a man that is eager and earnest in the pursuit of God. In describing the spirit of David, Samuel used these words, “the LORD hath sought him a man after his own heart” (I Samuel 13:14). When God was looking for a man after His own heart, He found such a man in David. David was not perfect; he indeed made mistakes; but David gives us a good example of a man who was a serious seeker of God.

    There are things in David’s past that we would never want to imitate, but we can learn much from him when it comes to seeking God. God is still looking for men and women who are “after his own heart” and are seeking Him diligently. David knew that it was God’s will that he seek His face. Speaking to God, the psalmist said, “When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, LORD, will I seek.” The responsibility to seek God’s face was one that David took seriously because he knew that God Himself commanded it.

    We are likewise commanded to seek God’s face. To seek His face is to seek to know Him, to pursue Him, to live for His pleasure and purpose, to walk in His presence, to enjoy communion with Him, etc. This is God’s will and His purpose for all of His children. This is not an objective that has originated with God’s servants, though His prophets should challenge His people to seek Him. It is God’s clear command for His own, and David understood this, saying, “When thou saidst.” David answered this command with, “Thy face, LORD, will I seek.” This should be our response as well. We ought to be committed to a life that is seeking the Lord.

    There is an extremely important detail given by David in his pledge to seek God when David said, “my heart said unto thee, Thy face, LORD, will I seek.” It was the heart of a man responding to the will of the Father. Seeking God is a matter of the heart. An unsaved student of religion can seek to know information about God. An unconverted church member can pledge to read his Bible daily. Even a stubborn, carnal, and worldly believer can say prayers; but this is not what God is looking for. He wants our hearts, our devotion, and our sincere love. He wants our hearts to say, “Thy face, LORD, will I seek.”

  • 30 Mar

    Posted by


    Category

    HE HATH BLESSED

    0

    “Behold, I have received commandment to bless: and he hath blessed; and I cannot reverse it.”
    Numbers 23:20

    Balak, the king of the Moabites, had employed Balaam, hoping that Balaam might curse the people of God. God directly said to Balaam, “thou shalt not curse the people: for they are blessed” (Numbers 22:12). What a great thing it is to know that God has commanded a blessing on His people! Balak then sent another group of messengers to Balaam, offering him greater compensation if he would curse Israel. Attracted by this proposal, Balaam went to God the second time about the possibility of cursing Israel. Of course, God was angered by this action on Balaam’s part. The Lord repeatedly confirmed to Balaam that Israel was blessed and should not be cursed.

    In another place, Balaam declared to Balak, “How shall I curse, whom God hath not cursed?” (Numbers 23:8). Also, concerning Israel he said, “Blessed is he that blesseth thee, and cursed is he that curseth thee” (Numbers 24:9). Balak’s anger was fierce against Balaam. Instead of cursing Israel, Balaam had blessed them. Balaam’s message in our text is worth considering, “Behold, I have received commandment to bless: and he hath blessed; and I cannot reverse it.”

    It is good to know that others cannot remove God’s blessing from our lives. Balaam could not curse the people whom God had blessed and would be blessing. Even though
    Balak wanted them cursed, and Balaam for a fee was willing to curse them, God would not allow these men to withdraw His blessing from those He loved.

    This does not mean that Israel themselves could not forfeit blessings or disqualify themselves from being fully blessed. We know that this can occur, and most certainly it has occurred. By our disobedience or lack of faith, we may miss out on some of God’s great blessings for our lives. Someone may, as was seen in Balak, want to see us cursed instead of being blessed. But when God has blessed, others “cannot reverse it.”

    There is an additional helpful message in this passage. We must be careful not to want to curse those God has blessed. Satan would attempt to use us, as Balak wanted to use Balaam, to curse those whom God has blessed. We should not cooperate with the enemy’s desires to verbally attack those that God has pronounced blessing upon.

Page 5 of 48« First...«34567»102030...Last »