The Book Above All Books (Psalm 19:7)

Psalm 19:7, “The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.”

Here in Psalm 19:7, David describes God’s Word. He first describes the law of the LORD. The law is expressed through His commands and guidelines and gives direction in how to relate to Him in the right way. Two things are uppermost in the psalmist's purpose to show God's glory here. God's glory appears in the perfection of His law and also the profits it gives to men. The word perfect has the sense of not only “unblemished”, but also “complete” as well. Switching to another synonym, David continued, “…the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple”. Here, David referred to God’s written Word as His testimony or witness. It is sure, meaning that it is “faithful” or “reliable”.

1. God’s law is perfect: It is the source of salvation. (Psalm 19:7a)
The instruction of the Lord is perfect, renewing one’s life. Perfect means “whole” or “complete”. In other words, Scripture lacks nothing. Everything you need to know to be what God expects you to be has been revealed in His Word. It can renew you and provide you with abundant life. God’s law refers to His teachings or instructions. David states that the law is both perfect and that it converts the soul. Perfect has two shades of meaning. It means complete or entire. God’s Word is His complete revelation to humanity. This is a significant statement about the sufficiency of the Scripture. God’s Word provides everything God wants us to know and everything we need to know for this life and for preparation for eternity. Perfect also means flawless, undefiled, without blemish or spot. This, too, is an essential statement about the inerrancy of Scripture. Every word of every statement in the Bible is true. Converting means turning or returning to. The first great benefit of Scripture is that it leads us to turn to God. “As the sun returns in the heavens, so God’s Word returns the sinner to God.” Scripture tells us everything we need to know about salvation. God’s perfect law reveals our sinfulness and great need for a Saviour. It tells us about Jesus Christ and that salvation is possible only through faith in Him. Paul explained the broad purpose of God’s law in relation to salvation (Galatians 3:19-24).

2. God’s testimony is trustworthy: It is the source of wisdom. (Psalm 19:7b)
The testimony of the Lord is trustworthy, making the inexperienced wise. The Bible is reliable. You can bank on it. Those without experience, the simple and foolish, can be trained how to be discerning and can be enabled to make good and wise choices that reflect a divine perspective from reading and trusting it. God’s witness in His Word is sure: you can believe it and build your life upon it. It is a solid foundation, one that will not crumble, but will stand through the storms of life (Matthew 7:24-27). God’s Word will support you or hold you up in every situation you face. The second great benefit of Scripture is that it gives wisdom. Think about this wonderful truth. Nature reveals that there is an all-wise God, one who designed and created a complex, magnificent universe. Scripture reveals God’s amazing wisdom to humanity. Through God’s Word, every person has the privilege of gaining wisdom from the Lord Himself. But a person has to take action. God will not force His Word or Himself on anyone. Those who are simple lack discernment and good judgment because they are inexperienced and unlearned. By studying God’s Word, one can acquire the skills necessary to be successful in life and to avoid its dangers. They can learn how to overcome or to deal with every enemy—every destructive force—they face (Psalm 119:98). Every person who applies themselves to the Bible receives wisdom that exceeds all human education and learning (Psalm 119:9). The Lord heartily invites each of us to come and freely partake of His life-giving wisdom (Proverbs 9:1-6).

When asked what book he would like to have if stranded on a desert island, G.K. Chesterton cleverly replied, "Thomas' Guide to Practical Ship Building". He said he could not imagine himself in that kind of circumstance, but if such occasion arrived, he would like to at least have a chance to get home.

Although Chesterton's answer seems logical and quite witty, there is another book that would be far more helpful - the Holy Bible. As John Quincy Adams said, "The Bible is the book of all others, to be read at all ages, and in all conditions in life".

The Bible is indeed for all conditions of human life. The Word of God has an answer for every question we face. It has light for our darkened paths. It is armor for the war-ravaged soldier. It is a cool drink of water for the dry parched soul.

The Bible is the only book that reads the reader. It provides nourishment, direction, inspiration, comfort, and rebuke. It is alive. Thomas’ Guide to Practical Ship Building may give instruction on to how to escape a desert island, but the Bible gives instruction on how to get to our Heavenly home.

