This is PART 3 of the 3 PART Series titled “Loving One Another”.
Loving One Another (I John 3:11-20) – Part 3 3. Comprehending Love (I John 3:16-20) I John 3:16-20, “Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth. And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him. For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.” The manifestation of Biblical love in our life is the evidence that we truly belong to Christ. One visible evidence of love is the sacrifice it is willing to make for the object loved. There was no doubt in John’s mind about the love Jesus had. But he also said that fellow Christians should feel a sense of obligation to make sacrifices for one another. The love of Christ should be continuously active in the followers of Christ. If a brother is in need, whether it is the need of food, clothes, shelter, or service, and if one has the ability to help but will not do so, “how dwelleth the love of God in him?” The point is that if we have no concern for the welfare of God's people, the love of God is missing in us. One who can see a need and shut his heart to it does not have the love of Christ. The person who lives a selfish life has missed the whole point of Christ's sacrifice. The test of true Biblical love is identified as a willingness to sacrifice one's own life for his brother. This is in contrast to Cain who hated and slew his brother. As Christians, we give ourselves for others. Why? Because He laid down his life for us. One can talk about what one believes, however, if what one believes is not real enough to motivate that person to good works, that persons faith is dead (James 2:14-17)! Genuine love doesn’t just talk, it acts. People who are insincere might talk about helping; but people who truly love like the Lord reach out to help a fellow believer. This degree of love might be called to demonstrate by meeting a material need. It might be manifested by lending a helping hand or a listening ear. There are countless ways in which we can show the reality of our love for the brethren. A young mother admitted in a prayer meeting that she never seemed to find time for her own personal devotions. She had little children to care for and the hours vanished away. Two of the ladies from the church responded by assisting her in her home. “We’ve come to help you”, they explained. “You go into the bedroom and get started on your devotions.” After several days of this help, the young mother was able to develop her devotional life so that the daily demands on her time no longer upset her. It is to be more than lip-love. Our actions speak louder than our words could ever speak. When we love one another, we know that we are living the truth. May the love of Christ saturate our relationships. PRAYER: Lord, help me to grow in my love for You and for others You have given me. In Jesus' name. Amen. Thank you for reading PART 3 of the 3 PART Series titled “Loving One Another”. Please visit this website tomorrow. If this post in any way, has blessed you, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com
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This is PART 2 of the 3 PART Series titled “Loving One Another”.
Loving One Another (I John 3:11-20) – Part 2 2. Causes to Love (I John 3:13-15) I John 3:13-15, “Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you. We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death. Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.” Cain had a bitter hatred for his own brother because of Abel’s ’righteousness. It is godliness that infuriates the wicked (Proverbs 29:27). As people become more ungodly, those who are good will be called evil and those who are called evil will be called good (Isaiah 5:20). When these conditions occur, that society is in serious sorrow. How can a person know if they have been saved and have passed from death unto life? The answer, according to John, is love for the brethren. The word "brethren" has reference to the spiritual brotherhood. Love is not the cause of our passing over into life; it is the proof that we have passed from death to life. John came back to this point again because this matter is so important. Christians grow when they love other believers. Churches thrive when the people love one another instead of fussing, feuding, and fighting with one another. When you love the brethren, you will love your church and you will enjoy going to church. It is difficult to love others in the church, to really know them and get close to them when you are not faithful to the services. It is one thing to like other believers, but it is another matter to actually love other Christians. Hatred is a very serious matter because hatred is not satisfied with controlling a small part of your heart. It wants and takes almost complete control of a person’s heart, mind, body, and soul. When hate grips a person, they do not think rationally at all. The person is consumed by their hate. Common sense gets blurred, biased, and bizarre. Hating a believer makes a person no different than Osama Bin Laden, Charles Manson, or Adolf Hitler in God’s approximation. That is alarming and crushing. Those who are branded by repeated hateful attitudes toward others, and who habitually harbor murderous feelings, give proof of an unbelieving heart. We must remember that Jesus was hated by the world long before we came on the scene. Therefore, we should not be surprised when the world and worldly people hate us. The more you love and honor God, the more you expose the evil of those who do not. The more you expose the evil of those who dishonor God, the more they’ll hate you. They’ll hate you because of who you love, because of who you resemble. They hated Jesus and they’ll hate those who are like Jesus. The very core of Christ's message is one of love. God loved so much that He gave His all. Those saved have experienced that love fully, and now God desires that they turn around to show others that love as well. Love isn't common in our world. Hearing of someone giving of themselves stands out in a world of selfish pursuit. So, when someone shows love, others notice. As Christians, our very existence should be to show love to those around us. PRAYER: Lord, I know the power of Your love can impact someone today so, help me take the time to show it to someone today. In Jesus' name. Amen. Thank you for reading PART 2 of the 3 PART Series titled “Loving One Another”. Please visit this website tomorrow for Part 3. If this post in any way, has blessed you, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com This is PART 1 of the 3 PART Series titled “Loving One Another”.
