Bible League: Living His Word The wicked run away when no one is chasing them,but the godly are as bold as lions. Why do the wicked run away, even when no one is chasing them? First, they run because they have guilty consciences. The wicked know they are doing wrong. They know that God exists, "because he has made it obvious to them . . . So they have no excuse for not knowing God" (Romans 1:19-20). And they know that God holds them accountable, because "God shows his anger from heaven against all sinful, wicked people who suppress the truth by their wickedness" (Romans 1:18). They run every time something ghastly and appalling rises up against them because they fear the comeuppance of God may have finally caught up with them. Second, they run because the curses of God come on the disobedient. "You will run as though fleeing from a sword, and you will fall even when no one pursues you" (Leviticus 26:36). The blessings of God have been removed from the wicked and they have been cursed to the fate they deserve. They will run to try and save themselves from their fate, but to no avail. They will flee, but the trouble will overtake them. Why are the godly as bold as lions? First, they are bold because they have clear consciences. Although they are not perfect, they know that they're in right standing with God. They know that God is pleased with them and will show them favor. "For you bless the godly, O LORD; you surround them with your shield of love" (Psalm 5:12). They are as bold as lions even when ghastly and appalling things rise up against them because they know that God is with them, that God is on their side. Second, they are bold as lions because the blessings of God come on the godly. "Five of you will chase a hundred, and a hundred of you will chase ten thousand! All your enemies will fall beneath your sword" (Leviticus 26:8). The curses of God have been removed from them and His blessings have come upon them (Deuteronomy 28:2). The godly will stand firm before trouble because God has blessed them with the courage necessary to stand firm and He will fill their enemies with fear. You are godly. You have been made right with God through Christ Jesus (II Corinthians 5:21). Be bold, then, like a lion – and watch your enemies flee before you. Bible in a Year Old Testament ReadingHosea 9, 10, 11 Hosea 9 -- The Distress and Captivity of Israel for Their Sins NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Hosea 10 -- Retribution for Israel's Sin; Exhortation to Repentance NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Hosea 11 -- The Ingratitude of Israel; God's Mercy; Israel's Sin and Judah's Infidelity NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB New Testament Reading Revelation 2 Revelation 2 -- Messages to the Churches in Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum and Thyatira NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Reading Plan Courtesy of Christian Classics Etherial Library. Tyndale Life Application Daily Devotion Now someone may argue, “Some people have faith; others have good deeds.” But I say, “How can you show me your faith if you don't have good deeds? I will show you my faith by my good deeds.”Insight At first glance, this verse seems to contradict Romans 3:28, “We are made right with God through faith and not by obeying the law.” Deeper investigation, however, shows that the teachings of James and Paul are not at odds. While it is true that our good deeds can never earn salvation, true faith always results in a changed life and good deeds. Paul speaks against those who try to be saved by deeds instead of true faith; James speaks against those who confuse mere intellectual assent with true faith. After all, even demons know who Jesus is, but they don't obey him. Challenge True faith involves a commitment of your whole self to God. Morning and Evening by Spurgeon Colossians 3:24 Ye serve the Lord Christ.To what choice order of officials was this word spoken? To kings who proudly boast a right divine? Ah, no! too often do they serve themselves or Satan, and forget the God whose sufferance permits them to wear their mimic majesty for their little hour. Speaks then the apostle to those so-called "right reverend fathers in God," the bishops, or "the venerable the archdeacons"? No, indeed, Paul knew nothing of these mere inventions of man. Not even to pastors and teachers, or to the wealthy and esteemed among believers, was this word spoken, but to servants, aye, and to slaves. Among the toiling multitudes, the journeymen, the day laborers, the domestic servants, the drudges of the kitchen, the apostle found, as we find still, some of the Lord's chosen, and to them he says, "Whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ." This saying ennobles the weary routine of earthly employments, and sheds a halo around the most humble occupations. To wash feet may be servile, but to wash his feet is royal work. To unloose the shoe-latchet is poor employ, but to unloose the great Master's shoe is a princely privilege. The shop, the barn, the scullery, and the smithy become temples when men and women do all to the glory of God! Then "divine service" is not a thing of a few hours and a few places, but all life becomes holiness unto the Lord, and every place and thing, as consecrated as the tabernacle and its golden candlestick. "Teach me, my God and King, in all things thee to see; And what I do in anything to do it as to thee. All may of thee partake, nothing can be so mean, Which with this tincture, for thy sake, will not grow bright and clean. A servant with this clause makes drudgery divine; Who sweeps a room, as for thy laws, makes that and the action fine." Daily Light on the Daily Path Ephesians 5:14 For this reason it says, "Awake, sleeper, And arise from the dead, And Christ will shine on you."Romans 13:11 Do this, knowing the time, that it is already the hour for you to awaken from sleep; for now salvation is nearer to us than when we believed. 1 Thessalonians 5:6-8 so then let us not sleep as others do, but let us be alert and sober. • For those who sleep do their sleeping at night, and those who get drunk get drunk at night. • But since we are of the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet, the hope of salvation. Isaiah 60:1,2 "Arise, shine; for your light has come, And the glory of the LORD has risen upon you. • "For behold, darkness will cover the earth And deep darkness the peoples; But the LORD will rise upon you And His glory will appear upon you. 1 Peter 1:13 Therefore, prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Luke 12:35,36 "Be dressed in readiness, and keep your lamps lit. • "Be like men who are waiting for their master when he returns from the wedding feast, so that they may immediately open the door to him when he comes and knocks. 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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