Bible League: Living His Word Whatever happens, always be thankful. This is how God wants you to live in Christ Jesus.— 1 Thessalonians 5:18 ERV Dixie is our beautiful and sweet black dog—a mix of retriever and we don't know what else. We rescued her in April 2022. The first time we saw her at the shelter, she was curled up in the back corner of her cage, skin and bones and mangy all over, and she would hardly make eye contact. The rescue shelter said she had been a stray, found on the mean streets of Kansas City. They said she was about two years old when they found her. She's still very, very skittish—even after having lived with us for the past year and a half. But, she is very thankful. She's thankful for a home, food, shelter from thunderstorms, walks, and lots of love. Although we don't speak "dog," and she doesn't speak "human," it seems that she's always thankful. She wags her tail a lot. She's a sweetheart and seems to never complain. What if we never complained? What if we were content no matter what came our way? Just as Dixie has been rescued, we were rescued from the mean streets of life in a fallen world and the penalty of sin. Daily, we see and feel the pain of sin and death in this world. We complain a lot because life doesn't go the way we think it should. Despite our disappointment, we have much to be thankful for. "God made us free from the power of darkness. And he brought us into the kingdom of his dear Son." (Colossians 1:13). We've been rescued. After spending eight years in a Soviet gulag, Soviet dissident and literary giant, Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn wrote: "Bless you, prison, for having been in my life. The meaning of earthly existence lies, not as we have grown used to thinking, in prospering, but in the development of the soul." "Bless you, prison..."? What is he talking about? Is he crazy? No, he meant what he said. Aleksandr understood the fact that God can take difficult things and turn them into blessings. It's doubtful that he would have considered that prison a treat, or that he would have been glad to spend his entire life there. But, trusting in God's will and God's timing, he accepted that the eight years in prison was part of God's plan and that God would, ultimately, use it for good. "We know that in everything God works for the good of those who love Him" (Romans 8:28). Is this, perhaps, one possible way to understand why God commands us to give thanks in all circumstances? Everyone has "prisons" to deal with. But still, in God's Word, we're faced with that difficult idea of giving thanks, no matter what. God didn't tell us to give thanks sometimes or in certain situations where we get everything when we want it and the way we want it. It's nice when we do get what we want, but that doesn't always happen. God always provides what we need—not always what we want. What if we never complained and were always thankful? Maybe even giving thanks in all circumstances? Giving thanks is a choice. And it could well be part of God's plan for developing our souls and conforming us to the image of His Son (Romans 8:29). For the good of many, Jesus surrendered His will to the Father's, and look at all the earthly and eternal good that has come from that one choice. By Chaney Rader, Bible League International staff, U.S. 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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