Bible League: Living His Word We must not get tired of doing good. We will receive our harvest of eternal life at the right time. We must not give up.According to the Apostle Paul in Galatians 6, there are two ways we can live our lives. We can live to please our sinful selves, or we can live to please the Spirit of God. Each of these two ways reaps a harvest. If we live to please our sinful selves, then we will reap a harvest of eternal death. If we live to please the Spirit of God, then we will reap a harvest of eternal life (Galatians 6:7-8). Although the primary spiritual direction of a person who lives to please the sinful self stands in opposition to the Spirit of God, it is possible for such a person to do things the Spirit wants on occasion. Doing what the Spirit wants, however, is not the primary motivation. What truly motivates them is satisfying the sinful self. What truly motivates them is doing what they want to do. Although the primary spiritual direction of a person who lives to please the Spirit of God stands in opposition to the sinful self, it is possible for such a person to do what the sinful self wants on occasion (Romans 7:14-25). Doing what the sinful self wants, however, is not the primary motivation. What truly motivates them is satisfying the Spirit of God. What truly motivates them is what the Spirit wants them to do. Paul tells us that those who are motivated to please the Spirit of God should not get tired of doing it. Since they have a sinful self like everyone else, there is always the temptation to surrender to its motivations and desires. Doing so, however, jeopardizes the harvest of eternal life. Although they may fail to do good on occasion, they should not completely give up the desire to please the Spirit. Instead of giving up, we should confess our sin, receive God's forgiveness and cleansing (I John 1:9), and then get back on the pathway of life that pleases the Spirit of God. If we continue to live life this way, if we continue to follow the Spirit despite our failures, then we will receive eternal life at just the right time. That is, at the time that God has appointed. Bible in a Year Old Testament ReadingEsther 1, 2, 3 Esther 1 -- The Banquets of Xerxes; Queen Vashti Deposed NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Esther 2 -- Esther Becomes Queen; Mordecai Thwarts a Conspiracy NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Esther 3 -- Haman Seeks Revenge on the Jews NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB New Testament Reading Acts 5:1-16 Acts 5 -- Deaths of Ananias and Sapphira; Apostles Imprisoned, Released by an Angel; Gamaliel Speaks NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Reading Plan Courtesy of Christian Classics Etherial Library. Tyndale Life Application Daily Devotion Before daybreak the next morning, Jesus got up and went out to an isolated place to pray.Insight Jesus took time to pray. Challenge Finding time to pray is not easy, but prayer is the vital link between us and God. Like Jesus, we must break away from others to talk with God, even if we have to get up very early in the morning to do it! Morning and Evening by Spurgeon 2 Timothy 2:19 The foundation of God standeth sure.The foundation upon which our faith rests is this, that "God was in Christ reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them." The great fact on which genuine faith relies is, that "the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us," and that "Christ also hath suffered for sin, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God;" "Who himself bare our sins in his own body on the tree;" "For the chastisement of our peace was upon him, and by his stripes we are healed." In one word, the great pillar of the Christian's hope is substitution. The vicarious sacrifice of Christ for the guilty, Christ being made sin for us that we might be made the righteousness of God in him, Christ offering up a true and proper expiatory and substitutionary sacrifice in the room, place, and stead of as many as the Father gave him, who are known to God by name, and are recognized in their own hearts by their trusting in Jesus--this is the cardinal fact of the gospel. If this foundation were removed, what could we do? But it standeth firm as the throne of God. We know it; we rest on it; we rejoice in it; and our delight is to hold it, to meditate upon it, and to proclaim it, while we desire to be actuated and moved by gratitude for it in every part of our life and conversation. In these days a direct attack is made upon the doctrine of the atonement. Men cannot bear substitution. They gnash their teeth at the thought of the Lamb of God bearing the sin of man. But we, who know by experience the preciousness of this truth, will proclaim it in defiance of them confidently and unceasingly. We will neither dilute it nor change it, nor fritter it away in any shape or fashion. It shall still be Christ, a positive substitute, bearing human guilt and suffering in the stead of men. We cannot, dare not, give it up, for it is our life, and despite every controversy we feel that "Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure." Daily Light on the Daily Path Joshua 7:8,10,11 "O Lord, what can I say since Israel has turned their back before their enemies? • So the LORD said to Joshua, "Rise up! Why is it that you have fallen on your face? • "Israel has sinned, and they have also transgressed My covenant which I commanded them. And they have even taken some of the things under the ban and have both stolen and deceived. Moreover, they have also put them among their own things.Isaiah 59:1,2 Behold, the LORD'S hand is not so short That it cannot save; Nor is His ear so dull That it cannot hear. • But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, And your sins have hidden His face from you so that He does not hear. Psalm 66:18 If I regard wickedness in my heart, The Lord will not hear; 1 John 3:21,22 Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God; • and whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do the things that are pleasing in His sight. 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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