Bible League: Living His Word We also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding...— Colossians 1:9 NKJV Why do unbelievers not concern themselves with what the Spirit has to say? Because they do not see Him or know Him (John 14:17). In a creation governed by the Lord God, non-Christians do not know what the Lord wants them to do in life, because they lack the insight provided by the Lord's Spirit. They go through life without the benefit of what Jesus called "the Helper" (John 14:16). Non-Christians, then, are adrift in the world without a compass. Although they're held responsible for the direction they take, they lack the enlightening presence that can point the way. They make decisions based on their own desires, instead of on the direction of the Spirit. Even worse, they are vulnerable to the leading of Satan, who couldn't care less what the Spirit has to say. Christians, in contrast, have been given the Holy Spirit. Indeed, the Bible says that the Holy Spirit has been poured out upon them (Joel 2:28). As a result, they go through life with the help of the Helper. They are aware of the Spirit's presence and can follow His guidance. The possibility of living in harmony with the will of the Lord is real, because they have access to the insight of the Holy Spirit. However, based on our verse for today, simply having the Holy Spirit is not enough. We need to be filled with all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit has to give. We need to be filled with all the wisdom and understanding necessary to live properly in the Lord God's creation. The Apostle Paul asked in prayer that the church in Colossae would be filled with the knowledge of the Lord's will through all wisdom and spiritual understanding. He asked so that they would "walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work..." (Colossians 1:10). We must pray this prayer as well—for ourselves and those we care about. Bible in a Year Old Testament ReadingGenesis 42, 43 Genesis 42 -- Joseph's Brothers Sent to Egypt, Simeon Detained NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Genesis 43 -- The Return to Egypt with Benjamin NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB New Testament Reading Matthew 13:33-58 Matthew 13 -- Parables of the Sower; Weeds among Wheat; Mustard Seed; Yeast; Treasure; Pearls; Net; Prophet without Honor NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Reading Plan Courtesy of Christian Classics Etherial Library. Tyndale Life Application Daily Devotion But if you refuse to serve the LORD, then choose today whom you will serve. Would you prefer the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates? Or will it be the gods of the Amorites in whose land you now live? But as for me and my family, we will serve the LORD.Insight The people had to decide whether they would obey the Lord, who had proven his trustworthiness, or obey the local gods, which were only handmade idols. It's easy to slip into a quiet rebellion—going about life in your own way. But the time comes when you have to choose who or what will control you. Challenge The choice is yours. Will it be God, your own limited personality, or another imperfect substitute? Once you have chosen to be controlled by God's Spirit, reaffirm your choice every day. Morning and Evening by Spurgeon Luke 24:27 He expounded unto them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.The two disciples on the road to Emmaus had a most profitable journey. Their companion and teacher was the best of tutors; the interpreter one of a thousand, in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. The Lord Jesus condescended to become a preacher of the gospel, and he was not ashamed to exercise his calling before an audience of two persons, neither does he now refuse to become the teacher of even one. Let us court the company of so excellent an Instructor, for till he is made unto us wisdom we shall never be wise unto salvation. This unrivalled tutor used as his class-book the best of books. Although able to reveal fresh truth, he preferred to expound the old. He knew by his omniscience what was the most instructive way of teaching, and by turning at once to Moses and the prophets, he showed us that the surest road to wisdom is not speculation, reasoning, or reading human books, but meditation upon the Word of God. The readiest way to be spiritually rich in heavenly knowledge is to dig in this mine of diamonds, to gather pearls from this heavenly sea. When Jesus himself sought to enrich others, he wrought in the quarry of Holy Scripture. The favored pair were led to consider the best of subjects, for Jesus spake of Jesus, and expounded the things concerning himself. Here the diamond cut the diamond, and what could be more admirable? The Master of the House unlocked his own doors, conducted the guests to his table, and placed his own dainties upon it. He who hid the treasure in the field himself guided the searchers to it. Our Lord would naturally discourse upon the sweetest of topics, and he could find none sweeter than his own person and work: with an eye to these we should always search the Word. O for grace to study the Bible with Jesus as both our teacher and our lesson! Daily Light on the Daily Path Revelation 1:19 "Therefore write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after these things.1 Corinthians 2:9,10 but just as it is written, "THINGS WHICH EYE HAS NOT SEEN AND EAR HAS NOT HEARD, AND which HAVE NOT ENTERED THE HEART OF MAN, ALL THAT GOD HAS PREPARED FOR THOSE WHO LOVE HIM." • For to us God revealed them through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God. John 16:13 "But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come. Revelation 1:7 BEHOLD, HE IS COMING WITH THE CLOUDS, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him; and all the tribes of the earth will mourn over Him. So it is to be. Amen. 1 Thessalonians 4:13,14,16,17 But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as do the rest who have no hope. • For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus. • For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. • Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord. 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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