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Profits of Pleasing the Lord (Proverbs 16:7)
Proverbs 16:7, “When a man's ways please the Lord, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.” A pair of Canadian geese set up housekeeping on an island in a farm pond in New Jersey. Year after year these two returned to raise their young. One summer, only one of seven eggs hatched, and the hatchling died the next day. The parents moped for days only to be faced with a new problem. From the woods by the lake another pair of Canadian geese emerged with eight brand-new babies. For some reason, this new pair had chosen the farm pond, and woefully, the island itself, as their brood site. As they arrived on the scene, they went straight to the island ready to do battle for the rights to the location. Of course, the residents fought hard to keep what they thought was their own territory, but they could not drive the newcomers away. As night approached, the resident pair still occupied the island, except for a corner where the new pair huddled with their young, having been granted sleeping privileges. The farmer and his wife went to bed that evening wondering what the outcome of the battle would be the next day. Imagine the farmer's surprise the next morning when he looked out on the lake and saw eight baby geese swimming peacefully with not one but two parents in the lead, and two bringing up the rear. By making peace, the adult geese had not only provided double protection for the goslings, but had also provided the resident pair with babies to care for to replace the ones they had lost. In the same manner as the geese, the Lord gives us insight on what we can do to get along with people, especially our enemies. He tells us to please the Lord by the way we live. When we honor God with our lives, when we love others, including our rivals, He will make our enemies to be at peace with us. People have tried such things as flattery or bribery to appease enemies but have failed. A genuine Christian is the most lovable personality in human life. God has a way of raising up friends for those who serve Him and do His will. God, however, can change the heart of an enemy when our ways please the Saviour. Though there are many enemies of the righteous, when our lives truly please the Lord, in due season, God will cause them to be at peace with us. God does not promise freedom from enemies. The world’s crowd never likes God’s people, but deep down in their heart, they respect those who are truly godly. Though they might persecute and mock the righteous, yet God will cause them, in due season, to respect His people. The greater principle is that God blesses the righteous. He takes care of them. Pleasing God produces peace. No effort of the United Nations can ever produce the peace that pleasing God does, yet how disinterested the nations of the world are to please the Almighty. During the Civil War, Stanton treated Lincoln with utter contempt. He called him a "low cunning clown" and "the original gorilla." He said there was no need to go to Africa to capture a gorilla when one was available in Springfield, Illinois. Lincoln, however, never retaliated. Instead, he made Stanton his war minister, believing that he was the best qualified for the office. Years later, when Lincoln was killed by an assassin's bullet, Stanton looked down on his rugged face and said tearfully, "There lies the greatest ruler of men the world has ever seen." Even if our life doesn't please our enemies, we haven't lost anything. We are still pleasing God, the only One who truly matters. A righteous life disarms opposition. Albert Barnes put it this way, "Goodness has power to charm, and win, even enemies to itself." Our effort to live for God and be peacemakers will usually make us more attractive to those around us, even our enemies. They may not believe what we believe, but many of them acknowledge that we are standing for something that is good or we have something that is special. Our patience, wisdom, diligence, kindness, and love also make a big impression on those who oppose us. When we look at the lives of Joseph in Egypt, David in Gath, or Daniel in Babylon, we find that these dedicated men reaped peace with their enemies because their ways pleased the Lord. God knew what was in the hearts of these men and He knew they were determined to please Him. Peace is created when God’s ways become man’s ways. If God does allow some persecution by our enemies, it is for our good (II Timothy 2:12) and for His glory (I Peter 4:14). God will deal with those who oppose His followers. Believers who focus on pleasing God in all of their ways can leave the fate of their enemies in the Lord’s hands. When a person strives to please the Lord, enemies find it more difficult to find fault with or to criticize him or her. One who is trying to uphold the great commandment to love others as oneself will be much more likely to win over an enemy than someone who is being rebellious or argumentative. It is the believer’s role to please the Lord, and it is God’s role to convert or convict the enemy. Questions to Consider:
Points to Ponder:
PRAYER: Father, my greatest desire is to please You in all things. Help me to resist pleasing the world rather than pleasing you. Help me to always stay close 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
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Listening to God (James 1:19)
