Bible League: Living His Word Thus says the LORD: "Stand in the ways and see, and ask for the old paths, where the good way is, and walk in it; then you will find rest for your souls..."— Jeremiah 6:16 NKJV Everyone comes to the crossroads of life. At those times, everyone must make a decision. How should this be handled? The first thing is to look and see. Don't just march off on a whim. Don't hastily make a decision, as if it doesn't really matter which way you take. Prayerfully consider the options, before you make big decisions. The way forward is not always obvious, and there may be more than one way which seems good at first. Don't allow your eagerness to stampede you into making a wrong decision. The second thing is to ask around. Big decisions could use some sound advice. The proverb says, "Where there is no counsel, the people fall; but in the multitude of counselors there is safety" (Proverbs 11:14). No person has all the answers. There are godly people that have gone before you, who know what lies at the end of a given path. They can give you the advice you need. They can tell you what happened to them, and even if you don't take their advice, you'll have more knowledge to work with. The third thing is to ask your counselors for the old paths and the good ways. Not just any way will do. There are ways that are tried and true. There are ways that everyone should take. Even though the way forward is new for you, it's an old path that the righteous have always followed. You don't want to get bogged down in the byways and miss the highways. You don't want to stumble on uncut paths and miss the ancient ones cut deeply and smoothly into the terrain (Jeremiah 18:15). The fourth thing is to walk in it. Once the way forward is clear, once the old path and the good way comes into focus, then walk in it. Don't be stubborn. Don't demand to be different. It's not easy to leave the pathways of righteousness, for "The way of the unfaithful is hard" (Proverbs 13:15). If you take these steps, you'll make it easy on yourself; you'll find rest for your soul. Bible in a Year Old Testament ReadingPsalm 17, 18 Psalm 17 -- Hear, O Lord, my righteous plea; Give ear to my prayer NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Psalm 18 -- I love you, O Lord, my strength. NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB New Testament Reading Acts 19:1-20 Acts 19 -- Miracles, Preaching and Riot in Ephesus NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Reading Plan Courtesy of Christian Classics Etherial Library. Tyndale Life Application Daily Devotion John said to Jesus, “Master, we saw someone using your name to cast out demons, but we told him to stop because he isn't in our group.”But Jesus said, “Don't stop him! Anyone who is not against you is for you.” Insight The disciples were jealous. Nine of them together were unable to drive out a single evil spirit, but when they saw a man who was not one of their group driving out demons, they told him to stop. Challenge Our pride is hurt when someone else succeeds where we have failed, but Jesus says there is no room for such jealousy in the spiritual warfare of his kingdom. Share Jesus' open-arms attitude to Christian workers outside your group. Morning and Evening by Spurgeon Mark 16:9 He appeared first to Mary Magdalene.Jesus "appeared first to Mary Magdalene," probably not only on account of her great love and persevering seeking, but because, as the context intimates,she had been a special trophy of Christ's delivering power. Learn from this, that the greatness of our sin before conversion should not make us imagine that we may not be specially favored with the very highest grade of fellowship. She was one who had left all to become a constant attendant on the Saviour. He was her first, her chief object. Many who were on Christ's side did not take up Christ's cross; she did. She spent her substance in relieving his wants. If we would see much of Christ, let us serve him. Tell me who they are that sit oftenest under the banner of his love, and drink deepest draughts from the cup of communion, and I am sure they will be those who give most, who serve best, and who abide closest to the bleeding heart of their dear Lord. But notice how Christ revealed himself to this sorrowing one--by a word, "Mary." It needed but one word in his voice, and at once she knew him, and her heart owned allegiance by another word, her heart was too full to say more. That one word would naturally be the most fitting for the occasion. It implies obedience. She said, "Master." There is no state of mind in which this confession of allegiance will be too cold. No, when your spirit glows most with the heavenly fire, then you will say, "I am thy servant, thou hast loosed my bonds." If you can say, "Master," if you feel that his will is your will, then you stand in a happy, holy place. He must have said, "Mary," or else you could not have said, "Rabboni." See, then, from all this, how Christ honors those who honor him, how love draws our Beloved, how it needs but one word of his to turn our weeping to rejoicing, how his presence makes the heart's sunshine. Daily Light on the Daily Path Job 34:3 "For the ear tests words As the palate tastes food.1 John 4:1 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. John 7:24 "Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment." 1 Corinthians 10:15 I speak as to wise men; you judge what I say. Colossians 3:16 Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God. Revelation 2:29 'He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.' 1 Corinthians 2:15 But he who is spiritual appraises all things, yet he himself is appraised by no one. Mark 4:24 And He was saying to them, "Take care what you listen to. By your standard of measure it will be measured to you; and more will be given you besides. Revelation 2:2 I know your deeds and your toil and perseverance, and that you cannot tolerate evil men, and you put to the test those who call themselves apostles, and they are not, and you found them to be false; 1 Thessalonians 5:21 But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good; John 10:3-5 "To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. • "When he puts forth all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice. • "A stranger they simply will not follow, but will flee from him, because they do not know the voice of strangers." 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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