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A Loyal Friend (I Samuel 18:1-4)
I Samuel 18:1-4, And it came to pass, when he had made an end of speaking unto Saul, that the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul. And Saul took him that day, and would let him go no more home to his father's house. Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul. And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was upon him, and gave it to David, and his garments, even to his sword, and to his bow, and to his girdle. Jonathan was a faithful, mighty warrior, and one of the bravest men who had ever lived. Jonathan’s victorious strategy at the battle of Michmash was successfully used in World War I at the same exact location 3,000 years later. Which has been considered the most successful military tactics ever used in battle. One-night, Major Vivian Gilbert of the British army was contemplating the situation against the Ottoman forces. He remembered a town by the name of Michmash written somewhere in the Bible. He found the verses, and discovered that there was supposedly a secret path around the town. Incredibly, he managed to find that secret path, and with the British forces using this path to outmaneuver the Ottomans, the British took the town British troops, under the command of General Edmund Allenby, captured the city of Jerusalem on December 9th, 1917. Jonathan and David were great friends, likened to brothers. The Scriptures suggests they could not have been closer had they been actual brothers, in spite of the fact that David had been chosen by God to take Jonathan’s place as the next king of Israel. It was David who killed Goliath and defended the people; this was enough to earn Jonathan’s respect and trust. Yet rather than being resentful, Jonathan poured his heart into his friend, making his life better. Decide to be the kind of friend who makes the lives of others better rather than seeking the best for yourself. Jonathan came to David and put all that he had at his feet (I Samuel 18:4). He began with his robe. Jonathan's robe suggests his position, for it was the robe of a king's son, the robe of a crown prince of Israel. Jonathan also gave his garments to David. His garments speak of his possessions, the things which most personally belonged to him. Jonathan gave David his sword. His sword speaks of his protection, his right of self-defense. Jonathan put his bow at David's feet. Jonathan's bow suggests his prowess; it represents a skill he had. Finally, Jonathan put his girdle at David's feet. His girdle suggests his plans. This was not something King Saul received well. Saul wanted David out of the picture, regardless of what God had already decided. This resulted in David becoming a hunted man. He was the number one wanted man on Saul’s hitlist. Taking his father’s side would have been easy to do, but Jonathan was “born for adversity” (Proverbs 17:17). David and Jonathan are the epitome of what true friendship should be. No family ties, loyalties, or blood kinship could surpass the loyalty of these true friends. The souls of Jonathan and David were knit to the death. And no fault, failure, flaw, or foulness of David could waiver Jonathan's loyalty to him or make him love him less. If a friend is anything, it is someone who knows everything about you and loves you nonetheless. Jonathan, along with his two brothers and father, was killed in a battle with the Philistines (I Samuel 31:2-6). Upon hearing this, David was brokenhearted. He lamented the death of his dear friend, especially referring to his courage, saying he was swifter than an eagle and stronger than a lion (II Samuel 1:17-26). David could not hide his love for Jonathan and God cannot hide His love for you. He loved you so much that He sent His only begotten Son to die on a cross, that He might spend eternity with you. Points to Ponder: · If you have a friend, cherish that friendship. · Be a true friend to someone else today. · A true friendship is a great treasure and exceedingly rare. PRAYER: Father in Heaven, help me to be as true and loyal as Jonathan was to David. 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
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This morning’s devotion is an excerpt from our Leadership Page link. You can view this complete study in its entirety by visiting this sites Leadership Page link.
