This morning’s devotion is an excerpt from the Leadership link on our website. You can view this current study in its entirety by visiting Leadership link.
Profits of Practicing Patience (James 1:1-4) James 1:1-4, James, a servant of God and of the LORD Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting. My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. G. Campbell Morgan said, “Waiting for God is not laziness. Waiting for God is not going to sleep. Waiting for God is not the abandonment of effort. Waiting for God means, first, activity under command; second, readiness for any new command that may come; third, the ability to do nothing until the command is given.” God uses trials in our lives to make us steadfast in the faith. Second only to suffering, waiting may be the greatest teacher and trainer in godliness, maturity, and genuine spirituality most of us ever encounter. In prayer, we are aware that God is in action and that when the circumstances are ready, when others are in the right place, and when our hearts are prepared, he will call us into the action. Waiting in prayer is a disciplined refusal to act before God acts. Let’s view four ways in which we profit in practicing patience. 1. We need patience in suffering (Romans 5:3). In Romans 5:3, “tribulations worketh patience”. We see Job as an example of faith (James 5:11). In Job 23:10, “…when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold”. 2. We need patience in our labor for the Lord (Galatians 6:9). According to Galatians 6:9, we have this promise, “And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.” 3. We need patience in the Christian race (Hebrews 12:1-2). Hebrews 12:1-2, Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, 2Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. 4. We need patience in waiting for Jesus return (II Thessalonians 3:5). II Thessalonians 3:5, And the LORD direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patient waiting for Christ. Patience is the inner strength from God to bear with a plan or adversity a long time. We believers are becoming less patient these days. We want this to happen right now. If it doesn’t, we get discouraged and give up. When Jesus took his disciples over the Sea of Galilee, He took them right through a dreadful storm. It was a trying experience for the disciples, but there was great opportunity for ministry awaiting them. When they arrived safely on the other side, they freed a demoniac man, healed a diseased woman and raised a dead girl. They had to pass through a great trial to get there. PRAYER: Father, forgive me for the times when I have struggled waiting while You were working in my life. I can’t endure in my strength, but in Your strength, I can endure with joy. 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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Sights Set on the Saviour (Matthew 6:34)
Matthew 6:34, Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof. Our Father wants us to be calm and confident because we have had the faith to appropriate His strength on a daily basis. We'll always rest securely in the Lord if we follow these instructions continually. The future belongs to God. Our Father doesn't want us to be concerned with the future. He wants us to trust Him to take care of everything today. Jesus said, Matthew 6:34, Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof. When we're tempted to be worried and anxious, we should meditate continually on God's promises. If we do this, our Father's promises will lift us up and encourage us. Psalm 94:19, In the multitude of my thoughts within me thy comforts delight my soul. If we focus continually upon the problems we face, these problems will seem to be much worse than they actually are. Our Father wants us to do exactly the opposite. He wants us to focus continually on the promises in His Word. If we focus constantly upon God's promises we'll be so close to our Father that the problems we face won't be able to pull us down. Our Father wants us to focus continually on Him and not on our problems. Isaiah 26:3, Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. This passage of Scripture promises that God will guard us and keep us in perfect and constant peace. Our Father has promised to constantly give us His wonderful peace if we will do what He tells us to do. This promise is conditional. God will guard us and keep us in perfect and constant peace if we do our part. Our part is to filter our thoughts through God. We must resist the temptation to focus on our problems. If we saturate ourselves continually in the Word of God, we'll be able to keep our character under God's power. Our faith will be strong. We'll be able to lean on God and place all of our hope and our confidence in Him. Psalm 25:15, Mine eyes are ever toward the LORD; for he shall pluck my feet out of the net. We panic when we know we can't solve a problem and we don't deeply believe the Lord will solve the problem for us. If we focus continually on the Lord, we won't be shaken by the problems we face. We can't allow our problems to distract us from focusing constantly on Jesus Christ. Hebrews 12:2, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. Jesus is our Leader. He is the Source of our faith. Our faith should be anchored upon Him. Jesus is the Finisher. If we focus continually on Him, and if we trust totally in Him, Jesus will bring us safely through the problems we face. Questions to Consider:
Points to Ponder:
