Bible League: Living His Word "Oh, that they had such a heart in them that they would fear Me and always keep all My commandments, that it might be well with them and with their children forever!"Although we cannot earn our salvation by obeying the commands of God, the commands still point the way to the life God has wanted us to live from the very beginning. We become aware of God's commands in a number of ways. We become aware of them through our consciences (Romans 2:15), or through the commands contained in the Old Testament that still apply in New Testament times, or through the commands contained in the New Testament, or through the more personal commands God gives us through the inner guidance of the Holy Spirit. However God's commands come to us, the words of our verse for today still apply. If we obey them, things will go well for us. That this should be the case is something less than surprising for the person who believes in God. After all, God is the designer and creator of heaven and earth. He knows how things should go because He determines how they should go. He knows that if we obey Him things will go well for us. Further, if we obey God's commands, then things will go well for us because we will have avoided any need for God's discipline. The Bible tells us that God chastens and corrects those He loves (Proverbs 3:11-12). Instead of just ignoring our disobedience, God calls us back to His will and ways through discipline. Satan, of course, tries to encourage our disobedience. The whole point of his evil, renegade regime is to try and undermine God's Kingdom by fostering disobedience to the commands of the King. He relishes the complications and drama that disobedience to God brings into our lives. If things are not going well for us in a particular area of our lives, perhaps the first thing we should ask ourselves is whether we have gotten out of line with God's commands in that area. Sometimes the simplest explanation is the best explanation. Today, let us ask God for the grace to obey His commands. Let us ask Him for help in returning to a state of peace and well-being from the chaos and drama that sin has introduced into our lives. Bible in a Year Old Testament ReadingPsalm 62, 63, 64 Psalm 62 -- My soul rests in God alone. My salvation is from him. NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Psalm 63 -- David's Psalm of Thirst for God (2Sa 16) NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Psalm 64 -- Hear my voice, God, in my complaint. NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB New Testament Reading Romans 1 Romans 1 -- Paul Longs to Visit Rome; Consequences of Sin NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Reading Plan Courtesy of Christian Classics Etherial Library. Tyndale Life Application Daily Devotion While Jesus was in the Temple, he watched the rich people dropping their gifts in the collection box. Then a poor widow came by and dropped in two small coins.“I tell you the truth,” Jesus said, “this poor widow has given more than all the rest of them. For they have given a tiny part of their surplus, but she, poor as she is, has given everything she has.” Insight This widow gave all she had to live on, in contrast to the way most of us handle our money. When we consider giving a certain percentage of our income a great accomplishment, we resemble those who gave “a tiny part of their surplus.” Here, Jesus was admiring generous and sacrificial giving. Challenge As believers, we should consider increasing our giving—whether of money, time, or talents—to a point beyond convenience or safety. Morning and Evening by Spurgeon 1 Chronicles 9:33 And these are the singers ... they were employed in that work day and night.Well was it so ordered in the temple that the sacred chant never ceased: for evermore did the singers praise the Lord, whose mercy endureth forever. As mercy did not cease to rule either by day or by night, so neither did music hush its holy ministry. My heart, there is a lesson sweetly taught to thee in the ceaseless song of Zion's temple, thou too art a constant debtor, and see thou to it that thy gratitude, like charity, never faileth. God's praise is constant in heaven, which is to be thy final dwelling-place, learn thou to practise the eternal hallelujah. Around the earth as the sun scatters his light, his beams awaken grateful believers to tune their morning hymn, so that by the priesthood of the saints perpetual praise is kept up at all hours, they swathe our globe in a mantle of thanksgiving, and girdle it with a golden belt of song. The Lord always deserves to be praised for what he is in himself, for his works of creation and providence, for his goodness towards his creatures, and especially for the transcendent act of redemption, and all the marvellous blessing flowing therefrom. It is always beneficial to praise the Lord; it cheers the day and brightens the night; it lightens toil and softens sorrow; and over earthly gladness it sheds a sanctifying radiance which makes it less liable to blind us with its glare. Have we not something to sing about at this moment? Can we not weave a song out of our present joys, or our past deliverances, or our future hopes? Earth yields her summer fruits: the hay is housed, the golden grain invites the sickle, and the sun tarrying long to shine upon a fruitful earth, shortens the interval of shade that we may lengthen the hours of devout worship. By the love of Jesus, let us be stirred up to close the day with a psalm of sanctified gladness. Daily Light on the Daily Path Ephesians 4:3 being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.Ephesians 4:4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling; Ephesians 2:18-22 for through Him we both have our access in one Spirit to the Father. • So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God's household, • having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone, • in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord, • in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit. Psalm 133:1,2 A Song of Ascents, of David. Behold, how good and how pleasant it is For brothers to dwell together in unity! • It is like the precious oil upon the head, Coming down upon the beard, Even Aaron's beard, Coming down upon the edge of his robes. 1 Peter 1:22 Since you have in obedience to the truth purified your souls for a sincere love of the brethren, fervently love one another from the heart, New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org. |
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