Morning, April 13
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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 Reading
1 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
Songs 1:13  A bundle of myrrh is my well-beloved unto me.

Myrrh may well be chosen as the type of Jesus on account of its preciousness, its perfume, its pleasantness, its healing, preserving, disinfecting qualities, and its connection with sacrifice. But why is he compared to "a bundle of myrrh"? First, for plenty. He is not a drop of it, he is a casket full. He is not a sprig or flower of it, but a whole bundle. There is enough in Christ for all my necessities; let me not be slow to avail myself of him. Our well-beloved is compared to a "bundle" again, for variety: for there is in Christ not only the one thing needful, but in "him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily;" everything needful is in him. Take Jesus in his different characters, and you will see a marvellous variety--Prophet, Priest, King, Husband, Friend, Shepherd. Consider him in his life, death, resurrection, ascension, second advent; view him in his virtue, gentleness, courage, self-denial, love, faithfulness, truth, righteousness--everywhere he is a bundle of preciousness. He is a "bundle of myrrh" for preservation--not loose myrrh to be dropped on the floor or trodden on, but myrrh tied up, myrrh to be stored in a casket. We must value him as our best treasure; we must prize his words and his ordinances; and we must keep our thoughts of him and knowledge of him as under lock and key, lest the devil should steal anything from us. Moreover, Jesus is a "bundle of myrrh" for speciality; the emblem suggests the idea of distinguishing, discriminating grace. From before the foundation of the world, he was set apart for his people; and he gives forth his perfume only to those who understand how to enter into communion with him, to have close dealings with him. Oh! blessed people whom the Lord hath admitted into his secrets, and for whom he sets himself apart. Oh! choice and happy who are thus made to say, "A bundle of myrrh is my well-beloved unto me."

Daily Light on the Daily Path
Proverbs 3:9  Honor the LORD from your wealth And from the first of all your produce;

2 Corinthians 9:6  Now this I say, he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.

1 Corinthians 16:2  On the first day of every week each one of you is to put aside and save, as he may prosper, so that no collections be made when I come.

Hebrews 6:10  For God is not unjust so as to forget your work and the love which you have shown toward His name, in having ministered and in still ministering to the saints.

Romans 12:1  Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.

2 Corinthians 5:14,15  For the love of Christ controls us, having concluded this, that one died for all, therefore all died; • and He died for all, so that they who live might no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf.

1 Corinthians 10:31  Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

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.

Evening April 12
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