Bible League: Living His Word The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge.There is evidence of God's existence and there is revelation of God's existence. The two are quite different. Evidence of God is correlated with human rationality. In the case of evidence for God's existence, we experience something from within the created order that serves as evidence for and leads us to rationally conclude that belief in God's existence is reasonable. For example, on the basis of an experience of the incredibly complex design of the universe we may conclude that belief in God as the designer is reasonable. We don't actually experience God Himself, but we rationally infer that belief in His existence is reasonable on the basis of the design in the universe that we actually do experience. Revelation of God, on the other hand, is correlated with human faith. In the case of the revelation of God, we actually experience God Himself through the things He has made and we know this by faith. It takes faith to believe that we have actually encountered God, because He is indirectly revealed through the things He has made. We see the vastness of the sky and the thought occurs "God is glorious." We see the mass and height of a great mountain and we say to ourselves "God is all-powerful." Our verses for today are referencing the revelation of God, not the evidence for God. The heavens themselves are revealing the glory of God. That is, we actually experience God indirectly through the heavenly display. God, one might say, is revealing Himself throughout the world and the eyes of faith actually encounter the unseen God through the things which can be seen. This is why the Apostle Paul can say in Romans 1 that people who deny God have no excuse, because "Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities--his eternal power and divine nature" (Romans 1:20). They have "clearly seen," that is, they have clearly experienced God Himself indirectly through the things He has made, but they have chosen to "suppress the truth by their wickedness" (Romans 1:18). They have chosen to suppress and deny faith in God. If you have been searching for a God encounter, look up. The heavens have been revealing Him to you all along. Bible in a Year Old Testament Reading1 Samuel 13, 14 1 Samuel 13 -- War with the Philistines NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB 1 Samuel 14 -- Jonathan's Miraculous Victory; Saul's Foolish Order; Jonathan Disobeys NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB New Testament Reading Luke 14:1-24 Luke 14 -- Jesus Heals Again on the Sabbath; Parable of the Banquet; Cost of Discipleship NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Reading Plan Courtesy of Christian Classics Etherial Library. Tyndale Life Application Daily Devotion Gray hair is a crown of glory;it is gained by living a godly life. Insight The Hebrews believed that a long life was a sign of God's blessing; therefore, gray hair and old age were good. While young people glory in their strength, old people can rejoice in their years of experience and practical wisdom. Gray hair is not a sign of disgrace to be covered over; it is a crown of splendor. Challenge As you deal with older people, treat them with respect. Morning and Evening by Spurgeon Leviticus 1:4 And he shall put his hand upon the head of the burnt offering; and it shall be accepted for him to make atonement for him.Our Lord's being made "sin for us" is set forth here by the very significant transfer of sin to the bullock, which was made by the elders of the people. The laying of the hand was not a mere touch of contact, for in some other places of Scripture the original word has the meaning of leaning heavily, as in the expression, "thy wrath lieth hard upon me" (Psalm 88:7). Surely this is the very essence and nature of faith, which doth not only bring us into contact with the great Substitute, but teaches us to lean upon him with all the burden of our guilt. Jehovah made to meet upon the head of the Substitute all the offences of his covenant people, but each one of the chosen is brought personally to ratify this solemn covenant act, when by grace he is enabled by faith to lay his hand upon the head of the "Lamb slain from before the foundation of the world." Believer, do you remember that rapturous day when you first realized pardon through Jesus the sin-bearer? Can you not make glad confession, and join with the writer in saying, "My soul recalls her day of deliverance with delight. Laden with guilt and full of fears, I saw my Saviour as my Substitute, and I laid my hand upon him; oh! how timidly at first, but courage grew and confidence was confirmed until I leaned my soul entirely upon him; and now it is my unceasing joy to know that my sins are no longer imputed to me, but laid on him, and like the debts of the wounded traveller, Jesus, like the good Samaritan, has said of all my future sinfulness, Set that to my account.'" Blessed discovery! Eternal solace of a grateful heart! "My numerous sins transferr'd to him, Shall never more be found, Lost in his blood's atoning stream, Where every crime is drown'd!" Daily Light on the Daily Path Revelation 21:25 In the daytime (for there will be no night there) its gates will never be closed;Isaiah 60:19 "No longer will you have the sun for light by day, Nor for brightness will the moon give you light; But you will have the LORD for an everlasting light, And your God for your glory. Revelation 21:24 The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it. Revelation 22:5 And there will no longer be any night; and they will not have need of the light of a lamp nor the light of the sun, because the Lord God will illumine them; and they will reign forever and ever. 1 Peter 2:9 But you are A CHOSEN RACE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR God's OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; Colossians 1:12,13 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in Light. • For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, Ephesians 5:8 for you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light 1 Thessalonians 5:5 for you are all sons of light and sons of day. We are not of night nor of darkness; Proverbs 4:18 But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, That shines brighter and brighter until the full day. 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