Loving One Another (I John 3:11-20) – Part 1 1. Christlike Love (I John 3:11-12) I John 3:11-12, “For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous.” Here in these verses, John’s main emphasis is one of the most needed things in the world and the church, which is love. The love spoken of here is the unconditional, self-sacrificing love which God has shown to man. This is the very thing that Christians are to have for one another. This message suggests that while others are loving us, we are to be loving them. In I John 3:11, John said that we have an obligation to love one another. This obligation was laid down from the beginning. John probably had reference to John 13:34, “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another”. This word “love” means we are to continually love others with a self-sacrificing love. It is the same kind of love that God has for us. When the ministry of the Lord Jesus was nearing its end on earth, He shared with the disciples the key, distinguishing mark of a Christian. It was not someone who wore a cross around his or her neck. It was not someone who went to church. The mark was love for the brethren. I John 3:12, on the other hand, suggests that Cain had a love unlike what we are to have. Cain’s love for his brother Abel had conditions in it. Cain’s love for his brother dried up once he discovered that his brother was so much different from himself. Cain discovered that Abel’s deeds were righteous and his own deeds were evil. Cain’s love was a wrong love because it was not strong enough to let his brother take a few steps ahead of him. In our loving one another, we must be sure that we have a right love. This kind of love is unconditional. Cain killed his brother because he was angry at God for refusing his offering to the Lord and was jealous that Abel’s offering was accepted. It was accepted because it was offered in obedience and faith (Hebrews 11:4). Cain wanted to worship God on his own terms and did not follow the instructions of his father on how to offer a proper blood sacrifice to the Lord. Cain’s offering was a bloodless one. Cain was not any different than people today who worship God on their terms. They leave Jesus out of their lives. They depend on works to get them to Heaven or gain merit with God, but all to no avail. Without personally accepting Christ’s sacrifice for sins, a person is of the wicked one (John 8:44). Love does not persecute the righteous. A person who truly loves his brother will not persecute him. Love means that we will not even dislike another person. We love them, care for them, and reach out to them. We want their fellowship in Christ, longing for them to experience all the richness of life and for them to know all the fulness of Christ and His love. PRAYER: Lord, I see that love for others and for You does not come easily to me. That kind of love isn’t in me on my own. I’m asking You today to pour that kind of love into my life. In Jesus' name. Amen. Thank you for reading PART 1 of the 3 PART Series titled “Loving One Another”. Please visit this website tomorrow for Part 2. If this post in any way, has blessed you, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com You Can Trust God (Psalm 18:2)
Psalm 18:2, “The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.” The symbolism of Psalm 18:2 applies to our ongoing life struggles against physical and spiritual forces. God’s care for us is described by six symbols: (1) “my rock”—representing the safety and security of God’s steadfast strength. (2) “my fortress”—representing a place of refuge and safety that the enemy cannot penetrate. (3) “my deliverer”—representing God’s ability to rescue and free people from trouble. (4) “my shield”—representing how God steps between us and harm. (5) “horn of my salvation”—representing God’s strength and victorious power to save us. (6) “my stronghold”—representing the fact that if we hold firmly to God and remain in a right relationship with Him, He will provide security and will lift us above the dangers of life. Trusting God is not an easy thing to do and sometimes it goes against all human reasoning. Sometimes it means we have to relax instead of anxiously trying to bring a desired outcome to pass on our own. Trusting God means leaving the outcome of a situation in His hands without trying to influence it ourselves. This doesn’t mean that we are to sit around and not do anything. Trusting God involves working as we wait. It means we should stop worrying about the way it will turn out. Finally, it means we have to accept the outcome as God’s best for us, even if it is different than what we wanted. God's Sovereignty. Our trust in the Lord can be sincere when we realize that He is in control and that He is sovereign. God is in control of all that is uncontrollable in my