David Livingstone is said to have begun his expedition into the heart of Africa with over seventy books in three cases with a cumulative weight of almost two hundred pounds. A doctor and an explorer by trade, these books were precious as needed reference to Livingstone.

But as Livingstone’s party trekked into the heart of Africa, it became obvious that some of the books would have to go. Some of his carriers deserted, leaving less men to carry the load. Of those who remained, many were weakened through fatigue and fever. Over the journey, Livingstone’s library became smaller and smaller as he was forced to discard the weight of his books in the jungle.

When he reached the end of the expedition, he had one book remaining—the Bible. Out of a seventy-book library of materials needed for his trade, the only book that was truly indispensable was God’s Book.

Prayer: Lord, forgive me for the times I have treated Your Word casually, as if it’s any other book. Your Word is fire, cleansing me; a sword, cutting through my pretenses; a hammer, pounding my hard heart; a seed, growing life in me; milk and meat to nourish my soul; a light to illuminate my path; and a mirror to show me who I am. Thank You for Your Word, and teach me to treat it as the Book above all other books. In the name of Jesus, the Word, amen.

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The Finished Work (John 17:1-4)

John 17:1-4, “These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee: As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him. And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.”

A preacher closed a sermon with these words, "Virtue is so attractive that, if she were to become incarnate, and walk the world in human form, men would fall down and worship her." The pulpit of that church was occupied the same evening by another preacher, a humble evangelical man, who loved the gospel of a crucified Redeemer. He preached Christ crucified, and at the close of his sermon reminded the congregation of the statement made in the morning by the previous preacher, and then added, "I am sorry to say that Virtue did once walk the world in human form, in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ, and men, instead of falling down and worshipping Him, crucified and nailed Him to a tree".

John 17 is one of the greatest chapters in the Bible, and certainly one of the most treasured. Some have referred to it as the "Holy of Holies of Sacred Scripture". This is Christ’s final public prayer to the Father before He went to the cross. In this prayer, Christ gives an account of His performance. Despite the opposition on earth, Jesus’ will was to glorify God.

Jesus set His glory aside when He came to earth as man (Philippians 2:7). On the cross, Jesus glorified God by revealing how much God loves us. Without the cross, we could never understand how much God loves us (John 3:16). The reason Jesus was now ready to be glorified is simply stated: He had finished the work God had given Him to do. In doing the work God had given Him to do, He had glorified God on earth. "I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do" (John 17:4). This is the prayer we all should want to be able to pray when it comes our time to die.

Jesus prayed to His Father that He had glorified Him during His earthly presence. His example remains for us today. He finished the work God gave Him to accomplish. He spoke to His disciples three years earlier, His very “meat” was to do “the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work” (John 4:34). He now had. Again, He has left an example for us. He finished His work; so should we. The only way a person can glorify God on earth is to do what God says. If a man is interested in glorifying God, he will obey Him. Now the most important thing that you could do, that I could do, that anyone else could do would be to do what God wants us to do. Just as God had a purpose for His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ; He has a purpose for you as well.

PRAYER: Father in Heaven, though I often struggle, help me to never lose sight of doing Your will. Your Son loved me enough to die for me, the only reasonable thing that I can do is present myself a living sacrifice. Your will is good, perfect, and acceptable. And Lord, we know through prayer, we'll find it. May You have Your own way. In Jesus name, Amen.

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Walking Wisely In A Foolish World (Ephesians 5:15)

Ephesians 5:15, “See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise.”

People will either walk foolishly, or wisely. The foolish man loves and lives for the perishable things of this world (Matthew 6:19-20). The wise man lives for the eternal things of God. He sets his “affection on things above, not on things on the earth” (Colossians 3:2). Here, Paul called upon believers to walk circumspectly. How can we live a wise life? A wise walk and lifestyle require discipline. In order to enjoy a wise walk, we must see to it that we walk circumspectly. We are to be very careful concerning how we walk and how we live.

