Bible League: Living His Word They spread a net for my feet—I was bowed down in distress. They dug a pit in my path—but they have fallen into it themselves.— Psalm 57:6 NIV Many in the unbelieving world may see Christians as easy targets for bullying. We seem mild-mannered, turning the other cheek, and slow to anger. But just as Goliath underestimated David, those people don't really know who they're dealing with. They fail to realize that you're a child of God, called by Him and on assignment from Him. He has plans for the earth and you figure into them. He needs you to implement them. Jesus told us to pray, "your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven" (Matthew 6:10). As a result, it's dangerous for people to mess with you, because they can find themselves in opposition to God Himself. The pharisee Gamaliel recognized this in dealing with Peter and the apostles. He said, "... if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God" (Acts 5:38-39). Think about that when the distress they bring down on you gets to levels hard to take. Think about who's on your side. You may be bowed down before them for the moment, but the moment is just a moment. Ask yourself where you'd rather be—on the side of your enemies or on the side of God? Put that way, the answer is easy. It's always best to be on God's side, no matter what. You may be bowed down for the moment, but when you're on God's side anything can happen. He can turn things around in a moment. Maybe it's true. Maybe people have dug a pit in your path. They had better watch out, however, or they'll fall into it themselves. They had better watch out that their hatred and contempt for you doesn't blind them to the very pit they dug for you. They may, for example, try to expose you as being incompetent, but in the process, be exposed as incompetent themselves. They may try to expose you as being corrupt, but in the process, be exposed as corrupt themselves. God seems to like making use of irony. He arranged for Hamman to be impaled on the very pole he had set up for Mordecai (Esther 7:9-10). Today, there may be some pits in your path. You may be worried about them. Nevertheless, take heart! You're not the one who should be worried. Bible in a Year Old Testament ReadingGenesis 46, 47, 48 Genesis 46 -- Jacob and His Family Move to Egypt NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Genesis 47 -- Jacob to Goshen; Israelites Multiply; Joseph and the Famine NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Genesis 48 -- Jacob's Illness; Manasseh and Ephraim NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB New Testament Reading Matthew 14:22-36 Matthew 14 -- John the Baptist Beheaded; Jesus Feeds Five Thousand, Walks on Water NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Reading Plan Courtesy of Christian Classics Etherial Library. Tyndale Life Application Daily Devotion And she made this vow: “O LORD of Heaven's Armies, if you will look upon my sorrow and answer my prayer and give me a son, then I will give him back to you. He will be yours for his entire lifetime, and as a sign that he has been dedicated to the LORD, his hair will never be cut.”Insight Be careful what you promise in prayer because God may take you up on it. Hannah so desperately wanted a child that she was willing to strike a bargain with God. God took her up on her promise, and to Hannah's credit, she did her part, even though it was painful. Although we are not in a position to barter with God, he may still choose to answer a prayer that has an attached promise. Challenge When you pray, ask yourself: “Will I follow through on any promises I make to God if he grants my request?” It is dishonest and dangerous to ignore a promise, especially to God. God keeps his promises, and he expects you to keep yours. Morning and Evening by Spurgeon Genesis 4:2 Abel was a keeper of sheep.As a shepherd Abel sanctified his work to the glory of God, and offered a sacrifice of blood upon his altar, and the Lord had respect unto Abel and his offering. This early type of our Lord is exceedingly clear and distinct. Like the first streak of light which tinges the east at sunrise, it does not reveal everything, but it clearly manifests the great fact that the sun is coming. As we see Abel, a shepherd and yet a priest, offering a sacrifice of sweet smell unto God, we discern our Lord, who brings before his Father a sacrifice to which Jehovah ever hath respect. Abel was hated by his brother--hated without a cause; and even so was the Saviour: the natural and carnal man hated the accepted man in whom the Spirit of grace was found, and rested not until his blood had been shed. Abel fell, and sprinkled his altar and sacrifice with his own blood, and therein sets forth the Lord Jesus slain by the enmity of man while serving as a priest before the Lord. "The good Shepherd layeth down his life for the sheep." Let us weep over him as we view him slain by the hatred of mankind, staining the horns of his altar with his own blood. Abel's blood speaketh. "The Lord said unto Cain, The voice of thy brother's blood crieth unto me from the ground.'" The blood of Jesus hath a mighty tongue, and the import of its prevailing cry is not vengeance but mercy. It is precious beyond all preciousness to stand at the altar of our good Shepherd! to see him bleeding there as the slaughtered priest, and then to hear his blood speaking peace to all his flock, peace in our conscience, peace between Jew and Gentile, peace between man and his offended Maker, peace all down the ages of eternity for blood-washed men. Abel is the first shepherd in order of time, but our hearts shall ever place Jesus first in order of excellence. Thou great Keeper of the sheep, we the people of thy pasture bless thee with our whole hearts when we see thee slain for us. Daily Light on the Daily Path Isaiah 9:6 For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.John 1:14 And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth. Psalm 138:2 I will bow down toward Your holy temple And give thanks to Your name for Your lovingkindness and Your truth; For You have magnified Your word according to all Your name. Matthew 1:23 "BEHOLD, THE VIRGIN SHALL BE WITH CHILD AND SHALL BEAR A SON, AND THEY SHALL CALL HIS NAME IMMANUEL," which translated means, "GOD WITH US." Matthew 1:21 "She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins." 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. Philippians 2:9 For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, Ephesians 1:21,22 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. • And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church, Revelation 19:12,16 His eyes are a flame of fire, and on His head are many diadems; and He has a name written on Him which no one knows except Himself. • And on His robe and on His thigh He has a name written, "KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS." Job 37:23 "The Almighty-- we cannot find Him; He is exalted in power And He will not do violence to justice and abundant righteousness. Proverbs 30:4 Who has ascended into heaven and descended? Who has gathered the wind in His fists? Who has wrapped the waters in His garment? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is His name or His son's name? Surely you know! 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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