PRAYER: Lord, I know that You don’t want me to live consumed with worry. You want me to live life, guarded by Your peace. Please engulf and guard my heart with it. Remind me, Father, that peace is not the absence of problems in my life but the calm assurance that what You’re doing is best. You have never failed me, and You will never fail me—my confidence is in You. I pray this in Jesus’ name! If this post in any way, has blessed you, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com Recipe for Revival (II Chronicles 7:14)
II Chronicles 7:14, If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. Whenever you see the number 40 in the Bible, it indicates there is a period of probation, a period of testing, or a period of trials. This verse contains 40 words. The number 40 is scattered throughout the Old and New Testaments. Samuel, Solomon, and David each had a 40 year reign. Moses spent 40 years in Egypt, 40 years in Midian, and 40 years in the wilderness. Jacob waited until he was 40 years old before he took a bride. Jonah went to Nineveh and gave the Ninevites a 40-day probation period to repent of their sins. Ezekiel lay on his right side 40 days as protest against Judah. Jesus spent 40 days in the wilderness and afterward He was tempted by the devil. He died, rose, and spent another 40 days on planet Earth before He caught the cloud to go back home. The recipe for godly blessing is here pronounced. The focus is of God’s people, specifically Israel. However, the principles surely apply by extension to any people or church of this age. Seven elements are noted. 1. The verse begins with If; that is possibility. 2. My people; that is personal. God’s people are children of God. 3. Which are called by my name; that's paternal. 4. Shall humble themselves; that's preparation. This is where solving our problems begins. Pride causes so much trouble. Pride will keep one from confessing his sins and will cause them to spend an eternity in hell. 5. Pray; that's power. When trouble comes, the best thing to do is pray. Many go to the bottle and get drunk, or to the needle and get high on drugs. Such action only makes their troubles worse, but prayer is a different story. 6. Seek my face; that's a privilege. Seek God’s face. Not many are seeking God today. You can tell this by what they choose to do on Sunday rather than attending church. Few are interested in God and do not seek Him through His Word or prayer. 7. Turn from their wicked ways; that's progress. Turning from our wicked ways does not mean to legalize evil by making laws to allow evil conduct to exist without justice in society. It does not mean to excuse our sins because everyone else is doing it. Nor does it mean to belittle the seriousness of evil. Forsaking our sin means to stop doing evil. All the confessing in the world will not do any good if you do not stop your evil conduct. When these are met, then God promised to … 8. Then will I hear from heaven; that's procedure. God would hear their prayer. 9. Forgive their sins; that's pardon. Our greatest need is Divine forgiveness. 10. Heal their land; that's prosperity. This refers to sending rain and restraining plagues. The judgment upon the land will be removed and the land will recover from Divine chastisement when people turn from their iniquity unto God. If you want to be a candidate for revival, then this is the invitation. You can experience true revival and true power in your church. PRAYER: Father, I know revival is real and it is possible. If there is ever a time I have needed to repent, that time is now. You would rather pardon than judge, therefore, I set my heart to seek You. Forgive me, have mercy on me. In Jesus name, Amen! If this post in any way, has blessed you, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com He Will Lead You...Will You Follow? (Psalm 32:8)
Psalm 32:8, I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye. All of us need direction and guidance for our lives. We are living in a fractured and frightening world. We struggle to make good choices hindered by our own deceitful hearts and our sin natures. Yet God has not neglected us to wander blindly through life. We have the guidance of the Holy Spirit, who abides in our hearts, to rely on. It is important to understand that His work of leading us is done through the Word of God. Our feelings can lead us to error, but the Bible is always true. When the Holy Spirit guides our understanding of Scripture and we follow Him, our walk will be straight. When Abraham followed God, he was positive he was heading in the right direction, even though he had no idea where he was going. That’s because he was walking by faith and not by sight. To walk by faith is not to take a blind leap in the dark, but to trust God to lead you down a path you have never taken before. From the time Abraham left his homeland in Ur of the Chaldees until the time he came within inches of slaying his only son as a sacrifice in obedience to God on Mt. Moriah, he had to entrust his well-being, his reputation, and his aspirations to the perfect wisdom of God. In spite of his own weaknesses and shortcomings, He lived by faith. Faith in God strengthened him to press ahead through the difficulties of his journey. And it persuaded him that the path he traveled was the right one. What a blessed promise from God! Psalm 32:8, I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye. This promise is from the very eye of God. Keep in mind, you can place your hope in the sovereign hand of God. He has a special interest in you. He truly loves and cares for you. This is a declaration about God. He who knows all and sees all knows far better than we do. God has instructed us and told us how to live, but the trouble