Bible League: Living His Word "But as for you, be strong and courageous, for your work will be rewarded."Asa was king in Judah and the Bible tells us that he "did what was pleasing and good in the sight of the LORD his God" (II Chronicles 14:2). He removed all the altars and shrines of the foreign gods that were in the land and he called the people to worship the true God and obey His commands. Azariah encouraged him with the words of our verse for today. They are a prophetic message that reaches out beyond the time of Asa to our own time---the work of the people of God who remain strong and courageous will be rewarded. We must be strong in our work because there are today, as in the days of Asa, many other religions in the world. Although the number of Christians adds up to somewhere near two billion, there are still five billion more people who have not turned to Christ. The outreach and cultural impact of the religions of these people stand as a continuous challenge. The degree of the challenge depends upon where you live in the world, but the challenge is something every Christian must face. We should remain as strong as Asa so that we won't shrink back from our work and become vulnerable to the influence of these religions. We must also be courageous in our work because the influence of the many religions in the world is not always peaceful. Many studies and reports have shown that Christianity is the most persecuted religion in the world today. The challenge many Christians face goes beyond the proselytizing efforts and cultural impact of other religions to full-fledged oppression and persecution. Many Christians lose their lives each year and many more have been displaced from their traditional homelands. The good news, as Azariah prophesied, is that our work will be rewarded if we remain strong and courageous. And the Apostle Paul has told us that any troubles we face in our work produces for us "a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever" (II Corinthians 4:17). Our work may encounter opposition and trouble of many kinds in the present era, but the Bible assures us that we will not endure them in vain. Our work may even lead to persecution and death, but the Bible assures us that it will not go unrewarded. Bible in a Year Old Testament ReadingJoshua 7, 8 Joshua 7 -- Israelites Defeated at Ai; Achan Sins NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Joshua 8 -- Joshua Conquers Ai; Covenant Renewed NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB New Testament Reading Luke 2:25-52 Luke 2 -- Jesus' Birth; Announcement by Angels; Presentation at the Temple; Return to Nazareth; The Boy Jesus Visits the Temple NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Reading Plan Courtesy of Christian Classics Etherial Library. Tyndale Life Application Daily Devotion Help me understand the meaning of your commandments,and I will meditate on your wonderful deeds. I weep with sorrow; encourage me by your word. Insight Our lives are cluttered with rule books, but the authors never come with us to help us follow the rules. But God does. That is the uniqueness of our Bible. God not only provides the rules and guidelines, but comes with us personally each day to strengthen us so that we can live according to those rules. Challenge All we must do is invite him and respond to his direction. Morning and Evening by Spurgeon John 17:24 Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am.O death! why dost thou touch the tree beneath whose spreading branches weariness hath rest? Why dost thou snatch away the excellent of the earth, in whom is all our delight? If thou must use thine axe, use it upon the trees which yield no fruit; thou mightest be thanked then. But why wilt thou fell the goodly cedars of Lebanon? O stay thine axe, and spare the righteous. But no, it must not be; death smites the goodliest of our friends; the most generous, the most prayerful, the most holy, the most devoted must die. And why? It is through Jesus' prevailing prayer--"Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am." It is that which bears them on eagle's wings to heaven. Every time a believer mounts from this earth to paradise, it is an answer to Christ's prayer. A good old divine remarks, "Many times Jesus and his people pull against one another in prayer. You bend your knee in prayer and say Father, I will that thy saints be with me where I am;' Christ says, Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am.'" Thus the disciple is at cross-purposes with his Lord. The soul cannot be in both places: the beloved one cannot be with Christ and with you too. Now, which pleader shall win the day? If you had your choice; if the King should step from his throne, and say, "Here are two supplicants praying in opposition to one another, which shall be answered?" Oh! I am sure, though it were agony, you would start from your feet, and say, "Jesus, not my will, but thine be done." You would give up your prayer for your loved one's life, if you could realize the thoughts that Christ is praying in the opposite direction--"Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am." Lord, thou shalt have them. By faith we let them go. Daily Light on the Daily Path Joshua 14:12 "Now then, give me this hill country about which the LORD spoke on that day, for you heard on that day that Anakim were there, with great fortified cities; perhaps the LORD will be with me, and I will drive them out as the LORD has spoken."Hebrews 13:5,6 Make sure that your character is free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, "I WILL NEVER DESERT YOU, NOR WILL I EVER FORSAKE YOU," • so that we confidently say, "THE LORD IS MY HELPER, I WILL NOT BE AFRAID. WHAT WILL MAN DO TO ME?" Psalm 71:16 I will come with the mighty deeds of the Lord GOD; I will make mention of Your righteousness, Yours alone. Isaiah 32:17 And the work of righteousness will be peace, And the service of righteousness, quietness and confidence forever. Ephesians 6:14,12,13 Stand firm therefore, HAVING GIRDED YOUR LOINS WITH TRUTH, and HAVING PUT ON THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, • For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. • Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Judges 6:12,14 The angel of the LORD appeared to him and said to him, "The LORD is with you, O valiant warrior." • The LORD looked at him and said, "Go in this your strength and deliver Israel from the hand of Midian. Have I not sent you?" 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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