Bible League: Living His Word He died for all so that those who live would not continue to live for themselves. He died for them and was raised from death so that they would live for him.— 2 Corinthians 5:15 ERV Christ died for you. Our verse for today says that He did this, so that you would not live for yourself anymore, obeying the dictates of your sinful self. Why not? It's because the old you, the sinful you, died with Christ on the cross. The "you" that foolishly thought it was a free agent and an independent player, no longer lives. If the old self died with Christ, then the new self that rose with Him must live for Jesus Christ. That is, you must live your life according to the leading of the Holy Spirit, the very Spirit of Christ Jesus. You should do what the Spirit is leading you to do. Why? It's because you are alive. The new you that knows it is a sheep that follows Jesus along with the rest of His flock is alive. The new you must assert itself over the old you; it must deny and suppress the sinfully independent you that keeps calling out from the grave. One of the hallmarks of a mature Christian, a Christian who lives for Jesus, is that he or she understands that the desire to do whatever you want, whenever you want, is a desire that comes from an alien place. It comes from the old self backed up by Satan—that is alien to our new life. Until Jesus returns, this suppression of the old self will always be a struggle, but it is a struggle that every Christian, for the sake of Christ, must undertake (Galatians 5:16-17). Bible in a Year Old Testament ReadingGenesis 27, 28 Genesis 27 -- Jacob Gets Isaac's Blessing NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Genesis 28 -- Jacob's Flight to Laban and Vision of a ladder NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB New Testament Reading Matthew 9:18-38 Matthew 9 -- Jesus Heals a Paralytic, Calls Matthew and Heals; the Workers are Few NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Reading Plan Courtesy of Christian Classics Etherial Library. Tyndale Life Application Daily Devotion Instruct all the skilled craftsmen whom I have filled with the spirit of wisdom. Have them make garments for Aaron that will distinguish him as a priest set apart for my service.Insight The tailors who made Aaron's garments were given wisdom by God in order to do their task. All of us have special skills. God wants to fill us with his Spirit so we will use those skills for his glory. Challenge Think about your special talents and abilities. What ways could you use them for God's work in the world? As you focus on helping and giving to others, God will show you the best ways to do it and give you wisdom to accomplish the task. Morning and Evening by Spurgeon Luke 8:13 These have no root.My soul, examine thyself this morning by the light of this text. Thou hast received the word with joy; thy feelings have been stirred and a lively impression has been made; but, remember, that to receive the word in the ear is one thing, and to receive Jesus into thy very soul is quite another; superficial feeling is often joined to inward hardness of heart, and a lively impression of the word is not always a lasting one. In the parable, the seed in one case fell upon ground having a rocky bottom, covered over with a thin layer of earth; when the seed began to take root, its downward growth was hindered by the hard stone and therefore it spent its strength in pushing its green shoot aloft as high as it could, but having no inward moisture derived from root nourishment, it withered away. Is this my case? Have I been making a fair show in the flesh without having a corresponding inner life? Good growth takes place upwards and downwards at the same time. Am I rooted in sincere fidelity and love to Jesus? If my heart remains unsoftened and unfertilized by grace, the good seed may germinate for a season, but it must ultimately wither, for it cannot flourish on a rocky, unbroken, unsanctified heart. Let me dread a godliness as rapid in growth and as wanting in endurance as Jonah's gourd; let me count the cost of being a follower of Jesus, above all let me feel the energy of his Holy Spirit, and then I shall possess an abiding and enduring seed in my soul. If my mind remains as obdurate as it was by nature, the sun of trial will scorch, and my hard heart will help to cast the heat the more terribly upon the ill-covered seed, and my religion will soon die, and my despair will be terrible; therefore, O heavenly Sower, plough me first, and then cast the truth into me, and let me yield thee a bounteous harvest. Daily Light on the Daily Path Psalm 65:1 For the choir director. A Psalm of David. A Song. There will be silence before You, and praise in Zion, O God, And to You the vow will be performed.1 Corinthians 8:6 yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom are all things and we exist for Him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we exist through Him. John 5:23 so that all will honor the Son even as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him. Hebrews 13:15 Through Him then, let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that give thanks to His name. Psalm 50:23 "He who offers a sacrifice of thanksgiving honors Me; And to him who orders his way aright I shall show the salvation of God." Revelation 7:9,10,12 After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could count, from every nation and all tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, and palm branches were in their hands; • and they cry out with a loud voice, saying, "Salvation to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb." • saying, "Amen, blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might, be to our God forever and ever. Amen." 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. |
    |