life: what I can't see, what doesn't make sense to me, and what I don't understand. God says that He sees every tiny sparrow and counts each hair on our heads. Matthew 10:29-30, “Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.” If God has every one of our hairs numbered, He surely knows about our present struggles. I can trust Him with my weakest doubt or my most agonizing fear. I can trust Him with what is dearest to my heart, my wife. God's Wisdom. In trusting God, it helps to know that He is wise. He is the skillful Creator who “possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother's womb” (Psalm 139:13). I can trust God, knowing that everything that happens to me is thought out by an infinitely wise Person. My wisdom is inferior to God's. But when I trust His wisdom, I am able to say, "Not my will, but Thine." God's Love. To trust God, I must also trust His love. I can know knowledgeably that God is love, but for trust to flourish I must also be able to personalize His love for me on a daily basis. Jeremiah 31:3 proclaims to us that God loves us with an everlasting love. He promises that He will go before us, that He will always be with us, that He will never, never, never leave or forsake us (Deuteronomy 31:8). The Bible tells us in 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.” The Bible proclaims the profound truth that God “works all things together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28). “For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son” (Romans 8:29). Whatever comes into my life is good because it is making me more like Christ. Notice that God says it is good; He doesn't say it is fun. Watching my wife suffer a few years ago was not fun. Preaching a funeral for your family is not fun. Problems with coworkers and friends, deadlines, stress, and heartaches are not fun. But God promises there is purpose in suffering. It is "good" because as I grow to trust Him with my pains and pressures, my character will become more like His. My love will be less self-centered; my decisions will be wiser. What does it mean to humble myself under the mighty hand of God? It means to place total trust in God alone. It means the surrender of my whole being: intellect, emotion, will, plans, and judgments. It means relinquishing everything to Him. It means renouncing my tendency to step in and wrest control. It means casting it all on Him... and leaving it there. Why should I trust God? Because He is trustworthy. He deserves my trust. When I trust Him, I participate in purposes and plans that transcend my own. But even more, I want to trust Him. Hebrews 11:6, “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” And more than anything, I desire to please my God. PRAYER: Father, too often I fail to trust in You when You Word instructs me to. I believe that Your Word is true. Help me to trust in You just like a child trusts completely in a loving parent. Thank You that You are always faithful. I love You! 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 It Is Still Sin (James 4:17)
James 4:17, “Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.” The life of King Saul provides a case study in rationalization. One of his first acts as king of Israel was to disobey a Word from God, then try to justify his actions. In I Samuel 13, we find the Philistines prepared and ready to attack Israel's army. Saul had been instructed to wait for the prophet Samuel to arrive and present offerings to God. But Samuel was late, and the frightened troops were beginning to scatter. Saul took things into his own hands and presented the offerings himself. The best way to fight rationalization is to call it what it is: sin. When God tells us to do something and we don't do it, it's disobedience. When God tells us not to do something and we do it, it’s disobedience. But rationalization is nothing to take lightly. Making excuses for sin gives it a foothold in our lives. And sin hurts. It hurts the people we sin against. It erodes our witness to the world and damages our relationship with God. If we continue to rationalize our disobedience, our hearts will harden. The Holy Spirit's voice in our lives will grow increasingly faint every time we block it out. People of integrity call sin, sin. They don't blame their actions on others or on circumstances. When they sin, they admit what they did was wrong, confess, and repent. When God asks them to do something, it becomes priority one. We need to continually hold our lives before God, asking Him to bring to mind any commands we've ignored and any sins we're excusing. Then our consciences and our lives can be clean and pure. Only then can we fulfill our calling to be lights in a world of darkness. Here are some common excuses for disobedience, and why they will never fool the Father. 