Bible League: Living His Word LORD, my heart is not haughty,Nor my eyes lofty. Neither do I concern myself with great matters, Nor with things too profound for me. Surely I have calmed and quieted my soul, Like a weaned child with his mother; Like a weaned child is my soul within me. Those who are immature in the faith may still have a problem with haughtiness. They may still harbor selfish ambitions and grand illusions, refuse to associate with anyone who can't help them get to the top, and act wise in their own minds (Romans 12:16). Such people may also have eyes that are lofty. That is, they look past and refuse to acknowledge anyone they consider inferior to themselves. They have the "proud look" that the Lord hates (Proverbs 6:17). The haughty also tend to concern themselves with great matters. They concern themselves with matters beyond their capacity and station in life. They take positions on issues they know nothing about and they hold firm opinions on everything, regardless of the complexity. Further, the haughty even concern themselves with profound things. That is, they concern themselves with things that supersede human comprehension. Instead of humbly sticking to the things that have been revealed to us, they vainly speculate on the secret things that belong to God and God alone (Deuteronomy 29:29). The mature in the faith, in contrast, are not like the haughty. They have calmed and quieted their souls. In place of the petulant striving and struggle of the proud soul to stay above the next guy, in place of the arrogant reflection on matters beyond them and futile speculation on things above them, they have humble souls at peace with their God-ordained place in life and untroubled by great and profound matters. The mature soul, like a weaned child that has gotten past the need for mother's milk, has gotten past the immature pride of the selfishly ambitious and the infantile conceit of the haughty mind. Like a weaned child, the mature soul has achieved its growth and does not need to go back to where it came from. It waits patiently for the next stage of life and the wisdom that comes with it. Today, be at peace with where you are in life and with the wisdom you have been given. God will see to the next stage of your ascent and see to the wisdom you need at that time. Bible in a Year Old Testament ReadingEzekiel 7, 8, 9 Ezekiel 7 -- The End has Come to the Four Corners of the Land NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Ezekiel 8 -- Ezekiel's Vision of Idolatry in the Temple NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Ezekiel 9 -- The Vision of Slaughter of Idolaters NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB New Testament Reading Hebrews 10:24-39 Hebrews 10 -- Christ's One Sacrifice is Sufficient for All Time; Perseverance NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Reading Plan Courtesy of Christian Classics Etherial Library. Tyndale Life Application Daily Devotion We pleaded with you, encouraged you, and urged you to live your lives in a way that God would consider worthy. For he called you to share in his Kingdom and glory.Insight By his words and example, Paul encouraged the Thessalonians to live in such a way that would be worthy of God. Challenge Is there anything about your daily life that would embarrass God? What do people think of God from watching you? Morning and Evening by Spurgeon Zephaniah 1:5 I will cut off them that worship and that swear by the Lord, and that swear by Malcham.Such persons thought themselves safe because they were with both parties: they went with the followers of Jehovah, and bowed at the same time to Malcham. But duplicity is abominable with God, and hypocrisy his soul hateth. The idolater who distinctly gives himself to his false god, has one sin less than he who brings his polluted and detestable sacrifice unto the temple of the Lord, while his heart is with the world and the sins thereof. To hold with the hare and run with the hounds, is a dastard's policy. In the common matters of daily life, a double- minded man is despised, but in religion he is loathsome to the last degree. The penalty pronounced in the verse before us is terrible, but it is well deserved; for how should divine justice spare the sinner, who knows the right, approves it, and professes to follow it, and all the while loves the evil, and gives it dominion in his heart? My soul, search thyself this morning, and see whether thou art guilty of double-dealing. Thou professest to be a follower of Jesus--dost thou truly love him? Is thy heart right with God? Art thou of the family of old Father Honest, or art thou a relative of Mr. By-ends? A name to live is of little value if I be indeed dead in trespasses and sins. To have one foot on the land of truth, and another on the sea of falsehood, will involve a terrible fall and a total ruin. Christ will be all or nothing. God fills the whole universe, and hence there is no room for another god; if, then, he reigns in my heart, there will be no space for another reigning power. Do I rest alone on Jesus crucified, and live alone for him? Is it my desire to do so? Is my heart set upon so doing? If so, blessed be the mighty grace which has led me to salvation; and if not so, O Lord, pardon my sad offence, and unite my heart to fear thy name. Daily Light on the Daily Path Psalm 40:17 Since I am afflicted and needy, Let the Lord be mindful of me. You are my help and my deliverer; Do not delay, O my God.Psalm 37:23,24 The steps of a man are established by the LORD, And He delights in his way. • When he falls, he will not be hurled headlong, Because the LORD is the One who holds his hand. Proverbs 14:26 In the fear of the LORD there is strong confidence, And his children will have refuge. Isaiah 51:12,13 "I, even I, am He who comforts you. Who are you that you are afraid of man who dies And of the son of man who is made like grass, • That you have forgotten the LORD your Maker, Who stretched out the heavens And laid the foundations of the earth, That you fear continually all day long because of the fury of the oppressor, As he makes ready to destroy? But where is the fury of the oppressor? Jeremiah 1:8 "Do not be afraid of them, For I am with you to deliver you," declares the LORD. Deuteronomy 31:6 "Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid or tremble at them, for the LORD your God is the one who goes with you. He will not fail you or forsake you." Psalm 59:16 But as for me, I shall sing of Your strength; Yes, I shall joyfully sing of Your lovingkindness in the morning, For You have been my stronghold And a refuge in the day of my distress. Psalm 32:7 You are my hiding place; You preserve me from trouble; You surround me with songs of deliverance. Selah. 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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