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Finding Joy in Suffering (Romans 5:3-5)
Romans 5:3-5, And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. ABC's of Trials Although things are not perfect Because of trial or pain, Continue in thanksgiving Do not begin to blame. Even when the times are hard, Fierce winds are bound to blow; God is forever able-- Hold on to what you know Imagine life without His love; Joy would cease to be. Keep thanking Him for all the things Love imparts to thee. Move out of "Camp Complaining"-- No weapon that is known On earth can yield the power Praise can do alone. Quit looking at the future, Redeem the time at hand. Start every day with worship; To "thank" is a command. Until we see Him coming, Victorious in the sky, We'll run the race with gratitude, Exalting God most high. Yes, there'll be good times; and, yes, some will be bad, but... Zion waits in glory...where none are ever sad!—Unknown We are given insight as to the work of troubles and trials. Most people groan in tribulation, but the perspective that comes from salvation changes one's view of life's experiences to the extent that trials bring rejoicing more than complaining. The idea is because we are now at peace with God, having access to His grace and having standing before Him, we also glory in tribulations. Because of the riches of His grace in saving us, we not only can endure troubles, we can rejoice in them because of our standing in Christ. The Bible teaches that God wants to work a character quality in your heart known as patience. Patience has the sense of ‘endurance’ or ‘perseverance.’ Trouble and persecution, especially for Christ’s sake, produce the added benefit of determination to continue. What are some reactions when troubles come? How do you respond? One of the greatest marks of your faith and your confidence in the Almighty is your endurance, your perseverance when trouble comes. This is a guarantee that not only are we saved now, but we will still be saved when we stand before God. As a believer, I can have full assurance of salvation. What a promise! The love of God changes everything! God's love was shed abroad in our hearts at the time of our salvation. Our hope is backed up by the love of God. This is where it all started (John 3:16). If it were not for the sacrificial love of God there would be no hope of salvation. God’s love is an amazing love that is never depleted! Our hope is a sure thing because it is grounded upon the love of God. Are you experiencing a major setback in your life? Has a health problem sidelined you? Is some obstacle keeping you from reaching your fullest potential? Don’t give up. God can use your hardships to accomplish in you what no one else could ever do. His plan has not been hindered by your limitations — rather, if you trust Him, it may be heightened by them. With His help you can thrive. PRAYER: Lord, thank You for my salvation, and the hope that I have in Christ. Give me a teachable spirit and a willingness to rejoice in the You, no matter what difficulties and I have to face. May my life be a testimony to Your goodness and grace, in Jesus name I pray, AMEN. If this post in any way, has blessed you, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com
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Praying In Faith (Matthew 21:21)
Matthew 21:21, “Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If you have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done.” Prayer is a major vehicle of faith. As we pray, trusting God and taking Him at His Word, that faith can move God to move mountains. It is not prayer or faith that moves mountains, it is God. However, as we trust Him and His Word petitioning Him for help He can, and very well may, move the mountain before us. With God nothing is impossible. Faith is the handle to God’s promises. Faith, channeled through prayer, can move God to do the impossible, including moving mountains of whatever variety they might be. During a time of great drought, the Scottish preacher, Dr. Guthrie, prayed for rain in the morning service. As he went to church in the afternoon, his daughter, Mary, said, “Here is the umbrella, Papa.” “What do we need it for?” he asked. “You prayed for rain this morning and don’t you expect God will send it?” They carried the umbrella and when they came home they were glad to take shelter under it from the drenching storm. When we pray we should, first of all, pray that God's will would be fulfilled through our lives. We shouldn't pray simply to obtain things for ourselves, but we must pray according to God's will. God only wants what's best for us and we should pray for His will to be done. How long has it been since God has answered a specific prayer request for you? God desires to meet our needs and show His power by answering our prayers, but so often we forfeit this blessing because we neglect our communication with God. Perhaps your hectic schedule has crowded out your daily prayer time. If so, it's time to make prayer a priority again. Your faith will become stronger and your walk with God closer as you see God answer