Bible League: Living His Word The righteous person faces many troubles, but the LORD comes to the rescue each time.In this world we have and will have troubles. King David says even the righteous person faces many troubles. And he would know, for he was a righteous man after God's own heart (I Samuel 13:14), and he faced many of them. Although we face troubles of all kinds, we may take comfort in the conviction that the Lord rescues us from them all. How does God rescue us from them all? First of all, God may rescue us by totally delivering us from our troubles in the here and now. The Bible is full of examples of the people of God being rescued from their troubles. Although Abraham and Sarah could not have children, God gave them a child in their old age (Genesis 21:1-7). When the Israelites were stuck between the Red Sea and Pharaoh's army, God parted the sea and let them cross on dry land (Exodus 14). When the Apostle Peter was in prison, the Lord sent an angel to free him (Acts 12:1-19). Secondly, there is a sense in which God rescues us from our troubles by turning them from something that was meant by Satan to destroy us into something that actually benefits us. The Apostle Paul says, "And we know that God 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). God uses the troubles of Satan to make us more and more like Jesus (Romans 8:29). With those in Christ, trouble loses its significance as a destructive force, for "our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all" (II Corinthians 4:17). Finally, God ultimately rescues us from our troubles in the next life. Sometimes the sick die, sometimes the lives of the persecuted are sacrificed, and sometimes, like the Apostle Paul, we live with a "thorn in the flesh" for all of our lives (II Corinthians 12:7). If our faith does not see its breakthrough in this life, however, it will see it in the next life (Revelation 21:4). Satan is the trouble-maker. His evil and illegitimate regime functions like a parasite within God's very good earthly creation. That's why we see troubles of many kinds. Take heart, however, for the Lord comes to our rescue each time. Bible in a Year Old Testament ReadingJudges 1, 2 Judges 1 -- Israelites Capture Jerusalem, Hebron, Others NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Judges 2 -- Israel Rebuked and Defeated NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB New Testament Reading Luke 7:1-30 Luke 7 -- Jesus Heals a Centurion's Servant, Raises a Widow's Son, answer John's messengers; Mary Anoints Jesus NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Reading Plan Courtesy of Christian Classics Etherial Library. Tyndale Life Application Daily Devotion Search me, O God, and know my heart;test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life. Insight David asked God to search for sin and point it out, even to the level of testing his thoughts. This is exploratory surgery for sin. How are we to recognize sin unless God points it out? Then, when God shows us, we can repent and be forgiven. Challenge Make this verse your prayer. If you ask the Lord to search your heart and your thoughts, and to reveal your sin, you will be continuing on God's “path of everlasting life.” Morning and Evening by Spurgeon Isaiah 53:12 He was numbered with the transgressors.Why did Jesus suffer himself to be enrolled amongst sinners? This wonderful condescension was justified by many powerful reasons. In such a character he could the better become their advocate. In some trials there is an identification of the counsellor with the client, nor can they be looked upon in the eye of the law as apart from one another. Now, when the sinner is brought to the bar, Jesus appears there himself. He stands to answer the accusation. He points to his side, his hands, his feet, and challenges Justice to bring anything against the sinners whom he represents; he pleads his blood, and pleads so triumphantly, being numbered with them and having a part with them, that the Judge proclaims, "Let them go their way; deliver them from going down into the pit, for he hath found a ransom." Our Lord Jesus was numbered with the transgressors in order that they might feel their hearts drawn towards him. Who can be afraid of one who is written in the same list with us? Surely we may come boldly to him, and confess our guilt. He who is numbered with us cannot condemn us. Was he not put down in the transgressor's list that we might be written in the red roll of the saints? He was holy, and written among the holy; we were guilty, and numbered among the guilty; he transfers his name from yonder list to this black indictment, and our names are taken from the indictment and written in the roll of acceptance, for there is a complete transfer made between Jesus and his people. All our estate of misery and sin Jesus has taken; and all that Jesus has comes to us. His righteousness, his blood, and everything that he hath he gives us as our dowry. Rejoice, believer, in your union to him who was numbered among the transgressors; and prove that you are truly saved by being manifestly numbered with those who are new creatures in him. Daily Light on the Daily Path Genesis 24:63 Isaac went out to meditate in the field toward evening; and he lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, camels were coming.Psalm 19:14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, my rock and my Redeemer. Psalm 8:3,4 When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, The moon and the stars, which You have ordained; • What is man that You take thought of him, And the son of man that You care for him? Psalm 111:2 Great are the works of the LORD; They are studied by all who delight in them. Psalm 1:1,2 How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, Nor stand in the path of sinners, Nor sit in the seat of scoffers! • But his delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night. Joshua 1:8 "This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success. Psalm 63:5,6 My soul is satisfied as with marrow and fatness, And my mouth offers praises with joyful lips. • When I remember You on my bed, I meditate on You in the night watches, 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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