Bible League: Living His Word Don't be dejected and sad, for the joy of the LORD is your strength!What is joy? Joy is an emotion. It is an emotion of great delight and happiness. To be joyful is to be elated about something. What is the "joy of the Lord?" The joy of the Lord is joy that comes from God. It is an emotion of elation that God gives His people. It is the gladness of heart that God gives us because we know Him, trust Him, and rely on Him. Why is the joy of the Lord our strength? Emotions of sadness and dejection rob us of our energy. Joy, on the other hand, does just the opposite. It gives us energy and strength. Joy and the strength it provides are important because we need them in the daily struggles of life that we all go through. These struggles can have the effect of wearing us down, tiring us out, and causing us to want to give up. The joy of the Lord is the antidote to all of that. It gives us the strength to face the trials and troubles of life with grace and peace. It is hard to bring down a person who has the inner strength that comes from the joy of the Lord. Since the joy we have comes from above, it can actually increase during the trials and troubles of life. The apostles experienced this when they were arrested twice by the High Counsel in Jerusalem. After the second arrest, they were flogged and told to never preach the gospel again, but they left there "rejoicing that God had counted them worthy to suffer disgrace for the name of Jesus" (Acts 5:41). They also continued to preach the gospel. Even though joy comes from God, there is a human component as well. Having joy is something that we do. As a result, there are things we can do to increase our joy. The prophet Habakkuk faced all sorts of difficulties, but he said "yet I will rejoice in the LORD! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation!" Habakkuk made a decision to make himself joyful. Today, as our strength is about to be tested, let us follow Habakkuk's example and stir up the joy of the Lord we have within us. Bible in a Year Old Testament ReadingNumbers 14, 15 Numbers 14 -- The People Rebel; Moses Pleads; Pardon and Rebuke NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Numbers 15 -- More Offerings; Sabbath-Breaker Stoned; Tassels on Garments NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB New Testament Reading Mark 6:1-32 Mark 6 -- Jesus at Nazareth; Sending out the Twelve; John Beheaded; Jesus Feeds Five Thousand, Walks on Water, Heals NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Reading Plan Courtesy of Christian Classics Etherial Library. Tyndale Life Application Daily Devotion For that is what God is like.He is our God forever and ever, and he will guide us until we die. Insight We often pray for God's guidance as we struggle with decisions. What we need is both guidance and a guide—a map that gives us landmarks and directions as well as a constant companion who has an intimate knowledge of the way and will make sure we interpret the map correctly. The Bible will be such a map, and the Holy Spirit will be the constant companion and guide. Challenge As you make your way through life, use both the map and your Guide. Morning and Evening by Spurgeon Matthew 3:7 The wrath to come.It is pleasant to pass over a country after a storm has spent itself; to smell the freshness of the herbs after the rain has passed away, and to note the drops while they glisten like purest diamonds in the sunlight. That is the position of a Christian. He is going through a land where the storm has spent itself upon his Saviour's head, and if there be a few drops of sorrow falling, they distil from clouds of mercy, and Jesus cheers him by the assurance that they are not for his destruction. But how terrible is it to witness the approach of a tempest: to note the forewarnings of the storm; to mark the birds of heaven as they droop their wings; to see the cattle as they lay their heads low in terror; to discern the face of the sky as it groweth black, and look to the sun which shineth not, and the heavens which are angry and frowning! How terrible to await the dread advance of a hurricane--such as occurs, sometimes, in the tropics--to wait in terrible apprehension till the wind shall rush forth in fury, tearing up trees from their roots, forcing rocks from their pedestals, and hurling down all the dwelling-places of man! And yet, sinner, this is your present position. No hot drops have as yet fallen, but a shower of fire is coming. No terrible winds howl around you, but God's tempest is gathering its dread artillery. As yet the water-floods are dammed up by mercy, but the flood-gates shall soon be opened: the thunderbolts of God are yet in his storehouse, but lo! the tempest hastens, and how awful shall that moment be when God, robed in vengeance, shall march forth in fury! Where, where, where, O sinner, wilt thou hide thy head, or whither wilt thou flee? O that the hand of mercy may now lead you to Christ! He is freely set before you in the gospel: his riven side is the rock of shelter. Thou knowest thy need of him; believe in him, cast thyself upon him, and then the fury shall be overpast forever. Daily Light on the Daily Path James 4:7 Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.Isaiah 59:19 So they will fear the name of the LORD from the west And His glory from the rising of the sun, For He will come like a rushing stream Which the wind of the LORD drives. Matthew 4:10,11 Then Jesus said to him, "Go, Satan! For it is written, 'YOU SHALL WORSHIP THE LORD YOUR GOD, AND SERVE HIM ONLY.'" • Then the devil left Him; and behold, angels came and began to minister to Him. Ephesians 6:10,11 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. • Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. Ephesians 5:11 Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them; 2 Corinthians 2:11 so that no advantage would be taken of us by Satan, for we are not ignorant of his schemes. 1 Peter 5:8,9 Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. • But resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world. 1 John 5:4 For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world-- our faith. Romans 8:33 Who will bring a charge against God's elect? God is the one who justifies; 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. |
Click for Video Devotionals     |