Bible League: Living His Word For we live by faith, not by sight.Life, metaphorically speaking, is a journey. It is a journey that every person who has ever lived has taken. It has a beginning and it has a final destination. If you have come into existence, then you must take the journey. However, how one takes the journey is not unavoidable. There are options. There are choices that can be made and the choices influence the quality and destination of the journey. The choices that we make on our journey through life are controlled by what we believe about life, especially what we believe about the ultimate meaning and purpose of life. These beliefs are born of faith in what we cannot see, rather than in what we can see. The journey is a walk of faith, not sight. The reason for this is that we can't see the source of the journey. We can't see who or what set up the journey of life that we must take whether we want to or not. It follows, then, that everyone on the journey of life must live by faith, not by sight. It's not just Christians who can't see the source of the journey. No one can see the source. Although the Apostle Paul had Christians in mind when he wrote our verse for today, his wisdom applies to everyone. Everyone must live by faith. It's just a question of which faith. Since the ultimate source of the journey of life cannot be seen, we must place faith in that which we believe to be the source, in that which we believe to be the source of life's ultimate meaning and purpose. If our journey through life is to be successful, it is essential that we place our faith in that which is the true source of the journey, in that which has actually defined the ultimate meaning and purpose of life. From the biblical perspective, there is only one possible option in this regard. We must place our faith in the God of the Bible, and we must not place our faith in an idol---that is, a God-substitute of our own creation. We must surrender in faith to that which is the actual source of life, and not rebel against Him and surrender in faith to that which we have propped up in His place. Either way, however, we will be living by faith, not by sight. Bible in a Year Old Testament ReadingEzekiel 17, 18, 19 Ezekiel 17 -- Parable of Two Eagles and a Vine NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Ezekiel 18 -- God Defends His Justice and Exhorts to Repentance NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Ezekiel 19 -- Lament for the Princes of Israel: Parable of the Lion's Whelps NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB New Testament Reading Hebrews 13 Hebrews 13 -- Concluding Exhortations; Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Reading Plan Courtesy of Christian Classics Etherial Library. Tyndale Life Application Daily Devotion Yet we hear that some of you are living idle lives, refusing to work and meddling in other people's business. We command such people and urge them in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and work to earn their own living.Insight A busybody is a gossip. An idle person who doesn't work ends up filling his or her time with less than helpful activities, like gossip. Rumors and hearsay are tantalizing, exciting to hear, and make us feel like insiders. But they tear people down. Challenge If you often find your nose in other people's business, you may be underemployed. Look for a task to do for Christ or for your family, and get to work. Morning and Evening by Spurgeon Psalm 93:2 Thou art from everlasting.Christ is Everlasting. Of him we may sing with David, "Thy throne, O God, is forever and ever." Rejoice, believer, in Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, today, and forever. Jesus always was. The Babe born in Bethlehem was united to the Word, which was in the beginning, by whom all things were made. The title by which Christ revealed himself to John in Patmos was, "Him which is, and which was, and which is to come." If he were not God from everlasting, we could not so devoutly love him; we could not feel that he had any share in the eternal love which is the fountain of all covenant blessings; but since he was from all eternity with the Father, we trace the stream of divine love to himself equally with his Father and the blessed Spirit. As our Lord always was, so also he is for evermore. Jesus is not dead; "He ever liveth to make intercession for us." Resort to him in all your times of need, for he is waiting to bless you still. Moreover, Jesus our Lord ever shall be. If God should spare your life to fulfil your full day of threescore years and ten, you will find that his cleansing fountain is still opened, and his precious blood has not lost its power; you shall find that the Priest who filled the healing fount with his own blood, lives to purge you from all iniquity. When only your last battle remains to be fought, you shall find that the hand of your conquering Captain has not grown feeble--the living Saviour shall cheer the dying saint. When you enter heaven you shall find him there bearing the dew of his youth; and through eternity the Lord Jesus shall still remain the perennial spring of joy, and life, and glory to his people. Living waters may you draw from this sacred well! Jesus always was, he always is, he always shall be. He is eternal in all his attributes, in all his offices, in all his might, and willingness to bless, comfort, guard, and crown his chosen people. Daily Light on the Daily Path 1 Kings 10:7 "Nevertheless I did not believe the reports, until I came and my eyes had seen it. And behold, the half was not told me. You exceed in wisdom and prosperity the report which I heard.Matthew 12:42 "The Queen of the South will rise up with this generation at the judgment and will condemn it, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and behold, something greater than Solomon is here. John 1:14 And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth. 1 Corinthians 2:4,5,9,10 and my message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, • so that your faith would not rest on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God. • but just as it is written, "THINGS WHICH EYE HAS NOT SEEN AND EAR HAS NOT HEARD, AND which HAVE NOT ENTERED THE HEART OF MAN, ALL THAT GOD HAS PREPARED FOR THOSE WHO LOVE HIM." • For to us God revealed them through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God. Isaiah 33:17 Your eyes will see the King in His beauty; They will behold a far-distant land. 1 John 3:2 Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is. Job 19:26 "Even after my skin is destroyed, Yet from my flesh I shall see God; Psalm 17:15 As for me, I shall behold Your face in righteousness; I will be satisfied with Your likeness when I awake. 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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