your personal prayers. Friend, many times the reason God does not give us the answer we want when we pray is because we are not praying correctly. We must make sure we are right with God before we pray. Is there unconfessed sin in your life? Confess that sin to God and let Him purify your heart before you pray to Him. Also, are you obeying His commands? We must be obeying Christ and following Him each day. 1. When we pray we should, first of all, pray that God's will would be fulfilled through our lives. We shouldn't pray simply to obtain things for ourselves, but we must pray according to God's will. God only wants what's best for us, and we should pray for His will to be done. 2. We must obey God's commandments as we lay our requests before Him. We must be obedient to Him and live according to His will. Psalm 37:4 says, "Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart." When we are following God's commands for our lives, our desires match up with His desires and our prayers are more effective because our requests are in line with His will. 3. We also must make sure there is no unconfessed sin in our lives. Psalm 66:18 says, "If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me." God will not hear our prayers if we are not right with Him! Before we come to Him in prayer, we must make sure our lives are free of any sin we have committed. Take time today to make sure you are right with God. Make sure your requests to God are according to His will. Then pray and ask God in faith, believing that He will give it to you! Prayer: Lord, today I will ask You for the things I need. In every situation, I will come to You in prayer. You know what I want, Lord, and more importantly You know what I need. And even though I know that You know, I still won’t be too hesitant or too busy to ask. Amen Resolutions from the Life of Daniel (Daniel 1:1-8)
Now more than ever has there been a crucial need for young people of strong, righteous character to purpose in their hearts not to compromise. The society we live in today is rampant in immorality, mischief, inequality, persecution and self-indulgence, a time when scarce few rise up to wave the banner for integrity and righteousness. Daniel lived in a time of inexcusable immorality, anarchy, and violence when there was little uprightness and morality on earth was scarce. Notwithstanding, he stood firm for the Lord against the temptations and the enticements of an ungodly nation. In all ages, God’s people have always been faced with the pressures to compromise their personal walk with Him. Every day we face the temptation to compromise our commitment to the Lord. We must decide to be dedicated in our devotion for the Lord, regardless of the amount of pressure we face to compromise. We will examine that the pressures Daniel and his three friends faced by the king of Babylon were the same pressures we face today. Daniel made resolutions worth remembering. It’s easy for us to make a New Year’s resolution and forget about it before the week is up. But Daniel was resolved to make a difference in his generation and for his generation. 1. Resolve to Restore Character (Daniel 1:3-4) Daniel 1:3–4, And the king spake unto Ashpenaz the master of the eunuchs, that he should bring certain of the children of Israel, and of the king’s seed, and of princes; Children in whom was no blemish, but well favoured, and skillful in all wisdom, and cunning in knowledge, and understanding science, and such as had ability in them to stand in the king’s palace, and whom they might teach the learning and the tongue of the Chaldeans. Society today is suffering from a lack of moral integrity. You can’t even turn on the sports channel without hearing about some scandal or type of cheating…in sports! Remember, these young Israelites were more than six hundred miles from home. They could have gotten away with anything and their parents would have never known—but God would have known. Despite the fact that he could do nothing about his environment or his circumstances, Daniel could control himself; that is, he had the liberty to control his thoughts, his words, his actions, his motives, and his heart. And this he did. Against overwhelming odds, Daniel was firm in his beliefs and in his commitment to the Lord, gaining the respect of many a heathen and many in authority in the process. Daniel knew who he was, and he knew Whose he was. Today, our society is becoming more paganistic and Christians are faced with enormous pressures to change their thinking from magazines, media, and movies, and as well as from educators. As we pray for one another, let's encourage one another to stand strong against the pressures to compromise the truth. 