James 1:19a, “Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear…” Best friends since childhood, a wall-street investor and a farmer were walking through Central Park conversing. At one point the farmer said to his friend, “Did you hear that cricket?” The banker replied, “With all the noise in this park, how do you hear a cricket?” The farmer said, “You hear what you train yourself to hear.” To prove his point, he took a few coins from his pocket and threw them on the sidewalk. Everyone nearby immediately stopped and looked. If we are going to walk with God in the midst of a society that is set on going in the other direction, we must hear His voice. There will always be other voices calling out to distract us from our course, but our ears should be open and eager to hear what God has to say. This is what James had in mind when he instructed us to “be swift to hear” (James 1:9). Though the world speaks loudly, God often whispers. This was the experience Elijah had when he was alone on a mountain. He witnessed loud and powerful events: “And after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice” (I Kings 19:12). Hearing that “still small voice” is vital to the renewal of our strength for the Christian walk day after day. But it does not happen unless we are willing to focus our hearing to discover what God has to say. Jesus spoke that those who know Him hear His voice. John 8:47a, “He that is of God heareth God's words...” John 10:4b, “…and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.” There are times when God speaks loudly, but most of the time He speaks in a still small voice. If we are wise, we will be listening intently when He does. To do so, we must plan some out some quality time with God each day, study His Word, and allow Him to guide us. Questions to Consider:
Points to Ponder:
Prayer: Lord, every day of my life there are many things I hear. Some I’d rather not hear and others I need to hear. No one else gives me greater joy than to hear from You. When I open my eyes in the morning, I long to hear from You. When my head rests on the pillow at night, I desire to hear from You. When troubles, successes, sadness, and joy come my way, I yearn to hear from You. Whether I’m fearing, or at peace, my delight is to hear from 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 Is God Able?...He is More Than Able! (Daniel 3:16-18)
Daniel 3:16-18, “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter. If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.” When Robert Morrison was on his way to China where he would serve as a missionary, the captain of the ship was skeptical of his calling and gave him a hard time. As Morrison was leaving the ship, the captain said to him, “I suppose you think you’re going to make an impression on China.” “No,” Robert Morrison replied simply, “I don’t think I will make an impression on China but I believe God will.” The furnace that we read about represents trials and testing. Like these believers, our faith is put to the test sometimes. They would not bow, bend, budge, break, or burn for this world. What did they find in the furnace? 1. They Found the Presence of God (Daniel 3:25). God’s presence gave them courage, comfort, and council. 2. They Found the Protection of God (Daniel 3:26). God protected them from their fall, their foes, and their fire. 3. They Found the Promise of God (Daniel 3:28). The trusted the God’s Word, way, and will. 4. They Found the Power of God (Daniel 3:27). They were not singed, nor smelled, nor suffered. Imagine the testimony of these men when they came out of the fiery furnace. The three young men answered firmly: they refused to plead for their lives. Trusting and loving the Lord with all their hearts, they surrendered themselves into the hands of God. They informed the king that they did not need to defend themselves, that their first loyalty belonged to the Lord and Him alone. Moreover, they knew that their God was able to save them from the fiery furnace. In fact, they were casting themselves upon the Lord to actually rescue them. But even if the Lord chose not to deliver them, they still could not betray Him. No matter what the king did to them, they could not worship the gods of Babylon nor the golden image that represented the state. The strong, steadfast faith of these young men is a perfect picture of total surrender to the Lord. In times of trial or temptation, the one thing we need above all else is a strong, steadfast faith. The three young men could have easily compromised their faith. They could have done what we are so often tempted to do and take the easy way out. A solid, unwavering faith is needed to withstand the temptation to compromise. Throughout life, we will face critical decisions just as Daniel’s three friends did. If we choose to deny the Lord, we may escape the threats and the suffering for a brief time, but the day of departure from this world will still come. Therefore, the Lord encourages us to place our faith in Him and to grow a strong and steadfast faith. Ephesians 3:20, “Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us.” Throughout the Bible there are examples of God demonstrating His ability. The whole point of prayer is to ask God to do what we cannot do in our own strength or ability. If we think that we can pull it off ourselves, then we don’t need to pray. God often puts His people in impossible situations to display His power and glory. God is not just able to do beyond what we ask, but abundantly beyond. But that’s not enough, He is able to do far more abundantly beyond what we ask. But, we still aren’t to the limit: The Lord our God is the God of omnipotent ability. The Omnipotent God operates in a realm that