Is Your Heart Fixed? (Psalm 57:7)
Psalm 57:7, My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed: I will sing and give praise. The heart of the psalmist is full of conviction. It is steadfast, firm, and strong. We will not praise God well if we are uncertain, doubtful, or weak. Our faith must have some firmness in it if we are to praise God. Allen Francis Gardiner grew up in a Christian home, took to the sea, and achieved a successful British naval career with little thought for God. In 1822, however, he fell ill and re-evaluated his wasted life. He scribbled in his journal, "After years of ingratitude, unbelief, blasphemy and rebellion, have I at last been melted? Alas, how slow, how reluctant I have been to admit the heavenly guest who stood knocking without!" Traveling around the world had given Captain Gardiner a glimpse of the need for missionaries, and he gave himself for the task. Surrendering to the Lord and leaving England for South America, he hoped to minister among the Araucanian (or Mapuche) Indians of Southern Chile. Government interference and intertribal fighting forced him back to England. Three years later he was at it again, visiting the Falklands and investigating the possibility of taking the gospel to the islands of Patagonia and Tierra del Fuego. Sensing opportunity at hand, Gardiner returned to England and on July 4, 1844, established a small organization called the Patagonian Missionary Society. He wrote, "I have made up my mind to go back to South America and leave no stone unturned, no effort untried, to establish a mission among the aboriginal tribes. While God gives me strength, failure will not daunt me." Allen kept trying to reach this region. He visited South America a third time, but his efforts were again hindered by intertribal fighting and governmental interference, the land being strongly Catholic, intolerant to Protestant missions. So he returned to England, recruited six missionaries, and set sail for Tierra del Fuego, but all seven men died of disease, starvation, and exposure on Picton Island. Gardiner, the last one to die, dated his final journal entry September 5, 1851, "Good and marvelous are the loving kindnesses of my gracious God unto me. He has preserved me hitherto and for four days, although without bodily food, without any feelings of hunger or thirst." Captain Allen Gardiner died without seeing a single soul saved among those for whom he was most burdened. Not one soul was saved, even though he kept trying and did not quit! Did he waste his life when he got right with God and went to the mission field? Did he waste his life away, dying on Picton Island in an effort to reach the lost for Christ? Was this man a flop or failure, even though he did the Lord's will? The answer is "No." Allen may have not seen one convert while he was alive, but he lit a fire which has never gone out. His South American Missionary Society (as it came to be called) has been sending missionaries and saving thousands of souls for over 175 years. Understand that Satan will endeavor to suppress your devotion. He will use discouragement, despondency, disillusionment, depression, defeat, dismay, disappointment, and the disdain of others to quench the flames of a burning heart for God. Jeremiah suffered from such discouragement and depression. Jeremiah 20:8-10, For since I spake, I cried out, I cried violence and spoil; because the word of the Lord was made a reproach unto me, and a derision, daily. Then I said, I will not make mention of him, nor speak any more in his name. But his word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing, and I could not stay. For I heard the defaming of many, fear on every side. Report, say they, and we will report it. All my familiars watched for my halting, saying, Peradventure he will be enticed, and we shall prevail against him, and we shall take our revenge on him. Jeremiah overcame his discouragement through the power of God's Word working in his life. Jeremiah 23:29, Is not my word like as a fire? saith the Lord; and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces? The LORD is seeking a heart that is fixed and committed to Him. There are so many lures and distractions in this world that Satan will use to get you sidetracked. It is essential that you make up your mind and stick with that decision. The psalmist made that decision, as well as the Apostle Paul. I Corinthians 15:58, Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord. Acts 20:24, But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God. PRAYER: Heavenly Father, keep my heart fixed and steadfast with Your love. Help me never to grow cold or calloused towards You, Your Word, or others. 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
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Going All Out (Philippians 3:13-14)
Philippians 3:13-14, Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. It was a fog-shrouded morning, July 4, 1952, when a young woman named Florence Chadwick waded into the water off Catalina Island. She intended to swim the channel from the island to the California coast. Long-distance swimming was not new to her; she had been the first woman to swim the English Channel in both directions. The water was numbing cold that day. The fog was so thick she could hardly see the boats in her party. Several times sharks had to be driven away with rifle fire. She swam more than fifteen hours before she asked to be taken out of the water. Her trainer tried to encourage her to swim on since they were so close to land, but when Florence looked, all she saw was fog. So she quit... only one-half mile from her goal. Later she said, "I'm not excusing myself, but if I could have seen the land, I might have made it." It wasn't the cold or fear or exhaustion that caused Florence Chadwick to fail. It was the fog. “Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off the goal.” Hannah More. Many times we too fail, not because we're afraid, or because of the peer pressure, or because of anything other than the fact that we lose sight of the goal. Maybe that's why Paul said, "I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 3:14). Two months after her failure, Florence Chadwick walked off the same beach into the same channel and swam the distance, setting a new speed record, because she could see the land. May my heart continue to be determined, driven, and directed to make it my purpose to please Him in all I do (II Corinthians 5:9). There are several goals I want to achieve for the Lord, but here are four that are a priority. 