2. Resolve to Resist Culture (Daniel 1:5-7) Daniel 1:5–7, And the king appointed them a daily provision of the king’s meat, and of the wine which he drank: so nourishing them three years, that at the end thereof they might stand before the king. Now among these were of the children of Judah, Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah: Unto whom the prince of the eunuchs gave names: for he gave unto Daniel the name of Belteshazzar; and to Hananiah, of Shadrach; and to Mishael, of Meshach; and to Azariah, of Abednego. The meat served at the king's table was unclean (defiled) according to the Mosaic Law and it was offered to idols before it was eaten. Daniel would not compromise by eating meat offered to idols. Daniel was not willing to compromise righteousness regardless of the cost. Daniel remained faithful to the Lord despite the strong temptation to compromise. Culture isn’t easy to resist today. With billboards, television commercials, and mainstream music constantly on the attack, resisting culture is easier said than done. Culture wasn’t easy to resist in Daniel’s day either. The Babylonian powers were forcing their gods, their diets, and their names on the Israelites. But Daniel resolved to resist culture. Peter said, “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light” (I Peter 2:9). If we expect to do anything for God, we will have to resist culture! Although this seemed like such a small matter, it prepared him for bigger challenges later in life. Remember, he who is faithful in small things will be faithful in greater things. Are you willing to stand firm for the Lord and take the risks that sometimes come with doing what is right? There will come a time when every believer must choose to take a stand for what is right. Teens will always face the pressure to compromise from doing what is right. This is why it is so vital that teenagers must take seriously their preparation to pursue righteousness. 3. Resolve to Refuse Conforming (Daniel 1:8) Daniel 1:8, But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself. I imagine it would have been fairly easy to “give in” at this point. No parents, no pastor, no godly influences—conforming to the wicked lifestyle of the Babylonians would have been simple. No matter how much pressure others may put upon us to compromise, we must stand fast and not give in to the seduction of sin. No matter how appealing, attractive, or alluring the craving may be, we must take a firm stand for the Lord. We must purpose in our hearts that we will not defile ourselves. Swimming against the current always makes you a stronger swimmer. Paul was an advocate of swimming against culture’s current. He wrote, “I beseech you, therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God” (Romans 12:1–2). Will you be conformed, or transformed? What are your goals for this year? I encourage you to follow the example of Daniel as you strive to make a difference this year. Prayer: Lord, Thank You for the strength I have in You to remain committed in our walk with You. I am encouraged by the example of Daniel and his three friends and the choice they made in obeying Your Word rather than compromising with the world. Often, I’m tempted to compromise my commitment to You. May I be determined to remain faithful to You and steadfast in my commitment to Your Word. In Jesus name, Amen! If this post in any way, has blessed you, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com God’s Word: Inspirational and Instructional
II Timothy 3:16-17, All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works. There are many books in the world today that are based on man's opinion of something. Whether the topic is politics, sports, the weather, self-help, or society, sometimes not everything published in a book is true. But there is one book we can trust. We know God's Word is true because it comes from God. In a day when so many things are based on opinion, God's Word is based on truth. All 66 books; 39 in the Old Testament, 27 in the New Testament. Every one of 1,189 chapters. All 41,173 verses and 3,566,480 letters--all Scripture is God-breathed. The greatest verse about Biblical inspiration is also a great verse about Biblical application. II Timothy 3:16-17 not only tells us who gave us the Bible, but also why it was given. God breathed out His Word for our benefit. Every part of it is profitable. Waiting in its pages is a wealth of blessings ready to teach, reprove, correct, and train us in righteousness. We call the Bible “God’s Word” because it contains what He wants to say. He speaks into our lives through it. Each verse and every word accomplish at least one of the purposes listed in today’s passage. No matter what our need, God has provided a response in His Word. 1. The Bible teaches us. The word doctrine means that which is correct and right (core teaching). Whatever we find in Scripture is truth that's worth being taught. Every time we read it, we should be asking, what is God teaching me in this passage? 