is far beyond our ability to even understand. His ability is absolute. What limitless power! His power is unlimited. He can do anything He wills. Omnipotence knows no obstacles. He is not just hanging around or just sitting there—He is working within us. Whatever is required to accomplish the purposes and promises of God, “He is able” to perform. God is never defeated. Though He may be opposed, attacked, and resisted, still the ultimate outcome can never be in doubt. Do you serve a God that can? From Genesis to Revelation, we see God’s mighty power at work. He is the God that walked with the 3 Hebrew children in the fiery furnace and rescued them out of Nebuchadnezzar’s evil hands. He is the God of Daniel who quieted the mouths of the Lions and was able to deliver him from their grasp. He is the God of Moses who parted the Red Sea and drowned the Egyptian army that pursued God’s people. He is the God of David that guided the single stone from David’s slingshot to Goliath’s head. He is the God that raised Jesus from the dead and defeated death, hell, and the grave. He is a God that is greater than my understanding or ability to explain who He is. He is the Lord God almighty. How big is your God? Is He a God that can? PRAYER: Father, although I will never fully understand Your Almighty power, I do know that nothing is ever too hard or difficult for You. I know that Your plans for me are far larger than I can imagine. Help me to never hinder, limit, or hinder Your work in and through 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 The Bitter Root of Bitterness (Hebrews 12:15)
Hebrews 12:15, Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled; A certain man went to the doctor and told the doctor he was hurting all over his body. The doctor wanted to know the specifics of this man’s pain. The man told him when he touched his foot, he hurt. If he touched his nose, he also hurt. He proceeded to touch various areas of his body; with each touch the doctor noticed his pain was very real. The doctor diagnosed that the man had a broken finger. As with this patient, the bitter person finds pain in nearly every area of their life and often fails to properly diagnose the root of their misery. The reality of their misery comes from that root of bitterness. A bitter person only focuses on their own personal pain. A bitter person looks at their own pain meticulously, but blindly ignores the pain of others. Bitterness is always self-inflicted. We cause our own bitterness. Bitterness will completely destroy you. Bitterness is holding onto an offence until it has a hold on you. If one decides to go this route; it is a personal choice. If you allow bitterness to rob you of your joy then you have no one to blame other than yourself. Bitterness is not something that someone can do to us. A root is hidden beneath the ground, but it feeds the entire plant. The root of bitterness that is growing in many lives must be dug up and exposed for what it really is. As we diligently dig up the roots of bitterness within our lives, we will find that many of the roots have grown deep into our heart. This points to the deceptive nature of sin in the heart (Proverbs 4:23). The person that willingly exposes the bitterness will realize that the bad taste in their mouth has practically ruined them socially, spiritually; and emotionally. The pill of bitterness is so hard to swallow, but when it has been swallowed it is even harder to digest. This bitter pill lodges within our very being and wreaks havoc upon us continually. The sin of bitterness will spread poison in a church if the sinning person does not repent or is not put out of the church. This person will cause trouble and many will be defiled. As a member of the church, you are responsible to make sure that no “bitter root” spring up and defile others by turning them away from God. Points to Ponder: Bitterness is the most dangerous form of anger. Bitterness is a deep seated, long burning, smoldering resentment. Bitterness is an anger that is constantly brooding and holding grudges. Bitterness in its most poisonous stages is a deep-seated anger that has stewed deep down inside until it's poison rules the heart. PRAYER: Father in Heaven, I ask You to examine my heart and expose any resentment or unforgiveness lest any root of bitterness would spring up inside me. Help me to walk in the Spirit that I may produce the Fruit of the Spirit. 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 Receive One Another (Romans 15:7)
Romans 15:7, “Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God.” 1. The Greeting. "…receive ye one another..." The word "receive" means to take to oneself; to receive a person as a friend; to treat as the closest of friends with the most caring kindness. Believers are to receive one another in the closest of bonds. No person is too weak or base for us to receive. A strong and mature church is one that is united where everyone accepts one another. There is no discrimination whatsoever in a strong church. If you look for a church that is made up of people who are “your kind of people,” people who are just like you in their cultural background, their appearance, and their likes and dislikes, you’re missing Paul’s command here. In other words, the other person whom you are to accept is precisely the person who is different than you are in almost every way! When we were younger, immature, we let so much bother us, divide us. When we became older, matured, we realized those things don’t matter. Today, we may ask, “Why did I let that bother me so much?” Have you