Bible League: Living His Word "Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know."There are things that we know and there are things that we don't know. Some of the things that we don't know are relatively easy to find out. Some of the things that we don't know, on the other hand, are difficult to find out. They are the "great and unsearchable things" of Jeremiah. These are the things that no amount of ordinary seeking and searching can discover. The future, for example, is not something you can easily discern using ordinary forms of seeking and searching. The problem with this situation, however, is that sometimes we need to know the great and unsearchable things. Sometimes we need to know what the future holds so that we can do the right thing in the present. The prophet Jeremiah needed to know the future so he could warn the people of his day and tell them what to do. The same thing can apply to us. Situations come up that demand we know things that cannot be discovered through ordinary means. Our verse for today informs us that there is a solution to the problem. God has provided the means to discover what we need to know and you don't have to be a professional prophet like Jeremiah to make use of it. One can ask God. We can ask God in prayer for answers to the unknowns that we need to know. This is not ordinary asking, however. Since the knowledge we seek is out of the ordinary, the asking is out of the ordinary as well. We must not just ask; we must call out to God. Calling out to God is not something you do so you can set up a fortune-telling stand at the fairgrounds. Calling out to God is what the sincere Christian does who needs to make the right decision in the present. It is not meant to give you complete pictures of the future you can sell for a price. It is meant to give you what you need in your time of need. Calling out to God is what Christians do who are in trouble. There are different levels of Christian experience. It may be time to move up to a higher level. It may be time to call out to God. Bible in a Year Old Testament ReadingJoshua 4, 5, 6 Joshua 4 -- Twelve Men Take Memorial Stones from the Jordan NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Joshua 5 -- Israelites Circumcised at Gilgal NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Joshua 6 -- The Walls of Jericho Fall NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB New Testament Reading Luke 2:1-24 Luke 2 -- Jesus' Birth; Announcement by Angels; Presentation at the Temple; Return to Nazareth; The Boy Jesus Visits the Temple NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Reading Plan Courtesy of Christian Classics Etherial Library. Tyndale Life Application Daily Devotion How can a young person stay pure?By obeying your word. Insight We are drowning in a sea of impurity. Everywhere we look we find temptation to lead impure lives. The psalmist asked a question that troubles us all: How do we stay pure in a filthy environment? Challenge We cannot do this on our own, but must have counsel and strength more dynamic than the tempting influences around us. Where can we find that strength and wisdom? By reading God's Word and doing what it says. Morning and Evening by Spurgeon John 16:32 Ye shall be scattered, every man to his own, and shall leave me alone.Few had fellowship with the sorrows of Gethsemane. The majority of the disciples were not sufficiently advanced in grace to be admitted to behold the mysteries of "the agony." Occupied with the passover feast at their own houses, they represent the many who live upon the letter, but are mere babes as to the spirit of the gospel. To twelve, nay, to eleven only was the privilege given to enter Gethsemane and see "this great sight." Out of the eleven, eight were left at a distance; they had fellowship, but not of that intimate sort to which men greatly beloved are admitted. Only three highly favored ones could approach the veil of our Lord's mysterious sorrow: within that veil even these must not intrude; a stone's-cast distance must be left between. He must tread the wine-press alone, and of the people there must be none with him. Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, represent the few eminent, experienced saints, who may be written down as "Fathers;" these having done business on great waters, can in some degree measure the huge Atlantic waves of their Redeemer's passion. To some selected spirits it is given, for the good of others, and to strengthen them for future, special, and tremendous conflict, to enter the inner circle and hear the pleadings of the suffering High Priest; they have fellowship with him in his sufferings, and are made conformable unto his death. Yet even these cannot penetrate the secret places of the Saviour's woe. "Thine unknown sufferings" is the remarkable expression of the Greek liturgy: there was an inner chamber in our Master's grief, shut out from human knowledge and fellowship. There Jesus is "left alone." Here Jesus was more than ever an "Unspeakable gift!" Is not Watts right when he sings-- "And all the unknown joys he gives, Were bought with agonies unknown." Daily Light on the Daily Path Revelation 3:2 'Wake up, and strengthen the things that remain, which were about to die; for I have not found your deeds completed in the sight of My God.1 Peter 4:7 The end of all things is near; therefore, be of sound judgment and sober spirit for the purpose of prayer. 1 Peter 5:8 Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Deuteronomy 4:9 "Only give heed to yourself and keep your soul diligently, so that you do not forget the things which your eyes have seen and they do not depart from your heart all the days of your life; but make them known to your sons and your grandsons. Hebrews 10:38,39 BUT MY RIGHTEOUS ONE SHALL LIVE BY FAITH; AND IF HE SHRINKS BACK, MY SOUL HAS NO PLEASURE IN HIM. • But we are not of those who shrink back to destruction, but of those who have faith to the preserving of the soul. Mark 13:37 "What I say to you I say to all, 'Be on the alert!'" Isaiah 41:10,13 'Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.' • "For I am the LORD your God, who upholds your right hand, Who says to you, 'Do not fear, I will help 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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