1. I Want to Comprehend Christ (Philippians 3:10). God has revealed His grace and glory to me in the person of His Son. Still, I want a growing, spiritual, experimental knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. I want to know all that he has done for me. I want to know him, to know him fully. 2. I Want to Be Totally Committed to Christ (Galatians 2:20). I want to lose my life totally to Christ and in Christ, so that I can truthfully say with the apostle Paul, ‘For to me to live is Christ.’ I want to be committed to Christ as He was to the Father, so that my heart says to Him in all things, ‘Not my will, but thine, be done.’ It is my constant prayer that God will give me a heart committed to the Lord Jesus Christ, committed to His will, His gospel, His people and to the cause of His glory in this world. 3. I Want to Be Conformed to the Image of Christ (Romans 8:29). My heart hungers to be more like Him, conformed to Him; to be like Him in love, tenderness, and thoughtfulness; in zeal, dedication, and devotion; in purity, holiness, and righteousness. 4. I Want to Live in Communion with Christ (I John 1:3, 7). Contrary to what many contemporary sermons suggest, as Christians, life’s journey is not going to come without obstacles and adversities. We cannot pursue the acceptance of the world and at the same time expect to be pleasing to Him. Although it costs to follow in the footsteps of Christ, it will be worth to hear Him confess us before the Father and say, “Well done!” Prayer: Father, I know these goals are not achievable in this life. These are the things for which my soul craves and I refuse be satisfied with less. Help me to press toward these every day. 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 a Bible Study.
You can view this current study in its entirety by visiting Bible Study link below. https://www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com/bible-study.html Lord’s Goodness and Mercy (Nahum 1:7) Nahum 1:7, The LORD is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him. President Calvin Coolidge was awakened one morning in his hotel room to find a burglar going through his pockets. Coolidge spoke up, asking the burglar not to take his watch chain because it contained an engraved charm very precious to him. Coolidge then engaged the thief in quiet conversation and learned he was a college student who had no money to pay his hotel bill or buy a ticket back to campus. Coolidge counted $32 out of his wallet declared it to be a loan, he also advised the young man to leave the way he had come to avoid the Secret Service! Although this young man never earned nor deserved mercy, Coolidge showed this young man mercy rather than justice. Surprisingly, the loan was paid back. True Biblical mercy never tolerates sin for one moment, but it shows compassion to the sinner. Mercy helps people overcome sin; it never comforts them in their sin. God declares and demonstrates His goodness to His children. Nahum described the mercy and goodness of God. He is good! He is a refuge for help in the day of trouble. Furthermore, God knows those who trust in Him. He knows His own. The Lord knoweth them that are his (II Timothy 2:19). He has promised to bless those who trust in Him (Psalms 2:12; 34:78; 40:4; 84:12). Those promises remain to this day. The mercy of the Lord is great and I am grateful for its abundance. It is something that we do not deserve, but we are very grateful for. Without the mercy of God, we would be without and our life would have no meaning. It is very humbling to think of the great compassion and mercy God shows to His fallen creation. Only the heart of a divine Saviour can love us at the level we receive. i.The Lord’s Patience: No one is more patient with us than God is (Romans 15:5). If God can be patient with imperfect man, then surely we can be patient with one another. ii.The Lord’s Purpose: God has a plan for every life. With God it is not one mistake and you are out. Due to mankind’s rules, a lack of forgiveness and ignorance of the Scriptures have hindered many Christians from being used of God after they have stumbled (I Timothy 1:16). While speeding one late night, the driver saw the flashing lights of a state trooper in his rearview mirror. As the driver pulled over and as he rolled down the window, he tried to come up with an excuse for being in such a hurry. But as the trooper approached the car, he said nothing. Instead, he shined his flashlight in the driver’s face, then on his exhausted pregnant wife, then on his snoozing 18-month-old in his car seat, then on his three other children, who were also asleep, and lastly on the two dogs in the very back of the car. Returning the beam of light to his face, the trooper spoke and said, "Son, you can't afford a ticket. Slow it down." He returned to his car and drove away. Sometimes mercy triumphs over law. So it is for sinners who call out to Jesus. Prayer, Father in Heaven, use me as a sanctified vessel, to pour out mercy and love without measure on other people. Father, we live in a world where there are so many hurting people. Help me to stretch out a willing arm of comfort, when I see other people hurting or in pain. May Your Holy Spirit empower me to bless and help all those whom I come in contact with. 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 Women of the Bible Series