Circumspectly means to walk accurately, carefully, diligently, precisely. To look around; to be on the lookout. It has the idea to pick the way, to be careful how we walk; with watchfulness every way; with attention to guard against surprise or danger. Picture a cat walking on the top of a wooden fence with dogs on each side. Rest assured that the cat walks carefully as it places its paws accurately each step. It picks its way circumspectly. She is doing what Paul said we are to do as we walk through life's pilgrimage. So then, we must walk carefully and cautiously with watchfulness to guard against any surprise of danger.

I Peter 5:8, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:” This is a graphic picture that expresses both the danger and the confidence of Satan. Just as a blood thirsty lion stalks its prey, Satan stalks the Christian. Notice that Satan is pictured here as a roaring lion. A lion never roars while it is stalking. No lion stalking its prey announces the fact by roaring. The lion only roars once he has spotted his prey and is ready to pounce. If we wait until we hear the roar, it is too late. It is amazing just how fast we can come upon danger in our Christian life. We must walk circumspectly; that is cautiously, as though we were walking on a ground filled with broken bottles.

Imagine having to walk through a room that is filled with broken glass. You are going to walk very carefully. The devil has scattered plenty of glass in our way. He has thrown varieties of nets, traps, and snares in our path in order to destroy our Christian testimony. But we are to walk circumspectly as wise followers of Christ. Temptations abound in our society that can bring us down and ruin our testimonies if we yield to them. Deception is rampant as people lie, cheat, steal, and trick others into sin, or out of their possessions, or their identity. If there ever was a time to be on the lookout, to be careful, diligent, and to be accurate in what we believe, it is now.

We should have a deep and sincere desire to learn God's instructions throughout every day of our lives. We should be completely dedicated to learning everything we can about how our Father wants us to live our lives. We should be absolutely committed to living our lives in constant obedience to every instruction God has given us in the Scriptures. Charles Spurgeon, "Nobody ever outgrows the Scriptures; the Book widens and deepens with years."

Points to Ponder:
Reproof never does a wise man harm.
Wisdom is seeing life from God's perspective.

Questions to Consider:
How are you spending the down time you have?
What are some pearls of wisdom the Lord has revealed to you?

Prayer, Thank You that You can be counted on to guide me through my day. Today, I need to walk in the hope that only You can give. My way is unclear, my path sometimes feels like it twists and turns in confusing and busy ways as I wind my way along my journey. Show me Your ways, Lord. Show me how You would walk in these places. Remind me by Your Holy Spirit to look to You to guide me. In Jesus name, Amen.

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There’s No Omission in the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20)
 
Matthew 28:19-20, Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
 
In March 2003, Christian Ambaye was arrested for "Christian proselytizing" and detained in a crowded jail cell for twenty weeks. Ambaye had left his home in Eritrea in 1988 to seek employment as a tailor in Saudi Arabia. While jailed, he said his detention in the crowded cell provided an opportunity to share his faith with other prisoners awaiting deportation. He estimated he had explained the gospel to 600 of his cellmates during the 20 weeks he was detained. Ambaye said that 42 of the prisoners indicated they wanted to become Christians. In August 2003, Ambaye was deported for his crime. He said: "I felt that Jesus Christ was with me in the jail and now I know Him so much better. Everyone knew my crime was being a preacher of Christianity." Even as he was being deported, he was able to witness for Christ. Ambaye said his guards at the airport told curious inquirers, including the airline ticket agent, that he was a "preacher of Christianity" who was being deported for violating laws against proselytizing.
 
Just before Jesus finished His earthly mission, He clearly outlined His mission for His followers. We need to be disciples. Disciples are people whose lives who are filled with Christ. Disciples are those who hear, understand, and obey His teaching. Part of the fullness of Christ is the actual responsibility of sharing that fullness of life with others. We need to be disciples making disciples. In understanding the entirety of His authority, we come to understand our responsibility to that authority, which is "Go therefore." It is not a matter of debate or discussion. The Great Commission is a command, not a “Great Suggestion.” It is ultimately a matter of obedience. We need to come before Him and ask,” What would You have me to do in light of Your Great Commission?”
 
