Dawn 2 Dusk When God Redirects Your MapWe like to sketch out the next steps—career moves, family plans, ministry dreams—and it feels wise to think ahead. But Proverbs 16:9 gently reminds us that planning is not the same as steering, and that real peace comes when our carefully drawn routes stay open to God’s loving direction. Planning with Open Hands There’s nothing unspiritual about making plans; Scripture assumes we will. The question is what posture our plans take. Proverbs 16:9 says, “A man’s heart plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps.” That means planning is our responsibility, but outcomes and timing belong to God. When we clutch the plan, we start acting like we’re in charge; when we offer it, we start living like we’re loved and led. James confronts the illusion of control: “You do not even know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes” (James 4:14). So the most grounded way to plan is to add the humble phrase Scripture teaches us to mean: “If the Lord is willing, we will live and do this or that” (James 4:15). Open hands don’t cancel ambition; they sanctify it. Trusting the God Who Guides Steps Sometimes God’s guidance feels gentle—small nudges, timely conversations, doors opening without drama. Other times it feels like a hard stop, a detour, or a “not yet” that stings. But Scripture doesn’t present God’s leadership as random; it’s personal and purposeful. “The steps of a man are ordered by the LORD who takes delight in his journey” (Psalm 37:23). If He delights in your journey, then even the confusing segments are not wasted. Trust grows when we stop demanding to see the whole road. “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight” (Proverbs 3:5–6). Straight paths don’t always mean easy paths; they mean true paths—the ones that actually lead where you need to go, not merely where you wanted to go first. Walking Forward Without Fear A redirected plan can feel like failure, but in God’s hands it can be rescue. What you call a closed door may be protection; what you call a delay may be preparation. God’s promise isn’t that every plan works out, but that His purposes do: “And we know that God works all things together for the good of those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28). That “all things” includes the plan that collapsed and the new path you didn’t choose. So take the next faithful step, not the whole staircase. Do the obedient thing you already know to do: pray, forgive, tell the truth, work diligently, serve quietly, give generously. God is not asking you to play chess with the future; He’s asking you to walk with Him today. His ways are higher than ours (Isaiah 55:8–9), which means you can move forward without panic—because the One who determines your steps is also the One who holds your heart. Father, thank You for wisely guiding my steps. I surrender my plans to You today—lead me, and help me obey the next step You show me. Amen. Evening with A.W. Tozer Harmonious LivingThis brief list does not at all exhaust the number of infirmities we are likely to find in the Christian assembly. Who has not had to bear lovingly with a brother (or sister) who is afflicted with logorrhea, the incurable propensity to talk without pause or punctuation? That the talk is religious does not make it the less painful. And the unstable brother who spends his time either falling or getting up again, who is either leaping for joy or lying face down bewailing his hard lot--what church is there that does not have one or two such believers in it? Then there is the Mark Twain of the holy place, whose testimonies must always have their element of alleged humor; and to offset him somewhat is the man of heavy countenance who cannot smile and to whom a pleasantry is a mortal sin. Add to this list the sister whose prayers are accusations against the church or self-pitying complaints about the way she is being treated by other members of the flock. What shall we do about these infirm brothers and sisters? If we deal with them according to their deserts, we may crush them beyond recovery. The thing to do is to accept them as crosses and bear them for Jesus' sake. In the great day when we have become like our Lord and have left all imperfections behind, we will not be sorry we endured patiently the infirmities of the weak.
