Bible League: Living His Word The LORD of Heaven's Armies has spoken--who can change his plans? When his hand is raised, who can stop him?" When the trials, troubles, and tribulations of life strike the people of God they may be tempted to wonder if God is in charge. When the opposition of the enemies of the people of God seems overwhelming they may be tempted to question if God is really in control. Does God not know what is happening? Does He not see everything that is going on? And if He does know and see, then is He not able to do anything about it? The message of Isaiah to the people of God in his time and to the people of God for all time is that when the Lord makes up His mind, when He forms His plans, there is nothing in heaven and earth that can change His plans to their own liking or nullify them altogether. And when the Lord raises His hand in order to carry out His plans there is no power in heaven and earth that can stop Him or turn Him aside. Given this, the people of God should take comfort. No matter what their situation may be, however dire and grim, the Lord is in control. His plans shall endure. The forces of darkness may form plans and schemes of their own, but they are not able to stop or override what the Lord has ordained. The Lord is lord of the Armies of Heaven. There is nothing that can stand against Him and His angelic host. The people of God may then rest assured that what they are going through could not happen unless it was part of His plan and unless His wisdom prevailed. God has a purpose in everything he does and His providence directs all things in accordance with His purpose. Although we may question God's purpose at times, we also know that He "causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them" (Romans 8:28). If there is anything in the way of God's plan and purpose for you, it will be cast down. If there is anything that needs to happen to fulfill His plan and purpose for you, it will be lifted up. Nothing can change His plans; nothing can stop Him. Bible in a Year Old Testament Reading2 Chronicles 7, 8, 9 2 Chronicles 7 -- Fire from Heaven; Glory in the Temple; Feast of Dedication; God's Promise NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB 2 Chronicles 8 -- Solomon's Additional Accomplishments NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB 2 Chronicles 9 -- Visit of the Queen of Sheba; Solomon's Splendor and Death NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB New Testament Reading John 13:1-17 John 13 -- Jesus Washes His Disciples' Feet, Predicts His Betrayal and Peter's Denial NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Reading Plan Courtesy of Christian Classics Etherial Library. Tyndale Life Application Daily Devotion So if you ignore the least commandment and teach others to do the same, you will be called the least in the Kingdom of Heaven. But anyone who obeys God's laws and teaches them will be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven.Insight Some of those in the crowd were experts at telling others what to do, but they missed the central point of God's laws themselves. Jesus made it clear, however, that obeying God's law is more important than explaining it. Challenge It's much easier to study God's laws and tell others to obey them than to put them into practice. How are you doing at obeying God yourself? Morning and Evening by Spurgeon Matthew 19:16 Good Master.If the young man in the gospel used this title in speaking to our Lord, how much more fitly may I thus address him! He is indeed my Master in both senses, a ruling Master and a teaching Master. I delight to run upon his errands, and to sit at his feet. I am both his servant and his disciple, and count it my highest honor to own the double character. If he should ask me why I call him "good," I should have a ready answer. It is true that "there is none good but one, that is, God," but then he is God, and all the goodness of Deity shines forth in him. In my experience, I have found him good, so good, indeed, that all the good I have has come to me through him. He was good to me when I was dead in sin, for he raised me by his Spirit's power; he has been good to me in all my needs, trials, struggles, and sorrows. Never could there be a better Master, for his service is freedom, his rule is love: I wish I were one thousandth part as good a servant. When he teaches me as my Rabbi, he is unspeakably good, his doctrine is divine, his manner is condescending, his spirit is gentleness itself. No error mingles with his instruction--pure is the golden truth which he brings forth, and all his teachings lead to goodness, sanctifying as well as edifying the disciple. Angels find him a good Master and delight to pay their homage at his footstool. The ancient saints proved him to be a good Master, and each of them rejoiced to sing, "I am thy servant, O Lord!" My own humble testimony must certainly be to the same effect. I will bear this witness before my friends and neighbours, for possibly they may be led by my testimony to seek my Lord Jesus as their Master. O that they would do so! They would never repent so wise a deed. If they would but take his easy yoke, they would find themselves in so royal a service that they would enlist in it forever. Daily Light on the Daily Path Psalm 16:5 The LORD is the portion of my inheritance and my cup; You support my lot.Romans 8:17 and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him. 1 Corinthians 3:21 So then let no one boast in men. For all things belong to you, Galatians 2:20 "I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me. Numbers 8:20 Thus did Moses and Aaron and all the congregation of the sons of Israel to the Levites; according to all that the LORD had commanded Moses concerning the Levites, so the sons of Israel did to them. Psalm 73:25,26 Whom have I in heaven but You? And besides You, I desire nothing on earth. • My flesh and my heart may fail, But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. Psalm 23:4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. 2 Timothy 1:12 For this reason I also suffer these things, but I am not ashamed; for I know whom I have believed and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day. Psalm 63:1 A Psalm of David, when he was in the wilderness of Judah. O God, You are my God; I shall seek You earnestly; My soul thirsts for You, my flesh yearns for You, In a dry and weary land where there is no water. 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. |
Click for Video Devotionals     |