Bible League: Living His Word Because you have made the LORD your dwelling place--the Most High, who is my refuge-- no evil shall be allowed to befall you, no plague come near your tent. How should we deal with the promises of God? Should we believe them, claim them, and pray in faith for their fulfillment in our lives? Or should we shrink back from them, ignore them, or say they are limited to the future age? After all, the promises of God are pretty incredible. Our verse for today is a case in point: "no evil shall be allowed to befall you." Wasn't it Jesus himself who said that in the world you will have tribulation (John 16:33) and persecution (Matthew 10:16-25)? Wasn't it the Apostle Paul who said that everyone who wants to live a Godly life will suffer persecution (II Timothy 3:12)? Although Jesus said we would have trouble and persecution, He also said what we should do when we encounter the mountains of life. We should say to them: "Be taken up and thrown into the sea" (Mark 11:23) and He also said that when we ask for something in prayer we should "believe that you have received it, and it will be yours" (Mark 11:24). When the Apostle Peter was imprisoned the church didn't simply accept it because Jesus said such things would happen, they prayed for his release---and God sent an angel to set him free (Acts 12:1-19). Although the Bible acknowledges the reality of mountains, it also encourages us to confront them with faith. Christians are faith warriors. Paul himself said as much when he said we should "take up the shield of faith" when the evil one throws "flaming darts" at us (Ephesians 6:16). The seasoned Christian warrior knows that faith in God's promises can move mountains. Even when we do not yet see the full realization of the promises and even when we do not yet see victory in every battle, we must stand in faith on the great and mighty promises of God. Today, then, let us stand in faith on the promise of Psalm 91. Let us make the Lord our dwelling place and take refuge in Him. Let us believe in faith that no evil will befall us and no plague will come near us. Bible in a Year Old Testament ReadingDeuteronomy 31, 32 Deuteronomy 31 -- Moses Encourages the People; Joshua Is Commissioned NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Deuteronomy 32 -- The Song of Moses NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB New Testament Reading Luke 1:1-23 Luke 1 -- Introduction; John's and Jesus' Birth Foretold; Mary's Song; Zachariah's Prophecy NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Reading Plan Courtesy of Christian Classics Etherial Library. Tyndale Life Application Daily Devotion I love the LORD because he hears my voiceand my prayer for mercy. Because he bends down to listen, I will pray as long as I have breath! Insight God is so responsive that you can always reach him. He bends down and listens to your voice. This writer's love for the Lord had grown because he had experienced answers to his prayers. Challenge If you are discouraged, remember that God is near, listening carefully to every prayer and answering each prayer in order to give you his best. Morning and Evening by Spurgeon John 15:9 As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you.As the Father loves the Son, in the same manner Jesus loves his people. What is that divine method? He loved him without beginning, and thus Jesus loves his members. "I have loved thee with an everlasting love." You can trace the beginning of human affection; you can easily find the beginning of your love to Christ, but his love to us is a stream whose source is hidden in eternity. God the Father loves Jesus without any change. Christian, take this for your comfort, that there is no change in Jesus Christ's love to those who rest in him. Yesterday you were on Tabor's top, and you said, "He loves me:" today you are in the valley of humiliation, but he loves you still the same. On the hill Mizar, and among the Hermons, you heard his voice, which spake so sweetly with the turtle-notes of love; and now on the sea, or even in the sea, when all his waves and billows go over you, his heart is faithful to his ancient choice. The Father loves the Son without any end, and thus does the Son love his people. Saint, thou needest not fear the loosing of the silver cord, for his love for thee will never cease. Rest confident that even down to the grave Christ will go with you, and that up again from it he will be your guide to the celestial hills. Moreover, the Father loves the Son without any measure, and the same immeasurable love the Son bestows upon his chosen ones. The whole heart of Christ is dedicated to his people. He "loved us and gave himself for us." His is a love which passeth knowledge. Ah! we have indeed an immutable Saviour, a precious Saviour, one who loves without measure, without change, without beginning, and without end, even as the Father loves him! There is much food here for those who know how to digest it. May the Holy Ghost lead us into its marrow and fatness! Daily Light on the Daily Path Revelation 22:4 they will see His face, and His name will be on their foreheads.John 10:14 "I am the good shepherd, and I know My own and My own know Me, 2 Timothy 2:19 Nevertheless, the firm foundation of God stands, having this seal, "The Lord knows those who are His," and, "Everyone who names the name of the Lord is to abstain from wickedness." Nahum 1:7 The LORD is good, A stronghold in the day of trouble, And He knows those who take refuge in Him. Revelation 7:3 saying, "Do not harm the earth or the sea or the trees until we have sealed the bond-servants of our God on their foreheads." Ephesians 1:13,14 In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation-- having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, • who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God's own possession, to the praise of His glory. 2 Corinthians 1:21,22 Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and anointed us is God, • who also sealed us and gave us the Spirit in our hearts as a pledge. Revelation 3:12 'He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he will not go out from it anymore; and I will write on him the name of My God, and the name of the city of My God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God, and My new name. Jeremiah 33:16 In those days Judah will be saved and Jerusalem will dwell in safety; and this is the name by which she will be called: the LORD is our righteousness.' 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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