Bible League: Living His Word By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.— Hebrews 11:3 NIV In the history of philosophy there have been many attempts to prove the existence of God by means of rational arguments. Here is a very brief summary of some that have been made by philosophers: Some philosophers try to prove the existence of God on the basis of “causality.” Since nothing in the universe exists without a cause, there must have been an “uncaused, first cause” to get the universe going in the first place. This first cause is assumed to be God. Some philosophers have tried to prove the existence of God on the basis of design. If there is design in the universe (which there is), then there must have been a designer. The designer, then, is said to be God. Other philosophers have tried to prove the existence of God on the basis of “moral law.” If there are moral laws, like the Golden Rule, then there must have been a law-giver. The law-giver is then identified as God. There have been many other arguments for the existence of God in the history of philosophy. Many of them have weight, but none of them has escaped critical review and none of them has been shown to be perfect. At best, arguments like these support the existence of God, rather than prove His existence. Since no argument is perfect or without controversy, belief in God must come from a source other than arguments. Our verse for today identifies the source. Christians believe in God by faith. By faith we believe that all things were made by God, by the very word of God. The Bible says, “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God,” (Romans 10:17). We hear the word of God proclaimed, we hear what it has to say about God, and we believe it. Argumentation is useful. It can give rational support to our faith, and it can defend it against attacks. However, it is not a substitute for faith. Indeed, the only people that make serious arguments for the existence of God are people that already believe in Him—by faith. We understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, then, because God has graciously given us the faith to believe that it was. Bible in a Year Old Testament ReadingNumbers 11, 12, 13 Numbers 11 -- Complaints of the People and Moses; Quail from the Lord; Plague NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Numbers 12 -- Miriam and Aaron Complain against Moses NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Numbers 13 -- The Twelve Spies Explore and Report on Canaan NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB New Testament Reading Mark 5:21-43 Mark 5 -- Jesus Sends the Demons into the Pigs, Heals the Woman with Bleeding, Raises Jairus' Daughter NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Reading Plan Courtesy of Christian Classics Etherial Library. Tyndale Life Application Daily Devotion Why am I discouraged?Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again— my Savior and my God! Now I am deeply discouraged, but I will remember you— even from distant Mount Hermon, the source of the Jordan, from the land of Mount Mizar. Insight Depression is one of the most common emotional ailments. One antidote for depression is to meditate on the record of God's goodness to his people. This will take your mind off the present situation and give hope that it will improve. It will focus your thoughts on God's ability to help you rather than on your inability to help yourself. Challenge When you feel depressed, take advantage of this psalm's antidepressant. Read the Bible's accounts of God's goodness, and meditate on them. Morning and Evening by Spurgeon Ezekiel 34:26 I will cause the shower to come down in his season; there shall be showers of blessing.Here is sovereign mercy--"I will give them the shower in its season." Is it not sovereign, divine mercy?--for who can say, "I will give them showers," except God? There is only one voice which can speak to the clouds, and bid them beget the rain. Who sendeth down the rain upon the earth? Who scattereth the showers upon the green herb? Do not I, the Lord? So grace is the gift of God, and is not to be created by man. It is also needed grace. What would the ground do without showers? You may break the clods, you may sow your seeds, but what can you do without the rain? As absolutely needful is the divine blessing. In vain you labor, until God the plenteous shower bestows, and sends salvation down. Then, it is plenteous grace. "I will send them showers." It does not say, "I will send them drops," but "showers." So it is with grace. If God gives a blessing, he usually gives it in such a measure that there is not room enough to receive it. Plenteous grace! Ah! we want plenteous grace to keep us humble, to make us prayerful, to make us holy; plenteous grace to make us zealous, to preserve us through this life, and at last to land us in heaven. We cannot do without saturating showers of grace. Again, it is seasonable grace. "I will cause the shower to come down in his season." What is thy season this morning? Is it the season of drought? Then that is the season for showers. Is it a season of great heaviness and black clouds? Then that is the season for showers. "As thy days so shall thy strength be." And here is a varied blessing. "I will give thee showers of blessing." The word is in the plural. All kinds of blessings God will send. All God's blessings go together, like links in a golden chain. If he gives converting grace, he will also give comforting grace. He will send "showers of blessing." Look up today, O parched plant, and open thy leaves and flowers for a heavenly watering. Daily Light on the Daily Path Ezekiel 36:37 'Thus says the Lord GOD, "This also I will let the house of Israel ask Me to do for them: I will increase their men like a flock.James 4:2 You lust and do not have; so you commit murder. You are envious and cannot obtain; so you fight and quarrel. You do not have because you do not ask. Matthew 7:7,8 "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. • "For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. 1 John 5:14,15 This is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. • And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests which we have asked from Him. James 1:5 But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him. Psalm 81:10 "I, the LORD, am your God, Who brought you up from the land of Egypt; Open your mouth wide and I will fill it. Luke 18:1 Now He was telling them a parable to show that at all times they ought to pray and not to lose heart, Psalm 34:15,17 The eyes of the LORD are toward the righteous And His ears are open to their cry. • The righteous cry, and the LORD hears And delivers them out of all their troubles. John 16:26,27,24 "In that day you will ask in My name, and I do not say to you that I will request of the Father on your behalf; • for the Father Himself loves you, because you have loved Me and have believed that I came forth from the Father. • "Until now you have asked for nothing in My name; ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be made full. 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. |
    |