Music For the Soul The Disciple as His LordThe Lord will perfect, that which concerneth me. - Psalm 138:8 It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord. - Matthew 10:25. The disciple’s schooling is not ended until he has learned all that the master can teach; and the duty of the servant is not performed until he has done all that the lord commands. There is no adequate end to the experiences of the imperfect Christian life on earth, except that of being wholly assimilated to the character of Jesus Christ. So much accomplished, and so much unaccomplished - the contradiction between the two halves cannot continue for ever. The likeness of Jesus Christ, which is imperfectly realized in a man here, has in it " the promise and the potency " of a perfect conformity hereafter. Michael Angelo left several of his works with a part finished and polished to the last point of statuesque perfection, and the rest rough marble, with the marks of a tool upon it here and there. The face or the form was half-extricated from, and half still embedded in, the rude and formless block. You can see in Baalbec a pillar partially rounded and hewn out of the rock, and the rest of it still undelivered from its environment. So the Christian life here, in its incompleteness, prophesies of that which is to come. For if Christ is the Worker, then His work must correspond to His own perfection. If He is our Master, then He will not cease His teaching until we have learned all His "treasures of wisdom and knowledge." If He is our Lord, then we shall be perfectly like Himself. Never shall it be said of this man that "he began to build, and was not able to finish." " The Lord will perfect that which concerneth thee." "It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master." Is it not enough for the heart, enough to know for the mind, amid all the dimness and the darkness of that future? We know not what lies beyond the pass: the fair lands on the other side the mountains are all unseen; but, as good old Richard Baxter says in his hymn - "It is enough that Christ knows all, And I shall be like Him." If that likeness is to be completed hereafter, it must be begun here. Whatever speculations men may indulge in about the effect of passing beyond the vale, there is nothing either in what we know of the phenomenon of death, nor in what Scripture plainly teaches, to warrant the belief that the accident of dying shall revolutionise a man’s attitude to Jesus Christ. And it is a desperate risk to run, that we should trust to begin beyond the grave a life dead against the life that was lived here. We do know that, if imperfectly, we try to follow Christ on earth, there we shall follow the Lamb whithersoever He goeth. We do know that if here we enter ourselves in Christ’s school, there we shall get our remove to a higher form. We do know that if here the likeness begins, there it shall be perfected. As some poor bit of glass, smitten by a sunbeam, blazes with the light which it reflects, so, when we behold His countenance "as the sun shineth in his strength," we, too, " shall shine like the sun in the Heavenly Father’s Kingdom." So the question comes to be, "Am I Christ’s scholar? Have I begun to be like Him? " Then I have the beginnings of peace and of heart-satisfaction. To be like Christ is enough for a man; nothing less is. Spurgeon: Morning and Evening Mark 15:23 And they gave him to drink wine mingled with myrrh: but he received it not. A golden truth is couched in the fact that the Saviour put the myrrhed wine-cup from his lips. On the heights of heaven the Son of God stood of old, and as he looked down upon our globe he measured the long descent to the utmost depths of human misery; he cast up the sum total of all the agonies which expiation would require, and abated not a jot. He solemnly determined that to offer a sufficient atoning sacrifice he must go the whole way, from the highest to the lowest, from the throne of highest glory to the cross of deepest woe. This myrrhed cup, with its soporific influence, would have stayed him within a little of the utmost limit of misery, therefore he refused it. He would not stop short of all he had undertaken to suffer for his people. Ah, how many of us have pined after reliefs to our grief which would have been injurious to us! Reader, did you never pray for a discharge from hard service or suffering with a petulant and wilful eagerness? Providence has taken from you the desire of your eyes with a stroke. Say, Christian, if it had been said, "If you so desire it, that loved one of yours shall live, but God will be dishonored," could you have put away the temptation, and said, "Thy will be done"? Oh, it is sweet to be able to say, "My Lord, if for other reasons I need not suffer, yet if I can honor thee more by suffering, and if the loss of my earthly all will bring thee glory, then so let it be. I refuse the comfort, if it comes in the way of thine honor." O that we thus walked more in the footsteps of our Lord, cheerfully enduring trial for his sake, promptly and willingly putting away the thought of self and comfort when it would interfere with our finishing the work which he has given us to do. Great grace is needed, but great grace is provided. Spurgeon: Faith’s Checkbook Seekers, FindersWe need our God; He is to be had for the seeking, and He will not deny Himself to any one of us if we personally seek His face. It is not if thou deserve Him, or purchase His favor, but merely if thou "seek" Him. Those who already know the LORD must go on seeking