Jochebed (Hebrews 11:23) – PART 2 Hebrews 11:23, By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents, because they saw he was a proper child; and they were not afraid of the king's commandment. This passage describes both the faith of his parents and his faith. They had a faith that endured the ensnarement of the enemy. Jochebed was an Israelite, a member of the tribe of Levi. She, and her husband Amram, were evidently very dedicated and godly people. They were willing to defy the order of Pharaoh and keep the commandments of God. Every mother needs a relationship with the Lord. Abraham Lincoln declared, "No man is poor who has had a godly mother." When Amram and Jochebed saw that their baby, Moses, was a proper child, they hid him for three months, defying Pharaoh’s commandment. Not fearing Pharaoh’s wrath, they trusted God to save their boy, though they had no idea how this would be done. They hoped for a deliverance as yet unseen. Pharaoh had commanded that all male babies be cast into the Nile River (Exodus 1:22). However, Moses' parents courageously defied the King's orders and hid their son. This is parental faith! Moses' life and ministry hinged upon the faith of his parents. The same was true of Timothy (II Timothy 1:5; 3:15). Thank God for parents who stay true to God in the midst of a wicked world. Moses' mother and father ignored the pressures and intimidations of the world around them. The child of God is under constant pressure to conform to this world. According to Numbers 26:59, Jochebed had three children (Miriam, Aaron, and Moses) and all were used of God. This was not by accident, but due to the fact that she was a God-fearing mother. She wanted her children to value truth and justice and more than anything, she wanted them to be loyal to the Lord and love the Lord with all their heart. A mother’s influence is so powerful since she is with her children in the early years. Childhood years are an influential, developmental, and molding time. May godly parents raise their children to be successful for the Lord in finding and doing His will for their lives (Romans 12:1-2). Moses was blessed with a godly mother. She poured out her life into the life of her son. Jochebed refused to give in to a godless system that would have cost her the life of her son. Knowing that Moses would be raised in a godless environment, she faithfully taught Moses the ways of the Lord. The world demands that parent’s hand over their children and allow them to be trained and taught the ways of the world. But children need and deserve better than that! The Bible instructs that parents will teach their children the ways of God and steer them clear of the world and its devises. It takes faith to go against the grain and raise your children for the Lord, but God will bless you, and them, for it! A Christian must determine that God’s law is higher than man’s law (Ecclesiastes 8:2). A mother’s influence on her child’s life is profound. It’s been said that, “the hand that rocks the cradle rules the world”. Children are influenced more by their parents than most people realize. A child’s desires and dislikes are shaped early in their life as they reflect your character and integrity (Proverbs 22:6). Parent’s that train and teach their children what they are supposed to believe and how they are to live so that when they are grown, they will know what to believe and how to live. Children with no training (that are left to themselves and allowed to do whatever they please) will bring their mother to shame (Proverbs 29:15). Even though his Egyptian family educated and raised him in a heathenistic society and worshiped false gods, Moses never forgot what his Hebrew mother had taught him. Because of his mother’s faithfulness, he never stopped believing in the true God. A God-fearing mother has a strong faith in God and His Word. Hebrews 11 is considered the hall of heroes of faith. Jochebed displayed her faith in God when she obeyed God and took Him at His Word. When a person builds a house there are blue prints they must follow in order for the construction to be a success. When a baker bakes, they must follow the directions according to the recipe. A mother molds the life of her child with the Word of God as it instructs her to do so. Parents, perhaps you will never know the complete impact of the child you are raising and what they may do for the Lord! Give them the best you have while you have them and turn out God-fearing, God-following young men and women who will live for the glory of the Lord! Young adults whom God can use for His glory out into the future. Young people who will instill the same values in their children that you have placed in them. PRAYER: Lord, I thank You for my mother. A woman who worked hard and made several sacrifices during my childhood that I may become the man I am today. Today, You have stirred my heart and have spoken to me about the importance of strengthening and building relationships. Help me be an example before the younger generation that would impact them to choose to live for You while they’re still young and to know You personally through Jesus Christ. 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 Women of the Bible Series
Jochebed (Hebrews 11:23) – PART 1 Hebrews 11:23, By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents, because they saw he was a proper child; and they were not afraid of the king's commandment. Quotes: No gift to your mother can ever equal her gift to you—life. “The most important occupation on earth for a woman is to be a real mother to her children. It does not have much glory to it; there is a lot of grit and grime. But there is no greater place of ministry, position, or power than that of a mother”, Phil Whisenhunt. “The mother's heart is the child's schoolroom”, Henry Ward Beecher. Years ago, a young mother was making her way across the hills of South Wales, carrying her tiny baby in her arms, when she was overtaken by a blinding blizzard. She never reached her destination and when the blizzard had subsided her body was found by searchers beneath a mound of snow. But they discovered that before her death, she had