Overcoming Fear with Obedience (John 10:27) John 10:27, My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: Before the beginning of an athletic event, awaited by thousands of fans, a little dog strayed from its master onto the field. From the grandstand on one side of the field, one whistled. Presently, many were whistling to the dog from all sides of the field. In the middle of the field, the little dog, filled with confusion and fright, crouched to the ground. Then, a boy at the end of the field put two fingers into his mouth and whistled shrilly and loudly. The little dog, recognizing his master's call amidst the others, leaped to his feet. With ears erect, the dog ran swiftly to its master. About God's children following their heavenly Master, Jesus said, " My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:" Let us be swift to discern and obey His voice. 1. Do you hear His voice? Sheep recognize their shepherd’s voice because they know him. If you find yourself increasingly familiar with what Jesus said and eager to think about and obey Him, you are living in the flock. If you can’t honestly hear His voice, you have to decide if you’ve wandered off and need to return. “One act of obedience is better than one hundred sermons.” - Dietrich Bonhoeffer 2. Does Christ know you? A shepherd can pick out his sheep from a mixed flock. But knowing is more than recognizing—it's love, intimacy, and transparency. Do you welcome Jesus’ knowledge the way David did in Psalm 139:1, “O LORD, thou hast searched me, and known me.” Either He’s your Shepherd or you are treating Him as a stranger. 3. Are you following Him? Recognizing the call to relationship and heart obedience that Jesus expects ought to make you pause. Sometimes you may need to confess, I hear His voice, but I’m not always understanding what His Word is telling me to do. Becoming aware of your need for more direction actually means you are hearing Him. “Obedience to God is the most infallible evidence of sincere and supreme love to him”, Nathanael Emmons. God does not expect negotiation, He expects obedience in every part of our lives. Even believers who have known Jesus for years admit, “I’m not following perfectly.” Jesus knows you can’t follow Him flawlessly. In spite of that, He invites you to follow Him anyway. He provides His constant presence to help you do what you are incapable of doing on your own. This is why you can call Jesus your Shepherd. He is the perfect Shepherd even though you’re not a perfect sheep. Thank Him for being your Shepherd today. Points to Ponder: Obedience should be decided immediately. Obedience should be decided completely. Questions to Consider: As I review my life, am I one hundred percent obedient to the Word of God? Where would you like to strengthen your obedience to the Lord? Prayer: Lord, thank You for sending Your Son as my Shepherd. Thank You for showing me that as a good Shepherd, He laid His life down for me, in order to save me and provide forgiveness to me for my sins. Thank You that He lives to knowingly lead me today as I hear His voice and follow Him. And thank You for showing me ways I can hear and follow better. 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 Spiritual Drought (Isaiah 58:11)
Isaiah 58:11, And the Lord shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not. During a drought, everything feels parched and desolate. Most of us didn’t live through the drought of the 1930s (the worst in U.S. history) but our parents or grandparents did, and they remember nine, long years without rain. In the heartland of our country, the richest farmlands became the Dust Bowl. More than 75 percent of the country was affected by the drought, crippling 27 states severely. On April 14, 1935, a day known as “Black Sunday,” the wind whipped across the parched farmlands and blew dust into “black blizzards” that stripped millions of acres of topsoil. Most of us have never witnessed a drought of that degree, not in the land, but sadly too often in our spirits. Here Scripture teaches that our hearts are like a garden. If you water and tend your heart as this passage instructs, you’ll experience a harvest of God’s grace. If you fail to care for your heart, it will be overrun with weeds. Continued neglect will leave it lifeless and barren of anything capable of bearing fruit. The best way to grow a lush and healthy garden is to keep it under the care of a master gardener (John 15). Like me, maybe you’ve experienced some parched days in your relationship with God. Maybe you’ve had seasons where time with God was scarce, and weekend worship felt like “Black Sunday.” Do you feel like you are in a drought spiritually? These are drought days in our nation it seems. Some are in a financial drought, emotional drought, or a spiritual drought. This doesn’t have to be the end of your story. Isaiah said we would be like a watered garden and spring of water. Watered gardens thrive with growth and fruitfulness and a spring of water refreshes the soul and strengthens the body. God wants you to experience the fresh rain of His grace and mercy in your life. God will give abundant provision and strength. Even in the drought of a sun-scorched land, the Lord will provide whatever believers need to strengthen them as they walk through trials and hardships. The