Every Christian needs to let others know that Jesus Christ came into the world to bring salvation through the forgiveness of their sins. We have a wonderful opportunity to be a part of God's plan and program that has eternal value. That is where we need to put our attention and focus. May we find and obey the task that He has called us to do.
 
Points to Ponder:
We need to be people whose lives are filled with Christ.
As His disciples, we need to make other disciples.
Jesus Christ is looking for disciples, not names on church rolls or decision cards.
 
Questions to Consider:
What are you doing to take part in the work of spreading the message of Christ to the world?
How are you involved in making disciples?
 
PRAYER: Father, help me to become a more disciplined laborer in the field. I submit my availability to Your authority. May Your Holy Spirit guide me to souls who are open to receive Your truth. Help me to bring forth lasting fruit for pleasure and glory. In Jesus name, AMEN!
 
 
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One Shot Opportunity (Acts 8:34-35)

Acts 8:34-35, “And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man? Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus.”

Don Calhoun worked for five dollars an hour at an office supply store in the twin-city of Bloomington-Normal, Illinois. He had been to two Chicago Bulls basketball games in his life and was about to attend a third. When he entered the stadium, he was approached by a woman who worked for the Bulls organization and she told him they selected him to take part in a promotional event during the game called The Million Dollar Shot.

The Shot came after a time-out in the third quarter of the game. If Mr. Calhoun could shoot a basket standing seventy-nine feet away or behind the free-throw line at the other end of the court, he would win one million dollars. Don was no stranger to basketball. He played at the Bloomington YMCA. He never tried a shot like this before. He took the ball in his hands and looked over at Michael Jordan and the rest of the Bulls who were rooting for him.

He stepped to the line and shot the ball. As soon as it left his hands, the coach Phil Jackson said, "It's good!" Indeed, the ball went through the basket and the crowd went wild! Don rushed into the arms of Michael Jordan and the team slapped him on the back with congratulations. Don went home that night with two dollars in his pocket, but he would receive $50,000 a year for the next twenty years.

God has a plan for the world, and He wants us to take part in it. He gives us but one lifetime to participate. We must be wise and seize the opportunity to share our faith in Christ. You may be given a great opportunity over the next week: a volunteer position at church, an open door to share your faith or give an encouraging word to a friend, an opportunity to stand up for someone who is being mistreated, or a platform to proclaim the truth. Learn to see each opportunity to serve God and bless others as part of His plan for your life. Never view an opportunity as being below you or as something you will get around to doing later on. God wants you to respond with humility and without delay. His opportunities may only knock once.

One action, one decision, one moment can change your entire life. This is what happens when you trust Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Saviour. Trusting in Him will change your life for eternity! We must seize the opportunity to proclaim the Gospel with those who need Christ. What opportunities to proclaim the Gospel will God put before you today, and will you seize the opportunity?

PRAYER: Lord, thank You for Your wonderful gift of the Gospel. Help me to have spiritual discernment to Your leading to help share what has impacted me. Give me the courage and the words to share with any person You direct me to meet. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

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Chiseling at Cherith (I Kings 17:3)

I Kings 17:3, “Get thee hence, and turn thee eastward, and hide thyself by the brook Cherith, that is before Jordan.”

The setting of this story is after God allowed Elijah to announce a drought upon the land in the presence of the wicked king Ahab. The Lord spoke to His servant and sent him deep into the wilderness at the brook Cherith. The Lord had promised to take care of Elijah as he hid out by the brook. At Cherith, Elijah would find protection, provision, and preparation from the Lord.

As God’s messenger, Elijah announced God’s judgment against disobedient Israel. God would withhold rain for three and a half years (Deuteronomy 11:13-17). This method of judgment also mocked Baal because Baal worshipers believed he controlled the weather and was responsible for abundant crops. This drought (a long period without rain) came as the result of Elijah’s powerful prayers (James 5:17).