with man is that he does not pay much attention to what God says and goes his own way rather than the way God has instructed. Only a foolish person would ignore such wise counsel, and yet, this is done every day. He had promised to instruct us and guide us in the way we should go (Psalm 73:24; Proverbs 3:5-6). If you are not living daily in the Word of God you are cutting off God’s guidance for your life. Each day we are blessed to be able to encounter new opportunities. For some, this can be a struggle due to the fear of what the future holds. When we cannot see what lies ahead, it becomes worrisome to us and we feel out of control. Financial setbacks, disappointments, and personal problems tend to obscure our vision for hope in the future causing us doubt and despair. The Scriptures encourage us to thrust our concerns to the Lord (I Peter 5:7). If you are neglecting the Scriptures you are hindering God’s guidance for your life. The more we read and study the Scriptures, the more the Lord will leads us. When you need direction on the paths of life, remember, that God is always near. He is there to guide us down the right paths. He will strengthen us when we are weak. He will give comfort when we are distressed. We just need to listen to Him. We serve an awesome God. Remember to thank the Lord for guiding us safely until we reach Heaven’s shores. PRAYER: Lord, I thank You for the opportunities given me each day to trust in You. Help me to walk with surety upon the promises of Your Word that You will guide me as I walk through the dark valleys of 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 God Has A Plan For You (Jeremiah 29:11)
Jeremiah 29:11, For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. Have you ever had the day's schedule planned so perfectly only to have your best-laid plans suddenly collapse due to a last-minute interruption? I've been there many times myself, but I've learned that God often overrides even the most well-meaning plans to orchestrate His own divine plan-He intervenes through our interruptions. When we are going through trials it is of great comfort to know that God allows nothing to come into our lives without first passing through the hands of our Heavenly Father. If we are to rise above our circumstances, then we need to look at our circumstances from God's point of view. Fervent prayer and continual studying the Scriptures will help you learn how to do this. What does this mean to you? Below are five things: 1. God made plans for you before the world began. He has plans for you now. You are not a mistake. You are purposed for greatness (John 10:10; Ephesians 2:10). Jesus is the Good Shepherd. Not only does our Lord offer eternal life, He offers a fullness of life in the meantime. The Christian life surpasses anything the world can offer. 2. God's plans for you are bigger and better than your plans for yourself (Ephesians 3:20). The cause of Christ ought to be at the top of our priority lists, and we must ever be mindful of how we can advance this end. Think of your greatest aspiration and then acknowledge the fact that God's desire for you is much bigger than anything you've ever imagined for yourself. 3. Remain faithful over what you have been given charge. Even if it seems like no one is noticing, God is. He is paying attention to what you do and how you do it. He will remember, recognize, and reward you. 4. Never give up. Your life may seem dull, ordinary, and common, but we serve a God who can turn your life around in an instant. Keep your hopes up in the midst of dark days, when we don’t understand what is going on. Remain in faith daily. Trust God every step of the way. Just keep having hope in the Lord no matter how dark it looks. 5. God can turn your life around. One swing from God can take you from fearful to a mighty man of valor (Gideon), from a barren man to a father of nations (Abraham), from a fisherman to a fisher of men (Peter), from an extremist to an evangelist (Paul), and from a shepherd boy to a king (David). Serve God faithfully and become the man/woman God has called you to be! It's far more important that we care about people, rather than plans. You may be in a hurry as you're reading this today; but in your haste, don't neglect opportunities to let your light shine for Christ. Be available to lend an ear or a hand, and you'll be amazed at how God will use you Prayer: Father in Heaven I know You love me and it amazes me that You made plans for me before the foundations of the world. Thank You Father for caring for me. I know the thoughts and plans You have for me are for Your glory and for my good. Whatever I may face today, I can expect that You are working for good in all of it. So I’m going to step forward in faith, trusting You in all things and seeking to cooperate fully with Your plans for me. I know I can’t imagine all the good You have planned for my life, but I also know it’s all coming in Jesus’ name, so I can say, amen! If this post in any way, has blessed you, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com God Has Never Failed You (Deuteronomy 31:6-8)