Lord wants to be our guide, strength, refreshment, repairer, and restorer. When you yield your life to God and truly follow Him, He will guide your life and He will do it continually. What a blessing it is to have the Creator of the universe direct your way and show you what to do and where to go! Putting the Lord first in your life brings satisfaction, encouragement, strength, fruitfulness, and blessing. He will use you to encourage others. Investing your life in others will give you a great purpose in life. Sharing the Gospel and pointing people to the Lord by your words and actions are very fulfilling. Have you learned the importance of doing this? May the Lord help us all to strengthen and bless others. Points to Ponder: When you put the Lord first, He will satisfy you. You can have a fresh downpour of God’s grace and mercy upon your life (Matthew 5:6; John 4:14a). When revival comes to the human heart, it doesn’t come in a mist or sprinkle, it comes as a downpour! Questions to Consider: How is your garden looking today? What dry places in your soul need to be refreshed? What is some of the cultivating the Lord has been working in you? Prayer, Father, thank You for showing me You are not only the master gardener but also the patient gardener. I’m weary of being dry and passionless. You care for my garden and take time to meet and walk with me in every area of my life. I see the true condition of my heart. I choose now to return to You. Would You come to my soul as a refreshing shower? Would You bring new life to my weary heart? Thank You that I don’t have to refresh myself; You refresh me. I need You, 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 His Life For Mine (Romans 5:8)
Romans 5:8, But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. The following are a few of the numerous Scriptures regarding Christ giving His life for us (John 3:16; 11:50; Matthew 20:28; Romans 5:17-19). The deepest, most profound, and most edifying subjects in all the Word of God is found in II Corinthians 5:21, ‘He hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin, that we might be made the righteousness of God in him! ’ He died in our place, so that when we die, we will never spend eternity in Hell, separated from the LORD. There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1). For the believer, there is no possibility of condemnation! The most marvelous thing that ever took place upon the earth was Jesus Christ, God the eternal Son, was made sin for us, that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him! Jesus Christ not only died in our place. But He also has taken our punishment and our charges (Romans 3:21-26), and there is no sin in Him (II Corinthians 5:21; Hebrews 9:14; I Peter 2:22; I John 3:5). Substitution is the core doctrine of Christianity. This is the rock upon which our hopes are built. This is the only hope of the sinner and the only true joy of all saints. These two things, Christ being made sin and us being made righteousness, could only be accomplished by substitution. There was no possible way for the Lord of glory to be made sin, except by imputation. And there is no way by which any man can be made righteousness, except by imputation. It is a legal matter. At Calvary Christ became sin for us, and we became righteousness in Him. As surely as Christ was made sin, all of those for whom He died are made righteous. Impute means to put on someone's account; to charge something to another’s account. We had a debt we owed that we could never pay (Romans 5:12). Jesus is the payer of our sin debt. It means that Jesus places His righteousness upon our record when we trust upon Him for salvation. Imputation is the act of God whereby our sins are put on Christ’s account and His righteousness is put on our account. It means that Jesus took our sins upon His record and then placed His righteousness upon our record. What a wonderful truth! To think that Jesus would bare our sins upon His own body and suffer the crucifixion for us. Jesus would place all His righteousness upon our record so that we might be viewed upon by God as having the righteousness of Christ. Now that is a loving God! If we take it for what it means it can affect our lives in understanding how much the Lord Jesus Christ loves us. We can never understand the depths of wisdom and grace revealed in the substitutionary death of Christ. But we who have seen Him dying in our stead should never cease to worship, adore, love, and trust our merciful Redeemer. Jesus earnestly wants to impute your sin to His record and impute His righteousness to your record. If you will receive Christ’s righteousness He will impute His righteousness to your account, that when you stand before God, you will stand before Him as though you have never sinned; not because your sinless, but because your account has been settled. If you would like to accept Him as your Lord and Saviour, it all begins when you say yes to Jesus and let Him become your Saviour. All you must do to be saved is admit your guilty condition before God for violating His holy Law (Romans 3:19), and then trust Jesus to wash away your sins with His shed blood. PRAYER: Father I thank You for Jesus who paid the sin debt that I owed and could never repay. In Jesus name, AMEN! If this post has blessed you in any way, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com What To Do When Your Life Is Sinking (Matthew 14:24-29)
