Bible League: Living His Word John replied, "No one can receive anything unless God gives it from heaven."John the Baptist knew who he was as a man of God and he knew what God had called him to do in life. He knew that he was not the Messiah. He knew that he was only sent by God to prepare the way for the Messiah. He said, '"It is the bridegroom who marries the bride, and the best man is simply glad to stand with him and hear his vows"' (John 3:29). Since, by analogy, he was just the "best man," he accepted his position and was happy to do what he was called to do in life. John also knew who Jesus was as a man of God. He knew that Jesus was the Messiah. He said, '"I saw the Holy Spirit descending like a dove from heaven and resting upon him"' (John 1:32). This was the sign God promised him He would send in order to identify the Messiah. When John actually saw it, he knew Jesus was the true Messiah. He knew that Jesus was the "Chosen one of God" (John 1:34). Given what he knew, John also knew that there was a time limit on his ministry. His disciples were upset that people were going over to Jesus rather than coming to John (John 3:26). He did not allow this to disturb him, however, because he knew that Jesus' ministry must become greater and that his ministry must become less (John 3:30). His disciples were jealous of Jesus for John, but John knew better. John was a true man of God. He knew that a person cannot do anything for God unless God sends the person and bestows the necessary spiritual gifts for the mission. It doesn't matter what a person thinks he should do for God. What matters is what God thinks a person should do for Him. A true man or woman of God does not go beyond the call of God, does not go beyond the gifts that have been given. There is no place for jealousy, envy, and covetousness about someone else's ministry in the Kingdom. Like John, we should be satisfied with what God has given us to do for Him. John's message to us today is this: Be you and not somebody else. Be at peace and happy with the special tasks and callings God has given to just you in His Kingdom. Bible in a Year Old Testament ReadingIsaiah 48, 49 Isaiah 48 -- Israel's Obstinacy and Deliverance NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Isaiah 49 -- The Servant of the Lord; Restoration to Zion NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB New Testament Reading Colossians 4 Colossians 4 -- Let Your Conversation be Full of Grace; Final Greetings NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Reading Plan Courtesy of Christian Classics Etherial Library. Tyndale Life Application Daily Devotion Their only suggestion was that we keep on helping the poor, which I have always been eager to do.Insight The apostles were referring to the poor of Jerusalem. While many Gentile converts were financially comfortable, the Jerusalem church had suffered from the effects of a severe famine in Palestine and was struggling. So on his journeys, Paul had gathered funds for the Jewish Christians. The need for believers to care for the poor is a constant theme in Scripture. But often we do nothing, caught up in meeting our own needs and desires. Challenge Perhaps we don't see enough poverty to remember the needs of the poor. The world is filled with poor people, here and in other countries. What can you do to help? Morning and Evening by Spurgeon John 14:26 The Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost.This age is peculiarly the dispensation of the Holy Spirit, in which Jesus cheers us, not by his personal presence, as he shall do by-and-by, but by the indwelling and constant abiding of the Holy Ghost, who is evermore the Comforter of the church. It is his office to console the hearts of God's people. He convinces of sin; he illuminates and instructs; but still the main part of his work lies in making glad the hearts of the renewed, in confirming the weak, and lifting up all those that be bowed down. He does this by revealing Jesus to them. The Holy Spirit consoles, but Christ is the consolation. If we may use the figure, the Holy Spirit is the Physician, but Jesus is the medicine. He heals the wound, but it is by applying the holy ointment of Christ's name and grace. He takes not of his own things, but of the things of Christ. So if we give to the Holy Spirit the Greek name of Paraclete, as we sometimes do, then our heart confers on our blessed Lord Jesus the title of Paraclesis. If the one be the Comforter, the other is the Comfort. Now, with such rich provision for his need, why should the Christian be sad and desponding? The Holy Spirit has graciously engaged to be thy Comforter: dost thou imagine, O thou weak and trembling believer, that he will be negligent of his sacred trust? Canst thou suppose that he has undertaken what he cannot or will not perform? If it be his especial work to strengthen thee, and to comfort thee, dost thou suppose he has forgotten his business, or that he will fail in the loving office which he sustains towards thee? Nay, think not so hardly of the tender and blessed Spirit whose name is "the Comforter." He delights to give the oil of joy for mourning, and the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness. Trust thou in him, and he will surely comfort thee till the house of mourning is closed forever, and the marriage feast has begun. Daily Light on the Daily Path Matthew 6:10 'Your kingdom come. Your will be done, On earth as it is in heaven.Daniel 2:44 "In the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which will never be destroyed, and that kingdom will not be left for another people; it will crush and put an end to all these kingdoms, but it will itself endure forever. Daniel 2:34 "You continued looking until a stone was cut out without hands, and it struck the statue on its feet of iron and clay and crushed them. Zechariah 4:6 Then he said to me, "This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel saying, 'Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,' says the LORD of hosts. Luke 17:20,21 Now having been questioned by the Pharisees as to when the kingdom of God was coming, He answered them and said, "The kingdom of God is not coming with signs to be observed; • nor will they say, 'Look, here it is!' or, 'There it is!' For behold, the kingdom of God is in your midst." Mark 4:11,26,27,29 And He was saying to them, "To you has been given the mystery of the kingdom of God, but those who are outside get everything in parables, • And He was saying, "The kingdom of God is like a man who casts seed upon the soil; • and he goes to bed at night and gets up by day, and the seed sprouts and grows-- how, he himself does not know. • "But when the crop permits, he immediately puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come." Matthew 24:44 "For this reason you also must be ready; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not think He will. Revelation 22:17 The Spirit and the bride say, "Come." And let the one who hears say, "Come." And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who wishes take the water of life without cost. 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. 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