Deuteronomy 31:8, And the LORD, he it is that doth go before thee; he will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed. Moses instructed Israel to be “strong and of a good courage” because their God would not fail them nor forsake them. These words are very familiar to us. No doubt Hebrews 13:5 is quoted here. Hebrews 13:5b,… for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. We have the promise of His presence. God’s almighty power will keep you from failing what He has called you to do. God will not forsake you. He will faithfully abide with you all the days of your life. One of the most foolish statements a tongue can utter is “God has failed me” Yet most of us have thought or said it at one time or another—if not through our words, at least through our actions. When trying times come, we ponder, How could God have let this happen? Doesn't He know I had a plan? Isn't He paying attention? How could He fail me like this? God has never failed at anything and God has never failed anyone! We're certain we know what's best for our future, and when God doesn't cooperate, we're quick to remind Him how out of line He is. In confusion, we may think, “If only He could see things our way, He'd understand.” At least that's how it seems from our point of view. But is God really so out of touch? Do we really think He isn't paying attention? There have been literally billions of people on the planet since the days of Adam and God has never failed one of them. Yet somehow we convince ourselves that He has forgotten our predicament. What message does that send to God about the level of our trust? God's power is most evident when it seems that our life is most out of control. When we are the weakest, He is the strongest. When we need Him most, He is nearer than ever. Even when it seems that life has left us alone, God is right beside us, holding us in His mighty hand. The worst we can do during these times of trial is to blame God and fight Him for control. The best we can do is to let go and believe His promises. Points to Ponder: Confidently know that God is with you and that He is committed to you. You can fearlessly trust Him in the midst of your troubles. Questions to Consider: When is the last time you felt like God had forsaken you? Has He ever let you down in the past? How have you experienced God’s presence in hard times? What comfort do you draw from this truth today? Prayer, Father, today I need to renew my confidence and faith in You. Help me now to lay hold of Your promise that You will never leave me nor forsake me. Help me to speak and live fearlessly because I’m confident I’m in Your presence. Lord, You are with me. I am never alone. I commit this truth to my heart right now. In Jesus name I pray, amen. If this post in any way, has blessed you, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com Strength in Unity (Ephesians 4.1-3)
Ephesians 4:1-3, I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. Having told us what God expects of us, Paul now moves to tell us how to bring this to pass in our lives. He teaches us in these verses how to walk the worthy walk. He mentions “unity” in Ephesians 4:3, and again in Ephesians 4:13. The word means “agreement.” It simply means that we are to walk together as one in the Lord. Let me just pause here and say that unity is God’s goal for His church. If the Lord is that interested in unity is His church then we should be interested in it as well. The church has no greater testimony than when we are united in Jesus in spite of our differences. By the same rule, there is no greater slander against the cause of Christ than a church family in which the members are at odds with one another. God put in each of us a deep inner need for fellowship. The need for relationship is deeply rooted in all of us. According to Hebrews 10:24-25, Christian fellowship is designed to challenge us to unity and fellowship. God’s plan is that we will exhort one another and encourage one another. God, in His wisdom, didn’t give us everything we needed to follow Him successfully. Instead He chose to give us one another. God fills in the gaps (the areas of need) in the church. Have you ever noticed when God adds someone to the church body, He places them in a position that fills the gap that was needed? Let me illustrate: In some ways, men are like redwood trees. Redwoods grow for millennia—some are two thousand years old. They reach as high as 350 feet. Yet their roots generally run only 6-10 feet below the surface. How do these top-heavy monsters stand the tests of storms and high winds? The reason they are able to is that they grow close together (NO GAPS), and they literally intermingle their roots. In essence, they stand strong because they stand together. In today’s world, men often have an independent “go-it-alone” mentality. Yet, like redwoods, we will find it’s easier to stand strong when we “stand together”. Rooted in the Word of God does 4 Things. 1. Roots are unseen: Set aside time in privacy (underground). By doing this we immerse ourselves in God’s Word and grow in Him. 2. Roots are for taking in: Quiet time alone in God’s Word to feed upon it will ensure your spiritual growth. 3. Roots are for storage: As you daily study God’s Word, you’ll find a vast, deep reservoir of Divine hope and strength forming for the rough times ahead. 4. Roots are for support: A deep-rooted Bible study will help you to stand firm against the pressures of life. The routine care for your roots through exposure to God’s Word will cultivate you into a remarkable Christian of endurance. Questions to Consider: How is your fellowship in the Spirit today affecting the way you see and relate to other believers? What are you doing intentionally to maintain unity? Points to Ponder: Do something today to promote unity through your words, attitudes, and actions. God is watching how we treat each other and honors every time we engage in fellowship. Prayer, Father in Heaven, I am so thankful that You desired to have a personal relationship with me. I know that it was only possible through the shed blood of Your Son Jesus Christ. Reveal to me anything in me that disrupts or obstructs the unity that Your Spirit is going for in my church. I desire to have a deeper relationship with You. I understand that the closer I walk with You the stronger my relationship with You and with others will be, Amen. If this post in any way, has blessed you, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com How to Run Like a Champion (Hebrews 12:1-2)
