Bible League: Living His Word Don't be afraid, for I am with you.Don't be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand. There are times when the task before us seems overwhelming. There are times when the fear that we won't be able to make it gets a grip on us and won't let us go. We look within for something, anything, that will propel us forward through the brick wall that we have come up against, but we find nothing there that can help. The ideas have dried up. The energy has evaporated. And the whole enterprise is in danger of coming to a screeching halt. "Don't be afraid," Isaiah reassures us. We are not alone. The Lord is there and has been there all along. We forgot about that for a while, but now he has reminded us of it. We need not be discouraged. We may not be able to find a way forward, but the Lord is with us and He is God. Nothing is too hard for Him. He can find the way where there is no way. He can give us the idea that will make all the difference in the world. God can also strengthen us. The fear and the anxiety have sapped us of our strength, but the Lord can renew our strength. Just by Him being there with us we are encouraged and the encouragement lifts up our spirits and revives our physical resources. What we thought was going to take forever now takes off and the end is already in sight. With the help of the Lord, we can make it after all. And God can take us all the way to the end of the matter. He will rejoice with us at the finish line and hoist us up above His head with His victorious right hand, like an athlete who hoists up the hero of the game and carries him off the field. He will rejoice in our victory, but we will only be able to remember what He has done for us. You have forgotten for a while that the Lord is with you. Now you have been reminded. Take heart today, for the way forward is about to be revealed to you. Bible in a Year Old Testament ReadingDeuteronomy 17, 18, 19 Deuteronomy 17 -- Appointment of Judges, Courts and Kings NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Deuteronomy 18 -- Offerings for Priests; Spells and Mediums Forbidden NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Deuteronomy 19 -- Cities of Refuge; More than One Witness Required NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB New Testament Reading Mark 14:1-25 Mark 14 -- Jesus Anointed; Last Supper; Gethsemane; Judas Betrays Jesus; Jesus before the Sanhedrin, disowned by Peter NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Reading Plan Courtesy of Christian Classics Etherial Library. Tyndale Life Application Daily Devotion Search for the LORD and for his strength;continually seek him. Remember the wonders he has performed, his miracles, and the rulings he has given. Insight The psalmist suggested a valuable way to find God—become familiar with the way he has helped his people in the past. The Bible records the history of God's people. In searching its pages we will discover a loving God who is waiting for us to find him. Challenge If God seems far away, persist in your search for him. God rewards those who sincerely look for him. Jesus promised, “Seek and you will find” (Matt. 7:7). Morning and Evening by Spurgeon 1 Samuel 30:13 To whom belongest thou?No neutralities can exist in religion. We are either ranked under the banner of Prince Immanuel, to serve and fight his battles, or we are vassals of the black prince, Satan. "To whom belongest thou?" Reader, let me assist you in your response. Have you been "born again"? If you have, you belong to Christ, but without the new birth you cannot be his. In whom do you trust? For those who believe in Jesus are the sons of God. Whose work are you doing? You are sure to serve your master, for he whom you serve is thereby owned to be your lord. What company do you keep? If you belong to Jesus, you will fraternize with those who wear the livery of the cross. "Birds of a feather flock together." What is your conversation? Is it heavenly or is it earthly? What have you learned of your Master?--for servants learn much from their masters to whom they are apprenticed. If you have served your time with Jesus, it will be said of you, as it was of Peter and John, "They took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus." We press the question, "To whom belongest thou?" Answer honestly before you give sleep to your eyes. If you are not Christ's you are in a hard service--Run away from your cruel master! Enter into the service of the Lord of Love, and you shall enjoy a life of blessedness. If you are Christ's let me advise you to do four things. You belong to Jesus--obey him; let his word be your law; let his wish be your will. You belong to the Beloved, then love him; let your heart embrace him; let your whole soul be filled with him. You belong to the Son of God, then trust him; rest nowhere but on him. You belong to the King of kings, then be decided for him. Thus, without your being branded upon the brow, all will know to whom you belong. Daily Light on the Daily Path 1 John 3:22 and whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do the things that are pleasing in His sight.Hebrews 11:6 And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him. Romans 8:8 and those who are in the flesh cannot please God. Psalm 149:4 For the LORD takes pleasure in His people; He will beautify the afflicted ones with salvation. 1 Peter 2:19,20 For this finds favor, if for the sake of conscience toward God a person bears up under sorrows when suffering unjustly. • For what credit is there if, when you sin and are harshly treated, you endure it with patience? But if when you do what is right and suffer for it you patiently endure it, this finds favor with God. 1 Peter 3:4 but let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in the sight of God. Psalm 50:23 "He who offers a sacrifice of thanksgiving honors Me; And to him who orders his way aright I shall show the salvation of God." Psalm 69:30,31 I will praise the name of God with song And magnify Him with thanksgiving. • And it will please the LORD better than an ox Or a young bull with horns and hoofs. Romans 12:1 Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. 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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