Storms can come suddenly, even at odd times. This one came when the disciples were in the midst of the sea. Trouble seems to come at the worst of times. There is no chance to prepare; the storm just showed up in the middle of nowhere. Storms will rock you. Storms will have you sitting at your table unable to eat. Storms will have you lying in your bed unable to sleep. Storms will have you sitting at a red light that's green. A storm will consume your life. We need Jesus in our storms. Then God shows up. The Bible says that Jesus went unto them. Any time a storm shows up in your life, Jesus will show up. He knows how much you can bear. The disciples saw Jesus in their time of trouble. I have discovered in life that sometimes you can be so drenched in your trouble that you can't see your triumph. You can be so caught up in your situations that you can't see your Saviour. You can be so bogged down with your doubt that you can't focus on your deliverance. If you put doubt in front of the deliverer, you'll walk around with your head down from now on. Today, are you walking or sinking? If you’re going under, it’s because you’ve been looking at the waves (like an up and down economy). You’ve been listening to the howling wind (like the voices of doom and gloom rampant in our society). You have been taking your prompts from what others are saying or the way they are acting, instead of keeping your mind stayed on the Lord (Isaiah 26:3). Like Peter, the moment we take our eyes off of the Lord we sink. When our attention drifts, we lose our ability to hear His voice. The same wind and waves that jolt us into crying out to God one moment can distract us from Him in the next. Today is an opportunity not to sink into distraction, but to focus on the Lord and what He’s teaching you. To trust Him to handle life’s trials. This is what life should be for growing followers of Christ: looking to God for wisdom and responding with obedience, even in the face of what may seem impossible. All the while, keeping our eyes on Jesus Questions to Consider: · What is distracting you from being focused on the Lord? · In Peter’s story, literal waves distracted him from Jesus. What figurative waves are crashing against you? · If there was one change you made to your daily routine or thought life that could help your eyes stay fixed on Jesus, what would it be? Points to Ponder: · Too often, people quit or give up just before the trial is about to end. · When it comes to getting out of situations, don't give up too soon. · You've got to keep on persevering, keep on going forward. Prayer, Lord God, You are sovereign, in control of everything. I confess I’ve allowed myself to be distracted, and I don’t want to be anymore. Give me the strength and self-control I need to fix my eyes on You so I can learn what You want me to learn and be who You want me to be. You are worthy of my full attention. Just as You didn’t let Peter sink, You won’t let me sink. Help me get my eyes off my circumstances and onto You. Please forgive me. I want to trust You. Thank You that You are the sure, steadfast anchor of my soul. Thank You that nothing is too hard for You. Let my life reflect the stability of knowing that You see and know and are at work on my behalf. 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 What the Lord Does with Our Sins (Hebrews 8:12)
Hebrews 8:12, For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more. God cannot lie (Numbers 23:19; Titus 1:2; Hebrews 6:18). He cannot break His covenant (Psalm 55:20; 89:29-35; Jeremiah 33:20). He cannot forsake His people (Deuteronomy 31:6; Joshua 1:5; Psalm 23; Isaiah 41:10; Matthew 28:20; Hebrews 13:5). He cannot be unjust (Hebrews 6:10). He cannot deny Himself (II Timothy 2:13). And God cannot remember the sins of His people. It is not that God is not aware of the fact that we have sinned, are sinning and will sin. He is. But in so far as the law and justice of God are concerned, our sins do not exist. The blood of Christ has blotted them out, washed them away and removed them from us (Romans 5:8-10; Ephesians 1:7; Colossians 1:20; I Peter 1:18-19; Hebrews 9:15-22). Psalm 103:12; As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us. Micah 7:18-19, Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy. He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea. Because God Himself has removed our sins, He cannot remember our sins. This is His promise to every believer. Isaiah 43:25, I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins. Jeremiah 31:34, And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the Lord: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more. Hebrews 8:12, For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more. Hebrews 10:17, And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more. God will not remember our sins when we stand before Him in the Day of Judgment. Jeremiah 50:20, In those days, and in that time, saith the LORD, the iniquity of Israel shall be sought for, and there shall be none; and the sins of Judah, and they shall not be found: for I will pardon them whom I reserve. God will not remember our sins in the distribution of His heavenly gifts, crowns