Bible League: Living His Word "Whoever is not with me is against me. And anyone who does not work with me is working against me."There is a certain kind of person that wants to avoid conflict at all cost. Whenever a conflict arises, they refuse to take sides. They always seek the middle ground. They always seek neutral territory. Perhaps this strategy is helpful in many situations, but there is one conflict for which it is completely wrong. When it comes to the spiritual conflict between the Kingdom of Jesus Christ and the kingdom of Satan, there is no middle ground, there is no neutral zone. A choice must and will be made between the two spiritual alternatives – the only spiritual alternatives that there are. On the one hand, if you're with Jesus, if you've chosen Jesus Christ and His Kingdom, then you should follow Him and work with Him. You should do your part to advance and enhance His Kingdom. This means you should do your part to spread the gospel of the Kingdom, whatever that part may be, great or small, and you should live the life required in the Kingdom by the grace God has given you. If, on the other hand, you're not with Jesus, if you haven't chosen Jesus Christ and His Kingdom, then you're not working with Him. You've chosen Satan and his kingdom and you're doing your part to undermine Jesus' Kingdom. You're doing your part to spread the kingdom of Satan and you're living the life of his kingdom. Some may object to this. Some may regard this as a false dichotomy. They may say that just because they haven't sided with Jesus doesn't mean they've sided with Satan. They may say that there are other alternatives. From Jesus' point of view, however, they are completely mistaken. From Jesus' point of view, if you're not with Him, then you're against Him. There is no false dichotomy because there are no other alternatives. It is for this reason that Jesus could say, "If you don't stay joined to me, you will be like a branch that has been thrown out and has dried up. All the dead branches like that are gathered up, thrown into the fire and burned" (John 15:6). It you don't want to be on Satan's side, if you don't want what that entails, then your only option is to side with Jesus. Bible in a Year Old Testament ReadingEzekiel 34, 35 Ezekiel 34 -- Reproof of the Shepherds of Israel; Restoration NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Ezekiel 35 -- The Judgment of Mount Seir for Their Hatred of Israel NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB New Testament Reading 1 Peter 2 1 Peter 2 -- Put away Wickedness; You Are Like Living Stones; Submit to Authority; Follow Christ's Example NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Reading Plan Courtesy of Christian Classics Etherial Library. Tyndale Life Application Daily Devotion Everything is pure to those whose hearts are pure. But nothing is pure to those who are corrupt and unbelieving, because their minds and consciences are corrupted.Insight Some people see good all around them, while others see nothing but evil. What is the difference? Our souls become filters through which we perceive goodness or evil. The pure (those who have Christ in control of their lives) learn to see goodness and purity even in this evil world. But corrupt and unbelieving people find evil in everything because their evil minds and hearts color even the good they see and hear. Challenge Whatever you choose to fill your mind with will affect the way you think and act. Turn your thoughts to God and his Word, and you will discover more and more goodness, even in this evil world. A mind filled with good has little room for what is evil. Morning and Evening by Spurgeon Romans 9:15 For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.In these words the Lord in the plainest manner claims the right to give or to withhold his mercy according to his own sovereign will. As the prerogative of life and death is vested in the monarch, so the Judge of all the earth has a right to spare or condemn the guilty, as may seem best in his sight. Men by their sins have forfeited all claim upon God; they deserve to perish for their sins--and if they all do so, they have no ground for complaint. If the Lord steps in to save any, he may do so if the ends of justice are not thwarted; but if he judges it best to leave the condemned to suffer the righteous sentence, none may arraign him at their bar. Foolish and impudent are all those discourses about the rights of men to be all placed on the same footing; ignorant, if not worse, are those contentions against discriminating grace, which are but the rebellions of proud human nature against the crown and sceptre of Jehovah. When we are brought to see our own utter ruin and ill desert, and the justice of the divine verdict against sin, we no longer cavil at the truth that the Lord is not bound to save us; we do not murmur if he chooses to save others, as though he were doing us an injury, but feel that if he deigns to look upon us, it will be his own free act of undeserved goodness, for which we shall forever bless his name. How shall those who are the subjects of divine election sufficiently adore the grace of God? They have no room for boasting, for sovereignty most effectually excludes it. The Lord's will alone is glorified, and the very notion of human merit is cast out to everlasting contempt. There is no more humbling doctrine in Scripture than that of election, none more promotive of gratitude, and, consequently, none more sanctifying. Believers should not be afraid of it, but adoringly rejoice in it. Daily Light on the Daily Path ACTS 2:21 'AND IT SHALL BE THAT EVERYONE WHO CALLS ON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED.'2 Kings 21:1,2,3,5,6 Manasseh was twelve years old when he became king, and he reigned fifty-five years in Jerusalem; and his mother's name was Hephzibah. • He did evil in the sight of the LORD, according to the abominations of the nations whom the LORD dispossessed before the sons of Israel. • For he rebuilt the high places which Hezekiah his father had destroyed; and he erected altars for Baal and made an Asherah, as Ahab king of Israel had done, and worshiped all the host of heaven and served them. • For he built altars for all the host of heaven in the two courts of the house of the LORD. • He made his son pass through the fire, practiced witchcraft and used divination, and dealt with mediums and spiritists. He did much evil in the sight of the LORD provoking Him to anger. 2 Chronicles 33:12,13 When he was in distress, he entreated the LORD his God and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers. • When he prayed to Him, He was moved by his entreaty and heard his supplication, and brought him again to Jerusalem to his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the LORD was God. Isaiah 1:18 "Come now, and let us reason together," Says the LORD, "Though your sins are as scarlet, They will be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They will be like wool. 2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance. 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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