1. Excuses For Not Doing What God Tells You To Do. Excuse #1 "I'll Do It Later." When God prompts you to do it now: tell a friend about Him, deal with a persistent sin, send an encouraging note, spend time with Him. Telling Him "later" is the same as saying no. "Later" may be too late for the good that God intended when He urged you to act. Excuse #2 "It's Too Difficult—I Would Fail." Jeremiah tried this one. When God told him He was calling him as a prophet, Jeremiah replied in Jeremiah 1:6, “Lord God! behold, I cannot speak: for I am a child”. God's response to Jeremiah is His response to us: "Don't make excuses; just obey. Don't be afraid, because I will be with you in everything I ask you to do." Excuse #3 "I'm Too Busy Doing Important Things." What can be more important than what God is instructing you to do? Claiming, "I'm too busy" is putting your agenda ahead of God's. 2. Excuses For Doing What God Says Not To Do. Excuse #4 "It Won't Hurt Anything." God told the Israelites that His commands in Deuteronomy 10:13, “…which I command thee this day for thy good?” Only He knows the chain of results that our disobedience will set in motion. We need to trust His judgment, not our own. Excuse #5 "No One Will Find Out." God will know. Every sin hinders our fellowship with Him and our own conscience . Excuse #6 "I'll Do It Just This Once." God never said sin was OK if you only do it once. Besides, submitting to the flesh rather than to the Spirit strengthens the wrong forces in your life, making it more likely that you will do it again. Excuse #7 "God Let Me Down." When we're disappointed with our lives, we can begin to think, God didn't come through for me, so why should I come through for Him? We may stop doing the things we know He wants us to do, and not worry too much about breaking His commandments. God says in Hebrews 13:5, “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee”. He will always remain faithful to us (II Timothy 2:13), and His plan for us is for our good (Jeremiah 29:11). We need to acknowledge that our perspective is limited and that our painful circumstances and unanswered prayers are part of a larger, grander plan. Learning to trust His Word when it contradicts our perceptions, feelings, and experiences can keep us from excusing our disobedience by blaming Him. Excuse #8 "I Deserve A Break/Reward." When we've been working hard on the job or in ministry, it can be tempting to justify taking something that's not rightfully ours, whether it's money, goods, or time that belongs to our employer but is spent on personal projects. We blow off something God prompts us to do because we've "paid our dues". In II Kings 5, the prophet Elisha's servant, Gehazi, figured he was entitled to a little reward for ministry. His master had turned down a gift from a wealthy warrior, but Gehazi returned behind Elisha's back and requested a few "perks" from the man. God struck Gehazi with leprosy. God never "rewards" obedience by allowing disobedience. Excuse #9 "At Least I'm Not As Bad As _____." Sometimes we try to make ourselves feel better about our sin by comparing it to someone else's. "I may flirt with my secretary, but at least I'm not sleeping with her." "I may “fudge” a little on my taxes, but I would never embezzle money." Jesus told the story of a Pharisee who compared himself to others. The religious man prayed in Luke 18:9, “I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.” Yet, Jesus commended instead the tax collector who prayed in Luke 18:13, “God be merciful to me a sinner”. Repentance is the only attitude toward sin that God accepts. Excuse #10 "Everyone Else Is Doing It." It's tempting to violate our consciences, to give in a little on our convictions, when we see others doing things we feel uneasy about. It's especially tempting when "others" are believers we respect. Yet what is right and wrong is never determined by popular vote. I Corinthians 4:4, “…but he that judgeth me is the Lord.” We must listen to the Holy Spirit Who tells us what is right and wrong, not the outer ones. If this post has blessed you in any way please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com Divine Washing Machine (Revelation 1:5)