2. God’s Word reproves us. The word reprove means what is wrong. It is the precision instrument of the Holy Spirit, often stopping us in our tracks through the conviction of sin. When the Lord says “Don’t” in Scripture, He always means, “Don’t hurt yourself.” He graciously reprimands us. 3. God’s Word also corrects us. The word correction means how to get (it) right. A sincere Child of God wants to stay right with the Scriptures. Notice: It is we, not the Bible, that needs correcting. The Scriptures never need adding to, correcting, nor updating. It not only points out the wrong, it also provides the right response. The Bible straightens out our lives like nothing else. On our own we steer in wrong directions, but God consistently directs us in the way we should go. 4. Scripture trains us in righteousness. The phrase “instruction in righteousness” speaks of how to keep it right. It is an absolute guide for the lifelong process of discipleship God wants to bring about. We will never outgrow our need for His guidance. Truth, reproof, correction, and training in righteousness are all ways God brings light to our lives by His Word. When we need to see where we are, where we’ve been, and where we’re going, we have a trustworthy source of guidance in the book God wrote. This is the picture described in Psalm 119:105, Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. But there’s a catch in this great promise about the benefits found in Scripture. Note the last phrase in the verse: “. . . That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.” All that God has for you in His Word may come to you if you dig into it. But if your Bible remains closed, though the benefits are all there, you have not accessed them. Amazing things can happen when you open your Bible. Get familiar with it. Figure out how to find your way around. Ask for help. The spiritual maturity you long for will never be a reality until you practice regular, careful study of Scripture. Becoming a disciple of Jesus—one who is equipped to carry out the tasks He places before you—will always involve His Word. When you are reading His inspired thoughts, the Lord is breathing into you His truth, loving reproofs, gracious correction, and the guidance you need. Questions to Consider: What parts of Scripture do you gravitate to most often? Which ones do you tend to avoid? Since it’s all profitable, how do you think you could benefit by taking time to familiarize yourself with books and chapters in the Bible you have rarely visited? Prayer, Lord, thank You for breathing out Your Word and using faithful servants to record it for the rest of us. Thank You that I can hold it in my hands, open it at will, and anticipate that the words my eyes fall on are for my benefit, to teach, rebuke, correct, and train me. I desire that every time I read the book You wrote I would delight myself in it. I thank You today, for the precious gift of Your Word. In Jesus’ name, Amen. If this post in any way, has blessed you, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com Freedom through Forgiveness (Ephesians 4:31-32)
Ephesians 4:31-32 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you. There isn’t one person reading this devotion who hasn’t been hurt by another person. The real question is…… what are you doing with that offense? Do you hold them hostage for the injury they inflicted on you? How many hours and days have you wasted thinking, “You owe me and I’m going to make you pay?” That’s a tough question on a painful topic but eventually you’re going to have to get it settled or it will destroy you. In order to navigate your way through relationships you need to hold a principle about how you’re going to respond when someone hurts you. Failing to forgive the other person keeps you in emotional and spiritual bondage. Ephesians 4:31-32 gives us direction: In the context of walking in love and not grieving the Holy Spirit, we are further commanded to “let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice.” Here listed are five ugly agents that are the exact opposite of love. They are as follows: bitterness (resentment, animosity, hostility), wrath (loss of temper), anger (rage, fury, irritation), clamour and evil speaking (yelling at another with nasty accusations; joined with hard feelings). It is the exact opposite of love. As God’s people in love, we are directed to do the opposite. We are commanded to “be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.” These are helpful and instructive. It is a manifestation of walking in love. God had so loved us when He forgave us for Christ’s sake. Read that last phrase again, “even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.” Just as freely as He forgave you. Just as quickly as He forgave you. Just as generously as He forgave you. Jesus models what forgiveness should look like in our lives. He was falsely accused, mocked, beaten and spat upon, then crucified. As He hung on that cross for your sins and mine, He said: “Father, forgive them.” Jesus’ model motivates us to live out Ephesians 4:32, “even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.” There are no enduring relationships without forgiveness. None. Before you go very far in any relationship there will be forks in the road where if you do not forgive the relationship will not survive. It’s true in every marriage, in every household, in every small group, in every friendship and even in every church. This is always, always true. Prayer, Lord, I’ve not yet begun to explore the depths of Your mercy toward me in Christ. Your grace is beyond what I can imagine. But help me live with an increasingly proper calculation of it. Each day, as I draw closer to understanding Your grace and mercy, may I also extend grace and mercy in greater degrees toward others. I know that if I am Your child, I must forgive. Empower me to be a forgiver like You, for Your glory. I ask this through the precious name of Jesus, amen. If this post has blessed you in any way Please share this website and its articles with others www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com Missing the Mark (Romans 3:23)
Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; During the 2004 Olympics, archer Matt Emmons was one shot away from a gold medal. He was competing in the 50-meter three position rifle event and he was in perfect position to claim victory. He didn’t even need a bulls-eye; all he needed to do to win was to hit the target to win the gold. However, standing in lane two, Emmons took a shot and nailed it. He hit the target in the third lane. He hit the wrong target. He missed his mark. As a result, he received zero points and landed in eighth place. You see, like Emmons, we all have “fallen short of the glory of God”. We have all missed the mark from time to time. We were created in the image of God (Genesis 1:26-27). Yet, from the entrance of sin and its darkness (Genesis 3), we have fallen far short of our Creator’s glory. Doing good works is honorable, but not good enough when God expects, and demands, perfection. The righteousness of God is demonstrated throughout the Scripture. Yet, because of the corrupting presence of sin, we have fallen far short of His righteousness and His glory. Every person born into the human race since the fall has been under a death sentence. No matter how good or moral a person may be, “all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). And “the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23). We needed deliverance from death, but our righteousness could never be equal to the task. The best person, no matter how hard he or she tries, will still come short of the glory of God. Someone may say, "I'm as good as any person who goes to your church." That may be true, but God doesn't grade "on the curve"; He demands 100% righteousness. True, some come closer than others, but all will come short. But in the midst of our imperfections, weaknesses and fatal mistakes stands a Saviour who reminds us of His righteousness. We do not have to be perfect because He is perfect. Our standing is in Christ, therefore, we must stand in Him. Through Him we become the righteousness of God. I do not have to always be “on target” because through Him I have already won the gold. Jesus being perfect and sinless had nothing for which to atone, so His perfect righteousness was available to be our deliverance. He did not just cover our sins, but He removed them and replaced them with His righteousness so that we could be delivered from death. What a wonderful truth! That Jesus would actually bare your sins upon His own body and suffer the crucifixion for you. You will stand before God as though you have never sinned, not because your sinless, but because of your account. We had a debt that we owed to God that we could not pay (Romans 5:12). He who knew no sin became as sin that we who knew no righteousness could be made the righteousness of God in Christ (II Corinthians 5:21). He would place all of His righteousness upon my record so that I might be viewed upon by God as having the righteousness of Christ. Now that’s a loving God! Do you realize all that you will miss if you reject Christ as your Saviour? PRAYER, Father I thank You for Jesus who paid the sin debt that I owed and could never repay. Although I strive to live righteously, I still fall short of perfection. I thank You that my standing is “in Christ” and His shed blood has washed my sins away. In Jesus name, Amen! If this post in any way, has blessed you, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com Getting Up After a Fall (Psalm 37:23-24)
Psalm 37:23-24, The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand. My favorite cereal is Honey Nut Cheerios. I like Honey Nut Cheerios not only because it tastes good. I also like it because you can’t sink the Cheerio. No matter how many times you attempt to sink it. It keeps resurfacing to the top. You’re not defeated by getting knocked down in life, you only defeated when you refuse to get back up. The righteous may fall, but they will get back up. The question is not whether we ever fail, but whether we get back up when we do. You cannot be defeated by the enemy; you can only lose by giving up. Don’t let defeats or setbacks discourage you. Instead commit yourself to standing firm and not giving up no matter how tough things get. God will be faithful and just to guide and direct our steps (Psalm 32:8; Proverbs 3:5-6). God delights in the path of the righteous. Even as a parent delights in the steps of an obedient child, so does our heavenly Father (Psalm 11:7). Though the righteous may stumble along the path of life, He will be kept from falling over the abyss. God will grab you and lift you back up with His hand (Psalm 37:17; 63:8). Every