God provided for Elijah at Cherith because Elijah had stood with God against the people’s rebellion (I Kings 17:3-7; Psalm 25:10). When we attend to God’s purposes, He will attend to our needs (Psalm 68:19-20).

When the brook dried up, God directed Elijah to go to a territory occupied by Baal worshipers. There God would provide for Elijah through a poor widow (I Kings 17:9). The experience further strengthened Elijah’s confidence in God’s care and guidance. Sometimes great difficulty occurs even though we are living in God’s plan. He uses such experiences to build our faith and do things beyond what we could have expected.

God faithfully and continually provided His prophet water and food in land of famine. God not only controls the rain, but also the whole natural order. He even controls the ravens, ceremonially unclean creatures now used for God’s purposes of sustaining the prophet’s life. We know God provides for the birds of the air, and here He uses the birds of the air to provide for His prophet. Elijah was looking ultimately to the God Who reigns over nature for daily food and water, not to the raven or the brook.

God also provided a raven to feed bread and meat every morning and evening. Elijah recalled the wilderness meal plan. God provided “daily bread” in Matthew 6:11 and actually provided it more abundantly than in the wilderness, for Elijah ate both bread and meat twice a day in Exodus 16:8, 12-13.

God was hiding His servant in the wilderness so that He could mold his faith. The most powerful servants of God are those that allow time to be alone with God. We live in such busy times that it seems as if people are afraid to be alone. The phone is always ringing, the television is blaring loudly, the house is filled with family or friends, and we allow no time for God. I wonder if we are afraid to hear the voice of God. It is often difficult for God to get past all of the stuff so that He can speak to His children.

We must find our place like Cherith, for in finding this place, we can find the voice of God. In this place, God will cut away the unusable and unneeded things from our lives, and He will mold us into something useful and wonderful. Elijah sat by the brook and allowed God to minister to him by sending the ravens with his daily supply of bread and meet. It must have been an unusual time in the life of Elijah as he watched this take place from day to day.

God sent Elijah to Cherith. Cherith means "a cutting place". God puts us through those cutting and chiseling times to mold and prepare us for future service. Cherith comes before the Mt. Carmel’s of our life. The cross comes before the crown. Trials come before blessings. At Cherith Brook, God would cut off the rough edges of Elijah's life. The Lord uses His Word, life’s circumstances, or a submissive, meek, and humble servant to minister to us to knock off the rough edges in our life. God takes things and uses them to shape us and smoothen us. God takes and uses the pressures in life and it rubs against us for the purpose of conforming us to His image. Cherith was the place of loneliness, uncertainty, waiting, and hardship. God uses these elements to develop our character and knock off our rough edges. At some point in our lives, God will send us to “our Cherith’s”.

PRAYER: Lord, help me to never forget the places and circumstances that You place me in are for my good and for Your Glory. Thank You for always meeting my needs. I trust that You will use these times to draw others closer to You. In Jesus name, AMEN!

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Prayer: The Greatest Neglected Power (Matthew 26:41)

Matthew 26:41, “Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

Trials and even temptation arise immediately and unexpectedly. They jump right up in front of us. Only persistent, sleepless prayer will prepare us for such crises (Ephesians 6:18). The disciples had undergone a long day. It now, in all likelihood, was late at night. They couldn’t keep their eyes open. Though just hours before they had professed their allegiance to Jesus in spirit, in their flesh, they couldn’t stay awake. If one cannot endure a little fatigue when there is no suffering, how will one do when the temptation or the great trial of their faithfulness and courage comes.

They were sleeping because of the emotional strain and stress of the evening. They slept because of sorrow (Luke 22:45). The evening had been shocking and taxing. They were weary, fatigued, and preoccupied, therefore, concentration in prayer was difficult. They probably fought to stay awake and to pray for their Lord. They were making two mistakes common among believers. The disciples were depending upon their own wisdom and strength instead of God's Spirit to fight whatever battles lay ahead. The disciples were taking God's deliverance for granted instead of assuring His deliverance through the power of prayer. Christ instructed the disciples that the flesh is weak, though our intentions may be strong. So, we ought to pray earnestly so that our intentions will be fulfilled in spite of our flesh. Prayer is necessary because of our weakness in the flesh. See these Scriptures: Romans 7:15-20; Romans 8:12-13; I Corinthians 9:27; Colossians 3:5.