ever noticed how easy it is to accept your own personality quirks and habits? When you live by yourself, all of your annoying habits are gone! But then you get married and discover that your mate has some rather annoying quirks and habits that you hadn’t noticed when you were dating! And then you have kids who somehow picked up your spouse’s most irritating quirks and habits! If only everyone in the family could be just like you, things would go much more smoothly! And then you join a local church that is made up of some strange people! Where did all of these weird people come from? 2. The Good Example “…as Christ also received us…” Paul encouraged us to receive each other as Christ has received us. How did Christ receive us? In spite of all of our faults, Christ received us with much grace, mercy, and love. He received us when we were ungodly, sinners, and enemies undeserving to be accepted of His love (Romans 5:6-10). He saw us not as we were but as we could be. We were not seeking after Him (Romans 3:11). He came looking for us in our lost, helpless condition (Luke 15:4). He didn’t require that we clean up our lives or make vows to change or do anything to deserve His love. Like the father of the prodigal, Jesus ran to us, embraced us, and welcomed us into His family, in spite of our smell and dirty rags! He promises, “All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out” John 6:37. That’s how we are to accept one another. Believers are to receive one another even as Christ has received us. 3. The Goal. "…to the glory of God." The believer has the greatest pattern imaginable for how to treat the "weak in the faith”, this is Christ Himself. The goal of accepting one another is that God may be glorified. When we accept others as Jesus did, we will bring praise to God; this is the highest and noblest motivation of all. Just look at how far Christ went. Christ received the Gentiles and ministered to them. He came to bring them the mercy of God, that they might praise God for His mercy. When God converted a proud, self-righteous Jew who hated Gentiles and killed Christians, and turned him into the apostle to the Gentiles, that glorified God! God’s glory was promoted when Christ received us sinners, and it is further advanced when we who are by nature sinners and wrapped up in our own concerns instead receive our brothers and sisters in Christ with warmth and love. We are to receive one another that God might be glorified just as Christ received us that God might be glorified. So Christ received both Jews and Gentiles that God might be glorified. We should receive each other that God might be glorified. God is glorified when we fellowship with each other and work in harmony with each other in spite of our differences. A young teen. having no family or friends, who lived in one of the roughest neighborhoods of the city, was wearing old tattered and dirty clothing that he had found. He attended a certain Sunday school class every week and was faithful to the church services. After several weeks of attending, a worker asked him where he lived. The boy told him where and the worker exclaimed, "That's on the complete opposite side of town! How do you get here?" "I walk," was the boy's simple reply." Astonished, the worker recommended, "There are many other churches closer to where you stay. Why don't you attend one of those so the walk isn't so great?" The little boy looked up at the man and said, "Because you guys love me over here." When we deny self and put others first, we bring glory and honor to God; Jesus lived for others and when we do the same, the world around us sees the manifestation love of Christ. Points to Ponder:
Prayer, Father, thank You for always seeing in me what others may never see in me and for giving me the strength and desire to serve You. Help me to utilize these truths for the purpose of ministering to others. Please show me how I can actively and passionately engage in the ministry opportunities You have sovereignly placed around me. Give me eyes to recognize these opportunities, a heart dependent on You, and a desire to come alongside people in my life to help them to grow into a deeper relationship with You. Amen! If this post in any way, has blessed you, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com Don’t Swerve…Stay on Track (Acts 20:24)
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.” In the classic Looney Tunes cartoons, Wile E. Coyote makes frequent, yet futile, attempts to capture the Road Runner for his dinner. Using his customary Acme Products, he lays several traps for the speedy bird. The key to one of his plots is a “Detour” sign that he hopes will lead the Road Runner off the right path and into one of his traps. As usual, the plan falls through and the doomed coyote ends up in the trap himself. But the idea of using a detour to lead to a trap doesn’t always fail in real life. In fact, this is a tactic that the devil often uses successfully against us. Usually, his first attempt is not to get us to totally change direction and turn our backs away from following God. Instead, he tries to get us to change course just slightly. Perhaps he offers what appears to be an easier road or a shortcut while telling us that it will still lead to the same destination. Doctrinal error always results in moral failure. Never sell doctrine short. False doctrine promotes controversies and strife. But sound doctrine produces a dynamic love which comes from a pure heart, a good conscience, and a sincere faith (I Timothy 1:5). That is the pattern Satan followed when tempting