Bible League: Living His Word Search me, O God, and know my heart;test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life. Psalm 139 begins with a declaration that God had examined David in every respect: "O LORD, you have examined my heart and know everything about me. You know when I sit down or stand up. You know my thoughts even when I'm far away" (Psalm 139:1-2). In our verses for today at the end of the Psalm, David asks God to do the same thing. Although God had already searched him, so great was his desire to avoid sin and self-deception that he asks God to search and examine him again. The request implores God to search David's heart and then his thought life. First, by asking God to search his heart, David was asking Him to search into the very core of his inner being. Proverbs tells us that the heart "determines the course of your life" (Proverbs 4:23). It is where the motives of a person reside. Second, by asking God to test him and know his anxious thoughts, David was asking God to use whatever means necessary to reveal the kind of thoughts that issue forth from the motives of his heart when he is under duress. The testing will point out to David anything within him that offends God. Just as silver refined in a furnace yields up any dross left within it, so the testing of David will yield up any sinful thoughts born of sinful motives left within him. God uses the trials, troubles, and tribulations of life to reveal the true motives and thoughts of a person so they can be dealt with. The arrest of Jesus, for example, was a test for Peter that pointed out to him the fear and cowardice left within him. Peter had deceived himself into thinking he had the courage necessary to stand with Jesus (Matthew 26:35), but the test revealed something different. If he is tested and refined again, then David will be in a better position to follow the lead of the Lord along the path of everlasting life. Untested and unrefined people tend to deviate from the true path. It takes courage to pray a prayer like David's prayer, but it is necessary if we want to be everything God wants us to be. Bible in a Year Old Testament Reading1 Chronicles 1, 2 1 Chronicles 1 -- Genealogy from Adam to Abraham; Abraham's Descendants NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB 1 Chronicles 2 -- Genealogy from Jacob to David NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB New Testament Reading John 7:32-53 John 7 -- Jesus Teaches at the Feast of Tabernacles; Diverse Opinions of Him among the People NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Reading Plan Courtesy of Christian Classics Etherial Library. Tyndale Life Application Daily Devotion Those who are wise will shine as bright as the sky, and those who lead many to righteousness will shine like the stars forever.Insight Many people try to be stars in the world of entertainment, only to find their stardom temporary. God tells us how we can be eternal “stars”—by being wise and leading many to God's righteousness. Challenge If we share our Lord with others, we can be true stars—radiantly beautiful in God's sight! Morning and Evening by Spurgeon Psalm 17:7 Marvellous lovingkindness.When we give our hearts with our alms, we give well, but we must often plead to a failure in this respect. Not so our Master and our Lord. His favors are always performed with the love of his heart. He does not send to us the cold meat and the broken pieces from the table of his luxury, but he dips our morsel in his own dish, and seasons our provisions with the spices of his fragrant affections. When he puts the golden tokens of his grace into our palms, he accompanies the gift with such a warm pressure of our hand, that the manner of his giving is as precious as the boon itself. He will come into our houses upon his errands of kindness, and he will not act as some austere visitors do in the poor man's cottage, but he sits by our side, not despising our poverty, nor blaming our weakness. Beloved, with what smiles does he speak! What golden sentences drop from his gracious lips! What embraces of affection does he bestow upon us! If he had but given us farthings, the way of his giving would have gilded them; but as it is, the costly alms are set in a golden basket by his pleasant carriage. It is impossible to doubt the sincerity of his charity, for there is a bleeding heart stamped upon the face of all his benefactions. He giveth liberally and upbraideth not. Not one hint that we are burdensome to him; not one cold look for his poor pensioners; but he rejoices in his mercy, and presses us to his bosom while he is pouring out his life for us. There is a fragrance in his spikenard which nothing but his heart could produce; there is a sweetness in his honey-comb which could not be in it unless the very essence of his soul's affection had been mingled with it. Oh! the rare communion which such singular heartiness effecteth! May we continually taste and know the blessedness of it! Daily Light on the Daily Path 1 Timothy 4:16 Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching; persevere in these things, for as you do this you will ensure salvation both for yourself and for those who hear you.1 Corinthians 9:25-27 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. • Therefore I run in such a way, as not without aim; I box in such a way, as not beating the air; • but I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified. Ephesians 6:11,12 Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. • For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Galatians 5:24,25 Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. • If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. Romans 8:14 For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. 1 Timothy 4:15 Take pains with these things; be absorbed in them, so that your progress will be evident to all. 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     |