The need for prayer during an overwhelming problem is not occasional; it is constant. Jesus is again warning them of the danger of being overconfident of their own spiritual power. The disciples had boasted about never leaving Him. Like the disciples, we have a desire to remain loyal to Jesus. However, because our flesh is weak under the pressure of fear, we can falter in our faith. So, we must prayerfully depend upon God. Our failure to think of prayer as a privilege may be partly due to the fact that we can pray any time. The door to prayer is open so continuously that we fail to avail ourselves of an opportunity which is always there. Calling upon the Lord will either make a man stop sinning, or sin will make him stop praying. Unless we have within us that which is above us, we shall soon yield to that which is about us. D.L. Moody said, "Fervency in prayer by the power of the Holy Spirit is a good preservative against thoughts rushing in. Flies never settle on a boiling pot." Calling on the Lord consistently will help us to keep the fire burning for God in our hearts. It will help us stay alert to destructive temptations that cross our path.

1) Adoration (I Chronicles 29:10-13; Psalm 25:8; 63:3-4; Revelation 4:8; 5:12).
During this time, focus directly on God, adoring Him for Who He is.

2) Confession (II Corinthians 7:9-10; Psalm 25:11; 51:10-13; 139:23-24; Jeremiah 31:34; I John 1:4-9).
We cannot stand before the throne of a holy God with sin between us and our Saviour. Thank God, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins!

3) Thanksgiving (I Chronicles 16:34; Psalm 100:4-5; Philippians 4:6-7; I Thessalonians 5:16-18).
Take time to thank the Lord for what He has done. Thank Him for salvation, the many blessings in your life: protection, provision, open doors, and opportunities.

4) Supplication (Ephesians 6:18; Philippians 4:6; I Timothy 2:1-4).
This is the time to ask God for His divine help to meet needs, solve problems, work in someone's life.

Here is a profound principle concerning prayer. As we watch, that is, as we are mentally disciplined to focus upon that which we ought and as we pray without ceasing, we will not enter into temptation. Prayer has a spiritually antiseptic quality. As long as we are in a spirit of prayer, we will not walk in the flesh. When we are on the line with God, the devil cant’ get through. The line is busy.

Mr. Roger Babson in an after-dinner address made the following statement: "Prayer is the greatest unused power in the world, and faith is the greatest undiscovered resource." Faith is a grasping of Almighty power; the hand of man laid on the arm of God; when the things impossible to us become the possible, O Lord, through Thee.

Jesus Christ is the greatest example of prayer. Below are seven points with Scripture to help us concerning our prayer life.

1. Jesus Began Each Morning in Prayer (Mark 1:35).
2. Jesus Valued the Importance of Time Alone with God (Matthew 14:23).
3. Jesus was Persistent in Prayer (Matthew 26:36-44).
4. Jesus Persevered in Prayer (Luke 6:12).
5. Jesus Knew the Importance of Group Prayer (Luke 9:28; Matthew 26:37-38).
6. Jesus Had Faith When He Prayed (Hebrews 11:6; John 11:41-42).
7. Jesus Prayed According to the Will of God (I John 5:14; Mark 14:36).

By dying to our own desires and praying for the will of God to be done, we die to self and the Lord takes pleasure in what we have done.

Prayer: Father, with my whole heart I praise You for this wondrous life of continuous prayer, continuous fellowship, continuous answers, and continuous oneness with Him who lives to pray forever! Father, keep me abiding and walking in the presence of Your glory so that my prayer may be the spontaneous expression of my life with You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

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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 doubters. 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 were 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 and natural human struggle. One of the hardest 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. Every step towards Christ kills a doubt. 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.

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God Leads Us Along (Isaiah 43:2)

Isaiah 43:2, “When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.”