Revelation 1:5, “And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,” He “loved us”. This shows continual action. His love resulted in action. He washed us from our sins in his own blood. What a price He paid for our redemption. The price was blood. There is only one ransom, the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. Concerning sin, the Bible declares that without shedding of blood is no remission (Hebrews 9:22). Blood is the Divine requirement to pay for sin. The word “wash” means to “cleanse; to be loosed, set free, and released from sin”. Jesus shed His blood on the cross, and when we trust Him, His blood washes us whiter than snow and cleanses us from every stain of sin (I John 1:7). The text says, “…washed us from our sins in his own blood...” Notice: “our sins” and “His Own blood”. All we had to contribute to our salvation was sin. He contributed His blood. And His blood washes away all of our sins (Ephesians 1:7). The only Source of the cleansing our sins is by, and through, the shed blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. Our good works and own righteousness are as filthy rags in God's sight! He has washed us from our sins in His own blood! Jesus shed His own blood on the cross of Calvary in fulfilling that Divine requirement so that He might wash us from our sins in his own blood. He loved us before we were washed. He “loved us” all the way through; backward in time and eternity, or forward as far as is possible. Before God created the Heavens and the earth, He loved us. We were stained in sins. Being washed means the stain has been taken away. Nobody can de-stain us like the Lord. The blood of Jesus is so powerful that it can get the stain out. As a matter of fact, the Lord used what you might call a divine washing machine. He takes that washing machine and once He places you in the divine washing machine, when you come out, you're whiter than snow. You are washed and free of stains. He has “washed us from our sins in his own blood”. The cleansing property of the blood of Christ is made clear. It is not the “washing” but what’s in the “water” that cleanses. Detergent has a synthetic substance that wipes away and cleanses any dirty or foul matter. The blood of Christ is a “detergent” in that it separates us, frees us, loosens us “from our sins.” He is our surfactant for the guilt of sin. A surfactant is a surface-active agent or solution used for purging or cleansing. The detergent has agents that dissolve the dirt from the fabric and attaches the dirt to itself, and is then flushed away. This fact can be read on the back of any detergent product. How did the blood of Jesus Christ set us free from sin? He had lived a sinless and perfect life as a Man upon earth. He was able to take our sins upon Himself and bear the punishment for them. He took our sins off of us, removed them, and died for them. Therefore, we are free and loosed from sin. Sin has been removed from us. We stand before God free of sin and acceptable to Him. But remember how: by the shed blood of Jesus Christ upon the cross. It is the shed blood of Christ upon the cross, His dying for our sins that frees us from sin (Galatians 1:4, Ephesians 1:7; Colossians 1:14; I Peter 1:18-19; Revelation 5:9). John 8:36, “If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.” God alone can remove sin. This means that, for God, every sin you have ever committed, every evil thing you have ever done, you are still doing, and will continue to do forever, apart from God’s forgiveness. Only the omnipotent, eternal God, who controls all the factors of time, space, and matter could ever remove sin. He gives us freedom from the stain of sin. Guilt is the stain of sin. For many people, a visual stain on their clothes leads one to become embarrassed or ashamed. Christ cleansing power frees us from any and all guilt before God. With His own blood, He entered into the holy place (Hebrews 9:12). Through the blood of Jesus, believers are washed from their sins (Revelation 1:5). Through the blood of Jesus, their robes are made white (Revelation 7:14). Through the blood of Jesus, they overcome (Revelation 12:11). Through the blood of Jesus, the conscience is purged (Hebrews 9:14). Through the blood of Jesus, peace is made (Colossians 1:20). Through the blood of Jesus, we enter in also (Hebrews 10:19). Through the blood of Jesus, we are made nigh (Ephesians 2:13). Through the blood of Jesus, we are justified (Romans 5:9). Through the blood of Jesus, we have redemption (Ephesians 1:7). PRAYER: Lord, thank You for the blood Jesus shed on the cross for my sins. I stand justified before You because of Christ’s sacrifice. 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 Pouting to Praising (Psalm 77:10-12)
