Bible League: Living His Word Yes, we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead.— 2 Corinthians 1:9 NKJV Sometimes, things get so bad that you think the end is near. It could be a health issue, and you actually think you're going to die. It could be a financial issue, and you think you're going to have to declare bankruptcy. Maybe your marriage is on the rocks, and you fully expect divorce papers to come in the mail. Or, your child has gotten into trouble with the law and you're sure that a prison sentence is inevitable. There are many ways we might feel the "sentence of death" hanging over us like the Apostle Paul mentions in our verse for today. Why does the Lord allow these extreme things to happen to us? They all essentially come from the consequences of sin in the world, but our verse for today mentions a reason that lies even behind that. They come "that we should not trust in ourselves but in God." Sometimes, we have to come to the very brink of disaster in order to learn this lesson. Sometimes, we have to come to the end of our rope before we're willing to admit that it is too much and cast the care into the hands of the Lord. It's foolish of us to hang on to our cares, but all too often we do it anyway. It's foolish, and the Bible clearly tells us that we shouldn't hang on to them. David, for example, said, "Cast your burden on the LORD, And He shall sustain you; He shall never permit the righteous to be moved" (Psalm 55:22), and the Apostle Peter said, "Casting all your care upon him; for he cares for you" (1 Peter 5:7). It's foolish to hang on, then, because we have a God who is more than willing to help us. Are you hanging on to your problem because you think that no one can help you? Stop it! You serve a God who can raise the dead. He can handle anything you're going through. Nothing is impossible for Him (Luke 1:37). He is waiting for you to turn it over to Him so He can amaze you. Bible in a Year Old Testament ReadingJoshua 21, 22 Joshua 21 -- Forty-eight Cities Designated for the Levites NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Joshua 22 -- Tribes beyond Jordan Return, Build an Offensive Altar NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB New Testament Reading Luke 6:1-26 Luke 6 -- Lord of the Sabbath; The Twelve Apostles; Beatitudes; Love for Enemies; Do not Judge; Tree and Fruits; House on the Rock NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Reading Plan Courtesy of Christian Classics Etherial Library. Tyndale Life Application Daily Devotion LORD, if you kept a record of our sins,who, O Lord, could ever survive? But you offer forgiveness, that we might learn to fear you. Insight Keeping a record of sins (or holding a grudge) is like building a wall between you and another person, and it is nearly impossible to talk openly while the wall is there. God doesn't keep a record of our sins; when he forgives, he forgives completely, tearing down any wall between us and him. Therefore, we fear (revere) God, yet we can talk to him about anything. Challenge When you pray, realize that God is holding nothing against you. His lines of communication are completely open. Morning and Evening by Spurgeon Ephesians 3:19 The love of Christ which passeth knowledge.The love of Christ in its sweetness, its fulness, its greatness, its faithfulness, passeth all human comprehension. Where shall language be found which shall describe his matchless, his unparalleled love towards the children of men? It is so vast and boundless that, as the swallow but skimmeth the water, and diveth not into its depths, so all descriptive words but touch the surface, while depths immeasurable lie beneath. Well might the poet say, "O love, thou fathomless abyss!" for this love of Christ is indeed measureless and fathomless; none can attain unto it. Before we can have any right idea of the love of Jesus, we must understand his previous glory in its height of majesty, and his incarnation upon the earth in all its depths of shame. But who can tell us the majesty of Christ? When he was enthroned in the highest heavens he was very God of very God; by him were the heavens made, and all the hosts thereof. His own almighty arm upheld the spheres; the praises of cherubim and seraphim perpetually surrounded him; the full chorus of the hallelujahs of the universe unceasingly flowed to the foot of his throne: he reigned supreme above all his creatures, God over all, blessed forever. Who can tell his height of glory then? And who, on the other hand, can tell how low he descended? To be a man was something, to be a man of sorrows was far more; to bleed, and die, and suffer, these were much for him who was the Son of God; but to suffer such unparalleled agony--to endure a death of shame and desertion by his Father, this is a depth of condescending love which the most inspired mind must utterly fail to fathom. Herein is love! and truly it is love that "passeth knowledge." O let this love fill our hearts with adoring gratitude, and lead us to practical manifestations of its power. Daily Light on the Daily Path Joshua 1:18 "Anyone who rebels against your command and does not obey your words in all that you command him, shall be put to death; only be strong and courageous."Psalm 27:1 A Psalm of David. The LORD is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The LORD is the defense of my life; Whom shall I dread? Isaiah 40:29-31 He gives strength to the weary, And to him who lacks might He increases power. • Though youths grow weary and tired, And vigorous young men stumble badly, • Yet those who wait for the LORD Will gain new strength; They will mount up with wings like eagles, They will run and not get tired, They will walk and not become weary. Psalm 73:26 My flesh and my heart may fail, But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. Romans 8:31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us? Psalm 118:6 The LORD is for me; I will not fear; What can man do to me? Psalm 44:5 Through You we will push back our adversaries; Through Your name we will trample down those who rise up against us. Romans 8:37 But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. 1 Chronicles 22:16 "Of the gold, the silver and the bronze and the iron there is no limit. Arise and work, and may the LORD be with 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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