Bible League: Living His Word But as for me, I watch in hope for the LORD, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me. — Micah 7:7 NIV Welcome to the new year! If when you awake, the world looks like it's crumbling around you, in whom will you place your confidence? That was Micah's plight as he watched the national deterioration of both the northern and southern kingdoms of God's people. Take a moment to read the first seven verses of this chapter. Note the poetic observations Micah makes as societal structures around him rapidly stagnate into whole communities of unrighteousness. Divisiveness among people ran rampant: "Everyone lies in wait to shed blood; they hunt each other with nets." (vs 2). Institutional corruption ran amok: "the judge accepts bribes, the powerful dictate what they desire—they all conspire together" (vs 3). Indeed, we can begin to understand why the prophet exasperatingly began this assessment of the nations with the cry that: "The faithful have been swept from the land" (vs 2). When the larger framework of society begins to break down, we can easily believe that that will also negatively impact the very foundation of society, the family. Micah warns his readers to be aware of the distrust, dishonor, and disunity that has the full potential to arise within every family relationship (vs 5-6). Sadly, what happens in society at large does impact what takes place in the home. The demise of the nations that happened nearly 2700 years ago could very easily mirror front-page news in any one of our newspapers today! "But"—a significant word of contrast begins our verse for today. If our concentration is focused only on that which is at "eye level" this year, we may be continually disappointed with what we see happening throughout the world. But, if we take a cue from Micah and "watch in hope for the Lord" with eager anticipation, look up to see God revealed in the Word above all of the broken circumstances surrounding us, then we can begin to understand something about how He, through Jesus, is bringing "unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ" (Ephesians 1:10). Perhaps, for this year, we all need to look a little less at the 24/7 news cycle and spend more time meditating on Scripture that continually reveals the love God uses to transform both us and the world in which we live. No doubt, we may indeed have a happier New Year! By Dr. Bill Niblette, Bible League International staff, Pennsylvania U.S. Bible in a Year Old Testament ReadingGenesis 1, 2 Genesis 1 -- God creates heaven, earth, plants, animals and man NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Genesis 2 -- Adam and Eve's Beginning in the garden of Eden NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB New Testament Reading Matthew 1 Matthew 1 -- The Genealogy, Conception and Birth of Jesus NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Reading Plan Courtesy of Christian Classics Etherial Library. Tyndale Life Application Daily Devotion I am worn out from sobbing.All night I flood my bed with weeping, drenching it with my tears. Insight Pouring out his heart with tears, David was completely honest with God. We can be honest with God even when we are filled with anger or despair because God knows us thoroughly and wants the very best for us. Anger may result in rash outward acts or turning inward toward depression. But because we trust in our all-powerful God, we don't have to be victims of circumstance or be weighted down by the guilt of sin. Challenge Be honest with God, and he will help you turn your attention from yourself to him and his mercy. Morning and Evening by Spurgeon Joshua 5:12 They did eat of the fruit of the land of Canaan that year.Israel's weary wanderings were all over, and the promised rest was attained. No more moving tents, fiery serpents, fierce Amalekites, and howling wildernesses: they came to the land which flowed with milk and honey, and they ate the old corn of the land. Perhaps this year, beloved Christian reader, this may be thy case or mine. Joyful is the prospect, and if faith be in active exercise, it will yield unalloyed delight. To be with Jesus in the rest which remaineth for the people of God, is a cheering hope indeed, and to expect this glory so soon is a double bliss. Unbelief shudders at the Jordan which still rolls between us and the goodly land, but let us rest assured that we have already experienced more ills than death at its worst can cause us. Let us banish every fearful thought, and rejoice with exceeding great joy, in the prospect that this year we shall begin to be "forever with the Lord." A part of the host will this year tarry on earth, to do service for their Lord. If this should fall to our lot, there is no reason why the New Year's text should not still be true. "We who have believed do enter into rest." The Holy Spirit is the earnest of our inheritance; he gives us "glory begun below." In heaven they are secure, and so are we preserved in Christ Jesus; there they triumph over their enemies, and we have victories too. Celestial spirits enjoy communion with their Lord, and this is not denied to us; they rest in his love, and we have perfect peace in him: they hymn his praise, and it is our privilege to bless him too. We will this year gather celestial fruits on earthly ground, where faith and hope have made the desert like the garden of the Lord. Man did eat angels' food of old, and why not now? O for grace to feed on Jesus, and so to eat of the fruit of the land of Canaan this year! Daily Light on the Daily Path Philippians 3:13,14 Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, • I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.John 17:24 "Father, I desire that they also, whom You have given Me, be with Me where I am, so that they may see My glory which You have given Me, for You loved Me before the foundation of the world. 2 Timothy 1:12 For this reason I also suffer these things, but I am not ashamed; for I know whom I have believed and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day. Philippians 1:6 For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus. 1 Corinthians 9:24,25 Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win. • Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. They then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. Hebrews 12:1,2 Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, • 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. 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. |
    |