Robert Morrison was the first Protestant missionary to China, sent out by the London Missionary Society in 1807. Arriving in Canton, he moved into a cellar and was rarely seen in public, pouring himself into a study of the language. He made such good progress that he was hired by the East India Company as an interpreter and spent the next 25 years thus employed. This arrangement allowed him the opportunity of translating the Bible, tracts, hymnbooks, and prayer books from English into Chinese. He prepared an Anglo-Chinese dictionary and a Chinese grammar book. During his lifetime, Morrison saw but three or four conversions, but his work paved the way for all the missionaries who followed.

He found Isaiah 43:2 as a young man on a voyage from Newcastle to London. He was on his way to school, and the seas were rough. Morrison suffered a bout of seasickness, but he nonetheless managed his daily intake of Scripture. He wrote his father: I was happily surprised, when lying sick in the state room, by hearing a number of persons sing psalms in the cabin; and every night when the weather would permit, we had prayers and reading of Scriptures. The passage was very rough, in some parts of it; one night they let the ship drive, and another night pitched away her bowsprit, which last occurrence was very serious, as it endangered the loss of our masts. I mention these circumstances to excite thankfulness to God, who brought us safely through. I pleaded the promise, in its literal sense, “When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee,” and blessed by God, it was fulfilled. It was a promise he was to claim many times to come.

In shady, green pastures, so rich and so sweet,
God leads His dear children along;
Where the water's cool flow bathes the weary one's feet,
God leads His dear children along.
Some through the waters, some through the flood,
Some through the fire, but all through the blood;
Some through great sorrow, but God gives a song,
In the night season and all the day long.

In Isaiah’s description, the waters symbolize a trial. Some trials can be likened to walking through a valley, while others can feel like facing a flash flood in that valley. The water level rises rapidly. Deep waters assail, currents swirling, and you may fear going under.

God has not promised to keep our lives free from times of distress, but He has promised to be with us through them and to use them to bring about our ultimate sanctification.

PRAYER: Father, I am Yours. I choose to believe this powerful truth. You are with me, so I will keep going. I hold onto You and Your Word. I will not avoid or escape my trial, but by faith and with You, I will go through it and come across on the other side. Please use the trials in my life for my good and for Your glory. In Jesus name, I pray, Amen.

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The Pony Express and the Bible (Matthew 28:19-20)

Matthew 28:19-20, “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”

Our world is now connected by the internet, but in 1860, the fastest way to send a message was by the newly developed Pony Express. This innovative enterprise was created by the Russell Majors Waddel company. Adventurous young men were hired to ride 8 hours and 80 miles per day on horseback. The 1,946 miles between St. Joseph, Missouri, and Sacramento, California, were linked together by 190 stations so the mail delivery could be reduced from 25 days to just 10. They rode six days per week for a very lucrative salary of $125 a month. Each man was outfitted identically with a bright red shirt and blue trousers. Their gear included an ultra-light saddle, Colt revolver, a lightweight rifle, and a Bible. Interestingly enough, although every piece of mail was required to be written on thin paper so as to reduce the weight, a Bible was still included in every man's saddlebag. Who knows if this priority played a role in the incredible success of traveling 650,000 miles, delivering 34,754 pieces of mail, and losing but one bag during its 19 months of existence? The new technology of telegraph communication made the Pony Express obsolete, but for a year and a half it provided excellent service and the reminder of the Scripture's value.

I Peter 2:2, “As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:” Psalm 55:17, “Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice.” I Thessalonians 5:17, “Pray without ceasing.” When you value the role of God's Word in your life, and spend time with Him in prayer, such actions will go a long way in helping you to stay close to the Lord. It will help you to have worship that is genuine and not fake, growing and not faltering. Neglecting spiritual habits such as Bible study, prayer, tithing, and attending a Bible-believing, Bible-preaching church will hinder you in your walk with God. Sooner or later, it will cause your heart to cool off spiritually and drift from God. This is why we are urged to walk with God daily and develop habits like Bible study, praying, giving, witnessing, and church attendance.

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. God’s Word is inspirational, instructional, incorruptible, and inexhaustible.

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. 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 too 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.

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