Bible League: Living His Word "'Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,'Says the LORD of hosts." After Zerubbabel led the first wave of exiles back from the Babylonian Captivity, he was called by God to re-build the temple in Jerusalem. No doubt he regarded this as a difficult assignment. The building project itself was huge, he did not have as many workers as he would have liked, and he faced opposition from the Samaritan people (Nehemiah 4:1-2). Our verse for today is part of a message the prophet Zechariah received from an angel. The message was a word of encouragement for Zerubbabel. However, the angel's message speaks to anyone with an assignment from the Lord. First of all, our assignments from the Lord will not be accomplished by human might. Although our assignments may be huge and we may think we will need an army of help, it will take more than an army to get the job done. Although we may face opposition from enemies and we may think we will need an army of defenders, it will take more than an army to fend off the opposition. Secondly, our assignments from the Lord will not be accomplished by human power. Although our assignments may seem overwhelming and we may think we will need to summon great strength and energy, it will take more than human means and agency to accomplish the task. Although the power of the opposition may be imposing and we may think we will need even greater power to overcome, it will take more than manpower in order to succeed. Finally, our assignments from the Lord will be accomplished by the Spirit of the Lord. We will not need an army to help us and to defend us and we will not need great strength and energy, because the Spirit of the Lord will go to work for us. He will work through whatever helps and defenses we have available and He will use whatever strength and power we have at hand in order to accomplish the assignments of the Lord. Today, therefore, stop trying to muster an army and stop trying to ginger up great strength, because the victory does not depend on might and it does not depend upon power. It depends upon the Spirit of the Lord. Bible in a Year Old Testament ReadingJeremiah 9, 10 Jeremiah 9 -- Jeremiah Laments over Zion NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Jeremiah 10 -- The Lord Speaks on Idolatry and Coming Destruction; Jeremiah Prays NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB New Testament Reading 1 Timothy 3 1 Timothy 3 -- Bishops and Deacons NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Reading Plan Courtesy of Christian Classics Etherial Library. Tyndale Life Application Daily Devotion Obscene stories, foolish talk, and coarse jokes—these are not for you. Instead, let there be thankfulness to God.Insight Obscenity and coarse joking are so common that we begin to take them for granted. Paul cautions, however, that improper language should have no place in the Christian's conversation because it does not reflect God's gracious presence in us. Challenge How can we praise God and remind others of his goodness when we are speaking coarsely? Morning and Evening by Spurgeon John 6:67 Will ye also go away?Many have forsaken Christ, and have walked no more with him; but what reason have you to make a change? Has there been any reason for it in the past? Has not Jesus proved himself all-sufficient? He appeals to you this morning--"Have I been a wilderness unto you?" When your soul has simply trusted Jesus, have you ever been confounded? Have you not up till now found your Lord to be a compassionate and generous friend to you, and has not simple faith in him given you all the peace your spirit could desire? Can you so much as dream of a better friend than he has been to you? Then change not the old and tried for new and false. As for the present, can that compel you to leave Christ? When we are hard beset with this world, or with the severer trials within the Church, we find it a most blessed thing to pillow our head upon the bosom of our Saviour. This is the joy we have today that we are saved in him; and if this joy be satisfying, wherefore should we think of changing? Who barters gold for dross? We will not forswear the sun till we find a better light, nor leave our Lord until a brighter lover shall appear; and, since this can never be, we will hold him with a grasp immortal, and bind his name as a seal upon our arm. As for the future, can you suggest anything which can arise that shall render it necessary for you to mutiny, or desert the old flag to serve under another captain? We think not. If life be long--he changes not. If we are poor, what better than to have Christ who can make us rich? When we are sick, what more do we want than Jesus to make our bed in our sickness? When we die, is it not written that "neither death, nor life, nor things present, nor things to come, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord!" We say with Peter, "Lord, to whom shall we go?" Daily Light on the Daily Path Luke 12:15 Then He said to them, "Beware, and be on your guard against every form of greed; for not even when one has an abundance does his life consist of his possessions."Psalm 37:16 Better is the little of the righteous Than the abundance of many wicked. Proverbs 15:16 Better is a little with the fear of the LORD Than great treasure and turmoil with it. 1 Timothy 6:6,8 But godliness actually is a means of great gain when accompanied by contentment. • If we have food and covering, with these we shall be content. Proverbs 30:8,9 Keep deception and lies far from me, Give me neither poverty nor riches; Feed me with the food that is my portion, • That I not be full and deny You and say, "Who is the LORD?" Or that I not be in want and steal, And profane the name of my God. Matthew 6:11 'Give us this day our daily bread. Matthew 6:25 "For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Luke 22:35 And He said to them, "When I sent you out without money belt and bag and sandals, you did not lack anything, did you?" They said, "No, nothing." Hebrews 13:5 Make sure that your character is free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, "I WILL NEVER DESERT YOU, NOR WILL I EVER FORSAKE YOU," 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     |