and rewards. All the limitless abundance of heaven’s eternal glory will be given to all of God’s servants, because all will be perfect, blameless, sinless and holy through the righteousness and shed blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. God will remember our sins no more. Through faith in Jesus there is complete forgiveness of sins. I John 1:7, But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. The law could never forgive sin or make us whole. Romans 3:20, Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. That verse is one of the most blessed promises contained in all the Bible. God knows everything and He will never forget anything because He has a poor memory or has a mental lapse. When He buries our sin, He chooses not to dig it up and throw it in our face. When you forgive someone, you bury the sin and you relinquish your right to dig it up and remind the person about it. Many lives, homes and churches have been destroyed by a lack of forgiveness. It is important that we learn to forgive like Jesus and love others like He did. It can be done. Remember Stephen (Acts 7:60) followed the example of our Lord and offered forgiveness before it was asked for. Prayer: Father, thank You for forgiving me of my sins. Help me to love and live like Your Son Jesus. 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 What to do with Worry…Cast it on the Lord (I Peter 5:7)
I Peter 5:7, Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. George Muller Massena, one of Napoleon's generals, suddenly appeared with 18,000 soldiers before an Austrian town which had no means of defending itself. The town council met, certain that capitulation was the only answer. The old dean of the church reminded the council that it was Easter, and begged them to hold services as usual, and to leave the trouble in God's hands. They followed his advice and turned their worry over to the Lord. The dean went to the church and rang the bells to announce the service. When the French soldiers heard the church bells ring, they concluded that the Austrian army had come to rescue the town. They broke camp, and before the bells had ceased ringing, vanished. God took care of the problem. He can take care of your problems too. Don't let worry weaken your faith. Worry will weaken your faith and rob you of your peace. The beginning of worry is the end of faith, and the beginning of true faith is the end of worry. I Peter 5:7, Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. God wants us to throw our cares overboard, He wants us to willingly throw them upon Him. Casting indicates a deliberate act of our will. In other words, “I will thrust my cares upon the Lord.” The LORD is telling us to stop worrying. In other words, we are to stop worrying and never start worrying again. Nothing justifies our worry and anxiousness when we have the Lord. Worry is sinful. We may dignify worry by calling it by some other name—concern, burden, a cross to bear—-but the results are still the same. Worry fails to recognize that God is working in your life. God knows what He is doing. He has not forgotten us. God is at work, but when we worry, we are saying that God is not in control. Worry is irrelevant, it cannot change anything. It says that He doesn’t know what He is doing and He can’t take care of us. Worry is like a rocking chair, does not get you anywhere. There is no need to worry because the Lord can supply every need for every situation that we face in life. God is bigger than our problems. He is never taken off guard or surprised at what takes place in our lives. He knows what is going on and will take care of you. The man who feeds his heart on the record of what God has done in the past will never worry about the future. Prayer, Father in Heaven, I regret having carried these burdens and worries so long by myself when, in fact, You were always ready to take them from me and to carry them on my behalf. But it’s never too late to do what is right, so right now I make the decision to yield to You every one of these matters that are troubling me. Thank You for coming alongside me to take these weights from my shoulders. Because You are so loving and attentive to me, I can now go free! 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 What to Do About Your Doubt (Numbers 14:1-3)
Numbers 14:1-3, And all the congregation lifted up their voice, and cried; and the people wept that night. And all the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron: and the whole congregation said unto them, Would God that we had died in the land of Egypt! or would God we had died in this wilderness! And wherefore hath the LORD brought us unto this land, to fall by the sword, that our wives and our children should be a prey? were it not better for us to return into Egypt? “We’re claiming the entire land, it’s ours!” This should have prompted singing, shouting, and rejoicing. We’re going to take the land God has promised us. Remember the plagues, the Red Sea, Mt. Sinai, the manna, and much more. He has never failed us before. According to Numbers 14:1-3, they weren’t. Why? They were surrounded by complainers and doubter. This was not just a few people, but the entire congregation. We see in Numbers 14:3-4, they even entertained the idea of selecting another leader to take