Bible League: Living His Word Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep Your word... It is good for me that I have been afflicted, that I may learn Your statutes.— Psalm 119:67,71 NKJV "Before I was afflicted I went astray." Isn't this the way it always goes? All too often, when times are good, we let things slip. Instead of staying on the straight and narrow, instead of fulfilling our duty to God, we fall into sins of various kinds. Maybe we neglect things that we shouldn't neglect. Maybe we do things that we shouldn't do. Or maybe we simply stop believing things we should believe and start believing things we shouldn't believe. Health, wealth, and happiness have a way of doing that to us. God can't let things go on like that. He loves His people as a father loves his children. Therefore, discipline is necessary to get us back in line with what He wants for us, with what He's planned for us. That's why, "If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten?" (Hebrews 12:7). On the other hand, "... if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons" (Hebrews 12:8). The afflictions God sends our way are not bad for us. After the experience of affliction, the psalmist could admit, "It is good for me that I have been afflicted." The affliction is good because it causes us to keep God's word and learn His ways. It causes us to get back on track with His original intentions for us. He can use sickness, financial troubles, the loss of a loved one, disappointments in life and career, the machinations of an enemy, the betrayal of friends, marital problems, and any of a hundred other things to accomplish His purposes. He knows exactly what will work in each individual case. As a father, He is supremely wise and good. His discipline is painful because it wouldn't work otherwise, but, in the end, we can honestly say, "...it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it" (Hebrews 12:11). Consider, then, what is happening in your life. Consider the possibility that some of the bad stuff that has come your way has come for a particular purpose to discipline you out of complacency and on to greater holiness. Bible in a Year Old Testament ReadingPsalm 78 Psalm 78 -- Hear my teaching, my people. Turn your ears to the words of my mouth. NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB New Testament Reading Romans 7 Romans 7 -- No Law has Power; Conflict with the Sinful Nature NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Reading Plan Courtesy of Christian Classics Etherial Library. Tyndale Life Application Daily Devotion And the judgment is based on this fact: God's light came into the world, but people loved the darkness more than the light, for their actions were evil. All who do evil hate the light and refuse to go near it for fear their sins will be exposed. But those who do what is right come to the light so others can see that they are doing what God wants. Insight Many people don't want their lives exposed to God's light because they are afraid of what will be revealed. They don't want to be changed. Challenge Don't be surprised when these same people are threatened by your desire to obey God and do what is right, because they are afraid that the light in you may expose some of the darkness in their lives. Rather than giving in to discouragement, keep praying that they will come to see how much better it is to live in light than in darkness. Morning and Evening by Spurgeon Isaiah 21:11 Watchman, what of the night?What enemies are abroad? Errors are a numerous horde, and new ones appear every hour: against what heresy am I to be on my guard? Sins creep from their lurking places when the darkness reigns; I must myself mount the watch-tower, and watch unto prayer. Our heavenly Protector foresees all the attacks which are about to be made upon us, and when as yet the evil designed us is but in the desire of Satan, he prays for us that our faith fail not, when we are sifted as wheat. Continue O gracious Watchman, to forewarn us of our foes, and for Zion's sake hold not thy peace. "Watchman, what of the night?" What weather is coming for the Church? Are the clouds lowering, or is it all clear and fair overhead? We must care for the Church of God with anxious love; and now that Popery and infidelity are both threatening, let us observe the signs of the times and prepare for conflict. "Watchman, what of the night?" What stars are visible? What precious promises suit our present case? You sound the alarm, give us the consolation also. Christ, the polestar, is ever fixed in his place, and all the stars are secure in the right hand of their Lord. But watchman, when comes the morning? The Bridegroom tarries. Are there no signs of his coming forth as the Sun of Righteousness? Has not the morning star arisen as the pledge of day? When will the day dawn, and the shadows flee away? O Jesus, if thou come not in person to thy waiting Church this day, yet come in Spirit to my sighing heart, and make it sing for joy. "Now all the earth is bright and glad With the fresh morn; But all my heart is cold, and dark and sad: Sun of the soul, let me behold thy dawn! Come, Jesus, Lord, O quickly come, according to thy word." Daily Light on the Daily Path Proverbs 3:12 For whom the LORD loves He reproves, Even as a father corrects the son in whom he delights.Deuteronomy 32:39 'See now that I, I am He, And there is no god besides Me; It is I who put to death and give life. I have wounded and it is I who heal, And there is no one who can deliver from My hand. Jeremiah 29:11 'For I know the plans that I have for you,' declares the LORD, 'plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope. Isaiah 55:8 "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways," declares the LORD. Hosea 2:14 "Therefore, behold, I will allure her, Bring her into the wilderness And speak kindly to her. Deuteronomy 8:5 "Thus you are to know in your heart that the LORD your God was disciplining you just as a man disciplines his son. Hebrews 12:11 All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness. 1 Peter 5:6 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, Psalm 119:75 I know, O LORD, that Your judgments are righteous, And that in faithfulness You have afflicted me. 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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