Bible League: Living His Word Then I heard the Lord asking, "Whom should I send as a messenger to this people? Who will go for us?"I said, "Here I am. Send me." The Lord God of heaven and earth has a problem. He has positions to fill in the administration of His Kingdom, but the supply of job applicants is slim. There is an overabundance of need for what the Kingdom has to offer people, but the supply of prospective employees who can inform people of its benefits is simply not enough. Jesus was aware of the problem. He described it in this way: "The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few" (Luke 10:2). So God does what we all do when we have something we need. He asks around about it. He doesn't just ponder the problem in His own mind, but He lets it be known in the heavenly counsel that there is a need that has to be taken care of, that there is a problem that can no longer be set aside or avoided. Maybe an angel has the inside track on someone that could fit the bill. Surely one of the archangels personally knows someone who could do the job. In order to make certain that everyone in the heavenly counsel knows precisely what it is He is looking for, the Lord spells it out. He is specifically looking for a messenger. There must be somebody out there, because the qualifications for the job are not that rigorous. Mostly, the person just has to be willing to do the job. After all, how difficult is it to deliver a message? Experience, as a result, is not really a factor either. Like Isaiah, you may have overheard God asking around. The thing is, if you are allowed to overhear a question like this, then you are the one being asked. The question is not a question in general, but a question specifically directed to you. "Will you be a messenger to this people?" Like Isaiah, you should apply for this job. If the Lord specifically asks for someone, "no" is not really a viable option. Who is foolish enough to turn down God? That is something you would regret for the rest of your life. If you have overheard the Lord speaking in the heavenly realm, then today may be the day to say what Isiah said: "Here I am. Send me." Bible in a Year Old Testament ReadingPsalm 1, 2, 3 Psalm 1 -- BOOK 1: Blessed is the man who doesn't walk in the counsel of the wicked NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Psalm 2 -- Why do the nations rage, and the peoples plot a vain thing? NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Psalm 3 -- O Lord, how my adversaries have increased! NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB New Testament Reading Acts 16:1-15 Acts 16 -- Timothy Joins Paul and Silas; Paul's Vision of a Macedonian; Lydia; Conversion of the Philippian Jailer NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Reading Plan Courtesy of Christian Classics Etherial Library. Tyndale Life Application Daily Devotion “So pay attention to how you hear. To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given. But for those who are not listening, even what they think they understand will be taken away from them.”Insight Applying God's Word helps us grow. This is a principle of growth in physical, mental, and spiritual life. For example, a muscle, when exercised, will grow stronger; but an unused muscle will grow weak and flabby. Challenge If you are not growing stronger, you are growing weaker; it is impossible for you to stand still. How are you using what God has taught you? Morning and Evening by Spurgeon Ephesians 2:19 Fellow citizens with the saints.What is meant by our being citizens in heaven? It means that we are under heaven's government. Christ the king of heaven reigns in our hearts; our daily prayer is, "Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven." The proclamations issued from the throne of glory are freely received by us: the decrees of the Great King we cheerfully obey. Then as citizens of the New Jerusalem, we share heaven's honors. The glory which belongs to beatified saints belongs to us, for we are already sons of God, already princes of the blood imperial; already we wear the spotless robe of Jesus' righteousness; already we have angels for our servitors, saints for our companions, Christ for our Brother, God for our Father, and a crown of immortality for our reward. We share the honors of citizenship, for we have come to the general assembly and Church of the first-born whose names are written in heaven. As citizens, we have common rights to all the property of heaven. Ours are its gates of pearl and walls of chrysolite; ours the azure light of the city that needs no candle nor light of the sun; ours the river of the water of life, and the twelve manner of fruits which grow on the trees planted on the banks thereof; there is nought in heaven that belongeth not to us. "Things present, or things to come," all are ours. Also as citizens of heaven we enjoy its delights. Do they there rejoice over sinners that repent--prodigals that have returned? So do we. Do they chant the glories of triumphant grace? We do the same. Do they cast their crowns at Jesus' feet? Such honors as we have we cast there too. Are they charmed with his smile? It is not less sweet to us who dwell below. Do they look forward, waiting for his second advent? We also look and long for his appearing. If, then, we are thus citizens of heaven, let our walk and actions be consistent with our high dignity. Daily Light on the Daily Path Matthew 10:24 "A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a slave above his master.John 13:13 "You call Me Teacher and Lord; and you are right, for so I am. Matthew 10:25 "It is enough for the disciple that he become like his teacher, and the slave like his master. If they have called the head of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they malign the members of his household! John 15:20 "Remember the word that I said to you, 'A slave is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you; if they kept My word, they will keep yours also. John 17:14 "I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. Hebrews 12:3,4 For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. • You have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood in your striving against sin; 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. 1 Peter 4:1 Therefore, since Christ has suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same purpose, because he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, 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. 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