Bible League: Living His Word Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you are disqualified. — 2 Corinthians 13:5 NKJV Imagine being in a remote village surrounded by natural beauty and no access to TVs, radios, or the internet. Shut yourself out from all the preaching, teaching, and evangelism you get from the television, crusades, conferences, and seminars. If you started with reading this book, The Bible, and then compared what you read with what you see in Christianity today, would it thrill you or disturb you? Do you see similarity in the faith of the early Christians and today's Christians? Are we more like Christ today or were the disciples in the Bible more like Christ than us? I hope you see a committed people who got so excited when they knew that their sins were forgiven, that they were now reconciled to God and made citizens of heaven. They were so excited to experience a brand-new life that was totally free from the power of sin, and they eagerly wanted to get this Good News out into all the world. This world's idea of success, position, possessions, and pleasures didn't matter so much anymore. They encouraged one another, teaching people to have faith in Christ; they shared all things with each other so that nobody lacked anything, and nobody had an excess of anything and called such a gathering "a church." There was a noticeable difference between the people who professed to be Christians and the people of the world. This is the ideal. Unfortunately, today, people prefer "listening" and "watching" rather than reading the Word of God and meditating on it for themselves. Today, it's easy to be swayed by popular preachers and their interpretations, but Paul reminds us not to idolize them. Instead, we should rely on the same source they do: the Word of God. When Christ returns, titles and positions won't matter; we'll all stand as equals before Him. In a church, when believers get together, the one thing that should really stand out is love for one another. Jesus said, "By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another" (John 13:35). The early believers were marked by their humility and commitment to one another, sharing everything and spreading the Gospel fervently. They lived lives distinct from the world, attracting attention for their radical love and unity. But today, there's often little difference between the church and the world. If we, proclaiming to be Christ-followers, blend into the darkness, how can we expect to dispel it? Yet, amidst this, there are still genuine believers—the true Church—who shine brightly in the darkness. Believing in Christ is not only an "intellectual" understanding of Jesus as the son of God who came and died on the cross for our sins, and who rose again. On the contrary, it is fully understanding the purpose of His death and resurrection, and wholly relying on His finished work for our peace, provision, spiritual health, abundant life here, and eternal life ahead. It is about walking in the newness of life. "Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life." (Romans 6:4). So, let us examine ourselves. Are we truly walking in faith? Are our beliefs and actions aligned with the Word of God? Let's prioritize personal time with God, diving into His Word daily and communing with Him in prayer. This intimate relationship with Christ is paramount—far more needful than attending church events or programs. I encourage you to strive for holiness and run as if to win the race, so that we may approach His throne of grace with boldness and confidence. By Santosh Chandran, Bible League International staff, New Zealand Bible in a Year Old Testament Reading1 Chronicles 17, 18, 19 1 Chronicles 17 -- God's Promise and David's Prayer in Response NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB 1 Chronicles 18 -- David Strengthens His Kingdom NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB 1 Chronicles 19 -- The Battle against Ammon and Aram NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB New Testament Reading John 10:1-21 John 10 -- Parable of the Good Shepherd; Belief and Unbelief of the Jews NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Reading Plan Courtesy of Christian Classics Etherial Library. Tyndale Life Application Daily Devotion This vision is for a future time.It describes the end, and it will be fulfilled. If it seems slow in coming, wait patiently, for it will surely take place. It will not be delayed. Insight Evil and injustice seem to have the upper hand in the world. Like Habakkuk, Christians often feel angry and discouraged as they see what goes on. Habakkuk complained vigorously to God about the situation. God's answer to Habakkuk is the same answer he would give us: “Be patient! I will work out my plans in my perfect timing.” Challenge It isn't easy to be patient, but it helps to remember that God hates sin even more than we do. Punishment of sin will certainly come. As God told Habakkuk, “Wait patiently.” To trust God fully means to trust him even when we don't understand why events occur as they do. Morning and Evening by Spurgeon Psalm 55:22 Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he shall sustain thee.Care, even though exercised upon legitimate objects, if carried to excess, has in it the nature of sin. The precept to avoid anxious care is earnestly inculcated by our Saviour, again and again; it is reiterated by the apostles; and it is one which cannot be neglected without involving transgression: for the very essence of anxious care is the imagining that we are wiser than God, and the thrusting ourselves into his place to do for him that which he has undertaken to do for us. We attempt to think of that which we fancy he will forget; we labor to take upon ourselves our weary burden, as if he were unable or unwilling to take it for us. Now this disobedience to his plain precept, this unbelief in his Word, this presumption in intruding upon his province, is all sinful. Yet more than this, anxious care often leads to acts of sin. He who cannot calmly leave his affairs in God's hand, but will carry his own burden, is very likely to be tempted to use wrong means to help himself. This sin leads to a forsaking of God as our counsellor, and resorting instead to human wisdom. This is going to the "broken cistern" instead of to the "fountain;" a sin which was laid against Israel of old. Anxiety makes us doubt God's lovingkindness, and thus our love to him grows cold; we feel mistrust, and thus grieve the Spirit of God, so that our prayers become hindered, our consistent example marred, and our life one of self-seeking. Thus want of confidence in God leads us to wander far from him; but if through simple faith in his promise, we cast each burden as it comes upon him, and are "careful for nothing" because he undertakes to care for us, it will keep us close to him, and strengthen us against much temptation. "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on thee, because he trusteth in thee." Daily Light on the Daily Path Hebrews 13:20 Now the God of peace, who brought up from the dead the great Shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the eternal covenant, even Jesus our Lord,1 Peter 5:4 And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory. John 10:14,27, 28 "I am the good shepherd, and I know My own and My own know Me, • "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; • and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand. Psalm 23:1-3 A Psalm of David. The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want. • He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters. • He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness For His name's sake. Isaiah 53:6 All of us like sheep have gone astray, Each of us has turned to his own way; But the LORD has caused the iniquity of us all To fall on Him. John 10:11 "I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep. Ezekiel 34:16 "I will seek the lost, bring back the scattered, bind up the broken and strengthen the sick; but the fat and the strong I will destroy. I will feed them with judgment. 1 Peter 2:25 For you were continually straying like sheep, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Guardian of your souls. 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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