Bible League: Living His Word . . . He is not far from each one of us; for in Him we live and move and have our being. . .There are many passages in the Bible that explicitly teach or imply that we have access to the Lord God of heaven and earth. Here are just a few examples: "Come before His presence with singing" (Psalm 100:2). "Turn to Me with all your heart" (Joel 2:12). '"Return to Me," says the LORD of hosts, "and I will return to you"' (Zechariah 1:3). In all these passages, and many more like them, it is simply assumed that we can come into the presence of the Lord. Thus, although we cannot see Him or hear Him, at least under normal circumstances, God is available to us and accessible by us. We can turn to Him, return to Him, come before Him, enter into His presence, and so on. Just as we can relate to the natural world beneath us, and the human world around us, we can relate to the Lord God above us. No matter where we are, He is available to us. Jeremiah 23:23 says, '"Am I a God near at hand," says the LORD, "And not a God afar off?"' The reason we have access to the Lord God anywhere and everywhere is because He is, to use a term from theological discourse, omnipresent. Although God transcends space as its creator, He Himself is wholly present everywhere in space. As our verses for today put it, "He is not far from each one of us." Although we can ignore God and turn away from Him, this does not mean that we can actually escape from His presence. Psalm 139:7-8 says, "Where can I go from your Spirit? Or where can I flee from your presence? If I ascend into heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there." It is true that "in Him we live and move and have our being" because God is present everywhere sustaining, maintaining, and upholding the whole creation, heaven and earth. Hebrews 1:3 says of God the Son that He is continuously "upholding all things by the word of His power." Take comfort today in the thought that God is not far away from you and is not inaccessible to you. At any time and from any place, you may enter into His presence. Bible in a Year Old Testament Reading2 Samuel 23, 24 2 Samuel 23 -- David's Last Song NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB 2 Samuel 24 -- The Census Taken; David Builds an Altar NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB New Testament Reading Luke 22:31-53 Luke 22 -- Preparing the Passover; Jesus Arrested, Disowned by Peter NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Reading Plan Courtesy of Christian Classics Etherial Library. Tyndale Life Application Daily Devotion So I recommend having fun, because there is nothing better for people in this world than to eat, drink, and enjoy life. That way they will experience some happiness along with all the hard work God gives them under the sun.Insight Solomon recalls the remedy for life's unanswered questions. He recommends joy and contentment as encouragement for us along life's pilgrimage. Challenge We must accept each day with its daily measure of work, food, and pleasure. Let us learn to enjoy what God has given us to refresh and strengthen us to continue his work. Morning and Evening by Spurgeon Psalm 139:17 How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God.Divine omniscience affords no comfort to the ungodly mind, but to the child of God it overflows with consolation. God is always thinking upon us, never turns aside his mind from us, has us always before his eyes; and this is precisely as we would have it, for it would be dreadful to exist for a moment beyond the observation of our heavenly Father. His thoughts are always tender, loving, wise, prudent, far-reaching, and they bring to us countless benefits: hence it is a choice delight to remember them. The Lord always did think upon his people: hence their election and the covenant of grace by which their salvation is secured; he always will think upon them: hence their final perseverance by which they shall be brought safely to their final rest. In all our wanderings the watchful glance of the Eternal Watcher is evermore fixed upon us--we never roam beyond the Shepherd's eye. In our sorrows he observes us incessantly, and not a pang escapes him; in our toils he marks all our weariness, and writes in his book all the struggles of his faithful ones. These thoughts of the Lord encompass us in all our paths, and penetrate the innermost region of our being. Not a nerve or tissue, valve or vessel, of our bodily organization is uncared for; all the littles of our little world are thought upon by the great God. Dear reader, is this precious to you? then hold to it. Never be led astray by those philosophic fools who preach up an impersonal God, and talk of self-existent, self-governing matter. The Lord liveth and thinketh upon us, this is a truth far too precious for us to be lightly robbed of it. The notice of a nobleman is valued so highly that he who has it counts his fortune made; but what is it to be thought of by the King of kings! If the Lord thinketh upon us, all is well, and we may rejoice evermore. Daily Light on the Daily Path Proverbs 14:29 He who is slow to anger has great understanding, But he who is quick-tempered exalts folly.Exodus 34:6 Then the LORD passed by in front of him and proclaimed, "The LORD, the LORD God, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness and truth; 2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance. Ephesians 5:1 Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; Galatians 5:22,23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, • gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 1 Peter 2:19-21,23 For this finds favor, if for the sake of conscience toward God a person bears up under sorrows when suffering unjustly. • For what credit is there if, when you sin and are harshly treated, you endure it with patience? But if when you do what is right and suffer for it you patiently endure it, this finds favor with God. • For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps, • and while being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously; Ephesians 4:26 BE ANGRY, AND yet DO NOT SIN; do not let the sun go down on your anger, 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. |
Click for Video Devotionals     |