His face by prayer, by diligent service, and by holy gratitude: to such He will not refuse His favor and fellowship. Those who, as yet, have not known Him to their souls’ rest should at once commence seeking and never cease till they find Him as their Savior, their Friend, their Father, and their God. What strong assurance this promise gives to the seeker! "He that seeketh findeth." You, yes you, if you seek your God shall find Him. When you find Him you have found life, pardon, sanctification, preservation, and glory. Will you not seek, and seek on, since you shall not seek in vain’ Dear friend, seek the LORD at once. Here is the place, and now is the time. Bend that stiff knee; yes, bend that stiffer neck, and cry out for God, for the living God. In the name of Jesus, seek cleansing and justification. You shall not be refused. Here is David’s testimony to his son Solomon, and it is the writer’s personal witness to the reader. Believe it and act upon it, for Christ’s sake. The Believer’s Daily Remembrancer The Lord Is Nigh unto All Them That Call upon HimREAL prayer is calling upon God. He is our Father: we are His children. We have nothing; He has all things to bestow, and is willing to give them. From a sense of need, we call on the Lord for a supply; from a sense of weakness, we call on Him for strength; from a sense of guilt, we call on Him for pardon. Being diseased, we cry for health; being troubled, for comfort and peace; being in distress, for relief and deliverance. We go out of self to Jesus, accepting His invitation, to plead His promise, and find Him faithful. Our God is always near the praying soul, not merely as the omnipresent Jehovah, but as our faithful Friend. He is near us, lovingly to listen to what we have to lay before Him; mercifully to relieve our miseries, be they what they may; graciously to help in every difficulty or danger. Beloved, our God is near us. He is attentive to us this morning; let us lay all our concerns before Him: He loves to listen to the often-told tale; He has patience with us, blessings for us, and will do us good. O Lord, each day renew my strength, And let me see Thy face at length, With all Thy people yonder; With them in heaven Thy love declare, And sing Thy praise for ever there, With gratitude and wonder. Bible League: Living His Word Those who know your name trust in you, for you, O LORD, do not abandon those who search for you.— Psalm 9:10 NLT I know the name of the Lord. I know that His name is "I AM" (Exodus 3:14). He's not a figment of someone's imagination. He's not "I AM" in name only. He's the one true God, the one true Creator of heaven and earth. Although I'm a mere mortal, I know His name, know who He is, and know what He is like. I know these things because I AM has made Himself known. He has revealed Himself to me and to anyone like me who pays attention. Since I know what He has revealed about himself, I know His reputation. His reputation is that He can be trusted without limit or qualification. It's not like He comes through sometimes and in some situations. He comes through all the time and in every situation. He's not fickle. He's not quirky. He is reliable and true. It is wise to put your trust in the God whose name is I AM. In fact, I know that the Lord likes it when people put their trust in Him. He likes it when people seek Him and even mount a search for Him. He likes it so much that He rewards them for it. It says so in His Word. In the book of Hebrews it says, "And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him" (Hebrews 11:6). If you seek the Lord, then, you will find Him (Jeremiah 29:13). If you're sincere about your searching, He won't try and evade you or hide from you. He won't ditch you or abandon you. Indeed, He will never abandon those who search for Him (Psalm 37:28). If you've never sought the Lord before, then let today be your day. Let today be the day you find out how trustworthy He can be. Daily Light on the Daily Path 1 Corinthians 1:31 so that, just as it is written, "LET HIM WHO BOASTS, BOAST IN THE LORD."Jeremiah 9:23,24 Thus says the LORD, "Let not a wise man boast of his wisdom, and let not the mighty man boast of his might, let not a rich man boast of his riches; • but let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the LORD who exercises lovingkindness, justice and righteousness on earth; for I delight in these things," declares the LORD. Philippians 3:8 More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ, Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. Romans 15:17 Therefore in Christ Jesus I have found reason for boasting in things pertaining to God. Psalm 73:25 Whom have I in heaven but You? And besides You, I desire nothing on earth. 1 Samuel 2:1 Then Hannah prayed and said, "My heart exults in the LORD; My horn is exalted in the LORD, My mouth speaks boldly against my enemies, Because I rejoice in Your salvation. Psalm 115:1 Not to us, O LORD, not to us, But to Your name give glory Because of Your lovingkindness, because of Your truth. 