taken off all her outer clothing and wrapped it about her baby. When they unwrapped the child, to their great surprise and joy, they found he was alive and well. She had mounded her body over his and given her life for her child, proving the depths of her mother love. Years later that child, David Lloyd George, grown to manhood, became prime minister of Great Britain, and, without a doubt, one of England's greatest statesmen. We are introduced to a woman named Jochebed. She stands out as one of the greatest mothers revealed in the pages of Scripture. Her selfless love and sacrifice made possible the exodus of God's people from Egypt and literally changed the course of history. It would do us well this morning to look at the life of this great mother. As we do, we find characteristics that stand as reminders to all our mothers, teaching them what they should be as well. Jochebed’s name means “Jehovah glorified”, or “God’s glory”. Jochebed’s faith was rock solid. A God-fearing mother brings glory to God through her children. Not much is said about Jochebed, but what we do know is what she did for God. She brought glory to the Lord and it is seen in how her children turned out for the Lord. Jochebed’s children did some great things. Miriam was a prophetess (Exodus 15:20); Aaron was a high priest for the nation of Israel (Exodus 28:1); and Moses led the children of Israel out of Egypt (Exodus 3:11). The events around the life of Jochebed are found in Exodus 2:1-10. Not much is spoken about her in Scripture. But what we do find is that she was a courageous, God-fearing mother. Jochebed was not afraid of the king’s commandment (Hebrews 11:23). She feared God rather than obeying the king’s commandment (Acts 5:29). Pharaoh commanded that every Hebrew’s son be cast into the crocodile infested Nile river. She trusted God and refused to sacrifice her child. Jochebed took baby Moses and placed him in an ark of bulrushes. She was convinced that her son would be used for an important work. She committed Moses to the Lord. Moses would become God’s servant who would lead Israel out of Egypt. It took faith to place the child in the river. This was the same instrument which was being used to destroy the other babies (Exodus 1:22). It took faith for this mother to take her hands off the life of this child and leave him to the will of God. It takes faith for us to let our children go, but that day is coming. Some parents live in denial and try to hold on to their children far too long. But the day is coming, sooner or later, when that child must be allowed to become an adult. It takes faith to just leave them in the hands of God, but the child who has a praying mother, a life filled with the Bible and training in the way of the Lord has the advantage and will do well. Jochebed was raising her son to give him to the Lord. She gave up her son to save her nation even though she didn't realize the impact that she was making at the time. According to the Bible, God gave His son for us! When He did, God knew exactly what He was doing. In fact, when Jesus came and died for our sins at Calvary. That was the greatest expression of love the world would ever see (Romans 5:8). Jochebed gave her son for Israel. God gave His Son for the world, John 3:16, II Corinthians 5:15. He died for all! He died for you! When the will of Henry J. Heinz, wealthy distributor of the famous "57 Varieties" line, was read, it was found to contain the following confession: "Looking forward to the time when my earthly career will end, I desire to set forth at the very beginning of this will, as the most important item in it, a confession of my faith in Jesus Christ as my Savior. I also desire to bear witness to the fact that throughout my life, in which there were unusual joys and sorrows, I have been wonderfully sustained by my faith in God through Jesus Christ. This legacy was left me by my consecrated mother, a woman of strong faith, and to it I attribute any success I have attained." PRAYER: Lord, I thank You for my mother. A woman who worked hard and made several sacrifices during my childhood that I may become the man I am today. Today, You have stirred my heart and have spoken to me about the importance of strengthening and building relationships. Help me be an example before the younger generation that would impact them to choose to live for You while they’re still young and to know You personally through Jesus Christ. 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 Women of the Bible Series - Eve (Genesis 4:25-26) – PART 2
Genesis 4:25-26, And Adam knew his wife again; and she bare a son, and called his name Seth: For God, said she, hath appointed me another seed instead of Abel, whom Cain slew. And to Seth, to him also there was born a son; and he called his name Enos: then began men to call upon the name of the LORD. The first woman-wife-mother carried a lot on her shoulders—Yet she found hope in the same promised Seed that we all look to. Eve was created in God’s image just like Adam (Genesis 1:27). She was his equal, yet she had a different role than her husband. God made Eve to be a “help meet for him (Genesis 2:18)”. Adam and Eve lived in the garden of Eden in perfect harmony. It may be hard for us to imagine today, but in the beginning their marriage was perfect - no disagreements, no harsh words, no comparisons. Eve didn’t hear about “how great a cook Adam’s mother was” and Adam didn’t have to hear about “how much money Eve’s father made”. In Genesis 4, Adam and Eve’s children were grown and Eve had experienced the horror of her oldest son murdering his younger brother. The first two sons born to Adam and Eve bring them great heartache. It is easy to observe that sin leads to greater sin. What another huge blow this first mother faced. However, God blessed yet again and gave this first family another son (Genesis 4:25). Eve's final recorded words in Scripture are in (Genesis 4:25). Her words are words of hope and praise as she thanks God for Seth. She said, "God hath appointed me another