Bible League: Living His Word The LORD of Heaven's Armies has spoken--who can change his plans? When his hand is raised, who can stop him?" When the trials, troubles, and tribulations of life strike the people of God they may be tempted to wonder if God is in charge. When the opposition of the enemies of the people of God seems overwhelming they may be tempted to question if God is really in control. Does God not know what is happening? Does He not see everything that is going on? And if He does know and see, then is He not able to do anything about it? The message of Isaiah to the people of God in his time and to the people of God for all time is that when the Lord makes up His mind, when He forms His plans, there is nothing in heaven and earth that can change His plans to their own liking or nullify them altogether. And when the Lord raises His hand in order to carry out His plans there is no power in heaven and earth that can stop Him or turn Him aside. Given this, the people of God should take comfort. No matter what their situation may be, however dire and grim, the Lord is in control. His plans shall endure. The forces of darkness may form plans and schemes of their own, but they are not able to stop or override what the Lord has ordained. The Lord is lord of the Armies of Heaven. There is nothing that can stand against Him and His angelic host. The people of God may then rest assured that what they are going through could not happen unless it was part of His plan and unless His wisdom prevailed. God has a purpose in everything he does and His providence directs all things in accordance with His purpose. Although we may question God's purpose at times, we also know that He "causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them" (Romans 8:28). If there is anything in the way of God's plan and purpose for you, it will be cast down. If there is anything that needs to happen to fulfill His plan and purpose for you, it will be lifted up. Nothing can change His plans; nothing can stop Him. Bible in a Year Old Testament Reading2 Chronicles 7, 8, 9 2 Chronicles 7 -- Fire from Heaven; Glory in the Temple; Feast of Dedication; God's Promise NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB 2 Chronicles 8 -- Solomon's Additional Accomplishments NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB 2 Chronicles 9 -- Visit of the Queen of Sheba; Solomon's Splendor and Death NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB New Testament Reading John 13:1-17 John 13 -- Jesus Washes His Disciples' Feet, Predicts His Betrayal and Peter's Denial NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Reading Plan Courtesy of Christian Classics Etherial Library. Tyndale Life Application Daily Devotion So if you ignore the least commandment and teach others to do the same, you will be called the least in the Kingdom of Heaven. But anyone who obeys God's laws and teaches them will be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven.Insight Some of those in the crowd were experts at telling others what to do, but they missed the central point of God's laws themselves. Jesus made it clear, however, that obeying God's law is more important than explaining it. Challenge It's much easier to study God's laws and tell others to obey them than to put them into practice. How are you doing at obeying God yourself? Morning and Evening by Spurgeon Galatians 5:17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh.In every believer's heart there is a constant struggle between the old nature and the new. The old nature is very active, and loses no opportunity of plying all the weapons of its deadly armoury against newborn grace; while on the other hand, the new nature is ever on the watch to resist and destroy its enemy. Grace within us will employ prayer, and faith, and hope, and love, to cast out the evil; it takes unto it the "whole armour of God," and wrestles earnestly. These two opposing natures will never cease to struggle so long as we are in this world. The battle of "Christian" with "Apollyon" lasted three hours, but the battle of Christian with himself lasted all the way from the Wicket Gate to the river Jordan. The enemy is so securely entrenched within us that he can never be driven out while we are in this body: but although we are closely beset, and often in sore conflict, we have an Almighty helper, even Jesus, the Captain of our salvation, who is ever with us, and who assures us that we shall eventually come off more than conquerors through Him. With such assistance the new-born nature is more than a match for its foes. Are you fighting with the adversary today? Are Satan, the world, and the flesh, all against you? Be not discouraged nor dismayed. Fight on! For God Himself is with you; Jehovah Nissi is your banner, and Jehovah Rophi is the healer of your wounds. Fear not, you shall overcome, for who can defeat Omnipotence? Fight on, "looking unto Jesus;" and though long and stern be the conflict, sweet will be the victory, and glorious the promised reward. "From strength to strength go on; Wrestle, and fight, and pray, Tread all the powers of darkness down, And win the well-fought day." Daily Light on the Daily Path Exodus 12:11 Now you shall eat it in this manner: with your loins girded, your sandals on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and you shall eat it in haste-- it is the LORD'S Passover.Micah 2:10 "Arise and go, For this is no place of rest Because of the uncleanness that brings on destruction, A painful destruction. Hebrews 13:14 For here we do not have a lasting city, but we are seeking the city which is to come. Hebrews 4:9 So there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God. Luke 12:35-37 "Be dressed in readiness, and keep your lamps lit. • "Be like men who are waiting for their master when he returns from the wedding feast, so that they may immediately open the door to him when he comes and knocks. • "Blessed are those slaves whom the master will find on the alert when he comes; truly I say to you, that he will gird himself to serve, and have them recline at the table, and will come up and wait on them. 1 Peter 1:13 Therefore, prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Philippians 3:13-15 Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, • I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. • Let us therefore, as many as are perfect, have this attitude; and if in anything you have a different attitude, God will reveal that also to you; 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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