Evening, October 23
Jump to: BLTyndaleSpurgeonDaily LightRdg plan


“Why are you sleeping?” He asked. “Get up and pray so that you will not enter into temptation.”  — Luke 22:46
Bible League: Living His Word
Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, and shrewd in their own sight!
— Isaiah 5:21 ESV

Our verse for today tells us about people who are "wise in their own eyes." Although they think they are enlightened, they're actually fools. They have a mistaken and sinful understanding of what constitutes wisdom. According to the prophet Isaiah, they get everything wrong. They are those who call "evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter" (Isaiah 5:20)! From Isaiah's point of view, they turn the wisdom of God upside down.

Even though they get everything wrong, they claim to be wise. They claim to be someone whose wisdom qualifies them for leadership. They truly believe their backwards declarations are reality. Anyone who goes against them will suffer their wrath. Anyone who tries to tell them they've got it backwards will be ostracized from their inner circles, from their leadership ranks, and from their polite company. It's a difficult thing to go against people with the pride to be wise in their own eyes.

The temptation, then, is to give in to them. The temptation is to follow them. After all, not following them makes you a fool in their eyes. Who wants to be considered a fool? Who wants to be ostracized from the group that claims to be in the know? It takes great courage to stand for the wisdom of God in the midst of those who are wise in their own eyes.

Those who are ostracized and mocked can take comfort, because it does not end well for these self-proclaimed wise men. Isaiah pronounces woe on them. You can't upend God's wisdom and expect His blessing. You can't turn everything backwards and expect reality to come along.

So, then stand firm against those who are wise in their own eyes, and fill your mind with the wisdom of God.
Bible in a Year
Old Testament Reading
Jeremiah 9, 10


Jeremiah 9 -- Jeremiah Laments over Zion

  NIV   NLT   ESV   NAS   GWT   KJV   ASV   ERV   DRB


Jeremiah 10 -- The Lord Speaks on Idolatry and Coming Destruction; Jeremiah Prays

  NIV   NLT   ESV   NAS   GWT   KJV   ASV   ERV   DRB


New Testament Reading
1 Timothy 3


1 Timothy 3 -- Bishops and Deacons

  NIV   NLT   ESV   NAS   GWT   KJV   ASV   ERV   DRB


Reading Plan Courtesy of Christian Classics Etherial Library.
Tyndale Life Application Daily Devotion
Obscene stories, foolish talk, and coarse jokes—these are not for you. Instead, let there be thankfulness to God.
Insight
Obscenity and coarse joking are so common that we begin to take them for granted. Paul cautions, however, that improper language should have no place in the Christian's conversation because it does not reflect God's gracious presence in us.
Challenge
How can we praise God and remind others of his goodness when we are speaking coarsely?
Morning and Evening by Spurgeon
Luke 22:46  Why sleep ye? rise and pray, lest ye enter into temptation.

When is the Christian most liable to sleep? Is it not when his temporal circumstances are prosperous? Have you not found it so? When you had daily troubles to take to the throne of grace, were you not more wakeful than you are now? Easy roads make sleepy travellers. Another dangerous time is when all goes pleasantly in spiritual matters. Christian went not to sleep when lions were in the way, or when he was wading through the river, or when fighting with Apollyon, but when he had climbed half way up the Hill Difficulty, and came to a delightful arbour, he sat down, and forthwith fell asleep, to his great sorrow and loss. The enchanted ground is a place of balmy breezes, laden with fragrant odours and soft influences, all tending to lull pilgrims to sleep. Remember Bunyan's description: "Then they came to an arbour, warm, and promising much refreshing to the weary pilgrims; for it was finely wrought above head, beautified with greens, and furnished with benches and settles. It had also in it a soft couch, where the weary might lean." "The arbour was called the Slothful's Friend, and was made on purpose to allure, if it might be, some of the pilgrims to take up their rest there when weary." Depend upon it, it is in easy places that men shut their eyes and wander into the dreamy land of forgetfulness. Old Erskine wisely remarked, "I like a roaring devil better than a sleeping devil." There is no temptation half so dangerous as not being tempted. The distressed soul does not sleep; it is after we enter into peaceful confidence and full assurance that we are in danger of slumbering. The disciples fell asleep after they had seen Jesus transfigured on the mountain top. Take heed, joyous Christian, good frames are near neighbours to temptations: be as happy as you will, only be watchful.

Daily Light on the Daily Path
John 6:63  "It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing; the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life.

1 Corinthians 15:45  So also it is written, "The first MAN, Adam, BECAME A LIVING SOUL." The last Adam became a life-giving spirit.

John 3:6  "That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

Titus 3:5  He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit,

Romans 8:9-11  However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him. • If Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, yet the spirit is alive because of righteousness. • But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.

Galatians 2:20  "I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.

Romans 6:11  Even so consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus.

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.

Morning October 23
Top of Page
Top of Page