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. Tyndale Life Application Daily Devotion “Rabbi,” his disciples asked him, “why was this man born blind? Was it because of his own sins or his parents' sins?”“It was not because of his sins or his parents' sins,” Jesus answered. “This happened so the power of God could be seen in him.” Insight A common belief in Jewish culture was that calamity or suffering was the result of some great sin. But Christ used this man's suffering to teach about faith and to glorify God. We live in a fallen world where good behavior is not always rewarded and bad behavior not always punished. Therefore, innocent people sometimes suffer. If God took suffering away whenever we asked, we would follow him for comfort and convenience, not out of love and devotion. Regardless of the reasons for our suffering, Jesus has the power to help us deal with it. Challenge When you suffer from a disease, tragedy, or disability, try not to ask, “Why did this happen to me?” or “What did I do wrong?” Instead, ask God to give you strength for the trial and a clearer perspective on what is happening. Devotional Hours Within the Bible The ResurrectionWe think of death ordinarily as the end of a man’s life. He can do no more work in this world. Only his influence remains. But it was not the end of the life of Jesus Christ. He came again from the grave after a brief rest and took up once more His work of redemption. The women watched beside the grave after the burial of the body there, until they were compelled to hasten into the city before the gates would be shut upon them. Meanwhile they were in deep grief. The Sabbath was a sad and dark day for them. They were eager to get back to the grave to honor their Lord’s dead body. So at the very dawn, after the Sabbath, as soon as the gates would be opened, they left their home and hastened away to His grave, carrying spices and ointments to anoint His dead body. No one saw the resurrection. We are told something, however, of what took place. “There was a great earthquake; for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone, and sat upon it.” The rulers thought they had the sepulcher well-secured. The stone had been sealed with Pilate’s seal, so that to meddle with it would be a high crime. Besides, they had procured a guard of Roman soldiers to watch by the grave. They seem to have expected thus to keep Jesus from rising. When they asked for the guard, they gave this as the reason, “He said: After three days I will rise again” (27:63). They pretended to suspect that the disciples would try to carry away the body by night, to give the impression that their Master has risen. But we see how useless were all their precautions. There was no power in the universe that could keep the body of Jesus in that rock-prison. The effect of the resurrection and its attendant circumstances upon the Roman soldiers who kept watch, was startling. “There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.” The soldiers were hardened to all sorts of danger. They never recoiled in the presence of any enemy. But when an angel of God stood before them, with shining face and shining garments they were in great terror. But the angel who caused such dread in the Roman soldiers, spoke with all gentleness to the women who stood before the grave in great sorrow. “The angel said to the women: Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay.” This was the first announcement of the Resurrection. It was made by an angel to the Lord’s women friends. They had ample proofs of the fact thereafter. No event in all history is more incontestably sure, than that Jesus arose from the dead. Nor can the importance of the fact be overestimated. Everything depends upon Christ’s Resurrection. All the hopes of redemption waited outside that sealed sepulcher. Jesus had said that He would rise; His Messiahship therefore depended from confirmation on His rising. He had made promises to His disciples that He would come again from death and live forever. Indeed, His kingdom depended altogether upon His rising. If He had remained under the power of death, no soul that trusted in Him could have been saved. For a Savior vanquished and held as a prisoner could not be deliverer of others. A Savior locked in a grave could not appear before God to intercede for men, could not walk with His people in their trials and sorrows, could not lead the dying safely through the valley which He had not Himself been able to pass through victoriously, could not bring believers from death’s prison from which He had not Himself been able to come. These are hints of what depended upon Christ’s rising from the dead. Thus we see something of the tremendous importance of the fact which was announced by the angel to the women that early morning. “He is not here; he has risen, just