Jesus in the wilderness. Yet each time Jesus responded with the Word of God staying the course that His Father in Heaven had laid out for His life. Jesus was not interested in an easier way to accomplish God’s plan. He realized that God’s purposes could only be accomplished by God’s methods, and that helped Jesus stick to His course and overcome temptation. There simply aren’t any shortcuts or detours that lead to good ends in the Christian life. Stay out of the devil’s ditches and stick to God’s road and you will not go astray. There are a number of reasons why we get sidetracked, off the right path or spiritually derailed. Here are four reasons. We get sidetracked by being absorbed with self-will instead of God's will for our lives. Proverbs 14:14, “The backslider in heart shall be filled with his own ways: and a good man shall be satisfied from himself.” We get sidetracked by a carnal lifestyle or indifference toward the Lord. Matthew 24:12, “And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.” We get sidetracked by forgetting what the Lord has done for us. Revelation 2:4, “Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.” We get sidetracked when we replace our love for the Lord with something else. II Timothy 4:10, “For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia. A foolish old farmer concluded one day that the oats he had fed his mule for years were simply costing too much. So he hatched a plan. He mixed his sawdust in with the feed, and then a little more the next day, and even more the next. Each time he would reduce the amount of oats in the mix. The mule did not seem to notice the gradual change, so the farmer thought things were fine, and kept decreasing the amount of oats. Weeks later, on the day that he finally fed the mule nothing but sawdust, the mule finished the meal and fell over dead. Christians that feed on spiritual sawdust get weaker and weaker because they lack the nourishment and strength that comes from the Bread of Life, the Word of God. What you do with the Bible will determine what God does with you. If you stray from the Scriptures, don't be surprised if you stray from God and get out of church. They go hand in hand. We, as motorists, take detours because we have to. As Christians, we take it because we want to. If you have detoured and are of course, out of the will of God, you do not have to remain there. How does a Christian get back on track? The Word of God is the key to getting your life straightened out: Analyze and apply God's Word. Psalm 119:104-105, “Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” Psalm 119:130, “The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple.” Proverbs 6:23, “For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life:” Give Attention to the Holy Spirit. Exodus 31:3, “And I have filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, and in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship,” Ask God for understanding. Psalm 119:34, “Give me understanding, and I shall keep thy law; yea, I shall observe it with my whole heart.” Psalm 119:125, “I am thy servant; give me understanding, that I may know thy testimonies.” Be Attentive to the godly and wise counsel of others. Proverbs 15:32, “He that refuseth instruction despiseth his own soul: but he that heareth reproof getteth understanding.” Avoid and shun a sinful lifestyle. Job 28:28, “And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.” Abide close to the Lord and get to know Him. Proverbs 9:10, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.” Questions to Consider: Is your life full of confusion? Are you sidetracked? Points to Ponder: If so, get back into the Bible and obey it. The Word of God will give direction and order in your life. If this post has blessed you in any way, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com 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: 20 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.” 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. If this post in any way, has blessed you, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com Going Through Tough Times? (Romans 8:28-39)
Blessings sometimes come from a bad situation. It's often possible to make something better out of something bad. That's the way God works with us. We don't often do right the first time but He's always ready to salvage the situation no matter how bad we make it. It is a truth of certainty for everyone who loves God. Pastor R.A. Torrey said, "This verse is a soft pillow for a tired heart." All things…good or bad; sweet or bitter; victory or defeat; happy or sad; health or sickness; prosperity or poverty; calm or storm; comfort or suffering; life or death...all things work together for good. This doesn't mean that all that happens to us is good. Evil is prevalent in our world, but God is able to turn the bad around for our good and for His sovereign purpose in our lives. Some people do not know why bad things happen to good people. We know all things work together somehow, for good or our best. Bad events and circumstances work together for good. Notice the words of Paul. I. There is a Purpose for our Problems Romans 8:28 Romans 8:28, “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” Whatever happens, I can trust God, realizing He is using life's circumstances to conform me into Christlikeness. II. There is a Process for our Problems Romans 8:29-30 Romans 8:29, “For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.” Romans 8:30, “Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.” III. There is