them back to Egypt. They are planning a mutiny against Moses. In effect, they were saying, “We’re going back to Egypt. We are better off as slaves in Egypt. God will not give us the victory here.” This type of thinking is totally contrary to their amazing experiences with God. Why were they thinking this way? They had forgotten about God’s provisions. The pillar of cloud by day, the pillar of fire by night, the dividing and crossing of the Red Sea, manna every day, etc. God had miraculously brought the Children of Israel out of Canaan and promised them a fruitful land. Yet when the Israelites saw some obstacles, they wished they were back in slavery in Egypt. This sounds absurd to us, but do we ever have a similar response? Don’t desire to go back to your former ways; have faith to move on to the more abundant blessings the Lord has for you. I have never trusted God and regretted it. Yes, at times, the challenges have been huge. I can remember times when I have chosen doubt and missed the incredible opportunities to prove the faithfulness of God. I remember how disappointed I felt afterwards. When a believer is backslidden, they tend to run from God’s purpose for them. When a Christian is carnal, they tend to not think wisely. Despite the promises of God and in spite of His miraculous deliverance and provisions, Israel claimed they would rather have died in slavery in Egypt. They went so far as to accuse God of bringing them there to die. They were willing to return to the bondage from which God had graciously delivered them. When times were tough, Israel failed to look to their God. Never doubt in the dark what God has already revealed in the light. When we are in doubt, God will never fail to give light when we have no other plan than to please Him and to act in love for Him. Doubt is a lack of confidence or assurance that God will keep His promises. The more you pay attention to doubt, the less you can see of God. Doubt can’t diminish God, but it can limit your view of the One who has promised to be for you. Doubt undermines wisdom. Faith is an active confidence that God’s promises are always true. It is a glimpse of the majesty and awesomeness of God that obliterates the nagging unbelief of doubt. Your faith may not be huge, but it affirms your tiny, mustard-seed confidence that God is more than enough to meet the challenges in your life. Wise living is living by faith. Doubt is a very common, human, natural struggle. One of the hard things about struggling with doubt is overcoming the feeling of your struggle with those feelings of doubt. To overcome doubt, one must confront doubt with truth. People who have trusted the Lord when faced with doubt have an impeccable track record. Take God’s Word and trust Him in it. Be fully prepared to fight, but fight honestly with your struggle. Arm yourself to acknowledge it, face it, name it, and then overcome it with truth. God never intends for His people to wander wearily through life, headed nowhere. God has for you a land of milk and honey, a life of victory, if you’re willing to follow him in obedience. Rather than forfeiting to your fears and being defeated by doubts; follow your faith in the Lord. PRAYER: Lord, I truly want to defeat the doubt I struggle with in life. Arm me with Scripture that I may defeat the devil with the power 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 This morning’s devotion is an excerpt from our Bible Study link. You can view this complete study in its entirety by visiting this sites Bible Study link.
Take the Lord at His Word (Philippians 4:19) Philippians 4:19, But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. George Müller founded the Scriptural Knowledge Institute for Home and Abroad. It sent out over 160 missionaries from Britain, distributed 111 million gospel tracts, supported 2,000 orphans in five orphanages, and trained 121,000 students. George Müller was a man who knew a great deal about faith. His large orphanages provided care to thousands of children, yet he never publicly asked anyone for money. Instead he prayed. Regarding faith and trials Müller wrote: “God delights to increase the faith of His children...I say, and say it deliberately—trials, difficulties and sometimes defeat, are the very food of faith...We should take them out of His hands as evidences of His love and care for us in developing more and more that faith which He is seeking to strengthen in us.” Müller believed that God would supply his material needs through prayer alone. He relied on gifts for his ministry and personal support, but only the Lord knew of the needs. One day a man arrived at one of Müller's orphanages. A woman opened the door and said, "Have you brought the bread?" The man replied, "What bread?" "The bread for the children. It is five minutes before mealtime." He found many children waiting patiently for breakfast. In a few minutes the woman came back saying, "The bread has come." A cart of bread had been delivered in answer to prayer. Later, the man learned they needed about $25,000 that day by noon. Mr. Müller confessed, "I don't know where a penny of it is coming from, but it is certainly coming." A letter from India arrived and was opened in the visitor's presence. It contained a draft for the exact amount needed. Proverbs 15:29, The Lord is far