seed instead of Abel." Again, her naming of Seth indicates hope. Seth was not the Promised One, but the Promised Seed Jesus Christ would come through the line of Seth. She believed that he would be the promised Seed. The name Seth means substituted, set, or appointed; in this case another seed. Seth would take the place of Abel and be in the line of Christ. When Seth married, he had a son and named him Enos which means mortal man or frailty. The Bible says that men then began to call upon the name of the Lord. The word call in the Hebrew means to call out by name or proclaim. Revival of the need for God was breaking out as man realized how frail he was and that he did need the Lord in his life. Seth, the substitute was one of four substitutes in Genesis. NOTICE: With Seth’s line “then began men to call upon the name of the Lord (Genesis 4:26)”. I believe Eve, through the naming of her sons, showed that she believed God’s Word and was looking forward to the Promised Seed. Eve displayed her hope in God’s promised Seed through the naming of her sons. She was looking forward to Christ and the destruction of sin and despair that Adam’s sin had brought upon the world. God blessed Adam and Eve with a child named Seth and then eventually he would have a son who was called Enos. When Enos was born then we see that people began to call upon the name of the Lord. We see that from this godly line that these people began to walk with God and were known as a people of prayer. This is truly what distinguishes us from the lost world. Until God's people pray, they will operate in their own strength and become very mechanical and frustrated as they fail in their own power. It is clear that God is easing the fears of Adam and Eve. Through Seth, the human race will survive. His line is set aside for salvation. The ray of hope is in the children who are born from Seth. That is God's promise to Eve. Adam and Eve know that their life is to be based in faith. Their experience with Cain and Abel could easily destroy that faith. But, to all refusing to turn from God, He will have a word of comfort and rebuilding of faith. For Adam and Eve, it is Seth. He can't take away their sadness, but he does give hope. One of life's most precious possessions is hope. We learn here that hope is the product of God. The hope is in the 'seed of the woman' (Genesis 3:15). In the New Testament that same hope is seen, but in a different light. '...the glorious appearing of...our Saviour Jesus Christ' (Titus 2:13). Just as Eve did nearly 6,000 years ago, we too have a choice concerning our own legacies. Will we choose to be like Eve at the Fall and not obey God’s Word, which leads to a legacy of sin and despair? Or will we choose to be like Eve when she named her sons and evidenced hope in the Saviour, Jesus Christ, who came to save us? The importance of choosing the right legacy becomes especially relevant to women with respect to the teaching of our children. Whether those children are biological or spiritual, our legacy affects them. PRAYER: Thank You, Lord, that You are my Father. Thank You that You love me and want what’s best for me and for my family. I pray that godly mothers would continue to fear You and serve You. They would keep their eyes and heart focused on You. In Jesus’s name. Amen. If this post in any way, has blessed you, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com Women of the Bible Series - Eve (Genesis 1:27; 2:22; 3:20) – PART 1
Genesis 1:27, So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. Genesis 2:22, And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man. Genesis 3:20, And Adam called his wife's name Eve; because she was the mother of all living. Eve, the first woman and mother, had a lot on her shoulders. In fact, she was a wife and mother with no example to follow. Eve, whose name means “the mother of all living,” was the only woman ever to become a mother without first having had a mother of her own. In fact, she had no sisters, aunts, grandmothers, or girlfriends to turn to for advice. In short, she had no role models and no one with whom to compare notes. It all started out so beautifully. How perfect Adam and Eve must have been, not only mentally, emotionally, and spiritually, but physically as well. God described the two humans made in His image as “very good.” Before the Fall, communion between God and those made in His image was as natural as breathing. They were also comfortable and unashamed in God’s presence. Then it happened. Eve was deceived (Genesis 3:1-6; II Corinthians 11:3), while Adam knew more clearly what he was doing (I Timothy 2:14), and so he is named in Scripture as the one who brought sin into the world. We see that Adam and Eve believed the promise that God had given them (Genesis 3:15). The name that Adam gave his wife reflected the faith that he had in God's promise and the new hope they now had. God commanded them to be fruitful and multiply and before they fell they would have been very eager to carry out God's command. They would have had no physical limitations in their original state. The Price of Sin: There had to be the death of an innocent animal to provide those coats of skin that they were offered. This was for their spiritual need and they had to accept what God offered by faith. This would be an illustration of what the coming Messiah would do for mankind in the future. There manmade works of fig leaves were not acceptable before God, but his sacrifice for them was. Until people come to Jesus by faith they are living in rebellion against God in their life and have no hope (II Corinthians 5:21; I John 1:7). Without the blood of Jesus being shed we would have no hope. Can you imagine how Eve must have felt when the consequences of her disobedience began to surface (Genesis 3:7, 10)? Can you imagine an unhappier scene? These two previously perfect human beings—in perfect relationship with God and with each other, living in perfect surroundings—were now hiding in shame and fear from their Creator. Intimate relationship