Bible League: Living His Word I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.The present era is an in-between time. We are in-between the inauguration of the Kingdom of God on earth at the first coming of Jesus Christ and its complete manifestation at His second coming. Jesus, for example, preached that the Kingdom of God had come to the people of His day (Luke 11:20), but He also said that we should pray "Your Kingdom come" (Matthew 6:10). The fact that we live in this in-between time means that we already see manifestations of God's kingdom everywhere, but it also means that we do not yet see the fullness of the Kingdom everywhere. There is a tension between the already and the not yet. We see great victories, but we also see great challenges and oppositions. We see healings of health, but we still see sickness and death. Given this state of affairs, it follows that the Christian life requires that we be able to handle whatever comes our way; it requires that we be able to handle the already and the not yet. In Philippians 4:10-13 Paul tells the Philippian church that he has learned how to handle one aspect of the already and the not yet. He has learned how to abound with everything he needs and he has learned how to suffer need. He has learned how to be full and how to be hungry. It is in this context that he says "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Paul is not saying that he can do whatever he wants whenever he wants because of Christ's strengthening; he's saying he can handle the already and the not yet of the Christian life. What Paul had learned was how to be content no matter what state he was in (Philippians 4:11). He did not complain when he was in need and he did not complain when he was abounding. Jesus Christ's presence through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit enabled him to stay in control of himself no matter what came his way. Whether in an already situation or a not yet situation, there will be temptations to complain today. Let us learn, like Paul, how to do all things through Christ who strengthens us. Bible in a Year Old Testament ReadingDeuteronomy 23, 24, 25 Deuteronomy 23 -- List of Those Excluded from the Assembly NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Deuteronomy 24 -- Law of Divorce, Leprosy, Justice and Charity NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Deuteronomy 25 -- Laws of Stripes, Oxen, Seed, Modesty, Weights and Measures NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB New Testament Reading Mark 14:51-72 Mark 14 -- Jesus Anointed; Last Supper; Gethsemane; Judas Betrays Jesus; Jesus before the Sanhedrin, disowned by Peter NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Reading Plan Courtesy of Christian Classics Etherial Library. Tyndale Life Application Daily Devotion With God's help we will do mighty things,for he will trample down our foes. Insight Do our prayers end with requests for help to make it through stressful situations? David prayed not merely for rescue, but for victory. With God's help we can claim more than mere survival—we can claim victory! Challenge Look for ways God can use your distress as an opportunity to show his mighty power. Morning and Evening by Spurgeon Psalm 39:1 I will take heed to my ways.Fellow-pilgrim, say not in your heart, "I will go hither and thither, and I shall not sin;" for you are never so out of danger of sinning as to boast of security. The road is very miry, it will be hard to pick your path so as not to soil your garments. This is a world of pitch; you will need to watch often, if in handling it you are to keep your hands clean. There is a robber at every turn of the road to rob you of your jewels; there is a temptation in every mercy; there is a snare in every joy; and if you ever reach heaven, it will be a miracle of divine grace to be ascribed entirely to your Father's power. Be on your guard. When a man carries a bomb-shell in his hand, he should mind that he does not go near a candle; and you too must take care that you enter not into temptation. Even your common actions are edged tools; you must mind how you handle them. There is nothing in this world to foster a Christian's piety, but everything to destroy it. How anxious should you be to look up to God, that he may keep you! Your prayer should be, "Hold thou me up, and I shall be safe." Having prayed, you must also watch; guarding every thought, word, and action, with holy jealousy. Do not expose yourselves unnecessarily; but if called to exposure, if you are bidden to go where the darts are flying, never venture forth without your shield; for if once the devil finds you without your buckler, he will rejoice that his hour of triumph is come, and will soon make you fall down wounded by his arrows. Though slain you cannot be; wounded you may be. "Be sober; be vigilant, danger may be in an hour when all seemeth securest to thee." Therefore, take heed to thy ways, and watch unto prayer. No man ever fell into error through being too watchful. May the Holy Spirit guide us in all our ways; so shall they always please the Lord. Daily Light on the Daily Path John 6:63 "It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing; the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life.James 1:18 In the exercise of His will He brought us forth by the word of truth, so that we would be a kind of first fruits among His creatures. 2 Corinthians 3:6 who also made us adequate as servants of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. Ephesians 5:25-27 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, • so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, • that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless. Psalm 119:9,10,11,16,42,72,93,103,104 How can a young man keep his way pure? By keeping it according to Your word. • With all my heart I have sought You; Do not let me wander from Your commandments. • Your word I have treasured in my heart, That I may not sin against You. • I shall delight in Your statutes; I shall not forget Your word. Gimel. • So I will have an answer for him who reproaches me, For I trust in Your word. • The law of Your mouth is better to me Than thousands of gold and silver pieces. Yodh. • I will never forget Your precepts, For by them You have revived me. • I am Yours, save me; For I have sought Your precepts. 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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