Bible League: Living His Word Do everything without complaining or arguing so that you will be blameless and pure, children of God without any fault.Jesus summarized the Christian life by saying, '"If any of you want to be my follower, you must stop thinking about yourself and what you want. You must be willing to carry the cross that is given to you for following me"' (Matthew 16:24). Given Jesus' teaching, it can be seen that the lives we lead in service to Him are lives of denial of self and obedience to Him. However, even if we obey His directive, a question remains: How happy are we about it? A life of denial means that we don't always get what we want. It means that sometimes we have to set aside what we want in order to do what Jesus wants. Will we serve Jesus happily under these conditions, or with complaining and arguing? The Apostle Paul says that we should do everything without complaining about it. After all, if we have made the decision to follow Jesus, then we have also made the decision that following Him is the best way to go in life. It makes no sense, then, to complain about it. What makes sense is to take up our cross and bear it with a good attitude. The way may be hard, but it is the way of Jesus. The way may require great sacrifice, but it is the sacrifice that Jesus asks of us. Further, the Apostle Paul says that we should do everything without arguing about it. After all, if we love Jesus and trust His guidance for our lives, then it makes no sense to argue with Him about what He wants us to do. What make sense is to form arguments in defense of the direction He has chosen, despite the difficulties and obstacles. It is true that many of the great figures in the Bible complained to God on occasion. Job is the classic example. He complained that someone as upright as him should not have to suffer the things that he suffered. God, however, responded by saying, '"Who is this ignorant person saying these foolish things?"' (Job 38:2). It is perfectly acceptable to bring our cares and concerns before God, but it is never acceptable to blame Him or accuse Him of doing wrong. If you have made the decision to follow Jesus and obey the will of God, then make sure you perfect your decision with a good attitude. Bible in a Year Old Testament ReadingIsaiah 4, 5, 6 Isaiah 4 -- A Remnant in Zion NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Isaiah 5 -- Song of the Vineyard; Woe to the Wicked NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Isaiah 6 -- Isaiah's Vision and Commission NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB New Testament Reading Galatians 3 Galatians 3 -- Abraham's Faith Credited as Righteousness; Purpose of the Law NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Reading Plan Courtesy of Christian Classics Etherial Library. Tyndale Life Application Daily Devotion Don't you realize that all of you together are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God lives in you? God will destroy anyone who destroys this temple. For God's temple is holy, and you are that temple.Insight Paul wanted the Corinthians to understand that they were a unified assembly. They were not to see themselves as a collection of competing interests or independent individuals. Paul was emphasizing the intent of Jesus' prayer in John 17:21-23 that believers be unified in God. Challenge What actions can you take this week to strengthen your ties to fellow Christians in the church of Jesus Christ? Morning and Evening by Spurgeon 1 Corinthians 1:30 Who of God is made unto us wisdom.Man's intellect seeks after rest, and by nature seeks it apart from the Lord Jesus Christ. Men of education are apt, even when converted, to look upon the simplicities of the cross of Christ with an eye too little reverent and loving. They are snared in the old net in which the Grecians were taken, and have a hankering to mix philosophy with revelation. The temptation with a man of refined thought and high education is to depart from the simple truth of Christ crucified, and to invent, as the term is, a more intellectual doctrine. This led the early Christian churches into Gnosticism, and bewitched them with all sorts of heresies. This is the root of Neology, and the other fine things which in days gone by were so fashionable in Germany, and are now so ensnaring to certain classes of divines. Whoever you are, good reader, and whatever your education may be, if you be the Lord's, be assured you will find no rest in philosophizing divinity. You may receive this dogma of one great thinker, or that dream of another profound reasoner, but what the chaff is to the wheat, that will these be to the pure word of God. All that reason, when best guided, can find out is but the A B C of truth, and even that lacks certainty, while in Christ Jesus there is treasured up all the fulness of wisdom and knowledge. All attempts on the part of Christians to be content with systems such as Unitarian and Broad-church thinkers would approve of, must fail; true heirs of heaven must come back to the grandly simple reality which makes the ploughboy's eye flash with joy, and gladens the pious pauper's heart--"Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners." Jesus satisfies the most elevated intellect when he is believingly received, but apart from him the mind of the regenerate discovers no rest. "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge." "A good understanding have all they that do his commandments." Daily Light on the Daily Path Romans 2:16 on the day when, according to my gospel, God will judge the secrets of men through Christ Jesus.1 Corinthians 4:5 Therefore do not go on passing judgment before the time, but wait until the Lord comes who will both bring to light the things hidden in the darkness and disclose the motives of men's hearts; and then each man's praise will come to him from God. John 5:22,27 "For not even the Father judges anyone, but He has given all judgment to the Son, • and He gave Him authority to execute judgment, because He is the Son of Man. Revelation 2:18 "And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write: The Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and His feet are like burnished bronze, says this: Psalm 73:11 They say, "How does God know? And is there knowledge with the Most High?" Psalm 50:21 "These things you have done and I kept silence; You thought that I was just like you; I will reprove you and state the case in order before your eyes. Luke 12:2 "But there is nothing covered up that will not be revealed, and hidden that will not be known. Psalm 38:9 Lord, all my desire is before You; And my sighing is not hidden from You. Psalm 26:2 Examine me, O LORD, and try me; Test my mind and my heart. 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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