with God had been broken and their relationship with each other damaged, as we see when God asked Adam if he had eaten from the forbidden tree. According to Genesis 3:12-13, we see that Adam blamed not only Eve for his sin, but God as well! At least Eve was honest enough when she was confronted to admit to God, “The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat.” (Genesis 3:13). Try to picture for a moment what Eve must have been experiencing at that instant. First, her once-perfect relationship with God had been broken, and now her beloved husband had turned on her in an attempt to save himself. Could their love survive such an onslaught? Could she ever trust or respect him again? Amazingly, it is at this point that Adam named his wife Eve, “because she was the mother of all living (Genesis 3:20).” The Passion of the Saviour: Jesus showed His great love for us and He willingly laid down His life for us (John 10:17-18). Jesus loves us greatly and He specifically came to this earth to be the Saviour that we needed to be reconciled back to Him. There’s no question that Adam and Eve had some serious forgiving to do. They had both failed—and failed each other. Worse than that, they had failed God. And they had even blamed each other—and God—for their failures. But thank God that in providing a covering for their sins and wrongs, He provided the example of forgiving others. Both Adam and Eve lost their relationship with God and the earth began to become corrupt as a result. What is so troubling today is that I see so many people making vain strides trying to restore the Earth. Imagine Adam and Even attempting to restore the Garden of Eden in hopes of giving the Garden a complete makeover to mask their own sin. This is the same approach so many people make today while totally ignoring any need for God. The emptiness that man has in his soul is directly connected to the loss of relationship to his Creator. Only in learning of the folly of trying to reestablish Eden will he be able to accept the submission to the Lord that can fill that emptiness. The curse is there to point and lead sinners to the only one capable of solving the problem their sin created. Like Adam and Eve, so it is with sinners, the greatest need is to restore that relationship. We see that manmade remedies for sin never work and God's plan is the only one that can cleanse us from sin (Genesis 3:21). The plan of mankind is to cover sin, but the plan of God is to cleanse sin. PRAYER: Thank You, Lord, that You are my Father. Thank You that You love me and want what’s best for me and for my family. I pray that godly mothers would continue to fear You and serve You. That they would keep their eyes and heart focused on You. In Jesus’s name. Amen. If this post in any way, has blessed you, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com Women of the Bible Series
Eunice (II Timothy 3:14-15) – PART 2 II Timothy 3:14-15, But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. Paul’s advice to Timothy was to stay in the Word. What a glorious testimony, yet an awesome responsibility. Godly parents possess strong faith that is genuine and true, real and sincere. Parents must trust the Lord Jesus Christ and rear their children to trust Christ. They must root their children in the Scripture so that they will know how to walk in Christ day by day. Eunice did not wait until her children were older to teach them the Bible, but from a child she made them known to him. Deuteronomy 6:6-9 gives parents the command of how they should give their children Scripture at a young age. The Bible commands us to “teach them diligently unto thy children.” This was to be done in six ways. 1. Thou “shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house.” Perhaps the most basic opportunity is when the entire family sits down together for at least one meal a day. 2. Likewise, we are commanded to talk of God’s words “when thou walkest by the way,” in other words, when we travel. 3. Parents are commanded to teach God’s words “when thou liest down” (bedtime). 4. “when thou risest up” (in the morning). Moses repeatedly refers to God’s Words (plural). 5. God through Moses commanded that Israel was to “bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes.” Perhaps the greater idea is how one will tie a string around one’s finger as a reminder to do something. God’s Word was to be continually as a reminder. 6. Finally, Israel was to “write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates.” Plaques of Scripture were to be placed on the walls and doorways of the homes of godly people. For the Scripture to get a child’s heart (Deuteronomy 6:6), we must teach it, we must talk of it, and we must write it. In other words, what they see and hear will become a part of them. It takes external teaching to make an internal change. Scripture does something for a child that a parent cannot. Scripture is God breathed and is from God and can transform a child’s life. Timothy had a family who exposed him to the Scriptures from his earliest days. He was blessed to have a family who demonstrated faith in the Lord in their lives. They not only exposed him to the Scriptures. They also exposed him to living examples of how the Scripture can inspire human life. Scripture makes a person wise unto salvation. If man needs anything, he needs wisdom, wisdom about how to be saved. It is not enough to learn the Scriptures, or to know that the Scriptures are true. Timothy knew all this. He had learned the Scriptures and he had found the Scriptures to be true. The claims and promises of Scripture had worked in his own life. Timothy also knew his teachers; their lives bore testimony to the truth of Scripture. But this was not enough. He too, must repent, believe, and accept Jesus Christ as his Saviour. Eunice’s teaching Timothy of the Scriptures to Timothy played a part in his salvation II Timothy 3:15. She taught her son by example. It’s clear from Scripture that she carries out her mission with great success, for her son was