Bible League: Living His Word Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and outstretched arm. There is nothing too hard for You.Every Christian has been called by God to be a witness of Christ Jesus. We witness, first of all, by doing our part to spread the good news of the great salvation we have in Christ. We also witness simply by living the new life we have in Christ in every area of life. In order to help us do a proper job of witnessing, God has given us the power of the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:8). The Holy Spirit helps us spread the gospel and live the Christ-like life God wants us to live. Thus reflecting Christ, in whom is the life that is the light of men (John 1:4), we shine life and light into the darkness that envelopes the world. At times, however, the opposition of the forces of darkness can seem to overwhelm the light of our witness. Even though we know that the darkness cannot overcome the light (John 1:5), even though we know that Christ has overcome the darkness of the world (John 16:33), it doesn't always seem that way. Sometimes, it seems like the darkness has overcome the light. Sometimes, it seems like the darkness is more powerful than the light. It's at times like these that the prayer of Jeremiah in our verse for today is needed, for the prayer reminds us of something important about God. Although the context of his prayer was a specific situation in the history of Judah, it proclaims a general principle about God that applies in every situation and at all times. There is nothing too hard for God. There is nothing that God can't handle. He sends us forth as witnesses for Jesus Christ in the midst of the darkness and the power of His Spirit helps us to accomplish the impossible. That this is the case should be less than surprising to us. After all, God is the Creator of heaven and earth. If He could pull that one off, He can certainly handle the cares and concerns that challenge our witness in life. Today, therefore, shine the light of your witness in the midst of the darkness that surrounds you, for there is nothing too hard for God, there is nothing too hard for Him to handle. Bible in a Year Old Testament ReadingJeremiah 5, 6 Jeremiah 5 -- Jerusalem's Godlessness and Judgment NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Jeremiah 6 -- Enemies Sent against Jerusalem NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB New Testament Reading 1 Timothy 1 1 Timothy 1 -- Warning against False Teachers; the Grace Given Paul NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Reading Plan Courtesy of Christian Classics Etherial Library. Tyndale Life Application Daily Devotion He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins. He has showered his kindness on us, along with all wisdom and understanding. Insight Grace is God's voluntary and loving favor given to those he saves. We can't earn salvation, nor do we deserve it. No religious, intellectual, or moral effort can gain it, because it comes only from God's mercy and love. Without God's grace, no person can be saved. Challenge To receive it, we must acknowledge that we cannot save ourselves, that only God can save us, and that our only way to receive this loving favor is through faith in Christ. Morning and Evening by Spurgeon 2 Corinthians 5:14 The love of Christ constraineth us.How much owest thou unto my Lord? Has he ever done anything for thee? Has he forgiven thy sins? Has he covered thee with a robe of righteousness? Has he set thy feet upon a rock? Has he established thy goings? Has he prepared heaven for thee? Has he prepared thee for heaven? Has he written thy name in his book of life? Has he given thee countless blessings? Has he laid up for thee a store of mercies, which eye hath not seen nor ear heard? Then do something for Jesus worthy of his love. Give not a mere wordy offering to a dying Redeemer. How will you feel when your Master comes, if you have to confess that you did nothing for him, but kept your love shut up, like a stagnant pool, neither flowing forth to his poor or to his work. Out on such love as that! What do men think of a love which never shows itself in action? Why, they say, "Open rebuke is better than secret love." Who will accept a love so weak that it does not actuate you to a single deed of self-denial, of generosity, of heroism, or zeal! Think how he has loved you, and given himself for you! Do you know the power of that love? Then let it be like a rushing mighty wind to your soul to sweep out the clouds of your worldliness, and clear away the mists of sin. "For Christ's sake" be this the tongue of fire that shall sit upon you: "for Christ's sake" be this the divine rapture, the heavenly afflatus to bear you aloft from earth, the divine spirit that shall make you bold as lions and swift as eagles in your Lord's service. Love should give wings to the feet of service, and strength to the arms of labor. Fixed on God with a constancy that is not to be shaken, resolute to honor him with a determination that is not to be turned aside, and pressing on with an ardour never to be wearied, let us manifest the constraints of love to Jesus. May the divine loadstone draw us heavenward towards itself. Daily Light on the Daily Path John 1:16 For of His fullness we have all received, and grace upon grace.Matthew 17:5 While he was still speaking, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and behold, a voice out of the cloud said, "This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased; listen to Him!" 1 John 3:1 See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God; and such we are. For this reason the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. Hebrews 1:2 in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world. Romans 8:17 and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him. John 10:30,38 "I and the Father are one." • but if I do them, though you do not believe Me, believe the works, so that you may know and understand that the Father is in Me, and I in the Father." John 20:17 Jesus said to her, "Stop clinging to Me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, 'I ascend to My Father and your Father, and My God and your God.'" John 17:23 I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfected in unity, so that the world may know that You sent Me, and loved them, even as You have loved Me. Ephesians 1:22,23 And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church, • which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all. 2 Corinthians 7:1 Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. 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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