parent has grabbed their toddler as he or she was about to fall. God has promised the same for the righteous. Failure is not final with God. God is willing to give those who fail a second chance to serve Him. Prayer: Father, it’s so obvious that I am quite an ordinary sinner when I look at my life. It’s comforting and convicting to know that godly people can fall so far and yet, You never give up on us. Help me to see areas of my life where I am prone to fall. Forgive me when I do, and help me get back in line with Your will for my life. Never let me lose my sense of dependence on You. Keep me pressing on as I follow in Your Son’s steps, realizing it is Your plan to use my time here to grow me into someone more and more like Him. Your will be done, Father, in Jesus’ name, amen. If this post in any way, has blessed you, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com The Importance of Practicing the Scriptures – PART 4 (Psalm 119:14)
Psalm 119:14, I have rejoiced in the way of thy testimonies, as much as in all riches. What happens when we refuse to read the Bible? 4. Your Love becomes Deadened (Psalm 119:14) Anytime we neglect consistent time with the Scriptures it increases our struggle in battling sin, in finding comfort and strength in God, in serving Jesus and in loving God’s Word. Pursuing consistent time with Scripture allows us greater knowledge of our Creator and brings us into a more intimate relationship with our Lord. Then why do we need the Bible? For the simple fact that exposure to Scripture increases our joy in Scripture. If you want to remain passionate about the Bible, then do not depart from God’s truths. This is where many believers get into big trouble. They drift from God and end up drowning in their disobedience, making destructive decisions, chaotic choices and catastrophic conclusions. Sin fights to keep us from God and His Word. Sin is the reason why so many Christians struggle with regular time in God’s Word. Living in sin will affect your attitude toward God and His Word. It’s been said that “sin will keep you from this Book and this Book will keep you from sin”. The more familiar you become with the love-filled, hope-giving message of God the more it breeds a greater joy from the Bible and a greater desire to spend time in it. Even the parts of the Bible we don’t grasp ultimately increase our joy, because they increase our trust—we may not grasp what is happening, but we know that God does and that He’s working for His glory and the good of those who love Him. The Bible tells us God’s character: He loves His creation and hates sin. He will justly punish those who persist in doing evil, He is pleased to save those who humbly seek Him, He is creating a holy people for Himself out of those who were once angry, violent rebels. Just as lovers take joy in learning of each other, we also take joy in learning of our Lord by which He tells us of Himself in the Holy Bible. Psalm 18:21, For I have kept the ways of the Lord, and have not wickedly departed from my God. Following God’s guidelines and principles will help you to avoid terrible mistakes. As you see God blessing your life because of your obedience to His Word, you will fall in love with it more and more. Proverbs 5:7, Hear me now therefore, 0 ye children, and depart not from the words of my mouth. A Bible that’s falling apart usually belongs to someone who isn’t. If you want to fall in love with the Bible, then hunger for its words. Prayer: Heavenly Father, Your Word is the greatest love letter ever written. Thank You for the comfort, healing, encouragement and direction it provides. Its words are so precious to me that they never stale, expire, and never bore. Yet I am not satisfied and want to crave Your Word more and more. Help me to continually run to Your Word and meditate on it. Open my eyes that I may see all the wondrous things Your Word has for me. In Jesus' name, Amen. If this post in any way, has blessed you, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com The Importance of Practicing the Scriptures – PART 3 (Psalm 119:28)
Psalm 119:28, My soul melteth for heaviness: strengthen thou me according unto thy word. What happens when we refuse to read the Bible? 3. Your Hope Becomes Diluted (Psalm 119:28). One principal way God chooses to impart His strength is through the testimony of Scripture. Through His Word, we see His character, His work, His faithfulness, His justice, His promise, and His love. These give us strength in suffering because they remind us of the truth that we are being made into the likeness of our greatest love, Jesus, and are being prepared to live with Him in glory. This doesn’t mean we won’t have heartache and setbacks on earth, but that we have an unshakable hope to get us through those times. Romans 15:4, For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope. Why did God give us His written Word when He could have just sent angels? The Bible was given to us to provide hope. The things God has shown us in His Word are for our learning. The Old Testament is overflowing with examples of faithful perseverance and encouragement