Psalm 77:10-12, “And I said, This is my infirmity: but I will remember the years of the right hand of the most High. I will remember the works of the Lord: surely I will remember thy wonders of old. I will meditate also of all thy work, and talk of thy doings.” The psalm begins with the weeping of a troubled man pleading with God (Psalm 77:1-3). He then continues to mourn and reflect upon himself (Psalm 77:4-9). He then meditates upon God (Psalm 77:10-15). There is no one like him (Psalm 77:13). God is in a class by himself. He worked wonders and redeemed Israel with power (Psalm 77:14-15). He closed the psalm by remembering the victory of the Red Sea (Psalm 77:16). The psalm marks the condition of a backslidden ‘Christian’ as he is convicted and then turns back to fellowship with God. This psalm describes a person in deep trouble who cried out to God but felt that God was not responding (Psalm 77:7-9). If we find ourselves in a similar situation, we should do as this psalmist did: continue to call on God day and night (Psalm 77:1-2), while remembering all the ways God has shown us His love in the past. Because of what God did for us through His Son, Jesus, we now have the assurance in 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?” The psalmist stopped griping about his troubles and instead glorified the Lord. This produced a much better attitude in the psalmist. We will find relief in our troubles when we give praise to God instead of complaining so much about them. This greatly honors God. The psalmist was going to ponder the works of the Lord instead of his own problems. Notice: "I will remember... I will remember... I will remember... I will meditate... of all thy work, and talk of thy doings". It was God's works and wonders that would fill his mind. Though he was a mess spiritually, he determined to recall the days when he had been at the right hand of God. The days when he had been right with Him and in close fellowship. When we consider the wonders of God's creation, we can't help but to love Him and respect His power, wisdom, and majesty. He decided to recall and reflect upon all that God had done in years gone by. His mind was drawn to God’s Word and the wonderful testimonies of God’s power. When we lift our eyes from the pages of Scripture to go about the rest of our lives, it can be difficult to make the transition from past events to present spiritual truth. What does the crossing of the Red Sea, King David running from Saul, or the apostle Paul's struggling with the circumcision group have to do with life in the modern world? Where is God? Our natural spiritual dullness is enhanced because we live in a culture that is committed to living in the absence of God. Even though, in principle, we believe in our Lord Jesus Christ as the Lord of all of life, we can find it difficult to live with His abiding presence. That is why we must not only meditate on Scripture, but we must meditate on life as well. If we look with the eyes of faith and the guidance of the Scriptures, we will discern God's hand guiding, teaching, and shaping us. However, before we can discern His presence in our lives in the present, we need to be able to take a long look at His hand in the past events of our lives. It is a principle of Scripture that we must see the present through the experiences of the past. We must learn to follow God’s footprints. Where doubts arise during times of distress, reassurance comes during times of remembrance. Without question, strength for the present can sometimes be found in the past. When we are overwhelmed with despair, we need to pause to remember the mighty works God has performed for His people through the ages. These accounts are recorded in Scripture for a specific reason: that we might be encouraged by and through them. Romans 15:4, “For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.” We also need to recall God’s faithfulness in our own lives. Remembering past victories gives us hope for our present struggles. As we prepare to meditate on life, let's look at God's unseen, guiding hand in the life of Joseph (Genesis 37-45). In Genesis 50:20, He endorsed all the painful events of his life to God's hand, which was working for good. Meditating on God's Word is a vital principle for learning the Word and putting it into practice in your life. That should be our ultimate goal when we study the Bible or hear preaching. God will reveal many wonderful truths and practical applications to you if you will ponder the principles of Scripture throughout the day and the night. If you will relish or meditate on God's Word, it will help you to find relief from rut living. Point to Ponder: Make a list of major events in your life, both painful and pleasurable. Questions to Consider: How do I see God's hand working it all out for my good and for His glory? PRAYER: Heavenly Father, as You lead me each day in my walk with You, show Yourself to me. Let me see Your hand and reflect Romans 8:28. 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 Dilemma with David’s Brother (I Samuel 16:5-7)