filled with genuine faith. As a believing mother, Eunice understood the critical nature of this spiritual nurturing. From a child she taught him about God and the essential truths of God’s Word. She didn’t just speak these truths, she also lived them. We should use every opportunity to teach children the Bible. Encourage children while they’re young to memorize Scriptures, particularly the book of Proverbs. Proverbs is clearly written to young people (Proverbs 1:4). What you put in your child will come out in their adult years. Timothy was a man of God because as a child he was taught the Word of God by his mother. Mothers can impact the lives of their children in countless ways, but the most important way a mother can influence and shape her child’s future is by nurturing his or her spiritual development. All children have the same habit, and that is the tendency to copy (Proverbs 23:26). Be genuine in your love for God and His Word and your children will copy your actions. PRAYER: Lord I thank you for our children. We can trust You with their lives, and ask the strength of Your Holy Spirit to help us lead them to doing Your will. Each child was created on purpose with purpose. We ask You to help us trust You more. Bless our hearts with great faith, daily steps of obedience, and lives full of evident trust in Your love. 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 Women of the Bible Series
Eunice (II Timothy 1:5) – PART 1 II Timothy 1:5, When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also. I think of a young man who grew up in a home without a Christian father, but with a godly mother and a godly grandmother; and this young man became a major influence for the cause of Jesus Christ in the first century. His name was Timothy. Timothy had one of the greatest privileges that a child can have: strong Christian parents. His mother and grandmother were steadfast believers who were faithful to God's Word every day of their lives. This was and still is the key in any family. How did this young man from the city of Lystra, a mystical place given over to idol worship, develop into such a great leader for the cause of Jesus Christ? He was raised by a godly mother and grandmother. There had been three generations of genuine faith in Timothy’s family: first, his grandmother Lois; then his mother Eunice; and now finally Timothy himself. This faith pleased God (Hebrews 11:6). Timothy's faith in Christ was genuine and sincere; it was real and true. He honestly trusted Christ as his Saviour and Lord, and he lived for Christ. One of the major reasons for his strength in the Lord was the strong faith of his mother, Eunice, and his grandmother, Lois. They had rooted and grounded him in the faith. What made this mother stand out were the qualities in her own life that she passed down to her own son. When Paul thought of Timothy's faith, he remembered the impact Timothy's mother and grandmother had on his becoming a believer. Eunice’s husband is not mentioned by name in the Scripture. Eunice was a Jewess, and believed; but his (Timothy) father was Greek. This suggests Timothy’s father was probably an unbeliever. The story of Eunice and Timothy gives hope to one parent homes or couples who are unequally yoked. What good things about Timothy can be attributed to the training of his mother? Timothy was strong Christian, and this was in part due to genuine faith of his mother. Even though faith is something intensely personal and each person must believe for himself or herself, we are nevertheless influenced in this decision by others. That was certainly true of Timothy. Eunice passed on her faith to her son Timothy by planting the seed of faith in his life. From the first day of his life, Timothy had a constant reminder of the importance of faith and that reminder was his name. Eunice could not put the fruit of faith in her son's life, but she could plant the seeds that she hoped someday would blossom into faith. She did that by giving him the name Timothy. In Acts 16:1-3, Timothy is called a disciple, well reported of by the brethren, and desired by the Apostle Paul on his journeys. Even Paul recognized the influence of Timothy’s mother in II Timothy 1:5. Materialism and wealth cannot compare to a child growing up to serve God and honor his parents. The name that Eunice gave Timothy showed her desire for Timothy, as his name means “dear to God”. What a person does is greatly due to what his parents taught him. The Bible reference to Eunice’s faith is referred to her belief in God and His Word. Paul said to Timothy that what he would be remembered most about Timothy’s mother was that the faith she had was genuine. Unfeigned faith begins salvation, and then continues as one consistently spends time with God and lives with Him. The word “unfeigned” means sincere or without hypocrisy. Hypocrisy comes from trying to “look like” instead of “being” what one should be. Children and teens can read their parents. They can see right through their teachers, and they can turn away in disgust from a believer who plays charades. Eunice passed down this unfeigned faith to her son Timothy because it was her. She put it in herself by having a steady diet of the Word of God (Romans 10:17). A child who grows up with a parent who takes seriously the things of God has instilled in them a faith that will last their lifetime. Genuine faith produces a genuine Christian. A child’s convictions and what he or she believes are shaped by the child’s parents. Often when a parent who says, “I want my children to choose their own way” has already chosen it for them. A teaching mother will train her children in the things of God, but more importantly will live them. Eunice’s faith was portrayed in her life because of a heart that believed in God. You can’t help but teach what you truly believe. Sure, Timothy learned from Paul and others, but his foundation was under the influence of his mother Eunice. Paul tells us that Timothy had a real, living faith in his heart. He had more than just a profession of faith; he had an active faith. Mothers know that they have an especially important role they have been entrusted with. In our troubled world it is a daunting task, but God will strengthen and guide you in your quest to teach your children and to encourage them to choose and to honor Him. The love and influence of Christian mothers is something we should all be thankful for every day of our lives. PRAYER: Lord, I thank You for my parents who love and care for me. May I honor them and show my love and care for them for the many sacrifices they have made in my life. 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 Women of the Bible Series