from the wicked: but he heareth the prayer of the righteous. Over $500,000 was given to the Institute. Müller gave away most of it and left a personal estate valued at less than one thousand dollars. Are you looking to the Lord for the needs in your life? In prayer give thanks to Jesus Christ—the supplier of every good thing. Let Him know your needs. PRAYER: Lord, thank you that no circumstance is too far out of Your control to provide. I thank You that You own it all, and hold everything in Your hands. You know my needs before I even ask, before I come to You. I ask for Your answer, in Your timing, in Your plan. Thank You for the abundance of blessing and goodness You have already stored up. Thank You for teaching me to be content in all circumstances, I trust You this day, and every day, I love You Lord, I’m leaning on You. 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 Wisdom in the Workplace (Proverbs 2:1-15)
At the beginning of his reign, King Solomon prayed for one superior gift from God. Not wealth, not long life, but something far more valuable, he asked for "an understanding heart". He asked for wisdom. A heart that would listen and be teachable. Repeatedly, I have seen the constructive outcomes of those who have pursued wisdom. This has come by those who do not have charismatic personalities, high qualifications, or are exceptionally talented. These wise people have achieved responsibility and respect for one reason; they have handled themselves wisely in their accomplishments over a long time. In their work and in their relationships, they have applied wisdom and are still receiving honor and reward. On the other hand, those who have foolishly neglected these principles eventually fell by the wayside. Wisdom works from the inside out. It must be in our heart before it can be in our actions. Doing right on the outside is important, but if things are not right on the inside, it will be revealed in time. We do not receive a lifetime supply of wisdom all at once. We must continually seek it through the pages of God’s Word and from godly counselors. The direction of our lives will be shaped by our heart attitude toward wisdom. Their Wisdom (Proverbs 2:10). It is one thing to have wisdom, it is another to delight in it. One must have wisdom to have safety, but one must also delight in wisdom to have safety. Their Warning (Proverbs 2:11). Discretion is having the right discernment which leads to right decisions. Discretion, which originates from godly wisdom, will guard and protect us from the pitfalls of life. Keep God’s principles in your heart and mind and they will guard and keep you from danger. Their Words (Proverbs 2:12). The words froward or perverse refer to anything that turns against God’s righteousness and His commands. Words are very powerful (James 3:3-5). The wicked seek to draw others onto their path by their seductive speech. If we are not on guard, the Devil will use his deceitful words to lure us away from God and His commands. Their Walk (Proverbs 2:13). The wicked deliberately turn away from the straight path that God longs for them to follow. The way of the wicked is crooked, confusing, and chaotic. This is the very opposite of the straight path of uprightness; the road God has designed for people to travel. Their Will (Proverbs 2:14). The wicked love the way they are and the way they live. They enjoy the wrong they do and take pleasure in their perversity. Their seared consciences have been numbed to the point that God’s commandments matter little to them, so they no longer feel any guilt or shame over their actions (I Timothy 4:2). Their Ways (Proverbs 2:15). The father emphasized the importance of choosing the right way or path. Godly wisdom will protect a wise person from the pitfalls of corrupt people. We need wisdom and, in His Word, God revealed clearly how we can obtain it. Wisdom is not produced by our ingenuity or learning; it is given by the grace of God. James 1:5 says, “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.” Wisdom is not reserved for a special class of believers. The promise of wisdom is available to anyone who is willing to ask for it. And God gives it freely without restraint or condemnation because of His nature. Questions to Consider: · What are some decisions you have made which you believe were wise? · What are some ways that you have sought God’s wisdom? · What moved you to act with wisdom in those situations? · What are some ways in which practicing wisdom has delivered you from danger? Points to Ponder: · Pursuing wisdom requires great effort. · Practicing wisdom results in great benefits. · We need to pursue wisdom continually and wholeheartedly. · As we receive the Word of God and develop godly wisdom, we will have the insight to make right decisions in life. Prayer, Lord, thank You for growing me in wisdom and that You offer me more and more as I immerse my mind in Your Word. Forgive me for placing pride in my own insights. Thank You that Your wisdom is an inexhaustible supply. I can never reach the end of knowing You and learning from You. Thank You for wisdom personified in Your Son, Jesus Christ, in whose 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 |
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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