Bible League: Living His Word Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.Christians are always asking God for things. We may ask for a life with our personal issues in order, a life with a better job, a life with our relationships on an even keel, or a life where things in general go better than they have been. We ask for things, but our asking does not always match up well with the greatness and loving kindness of the God that we serve. Perhaps to avoid disappointment, perhaps because we underestimate God, we can at times temper our asking and thinking to what we simply assume to be more realistic levels. The message of our verses for today, however, encourages us to move beyond the realism of lower expectations. We serve a God who can do far more abundantly than anything we could ever ask or think. He can do more than put our personal life in order---He can cause it to flourish. He can do more than find us a better job---He can find us the job we were made for. He can do more than place our relationships on an even keel---He can take them to new heights of fulfillment. And He can do more than make things go better---He can make things go great. God can accomplish all of this through the power that is at work within us. This is, of course, the power of the Holy Spirit. It is the power that can heal us physically, transform us spiritually, and lead us and inspire us to greater levels of success in life. It can take us in directions that we never expected and that we never thought possible. It is the power of the Holy Spirit that takes us to levels beyond what we can ask or think. This is because it is a supernatural power at work within our very natural lives. When the Holy Spirit goes to work, anything can happen. Let us begin the day, and every day, ascribing glory, honor, praise, and worship to the God who alone can do far more than we ask or think. Bible in a Year Old Testament ReadingJoshua 9, 10 Joshua 9 -- Kings west of Jordan Join against Israel; Gibeonites' Deception and Servitude NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Joshua 10 -- Kings Attack Gibeon; Sun Stands Still; Joshua Conquers Five Amorite Kings and S. Palestine NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB New Testament Reading Luke 3 Luke 3 -- John the Baptist Preaches and Baptizes Jesus; Genealogy of Jesus NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Reading Plan Courtesy of Christian Classics Etherial Library. Tyndale Life Application Daily Devotion Your word is a lamp to guide my feetand a light for my path. Insight To walk safely in the woods at night we need a light so we don't trip over tree roots or fall into holes. In this life, we walk through a dark forest of evil. But the Bible can be our light to show us the way ahead so we won't stumble as we walk. It reveals the entangling roots of false values and philosophies. Challenge Study the Bible so you will be able to see your way clear enough to stay on the right path. Morning and Evening by Spurgeon Luke 19:40 I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out.But could the stones cry out? Assuredly they could if he who opens the mouth of the dumb should bid them lift up their voice. Certainly if they were to speak, they would have much to testify in praise of him who created them by the word of his power; they could extol the wisdom and power of their Maker who called them into being. Shall not we speak well of him who made us anew, and out of stones raised up children unto Abraham? The old rocks could tell of chaos and order, and the handiwork of God in successive stages of creation's drama; and cannot we talk of God's decrees, of God's great work in ancient times, in all that he did for his church in the days of old? If the stones were to speak, they could tell of their breaker, how he took them from the quarry, and made them fit for the temple, and cannot we tell of our glorious Breaker, who broke our hearts with the hammer of his word, that he might build us into his temple? If the stones should cry out they would magnify their builder, who polished them and fashioned them after the similitude of a palace; and shall not we talk of our Architect and Builder, who has put us in our place in the temple of the living God? If the stones could cry out, they might have a long, long story to tell by way of memorial, for many a time hath a great stone been rolled as a memorial before the Lord; and we too can testify of Ebenezers, stones of help, pillars of remembrance. The broken stones of the law cry out against us, but Christ himself, who has rolled away the stone from the door of the sepulchre, speaks for us. Stones might well cry out, but we will not let them: we will hush their noise with ours; we will break forth into sacred song, and bless the majesty of the Most High, all our days glorifying him who is called by Jacob the Shepherd and Stone of Israel. Daily Light on the Daily Path Luke 24:29 But they urged Him, saying, "Stay with us, for it is getting toward evening, and the day is now nearly over." So He went in to stay with them.Revelation 3:20 'Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me. Isaiah 45:19 "I have not spoken in secret, In some dark land; I did not say to the offspring of Jacob, 'Seek Me in a waste place'; I, the LORD, speak righteousness, Declaring things that are upright. Matthew 28:20 teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Hebrews 13:5 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," Matthew 18:20 "For where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst." John 14:19 "After a little while the world will no longer see Me, but you will see Me; because I live, you will live also. 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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