Esther (Esther 4:13-16) Esther 4:13-16, Then Mordecai commanded to answer Esther, Think not with thyself that thou shalt escape in the king's house, more than all the Jews. For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father's house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this? Then Esther bade them return Mordecai this answer, Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast likewise; and so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish. We see Mordecai’s charge to Esther. Mordecai tells Esther that although she is in the king’s house, she should not feel safe from this decree to exterminate all Jews. In other words, he was telling her that although she is queen, she is still a Jew. He tells her that she and her father’s house will be destroyed. If Esther hesitated too long, she might lose out on her providential moment. Mordecai's message was urgent, and procrastination could mean the death of Esther, her family, and the nation of Israel. It was vital that Esther learn there is no time like the present. Mordecai believed that it was God’s purpose to use Esther to save Israel and that she had become queen for this very reason. However, Mordecai knew that Esther could miss being used at her most important time if she did not do her part in God’s plan. If she refused to help the Jews, she too would perish. Even though God has all power and authority to do as He chooses, His highest purposes most often includes much human involvement and responsibility. This passage reveals the book’s basic message: God is involved in world events in order to save His people from its evil in order to accomplish his purposes of bringing spiritually lost people into a relationship with Himself. God can give ordinary people extraordinary influence at just the right time. God knows how to accomplish great things. All followers of Christ must remember that God is active in the events that surround our lives in order to protect us, work through us, bless us and bring us to be with Him forever. Esther was willing to give her life in an attempt to save her people. She would do what was right and trust the outcome to God. Mordecai had confidence in an unstoppable God. He saw the possibility of God using Esther to deliver the Jews. This could only happen if she was willing to have enough faith in God to risk all, even her own life. Mordecai encouraged Esther with these words, “For such a time as this”. This was Esther’s opportunity to do something great for God. Mordecai was certain and confident of deliverance by the Lord. This was Esther’s one opportunity in life to make a difference. In Esther 4:16, she states, “if I perish, I perish”. Esther had an attitude of submission to a mission. Her attitude was that if she died, then she died. She was willing to die doing the right thing and trying to make a difference. If she died she was going to die promoting the truth, and die trying to salvage her people. She was willing to give her life to fulfill it. She was determined to fulfill God’s will for her life even if it meant giving her life. God's grace has no time limit, but God does have a very definite timeline. He has a plan for the work that must be done in each of us. Esther’s instructions were to fast for three days and then she would go to the king. Researchers have studied the effects of prayer for decades, and one of the more interesting aspects is its influence of human emotion. There is mounting evidence that prayer helps people become more forgiving, especially towards people they are praying for. Another great quality that people can benefit from prayer is that of self-control. People who spend time in prayer are more likely to keep a cool head when faced with anger inciting situation. Esther chose to abandon her place of comfort and safety for the sake of the lives of others, embracing the divine appointment God had scheduled for her. Esther had a challenge before her and wisely she entered the throne of the Lord with her dilemma. Not only was it forbidden to approach the palace where the king was without an invitation from him. She could have been executed for such an act. Due to the urgency of the situation, she was willing to take this risk, but not without fasting and praying. Prayer strengthened Esther and gave her wisdom to save her people. With courage, she boldly advanced and demonstrated how the Lord would be with His children every step of the way when doing His will. Are you facing an intimidating incident? Remember Philippians 4:6-7, Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Point to Ponder: Don’t miss your window of opportunity. You can be confident that nothing can stop God from loving you (Romans 8:38-39). God not only had a "such a time as this" moment for Esther's life, but He has a plan for your life as well. Question to Consider: Is God calling you to show courage right now? How will you answer the call? Are we willing to give our life over to fulfill the Lord’s will? PRAYER: Almighty Father, thank You that You are always sovereign and in control. Help me to see that my life is simply a way for You to display Your glory to an unbelieving world. Forgive me for fearing what I should be turning over to 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 |
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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