Bible League: Living His Word ... and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross.— Colossians 1:20 NKJV As I ponder and pray this morning about all that's going on in the world and the stresses of terrorism, war, division, spiritual attacks corporately and personally, I can honestly say with confidence "It is well with my soul," because I have hope. I have hope, because I know I have victory, and I know I have victory, because of the cross of Jesus Christ. "But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world." (Galatians 6:14). Charles Spurgeon once said, "There are a thousand enemies ahead of you, but if you look back, there are ten-thousand enemies behind you." The answer to our problems in the world and in our own lives lie not in man or woman, but in Jesus Christ. "He came not to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many" (Matthew 20:28). Today, like never before, to the world and natural person, the cross is an offence. But to the believer, the cross is to be the thing above all things in which we glory. The cross is our only hope for today. Christ died for me. I must live for Him. He is the way, the truth, and my life (John 14:6). In Christ and only Christ I am in harmony with the divine attributes of God's love and holiness, mercy and grace, truth and righteousness, and ultimately peace—peace that surpasses all understanding (Philippians 4:7). And as Christ was crucified for me, He was also crucified to the world with Himself and us. The world and all that is opposed to God will be judged, but it is the cross and the cross alone that saves us from judgment. For He is my hope and my peace (Ephesians 2:14). In whatever state you find yourself today, whatever mood, whatever feeling, whatever trial, whatever condition—the Cross is the answer my friend. The cross is our hope. By Pastor David Massie, Bible League International staff, California U.S. Bible in a Year Old Testament ReadingGenesis 49, 50 Genesis 49 -- Jacob's Blessing to His Sons; Jacob's Death NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Genesis 50 -- Burial of Jacob; Death of Joseph NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB New Testament Reading Matthew 15:1-20 Matthew 15 -- Clean and Unclean; Jesus Heals the Canaanite Woman's Daughter, Feeds Four Thousand NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Reading Plan Courtesy of Christian Classics Etherial Library. Tyndale Life Application Daily Devotion But be sure to fear the LORD and faithfully serve him. Think of all the wonderful things he has done for you.Insight Samuel reminded the people to take time to consider what great things God had done for them. Taking time for reflection allows us to focus our attention upon God's goodness and strengthens our faith. Sometimes we are so progress- and future-oriented that we fail to take time to recall all that God has already done. Challenge Remember what God has done for you so that you may continue your life accompanied with gratitude. Morning and Evening by Spurgeon Judges 15:18 He was sore athirst, and called on the Lord, and said, thou hast given this great deliverance into the hand of thy servant: and now shall I die for thirst?Samson was thirsty and ready to die. The difficulty was totally different from any which the hero had met before. Merely to get thirst assuaged is nothing like so great a matter as to be delivered from a thousand Philistines! but when the thirst was upon him, Samson felt that little present difficulty more weighty than the great past difficulty out of which he had so specially been delivered. It is very usual for God's people, when they have enjoyed a great deliverance, to find a little trouble too much for them. Samson slays a thousand Philistines, and piles them up in heaps, and then faints for a little water! Jacob wrestles with God at Peniel, and overcomes Omnipotence itself, and then goes "halting on his thigh!" Strange that there must be a shrinking of the sinew whenever we win the day. As if the Lord must teach us our littleness, our nothingness, in order to keep us within bounds. Samson boasted right loudly when he said, "I have slain a thousand men." His boastful throat soon grew hoarse with thirst, and he betook himself to prayer. God has many ways of humbling his people. Dear child of God, if after great mercy you are laid very low, your case is not an unusual one. When David had mounted the throne of Israel, he said, "I am this day weak, though anointed king." You must expect to feel weakest when you are enjoying your greatest triumph. If God has wrought for you great deliverances in the past, your present difficulty is only like Samson's thirst, and the Lord will not let you faint, nor suffer the daughter of the uncircumcised to triumph over you. The road of sorrow is the road to heaven, but there are wells of refreshing water all along the route. So, tried brother, cheer your heart with Samson's words, and rest assured that God will deliver you ere long. Daily Light on the Daily Path Malachi 3:15 'So now we call the arrogant blessed; not only are the doers of wickedness built up but they also test God and escape.'"Isaiah 57:15 For thus says the high and exalted One Who lives forever, whose name is Holy, "I dwell on a high and holy place, And also with the contrite and lowly of spirit In order to revive the spirit of the lowly And to revive the heart of the contrite. Proverbs 16:19 It is better to be humble in spirit with the lowly Than to divide the spoil with the proud. Matthew 5:3 "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Proverbs 6:16,17 There are six things which the LORD hates, Yes, seven which are an abomination to Him: • Haughty eyes, a lying tongue, And hands that shed innocent blood, Proverbs 16:5 Everyone who is proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD; Assuredly, he will not be unpunished. Psalm 139:23,24 Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me and know my anxious thoughts; • And see if there be any hurtful way in me, And lead me in the everlasting way. Philippians 1:2,3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. • I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, Matthew 5:5 "Blessed are the gentle, for they shall inherit the earth. 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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