a Promise Concerning our Problems (Romans 8:31-39) Romans 8:31, “What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? “ The fact that people are against me fades in light of the fact that He will furnish all that I need in life, including Christ Himself. Romans 8:32, “He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? Romans 8:33, Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth.” Accusations against me are meaningless in view of the fact that Christ is in constant communication with the Father on my behalf. Romans 8:34, “Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.” Romans 8:35-37, “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.” I can rest in the assurance of Christ's love as He promises me complete victory in every situation. Romans 8:38-39, “For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” No controlling factors in life can separate me from the love of God that is found in Christ Jesus. Prayer, Father, Since I know You love me, and I know Your plans for me will come to pass, I will faithfully discharge the duties I have been given. I will strive to perform everything I am expected to do in excellence, whether others are watching or not. I will never give up, cave in, or quit! I declare this by faith. 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 I Surrender All (Galatians 2:20)
Galatians 2:20, “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.” While in seminary school, one of the courses I took was Homiletics. The class was taught by our college’s dean. He reminded us continually, “What you do with the Bible will determine what God does with you.” Until then, I had never heard of that statement. On that day back in 1997, I decided to make the Word of God a daily priority in my life. It’s been close to 25 years and I have never been sorry I made that commitment (Matthew 16:24-27). Making the Bible the foundation of your life, your choices, and the basis of your decisions will give you joy, delight, direction, clarity, stability, and warnings against that which can harm you. If you are going to be totally sold out to the Lord, then God's Word is vital for establishing a spiritual foundation in your life. How can you please and obey the Lord if you don't know what to obey or what pleases Him? How are you going to know anything about Him without His Word? It will be difficult for sure. Throughout history, the great awakenings and revivals took place where God's Word was made available to the people of a nation. Many are not dedicated to the Lord today because they have decided to base their lives on the philosophies of the world which run contrary to what the Scriptures teach. God instructs us to reject such false and foolish teachings and ideas. Abraham is numbered among a rare breed of submissive hearts in the Bible who were available to God. In addition to Abraham, these men were also available to God; Jacob, in his old age (Genesis 46:2); Moses, on the backside of the desert (Exodus 3:4); Samuel, as a little child (I Samuel 3:4); Isaiah, a future prophet and writer (Isaiah 6:8); and Ananias, an unusual servant (Acts 9:10). All responded, “Here am I,” to God. May this same spirit of availability prevail in each of us. Often, we fear that giving God full control will result in our not receiving what we desire. Be assured that when you surrender your will to God, you will receive the best God has to offer. It may not be what you desire or what you would have planned, but God's will is always better than what you could provide yourself. Founder of the Salvation Army, William Booth, said, “The greatness of a man's power is the measure of his surrender”. When D.L. Moody began in the ministry, he heard a preacher say, "The world has yet to see what God can do with a man fully surrendered to Him." Moody, that night, said, "By God’s grace I’ll be that man!" It is said that Moody shook two continents for God and over a million souls came to Christ under his preaching and ministry. Moody had little education and was not a skillful speaker. But God greatly used his life. At a memorial service some years after Moody’s death, Evangelist R.A. Torrey, who had been one of his closest friends, said, "The first thing that accounts for God’s using D.L. Moody so mightily was that he was a fully surrendered man. Every ounce of that 280 pound body of his belonged to God; everything he was and everything he had, belonged wholly to God." When we surrender our purpose and will to God and allow Him to use us as He sees fit, wonderful things happen. The world is shaken, not by the wise, the mighty, the intelligent, or the skilled, but by those who have yielded to God. Instead of surrendering, they cling tightly to their own desires and interests. How much better it is both for us and for a world in need if we surrender and let God choose our path! Points to Ponder: A surrendered life can shake the world. God’s His will is always what's best for you, whether you see it or not. Take time right now to place your desires in God's hands. Trust Him to do what's best and faithfully live your life knowing God guides your steps. God is still at work today. He has something great He desires to do right where you live. But the only life you have to offer to God is the life God has given to you. So, offer yourself to God in your present circumstances. God still works through yielded servants. Questions to Consider: What role does the Bible play in your life? What do you use as your basis or standard of determining what is right or wrong? Are you willing to be that fully surrendered person for God? Have you surrendered your will to God today? Are you offering yourself to God now? If not, why not? Will you be the man or woman that is willing to be used of God? Will you turn your abilities over to God and let Him use them however He sees fit? PRAYER: LORD, my desire is to do Your will and to do it willingly, without question. I pray that by the leading and guidance of the Holy Spirit, I may be willing to present my entire life to You as a sweet-smelling savor. 