Bible League: Living His Word "But as for you, be strong and courageous, for your work will be rewarded."Asa was king in Judah and the Bible tells us that he "did what was pleasing and good in the sight of the LORD his God" (II Chronicles 14:2). He removed all the altars and shrines of the foreign gods that were in the land and he called the people to worship the true God and obey His commands. Azariah encouraged him with the words of our verse for today. They are a prophetic message that reaches out beyond the time of Asa to our own time---the work of the people of God who remain strong and courageous will be rewarded. We must be strong in our work because there are today, as in the days of Asa, many other religions in the world. Although the number of Christians adds up to somewhere near two billion, there are still five billion more people who have not turned to Christ. The outreach and cultural impact of the religions of these people stand as a continuous challenge. The degree of the challenge depends upon where you live in the world, but the challenge is something every Christian must face. We should remain as strong as Asa so that we won't shrink back from our work and become vulnerable to the influence of these religions. We must also be courageous in our work because the influence of the many religions in the world is not always peaceful. Many studies and reports have shown that Christianity is the most persecuted religion in the world today. The challenge many Christians face goes beyond the proselytizing efforts and cultural impact of other religions to full-fledged oppression and persecution. Many Christians lose their lives each year and many more have been displaced from their traditional homelands. The good news, as Azariah prophesied, is that our work will be rewarded if we remain strong and courageous. And the Apostle Paul has told us that any troubles we face in our work produces for us "a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever" (II Corinthians 4:17). Our work may encounter opposition and trouble of many kinds in the present era, but the Bible assures us that we will not endure them in vain. Our work may even lead to persecution and death, but the Bible assures us that it will not go unrewarded. Bible in a Year Old Testament ReadingJoshua 7, 8 Joshua 7 -- Israelites Defeated at Ai; Achan Sins NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Joshua 8 -- Joshua Conquers Ai; Covenant Renewed NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB New Testament Reading Luke 2:25-52 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 Help me understand the meaning of your commandments,and I will meditate on your wonderful deeds. I weep with sorrow; encourage me by your word. Insight Our lives are cluttered with rule books, but the authors never come with us to help us follow the rules. But God does. That is the uniqueness of our Bible. God not only provides the rules and guidelines, but comes with us personally each day to strengthen us so that we can live according to those rules. Challenge All we must do is invite him and respond to his direction. Morning and Evening by Spurgeon Matthew 26:39 And he went a little farther, and fell on his face, and prayed.There are several instructive features in our Saviour's prayer in his hour of trial. It was lonely prayer. He withdrew even from his three favored disciples. Believer, be much in solitary prayer, especially in times of trial. Family prayer, social prayer, prayer in the Church, will not suffice, these are very precious, but the best beaten spice will smoke in your censer in your private devotions, where no ear hears but God's. It was humble prayer. Luke says he knelt, but another evangelist says he "fell on his face." Where, then, must be thy place, thou humble servant of the great Master? What dust and ashes should cover thy head! Humility gives us good foot-hold in prayer. There is no hope of prevalence with God unless we abase ourselves that he may exalt us in due time. It was filial prayer. "Abba, Father." You will find it a stronghold in the day of trial to plead your adoption. You have no rights as a subject, you have forfeited them by your treason; but nothing can forfeit a child's right to a father's protection. Be not afraid to say, "My Father, hear my cry." Observe that it was persevering prayer. He prayed three times. Cease not until you prevail. Be as the importunate widow, whose continual coming earned what her first supplication could not win. Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving. Lastly, it was the prayer of resignation. "Nevertheless, not as I will, but as thou wilt." Yield, and God yields. Let it be as God wills, and God will determine for the best. Be thou content to leave thy prayer in his hands, who knows when to give, and how to give, and what to give, and what to withhold. So pleading, earnestly, importunately, yet with humility and resignation, thou shalt surely prevail. Daily Light on the Daily Path Genesis 13:10,11 Lot lifted up his eyes and saw all the valley of the Jordan, that it was well watered everywhere-- this was before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah-- like the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt as you go to Zoar. • So Lot chose for himself all the valley of the Jordan, and Lot journeyed eastward. Thus they separated from each other.2 Peter 2:7,8 and if He rescued righteous Lot, oppressed by the sensual conduct of unprincipled men • (for by what he saw and heard that righteous man, while living among them, felt his righteous soul tormented day after day by their lawless deeds), Galatians 6:7 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap. Luke 17:32 "Remember Lot's wife. 2 Corinthians 6:14,17 Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness? • "Therefore, COME OUT FROM THEIR MIDST AND BE SEPARATE," says the Lord. "AND DO NOT TOUCH WHAT IS UNCLEAN; And I will welcome you. Ephesians 5:7,8,10,11 Therefore do not be partakers with them; • for you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light • trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord. • Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them; 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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