Bible League: Living His Word If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.One of the key assumptions of the Christian life is that the Bible tells it like it really is. The Bible does not deal with a reality other than the one we actually live in. Its stories are not fictional and its wisdom cuts directly to the quick. Confronting the Word of God written in the Bible is like looking in a mirror and seeing what you actually look like, warts and all (James 1:23-24). That's why the Bible does not shy away from the reality of sin and evil. The Bible is not trying to impress anybody, or stay on their good side, or sweep things under the rug. It does not avoid the ugly things of life; but rather teaches us how to deal with them. And one of the first ugly things we must deal with, if not the first thing, is that we are sinners. We live in a universe designed and created by God, and we fall short of His original intentions. The Apostle John makes no bones about it. If we claim to be without sin, we're deceiving ourselves. We're devoid of truth, we're calling the designer and creator of the universe a liar and the Word of God is not in us. One might legitimately add here that we're avoiding reality as it actually is, and we're cutting ourselves off from any hope of returning to reality. If we're willing to face reality, however, if we're willing to look at ourselves in the mirror of God's Word, then the way is opened to the solution to our ugliness: confession. "Confession is good for the soul," the saying goes. And so it is, because it leads to God's cleansing. God has provided the means of cleansing through the atoning work of Jesus Christ. But that work doesn't benefit us until we confront the reality of our ugliness and are willing to own up to it in confession. Bible in a Year Old Testament ReadingGenesis 23, 24 Genesis 23 -- Death and Burial of Sarah NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Genesis 24 -- Isaac and Rebekah NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB New Testament Reading Matthew 8 Matthew 8 -- Jesus Heals Leper; Centurion's Servant; Peter's Mother-in-Law; Cost of Discipleship; Rebuking the Storm; Demons into Pigs NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Reading Plan Courtesy of Christian Classics Etherial Library. Tyndale Life Application Daily Devotion But Moses pleaded with the LORD, “O Lord, I'm not very good with words. I never have been, and I'm not now, even though you have spoken to me. I get tongue-tied, and my words get tangled.”Then the LORD asked Moses, “Who makes a person's mouth? Who decides whether people speak or do not speak, hear or do not hear, see or do not see? Is it not I, the LORD? Now go! I will be with you as you speak, and I will instruct you in what to say.” But Moses again pleaded, “Lord, please! Send anyone else.” Insight Moses pleaded with God to let him out of his mission. After all, he was not a good speaker and would probably embarrass both himself and God. But God looked at Moses' problem quite differently. All Moses needed was some help, and who better than God to help him say and do the right things? God made his mouth and would give him the words to say. Challenge It is easy for us to focus on our weaknesses, but if God asks us to do something, then he will help us get the job done. If the job involves some of our weak areas, then we can trust that he will provide words, strength, courage, and ability where needed. Morning and Evening by Spurgeon Jeremiah 31:33 I will be their God.Christian! here is all thou canst require. To make thee happy thou wantest something that shall "satisfy" thee; and is not this enough? If thou canst pour this promise into thy cup, wilt thou not say, with David, "My cup runneth over; I have more than heart can wish"? When this is fulfilled, "I am thy God", art thou not possessor of all things? Desire is insatiable as death, but He who filleth all in all can fill it. The capacity of our wishes who can measure? but the immeasurable wealth of God can more than overflow it. I ask thee if thou art not complete when God is thine? Dost thou want anything but God? Is not his all-sufficiency enough to satisfy thee if all else should fail? But thou wantest more than quiet satisfaction; thou desirest rapturous delight. Come, soul, here is music fit for heaven in this thy portion, for God is the Maker of Heaven. Not all the music blown from sweet instruments, or drawn from living strings, can yield such melody as this sweet promise, "I will be their God." Here is a deep sea of bliss, a shoreless ocean of delight; come, bathe thy spirit in it; swim an age, and thou shalt find no shore; dive throughout eternity, and thou shalt find no bottom."I will be their God." If this do not make thine eyes sparkle, and thy heart beat high with bliss, then assuredly thy soul is not in a healthy state. But thou wantest more than present delights--thou cravest something concerning which thou mayest exercise hope; and what more canst thou hope for than the fulfilment of this great promise, "I will be their God"? This is the masterpiece of all the promises; its enjoyment makes a heaven below, and will make a heaven above. Dwell in the light of thy Lord, and let thy soul be always ravished with His love. Get out the marrow and fatness which this portion yields thee. Live up to thy privileges, and rejoice with unspeakable joy. Daily Light on the Daily Path Psalm 60:4 You have given a banner to those who fear You, That it may be displayed because of the truth. Selah.Exodus 17:15 Moses built an altar and named it The LORD is My Banner; Isaiah 59:19 So they will fear the name of the LORD from the west And His glory from the rising of the sun, For He will come like a rushing stream Which the wind of the LORD drives. Psalm 20:5 We will sing for joy over your victory, And in the name of our God we will set up our banners. May the LORD fulfill all your petitions. Jeremiah 51:10 The LORD has brought about our vindication; Come and let us recount in Zion The work of the LORD our God! Romans 8:37 But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. 1 Corinthians 15:57 but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Hebrews 2:10 For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things, and through whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to perfect the author of their salvation through sufferings. Ephesians 6:10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Jeremiah 9:3 "They bend their tongue like their bow; Lies and not truth prevail in the land; For they proceed from evil to evil, And they do not know Me," declares the LORD. 1 Samuel 18:17 Then Saul said to David, "Here is my older daughter Merab; I will give her to you as a wife, only be a valiant man for me and fight the LORD'S battles." For Saul thought, "My hand shall not be against him, but let the hand of the Philistines be against him." Haggai 2:4,5 'But now take courage, Zerubbabel,' declares the LORD, 'take courage also, Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and all you people of the land take courage,' declares the LORD, 'and work; for I am with you,' declares the LORD of hosts. • 'As for the promise which I made you when you came out of Egypt, My Spirit is abiding in your midst; do not fear!' John 4:35 "Do you not say, 'There are yet four months, and then comes the harvest '? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look on the fields, that they are white for harvest. Hebrews 10:37 FOR YET IN A VERY LITTLE WHILE, HE WHO IS COMING WILL COME, AND WILL NOT DELAY. 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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