Bible League: Living His Word "I am the Alpha and the Omega--the beginning and the end," says the Lord God. "I am the one who is, who always was, and who is still to come--the Almighty One."What does it mean that the Lord God is the Alpha and Omega? The first and the last letters of the Greek alphabet symbolize that He is the ultimate source and origin of every created reality and that He has determined the end or goal towards which every created reality moves through time. First, He is the one who was. Before the foundation of the created order, the Lord God was. Everything that exists has Him as its ultimate cause and explanation. He set up the created order and thereby determined the fundamental nature and purpose of all things. Whatever created thing exists must do so within the framework He has established and every created thing is ultimately dependent upon Him for its very existence. Second, He is the one who is. The Lord God not only established the created order, He also continues to be involved with it. This is the Lord God's providence. He did not just create everything and then cease to be involved with what He created. Everything is dependent upon Him. If He ceased to be involved, the whole created order would cease to exist. By His providential concern He continues to uphold, oversee, and govern all created reality. Finally, He is the one who is still to come. Just as the Lord God continues to uphold, oversee, and govern all created reality through His divine providence in the present, so likewise He will do so in the future. Everything within the created order is moving through time in accordance with His plans and purposes into the future that He has determined. His divine providence, as a result, determines the end or goal towards which everything is moving. The Lord God is the Almighty One. He is the all-powerful, uncreated reality upon which every created reality depends for its very nature and existence. He is the divine reality before whom every human being is responsible and accountable. Ultimately, you cannot evade Him or ignore Him. If you try, you do so at your own peril. Today, take a moment and stand in awe of the majesty and glory of the Almighty One, the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. Bible in a Year Old Testament ReadingJudges 12, 13, 14 Judges 12 -- Jephthah, Ephraim, Ibzan, Elon, Abdon NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Judges 13 -- Israel Oppressed by the Philistines; Samson Is Born NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Judges 14 -- Samson's Marriage and Riddle NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB New Testament Reading Luke 9:37-62 Luke 9 -- Jesus Sends out the Twelve, Feeds 5000, Heals a Boy; Transfiguration; Cost of Following Jesus NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Reading Plan Courtesy of Christian Classics Etherial Library. Tyndale Life Application Daily Devotion Fear of the LORD is the foundation of true knowledge,but fools despise wisdom and discipline. Insight One of the most annoying types of people is a know-it-all, a person who has a dogmatic opinion about everything, is closed to anything new, resents discipline, and refuses to learn. Solomon calls this kind of person a fool. Challenge Don't be a know-it-all. Instead, be open to the advice of others, especially those who know you well and can give valuable insight and counsel. Learn how to learn from others. Remember, only God knows it all. Morning and Evening by Spurgeon 2 Corinthians 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.Mourning Christian! why weepest thou? Art thou mourning over thine own corruptions? Look to thy perfect Lord, and remember, thou art complete in him; thou art in God's sight as perfect as if thou hadst never sinned; nay, more than that, the Lord our Righteousness hath put a divine garment upon thee, so that thou hast more than the righteousness of man--thou hast the righteousness of God. O thou who art mourning by reason of inbred sin and depravity, remember, none of thy sins can condemn thee. Thou hast learned to hate sin; but thou hast learned also to know that sin is not thine--it was laid upon Christ's head. Thy standing is not in thyself--it is in Christ; thine acceptance is not in thyself, but in thy Lord; thou art as much accepted of God today, with all thy sinfulness, as thou wilt be when thou standest before his throne, free from all corruption. O, I beseech thee, lay hold on this precious thought, perfection in Christ! For thou art "complete in him." With thy Saviour's garment on, thou art holy as the Holy one. "Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us." Christian, let thy heart rejoice, for thou art "accepted in the beloved"--what hast thou to fear? Let thy face ever wear a smile; live near thy Master; live in the suburbs of the Celestial City; for soon, when thy time has come, thou shalt rise up where thy Jesus sits, and reign at his right hand; and all this because the divine Lord "was made to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him." Daily Light on the Daily Path Revelation 1:17 When I saw Him, I fell at His feet like a dead man. And He placed His right hand on me, saying, "Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last,Hebrews 12:18,22-24 For you have not come to a mountain that can be touched and to a blazing fire, and to darkness and gloom and whirlwind, • But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to myriads of angels, • to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the Judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, • and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood, which speaks better than the blood of Abel. Hebrews 12:2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 4:15,16 For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. • Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Isaiah 44:6 "Thus says the LORD, the King of Israel and his Redeemer, the LORD of hosts: 'I am the first and I am the last, And there is no God besides Me. Isaiah 9:6 For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. Habakkuk 1:12 Are You not from everlasting, O LORD, my God, my Holy One? We will not die. You, O LORD, have appointed them to judge; And You, O Rock, have established them to correct. 2 Samuel 22:32 "For who is God, besides the LORD? And who is a rock, besides our God? 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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