Hebrews 12:1-2, Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. Running long distances is a classic test of will and character. Dealing with the physical and mental stress of training and competing are some of the ways distance running builds individual fortitude. But there are lessons that lie beyond the traditional virtues of the sport. Second only to suffering, waiting may be the greatest teacher and trainer in godliness, maturity, and genuine spirituality most of us ever encounter. It is a quality that should be in the life of all Christians. When we have patience in our lives it will produce certain qualities that will glorify God in our life and help us to have a good testimony. 1. STAMINA (HEBREWS 12:1-2) The race we run for Christ is the most important race in the whole world, and we need to treat it that way. Our dedication to the task must never waver, and we need to diligently train. Hebrews 12:1, … and let us run with patience the race that is set before us. If we are going to effectively run the race that is before us for God, we must endure the afflictions along the way. We must not let sin side track us from the race. Also, there are some things which may not be wrong in themselves, but can be a weight and hinder us in running the race. Endurance has the “never quit” attitude even when things look hopeless to others. 2. SUPPORT (ROMANS 15:5-6) We need to have patience with other Christians as God does with us. Romans 15:5-6, Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus: That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. This is a great challenge and opportunity to minister to other believers in the spirit of godly love. This principle in practice is a great encouragement to believers, and a powerful testimony to the lost in our community as they watch what we do. God will be praised and magnified as we put the Bible into practice in this area of our lives. 3. SEASONED (JAMES 1:19-20) When a believer is taught the Biblical truth of self-control, they will produce patience with others. When we are eager to hear the Bible and obey its teaching, then we will deepen our understanding and increase our fruitfulness. James 1:19-20, Wherefore, my beloved brethen, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God. God isn't looking for quick tempered people, but those who are mature, patient, and have self-control. Without patience we will hurt and hinder God's work, but with patience we can further it. If we fail to inspect (control) ourselves, we will fail to influence others. Jesus is our example. Whenever we face difficult circumstances, His Word is our guide. We will face trials, critics, temptations, and other hurdles on our Christian race, but Jesus has shown us that through His help, we can overcome these situations. Think about your Christian race. Questions to Consider:
Points to Ponder:
Prayer: LORD, You have chosen the course for my life. It’s been both exciting and exhausting however, I have a fruitful life and a finish line I have to cross. I want to thank You for the patience and joy You have given me on my course. As I run this race, it’s my desire to praise You and to please 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 Walking Wisely In A Foolish World (Ephesians 5:15)
Ephesians 5:15, See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise. People will either walk foolishly, or wisely. The foolish man loves and lives for the perishable things of this world (Matthew 6:19-20). The wise man lives for the eternal things of God. He sets his affection on things above, not on things on the earth (Colossians 3:2). Here Paul calls upon believers to walk circumspectly. How can we live a wise life? A wise walk and lifestyle require discipline. In order to enjoy a wise walk, we must see to it that we walk circumspectly. We are to be very careful concerning how we walk and how we live. Circumspectly means to walk accurately, carefully, diligently, precisely. To look around; to be on the lookout. It has the idea to pick the way, to be careful how we walk; with watchfulness every way; with attention to guard against surprise or danger. Picture a cat walking on the top of a wooden fence with dogs on each side. Rest assured that the cat walks carefully as it places its paws accurately each step. It picks its way circumspectly. It is doing what Paul says we are to do as we walk through life's pilgrimage. So then, we must walk carefully and cautiously with watchfulness to guard against any surprise of danger. I Peter 5:8, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:” This is a graphic picture that expresses both the danger and the confidence of Satan. Just as a blood thirsty lion stalks its prey, Satan stalks the Christian. Notice that Satan is pictured here as a roaring lion. A lion never roars while it is stalking. No lion stalking its prey announces the fact by roaring. The lion only roars once he has spotted his prey and is ready to pounce. If we wait until we hear the roar, it is too late. It is amazing just how fast we can come upon danger in our Christian life. We must walk circumspectly. That is cautiously, as though we were walking on a ground filled with broken bottles. Imagine