Bible League: Living His Word And this hope will never disappoint us.— Romans 5:5 ERV Perhaps one of the worst feelings in the world is the feeling of disappointment. When you expect something to happen and it doesn't, you feel disappointed. Depending on the level of your expectations, you may feel more disappointed at certain times than others. When we are younger, our expectations are a little lower; but as we get older, we have greater expectations. A young boy may expect to go fishing with his father on a Saturday morning. What happens when his father must take a last-minute weekend business trip out of town? The young boy is quite disappointed. That level of disappointment is relatively small compared to what happens to adults. A young couple expects to have a baby, and infertility rears its head. There's such disappointment, because the dream of having children is crushed. A middle-aged man is let go from his job, because his company is down-sizing. His expectations of retirement from his company are dashed. An elderly woman watches her husband of 53 years struggle with a debilitating disease that robs him of his body and mind. Her expectations of the so-called "golden years" together are tarnished. In Romans 5, the Apostle Paul talks about how we are made right with God because of our faith in Christ. He brought us the blessing of God's grace, mercy, and forgiveness. Since we have received this grace, we are able to withstand the trials, tests, and even the disappointments of life. Even more than that, we can rejoice in them because they make us stronger in our faith. That strength, according to our verse for today, gives us a hope that never disappoints us. You may be experiencing disappointment on several fronts today. Perhaps you are struggling with doubt because of the disappointment you've experienced in your life. You can rest assured that because of God's love and grace and through faith in His Son Jesus, you have a hope that will never disappoint you. When the disappointments of life come, hold on to the hope you have in Christ for it will never fail you, let you down, or disappoint you. By Shawn Cornett, Bible League International staff, Illinois U.S. Bible in a Year Old Testament ReadingGenesis 31, 32 Genesis 31 -- Jacob Leaves for Canaan; Laban Pursues NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Genesis 32 -- Jacob Prepares to Meet Esau, Wrestles with God NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB New Testament Reading Matthew 10:24-42 Matthew 10 -- Christ Sends out His Twelve Apostles, enabling them with power to do miracles NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Reading Plan Courtesy of Christian Classics Etherial Library. Tyndale Life Application Daily Devotion The land must never be sold on a permanent basis, for the land belongs to me. You are only foreigners and tenant farmers working for me.Insight God was saying that the people would one day possess land in Canaan, but in God's plan, only God's ownership was absolute. He wanted his people to avoid greed and materialism. Challenge If you have the attitude that you are taking care of the Lord's property, you will make what you have more available to others. This is difficult to do if you have an attitude of ownership. Think of yourself as a manager of all that is under your care, not as an owner. Morning and Evening by Spurgeon 1 Kings 22:48 Jehoshaphat made ships of Tharshish to go to Ophir for gold: but they went not; for the ships were broken at Ezion-geberSolomon's ships had returned in safety, but Jehoshaphat's vessels never reached the land of gold. Providence prospers one, and frustrates the desires of another, in the same business and at the same spot, yet the Great Ruler is as good and wise at one time as another. May we have grace today, in the remembrance of this text, to bless the Lord for ships broken at Ezion-geber, as well as for vessels freighted with temporal blessings; let us not envy the more successful, nor murmur at our losses as though we were singularly and specially tried. Like Jehoshaphat, we may be precious in the Lord's sight, although our schemes end in disappointment. The secret cause of Jehoshaphat's loss is well worthy of notice, for it is the root of very much of the suffering of the Lord's people; it was his alliance with a sinful family, his fellowship with sinners. In 2 Ch. 20:37, we are told that the Lord sent a prophet to declare, "Because thou hast joined thyself with Ahaziah, the Lord hath broken thy works." This was a fatherly chastisement, which appears to have been blest to him; for in the verse which succeeds our morning's text we find him refusing to allow his servants to sail in the same vessels with those of the wicked king. Would to God that Jehoshaphat's experience might be a warning to the rest of the Lord's people, to avoid being unequally yoked together with unbelievers! A life of misery is usually the lot of those who are united in marriage, or in any other way of their own choosing, with the men of the world. O for such love to Jesus that, like him, we may be holy, harmless, undefiled, and separate from sinners; for if it be not so with us, we may expect to hear it often said, "The Lord hath broken thy works." Daily Light on the Daily Path Isaiah 26:3 "The steadfast of mind You will keep in perfect peace, Because he trusts in You.Psalm 55:22 Cast your burden upon the LORD and He will sustain you; He will never allow the righteous to be shaken. Isaiah 12:2 "Behold, God is my salvation, I will trust and not be afraid; For the LORD GOD is my strength and song, And He has become my salvation." Matthew 8:26 He said to them, "Why are you afraid, you men of little faith?" Then He got up and rebuked the winds and the sea, and it became perfectly calm. Philippians 4:6,7 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. • And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Isaiah 30:15 For thus the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel, has said, "In repentance and rest you will be saved, In quietness and trust is your strength." But you were not willing, Isaiah 32:17 And the work of righteousness will be peace, And the service of righteousness, quietness and confidence forever. John 14:27 "Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful. Revelation 1:4 John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace, from Him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven Spirits who are before His throne, 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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