which gives hope for the New Testament people of God. Without the hope we receive from the Bible, we will more easily fall into despair. Feelings of hopelessness will grow instead of security in the promises of God. If we neglect the Scriptures, life’s trials will toss us about, we will succumbed to every sorrow, and be plagued by the pain of the world. Scripture tells us that we will spend eternity with God if we have accepted the free gift of salvation through His Son (John 3:16). His Word gives us promises that we can cling to. We can be confident that the things God has said will come to pass. We have the hope that we will be in Heaven with Him (John 14:6). We have the hope that all things work together for good to them that love God (Romans 8:28). We have the hope that He will never leave us nor forsake us (Deuteronomy 31:6; Joshua 1:5; Psalm 23:4; Isaiah 41:10; Matthew 28:20; Hebrews 13:5). These truths from God's Word should be a comfort to us. One of the greatest needs that we have is to just have hope in the midst of dark days when we don’t understand what is going on. Just being able to keep trusting God no matter how dark it looks. Just keep having hope in the Lord. No matter what we may face, God has promised His help and presence, His protection and guidance, and His love and mercy. We know this because He has given us His Word. Take some time this week to thank God for the comfort of the Scriptures and the hope we have through them. This was PART 3, visit the website tomorrow for PART 4. Prayer: Heavenly Father, my hope is in You. Thank You for sending Your Son to be my hope. You knew that this world would never satisfy my longings, so You sent Your precious Son to do that. Forgive me when I look to anything else for my hope, and thank You for the pain that reminds me when I have moved my hope into anything other than Christ. In the name of Jesus, our living hope, amen. If this post in any way, has blessed you, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com The Importance of Practicing the Scriptures – PART 2 (Psalm 119:32)
Psalm 119:32, I will run the way of thy commandments, when thou shalt enlarge my heart. The Lord energizes us for His work through His Word. Consistency in our Bibles helps us run with the work He has given us. It helps us put aside what entangles us and serve God more effectively and efficiently. Without the nourishment of Scripture, we easily lose steam. We become spiritually winded and require more rest, more time away from the active pursuit of Jesus’ earthly work. We will be slow and begin lacking energy and will. What happens when we refuse to read the Bible? 2. Your Service Becomes Deflated (Psalm 119:32). Frances Chadwick was one of the great open water swimmers of all time. She was the first woman to swim across the English Channel in both directions, and she also broke the time records for making the long and difficult swim. In 1952, she set out to cover the twenty-six miles from Catalina Island to the coast of California. After Chadwick had been swimming for about 15 hours, she was surrounded by a thick fog and began to struggle. She told her mother, who was in one of the boats accompanying her on the trip, that she didn’t think she could make it. After struggling a little longer, she gave up. It wasn’t until after she got in the boat that she learned she had only been one mile from shore. The next day she told an interviewer: "I’m not excusing myself. But if I could have seen the land, I think I might have made it." Two months after her failed attempt, Frances Chadwick was back in the water to again attempt the swim from Catalina to California. Again the fog set in after she had been swimming for hours, but this time instead of quitting, she pushed on and reached the shore. Regardless of how much is fog surrounding you, stay in the water. I Corinthians 15:58, Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord. So often we fall short of doing what we should for God because we get discouraged and lose heart just before we would have seen the victory. We must not be impatient when we do not see results immediately. The fact that we have not yet received the promises of God does not mean that we will not—every promise of God is certain from the moment He made it, whether it has yet come to pass or not. This was PART 2, visit the website tomorrow for PART 3. Prayer: Father in Heaven, help me to be patient and to keep my eyes fixed on You as I run the course. At times, weariness has tried to attack me, and other outside pressures have made me feel tempted to throw in the towel. But I will not surrender to any pressure to bend, break, or bow out. The Holy Spirit will empower me to hold tight, hang on, and remain steady and steadfast. I pray this in Jesus’ name! If this post in any way, has blessed you, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com |
AuthorDr. Blackman is passionate about helping others grow in the grace of the Lord. His devotions are centered on how to grow closer to the Lord through a personal relationship with Christ. Archives
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