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 Keeping the Past in the Past (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. Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.” Paul pictured himself as an athlete in a race putting forth all his strength and pressing on with determination and concentration in order to finish the course and win the prize. His aim was to reach and fulfill the goal that Christ had set for his life. Paul was faithful to the Lord’s purpose as he pressed toward the goal of the prize. We cannot move on if we give up, give in, or give out. President Abraham Lincoln is considered one of the greatest presidents in our nations history. Abraham Lincoln is a great example of being faithful to a purpose. He didn’t lose heart or give up. He had a tough road ahead to get to where he wanted to go. If anyone could have quit, it would have been him. Notice: The timeline of events leading up to his office of presidency: In 1832, he lost his job and was defeated in the Illinois legislature. In 1833, his business went bankrupt. In 1834, he was elected to state legislature, but the next year his sweetheart died. In 1835, he had a nervous breakdown. In 1838, he was defeated for state speaker for the house. In 1843, he was defeated for his race for congress. In 1846, he was elected to congress. In 1848, he lost re-election. In 1849, he was rejected for a federal land officer appointment. In 1854, he was defeated for the senate. In 1856, he was defeated for the nomination for Vice-President. In 1858, he was defeated again for the senate. Abraham Lincoln could be considered a loser if he had need been faithful to his purpose. In 1861, Abraham Lincoln was elected as the 16th President of the United States of America. Today he’s not known for his past failures but for what he did and who he became. Abraham Lincoln, like the apostle Paul, learned how to move on, get over it, and stay faithful to a purpose. Throughout our lives, all kinds of distractions and temptations, such as life’s worries, riches, and evil desires, threaten to choke off our commitment to Christ. We must not take our eyes off the prize. That means “forgetting what is behind,” We must not dwell on past fears, difficulties and failures, allowing Satan to frustrate or overwhelm us with guilt that Christ has freed us from. What matters most is what is ahead in regards to Christ’s purposes for us and our final and priceless reward with him in heaven. James Merritt said, “Paul had to forget past guilt, past grief, past glory, and past grudges.” One of the Christians biggest problems is dwelling on the past. You cannot run a race while looking backward. Too many Christians are still stuck in the past. We can never be who we ought to be if we are focused on the failures, disappointments, and heartaches. Paul wasted no time on the past. He was running the race for Christ. Paul would not focus on the past. He was looking ahead and determined to stay focused on Christ. Paul was serious about not allowing the past to hinder his present. Warren Wiersbe said, “There were things in Paul’s past that could have been weights to hold him back, but they became inspirations to speed him ahead. The events did not change, but his understanding of them changed.” Whether filled with the good, the bad, or the outrageous, the past is set in stone and there is nothing we do to can change it. Therefore, we can do one of two things. We can dwell on the past and focus upon our failures and shortcomings; or, lest we repeat it, we can look to the past, learn from it, and move forward. When we focus on the past, we cannot make any contributions for the future. This is what Satan wants us to do. He wants us to wallow in guilt and self-pity. He wants to put us out of commission for Christ. Life is full of ups and downs, good times and bad times, times of encouragement and times of discouragement. Everyone can look back on their lives and wish that they could do some things over, things that they wish they could change, and things that they regret ever happened. Everyone has had skeletons in their closets. In life, we can learn from and grow through past experiences, or we can dwell on and be defeated by past experiences. Failure is not final when God is in control. Let go of your past today. It will set you free to do wonders for Christ beyond your wildest dreams. Point to Ponder: It takes determination to be used of the Lord Jesus Christ. Right now. Reach forth as if the finish line is at your grasps and pursue the purpose the Lord has laid on your heart. Questions to Consider: Are you faithful to the Lord’s purpose for your life? What is the Lord speaking to you right now about letting go of? PRAYER: Lord, You see my pain and You know my grief. There are memories I don’t want to relive, but I can’t erase them. They come when I least expect it, and the weight of the emotions threatens to consume me. In You I am safe, not only from the past, but from lingering memories as well. 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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