I Samuel 16:5-7, “And he said, Peaceably: I am come to sacrifice unto the Lord: sanctify yourselves, and come with me to the sacrifice. And he sanctified Jesse and his sons, and called them to the sacrifice. And it came to pass, when they were come, that he looked on Eliab, and said, Surely the Lord's anointed is before him. But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.” David’s brothers were each circumcised: a mark of divine ownership. Yet not one of them would fight Goliath. Why not? 1. They allowed the fear of those around them to wear down their faith. Fear is contagious. If you listen to it long enough, you’ll get infected. Now, you shouldn’t be isolated from the world, but you must be insulated against its negative influences. Listening to Goliath wore David’s brothers down. We must ask ourselves, “who are we listening to?” Get God’s advice on the matter and build your faith around it. Allow His Word to settle the issue. 2. They had no personal track record to fall back on. There are no insignificant battles in life. The little battles shape us for the big battles, which shape our destiny. The lion he killed as a boy was big, the bear even bigger, and Goliath was the largest of them all. David was never intimidated by the giant. I Samuel 17:37, “David said moreover, The LORD that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine. And Saul said unto David, Go, and the LORD be with thee.” Stand firm on your “God moments”. What you believe in a crisis will be determined by the experiences you’ve had with God in the past. 3. They had looks that impressed but not hearts that sought God. So, He disqualified them saying, “But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart” I Samuel 16:7. David’s spiritual core was formed while observing creation and having fellowship with his Creator (Psalm 42:1-2). Every heart is under the searching eye of God. We tend to be impressed by outward credentials, such as good looks or talent. God is not impressed with such outward appearances; He looks at the heart. God gives Samuel His criteria for picking His man. The basic qualification of God for service is not physical appearance, but rather the heart that the Lord looks at. Man usually looks at the outward things, but the Lord looks at the heart of a person. The Lord judges a person by his heart and his heart alone. God was looking for a man of character, not compromise; courage, not cowardice; conviction, not convenience for the moment; consistency, not confusion and changing beliefs. A person’s reputation is important; however, our Lord is much more concerned about character than reputation. Reputation is what we project, what people think of us. It is what we can package, perform, promote, and pretend. Character is what God knows we are when no one is around. God's way of thinking is not the same as ours according to Isaiah 55:8-9. God has a point of view, and His point of view is different from the human point of view. He is not deceived by outward appearances. He sees a person's heart. We have limited experience, limited understanding, limited knowledge, and we make mistakes. But God is not limited as we are limited. If God has a point of view, that point of view will not be simply one more point of view among many others. His unlimited point of view will have an absolute authority. Point to Ponder: Today, God is still looking for a man or woman after His own heart today. Question to Consider: What does the Lord see when He looks at your heart? PRAYER: Lord, give me the strength and boldness to always be courageous. When the giants of this life approach me, help me to lean on Your strength to overcome them. 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 When God Sends A Text (Mark 1:35)
Mark 1:35, “And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.” Jesus' first source of power was His sense of prayer. When Jesus prayed, He prayed "in the morning, rising up a great while before day". Remember the day before had been the Sabbath, an extremely tiring day. He had taught and had expended enormous energy in teaching and ministering. He had been up late at night ministering to the whole city that had flocked to the house where He was staying. Jesus was very popular. The crowds sought Him out! Everyone wanted to be with Him! Masses of people followed Him for various reasons…meals, miracles, or monarchy. They either wanted to hear Him, ask Him a question, or get Him to heal a loved one. From daylight to dusk Jesus was sought. When the crowd knew He was in town, they found Him. Jesus never had a moment alone unless He made it happen. It is very important that you have time alone with GOD. Jesus loved God and He loved people. He spent time with both. He knew how much time to be with people and how much time to be with God. The solitary place is not identified. The fact of importance is that He had a place where He could be alone with God. He needed to be alone with God. The needs of people were great and their demands would be continuous. He would be busied by the needs of men and by the attacks of both Satan and institutional religion. The days would be long, taxing, and exhausting. He needed the strength of God and a special anointing as He went forth launching this very special mission. There are at least three times when God wrote. 1) Tables of stone - 10 Commandments (Exodus 31:18) 2) Writing on the wall (Daniel 5:5) 3) Jesus wrote on the ground (John 8:2-8) We are living in times when we do a lot of communicating by text messaging:
Today it is undeniable that most people must always have their cell phones with them at all times. We all have become so dependent on modern technology. In short, we have become so devoted to our technology. Technology has its place in our society. In fact, if it were not for technology, you would not be reading this devotion. When I was a teenager (mid 80’s - early 90’s), we could go places and actually enjoy ourselves and others company, having a great time while never having to know what was going on someplace else. We have come so far in such a short time. How did we ever make it back in those days? LOL. Often in the Bible we come across the phrase, “and the word of the LORD came unto…” We read this concerning Ezekiel, Jonah, Jehu, Jeremiah, and others. These verses speak of the LORD wanting to speak to His people to communicate to them. Imagine that! Think about the times when you read the Bible. What does God speak to you about? Today, rather than pursuing your cell phone or email, etc., make sure to devote some time and seek the Lord and find out what message He has for you. Matthew 7:7, “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.” John 16:24, “Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.” Ephesians 6:18, “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.” I Thessalonians 5:17, “Pray without ceasing.” Note five things concerning the prayers of Jesus: 1. He felt a need for prayer. 2. He valued prayer above sleep. 3. He prayed before the day’s activities began (Psalm 5:3). 4. He prayed in solitude. 5. He prayed at length. Questions to Consider: If Jesus, the Son of Man, needed so much time alone with God in prayer, how much more do we? What about your "appointment" with God? Do you have a specific time and place you meet God each day? Points to Ponder: When we make appointments in life, we always designate a time and a place to meet. Have a special time daily in God's Word. Prayer: Father in Heaven, I know You desire to spend time with me, and I desire spending time with You. May our time spent together be quality time, free from distractions that I may hear you speak to 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 Sights Set on the Saviour (Matthew 6:25, 31, 34)
Matthew 6:25, 31, 34, “Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? 31, Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? 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.” Not once (although once should be suffice), but three times within this portion of Matthew 6, Jesus is telling His disciples not to worry. Matthew 6:25 -man is setting priorities and determining what is to be first in his life. The first priority of every person should be to take care of his or her life eternally. Matthew 6:31 - Unconverted man does not know the Lord personally and has hope only in this present life and is pursuing the desires of this world. We believers have our heavenly Father who knows our needs. We are to leave the cares of this world up to God as we diligently go about our affairs upon earth. We makes our contribution to life as God has called us to do, and while so doing we know that God will take care of all the necessities of life. Matthew 6:34 - Christ is not forbidding a man to take care of tomorrow. He is pointing out man's obsession with getting more and more, ignoring and neglecting God and His righteousness. We are not to worry, but to live one day at a time. The believer is not to be preoccupied with tomorrow and its affairs. Therefore, we are to seek "first the kingdom of God and His righteousness" today, and leave tomorrow and its needs in God's hands. 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 in 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: Is worry crippling your prayer life, keeping you from prayer? Is worry hindering your Bible study making, you not concentrate on the passages you are reading? Is worry stopping your productivity at the office, keeping your mind from focusing on your daily tasks? Points to Ponder: Then I ask you to take your concerns to the throne of grace. Spend time praying about each of your concerns. Then spend some time in Bible study. Ask the Holy Spirit to show you a specific scripture to help you with your problem. Then go about your day with a calm spirit, knowing that God is faithful and has promised to help. 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 |
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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