as he said!” We have a living Christ, therefore, for our Savior. He was victorious over all enemies then, over death, the last enemy. Therefore, He is able to deliver us from all our enemies and from death’s power at the last. He stands before God for us, and also walks with us on the earth in all our experiences, a living Friend, to love, to help, to comfort, to deliver, to keep, all who have committed themselves to Him in trusting faith. The angel sent the women on an errand the disciples to bear to them the glorious news. “Go quickly, and tell His disciples.” They obeyed promptly and with joy. “They departed quickly.” On their way Jesus Himself appeared to them. “Jesus met them, saying, Greetings!” Notice that it was as they were hastening in the path of obedience, that they met their Lord. It is always and only in the way of duty that we ever meet Christ, and find blessing and joy. Had the women loitered by the grave instead of hastening away as they were bidden, Jesus would not have appeared to them. It is only in the way of obedience, in the service of love, that Jesus meets us. There are Christian mourners who never go away from the grave where they have buried their loved ones. They hear the words of hope which the gospel brings but sit still in their grief, and no comfort reaches their sad hearts. Jesus does not meet them. If they would rise and hasten on errands of love to the living, the Divine comfort would come to them. They would meet Jesus Himself in the way, and receive His Greetings!” Grief is often selfish. It forgets the living in its sorrow for the dead. To such mourners, true comfort never comes. Rise up and go on errands of service and Jesus will meet you. The women worshiped their Master, rejoicing that they had Him back again from the grave. He then Himself sent them on an errand to the disciples. “Go tell My brethren to go into Galilee, and there shall they see Me.” Whenever Jesus makes an appointment with His friends, He will keep it, He will be present, and will have blessings to bestow upon those who meet Him there. Suppose that some of our Lord’s disciples had stayed away from the appointed meeting in Galilee, not quite believing his promise, or having other things to do instead what would they have missed? Or they might have said, “It is a long distance to the place”; or, “The mountain is steep, and I do not like to climb it”; or, “I fear it will rain or be stormy”; or, “Perhaps He will not be there at all I cannot understand how He can indeed be risen.” For any of these reasons, or for any other reason some might have been absent that wonderful day. But they would then have missed the glorious sight of the risen Jesus, and would not have received His commission and promise. To the end of their lives they would have regretted that they had not kept their Lord’s appointment that day. Jesus makes appointments with us to meet us at times of prayer in church services, at the Holy Communion, at some holy appointed place. Sometimes we do not think these appointments very important, and are easily influenced to omit them. We never can know what we lose by these failures or neglects. Jesus always comes where He asks us to meet Him, and gives blessings there to those who have been faithful in gathering to wait for Him. We do not know what we may miss by staying away from any appointment with our Master. The risen Lord’s promise to His disciples when He sent them forth is one of great comfort. “Lo, I am with you always even unto the end of the world!” If Jesus had given His commission without adding His promise, His disciples might well have shrunk from going forth to the work to which He assigned them. But having His promise, they could not hesitate. This assurance was not for the first disciples only; He says to us also, “I am with you always!” In what sense is Christ with us always? It is not merely as our departed human friends are with us in the sweet memories of their lives. It is a real and personal presence. He is present with us as He was with Mary and Martha when He came to them that day after their brother had died. He is present with each one of us, not only on the bright days but on the dark days. Let us believe in the actual presence of Christ with us, and then let us act as if we believe that He is with us. This is he secret of Christian power and Christian peace! Bible in a Year Old Testament ReadingPsalm 109, 110, 111 Psalm 109 -- God of my praise, don't remain silent NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Psalm 110 -- The Lord says to my Lord, "Sit at my right hand NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Psalm 111 -- I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB New Testament Reading Romans 16 Romans 16 -- Greetings and Love NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Reading Plan Courtesy of Christian Classics Etherial Library. |
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