having to walk through a room that is filled with broken glass. You are going to walk very carefully. The devil has scattered plenty of glass in our way. He has thrown varieties of nets, traps and snares in our path in order to destroy our Christian testimony. But we are to walk circumspectly as wise followers of Christ. Temptations abound in our society that can bring us down and ruin our testimonies if we yield to them. Deception is rampant as people lie, cheat, steal and trick others into sin, or out of their possessions, or their identity. If there ever was a time to be on the lookout, to be careful, diligent, and to be accurate in what we believe, it is now. We should have a deep and sincere desire to learn God's instructions throughout every day of our lives. We should be completely dedicated to learning everything we can about how our Father wants us to live our lives. We should be absolutely committed to living our lives in constant obedience to every instruction God has given us in the Scriptures. Charles Spurgeon, "Nobody ever outgrows the Scriptures; the Book widens and deepens with years." Points to Ponder: Reproof never does a wise man harm. Wisdom is seeing life from God's perspective. Questions to Consider: How are you spending the down time you have? What are some pearls of wisdom the Lord has revealed to you? Prayer, Thank You that You can be counted on to guide me through my day. Today I need to walk in the hope that only You can give. My way is unclear, my path sometimes feels like it twists and turns in confusing and busy ways as I wind my way along my journey. Show me Your ways, Lord. Show me how You would walk in these places. Remind me by Your Holy Spirit to look to You to guide me. In Jesus name, Amen. If this post in any way, has blessed you, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com Abundant Mercy (I Peter 1:3)
I Peter 1:3, Blessed be the God and Father of our LORD Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, Two attempted car thieves in Denmark turned themselves into police to avoid the wrath of the angry victim of their crime. The owner of the car the thieves stole witnessed the robbery. He quickly hopped into another car and began chasing the criminals. According to a local paper, when the 19 and 21-year-old thieves realized the victim was chasing them, they decided to call police and report themselves. Instead of facing the angry car owner, they arranged for the police to pick them up at a nearby intersection. We may find it strange, although the thieves feared the police, they recognized that they were more likely to receive mercy and protection from the authorities, instead of the person they had just victimized. In the spiritual realm, it is the opposite. The giver of great mercy is the one we’ve violated with our sin. Yet in grace, He gives us what we don’t deserve—forgiveness, and in mercy, He doesn’t give us what we do deserve—punishment. In short, we deserve God's wrath, but He is merciful; He relieves us out of His incomprehensible compassion. God's mercy always come just when we need it most. As just and pure as God is, His mercy reaches out to us in our sinful state and saves us from the worst of punishments. Many people point to catastrophic events in the world and question the mercy and goodness of God. They use tragedy as a case against the love of God, yet a more correct view of trials would be to look at our own sin. Our actions deserve more punishment than we receive, yet God's mercy intervenes out of love. Thank God for His mercy. Life without the mercy of God would be absolutely unbearable. Notice: What R.G. Lee said about mercy. God's mercy is like a cluster of diamonds to those impoverished by sin. It's like a garden of flowers to those whose lives have been damaged by the torment of sin. It's like a huge tree, casting shadows in the terrific noonday heat of a summer's day, providing refreshment to a weary soul. God's mercy is like a palace of many glories, a wayside well to a thirsty traveler, an oasis in the desert, a fire dispelling chill, a balm and bandage for the wounded, and healing medicine for the sick. God's mercy is marvelous. Great men in the Bible understood this and sought desperately for it. Jim Williams of Butte, Montana, writes: I was driving too fast late one night when I saw the flashing lights of a police car in my rearview mirror. As I pulled over and rolled down the window of my station wagon, I tried to dream up an excuse for my haste. But when the patrolman reached the car, he said nothing. Instead, he merely shined his flashlight in my face, then on my seven-months-pregnant wife, then on our snoozing 18-month-old in his car seat, then on our 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 my face, he then uttered the only words of the encounter. "Son," he said, "you can't afford a ticket. Slow it down." And with that, he returned to his car and drove away. Sometimes mercy triumphs over law. So it is for sinners who call out to Jesus. Realize that despite the struggle, trial, difficulty, or consequences you are facing, God's mercy is ever present. God will not place you through more than you can handle. Praise Him for His loving mercy. Thank Him for His grace even though you deserve more consequences than He has given. He truly is a merciful God! PRAYER: Father in Heaven, thank You for Your abundant mercy towards me. In Jesus name, AMEN! If this post in any way, has blessed you, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com |
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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