Bible League: Living His Word Why should the nations wonder where our God is? Our God is in heaven, and he does whatever he wants.— Psalm 115:2-3 ERV God dwells in heaven. Although He has partially revealed Himself in visible, earthly terms on occasion to His prophets (see, for example, Exodus 33:19-23 and Isaiah 6:1-4), in general, He is invisible to people. In the future, the story will be different. In the future, after the return of Jesus Christ, God will dwell on earth, and all those who believed in Him even though they never saw Him, will see His face (Revelation 22:1-4). For now, however, we believe in Him without seeing Him in His heavenly glory. Because He is unseen, people wonder about our God. They wonder where He is, if He really exists, and why we believe in Him. Why believe in a God who cannot be directly seen or heard? That's why false religions have set up alternative gods and God-substitutes that they can see. For them, sensory access is a minimum requirement for belief. For them, sensory access is a must, even if it means elevating a mere creature to divine status, even if it means accepting a paltry substitute for God. Although God may not be seen, He's still God. He's in heaven, and He does whatever He wants. He's not a man-made god that has been specifically constructed to affirm the limited and faulty expectations of mere human beings. He rules and reigns over all things on His own terms despite what unbelieving people may think. His plans and purposes are heavenly, and as such, they are right and good. They may seem to us to be inscrutable and mysterious at times, but the Bible tells us that His ways and thoughts are high above us (Isaiah 55:8-9). We don't need to worry that we have an imaginary God, because we can see the evidence of Him all around us. You may not be able to directly see His heavenly glory, but you can see Him and His rule and reign indirectly in everything He has made (Romans 1:20). Moreover, the words of the Bible reveal Him in even more clear and explicit terms. Be confident — our God is the creator and sustainer of the universe, and one day we will behold Him. Until then, believe in Him and submit to Him. Bible in a Year Old Testament ReadingIsaiah 31, 32, 33 Isaiah 31 -- Danger of Trusting Egypt and Forsaking God NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Isaiah 32 -- A King Shall Reign in Righteousness NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Isaiah 33 -- God's Judgments against His Enemies NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB New Testament Reading Philippians 1 Philippians 1 -- Paul's Thankfulness to God and His Love towards the Philippians; Christ Is Preached; To live is Christ NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Reading Plan Courtesy of Christian Classics Etherial Library. Tyndale Life Application Daily Devotion For God says,“At just the right time, I heard you. On the day of salvation, I helped you. Indeed, the “right time” is now. Today is the day of salvation.” Insight God offers salvation to all people. Many people put off a decision for Christ, thinking that there will be a better time—but they could easily miss their opportunity altogether. Challenge There is no time like the present to receive God's forgiveness. Don't let anything hold you back from coming to Christ. Morning and Evening by Spurgeon 1 Kings 19:8 He arose, and did eat and drink, and went in the strength of that meat forty days and forty nights.All the strength supplied to us by our gracious God is meant for service, not for wantonness or boasting. When the prophet Elijah found the cake baked on the coals, and the cruse of water placed at his head, as he lay under the juniper tree, he was no gentleman to be gratified with dainty fare that he might stretch himself at his ease; far otherwise, he was commissioned to go forty days and forty nights in the strength of it, journeying towards Horeb, the mount of God. When the Master invited the disciples to "Come and dine" with him, after the feast was concluded he said to Peter, "Feed my sheep;" further adding, "Follow me." Even thus it is with us; we eat the bread of heaven, that we may expend our strength in the Master's service. We come to the passover, and eat of the paschal lamb with loins girt, and staff in hand, so as to start off at once when we have satisfied our hunger. Some Christians are for living on Christ, but are not so anxious to live for Christ. Earth should be a preparation for heaven; and heaven is the place where saints feast most and work most. They sit down at the table of our Lord, and they serve him day and night in his temple. They eat of heavenly food and render perfect service. Believer, in the strength you daily gain from Christ, labor for him. Some of us have yet to learn much concerning the design of our Lord in giving us his grace. We are not to retain the precious grains of truth as the Egyptian mummy held the wheat for ages, without giving it an opportunity to grow: we must sow it and water it. Why does the Lord send down the rain upon the thirsty earth, and give the genial sunshine? Is it not that these may all help the fruits of the earth to yield food for man? Even so the Lord feeds and refreshes our souls that we may afterwards use our renewed strength in the promotion of his glory. Daily Light on the Daily Path Psalm 50:15 Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I shall rescue you, and you will honor Me."Psalm 42:11 Why are you in despair, O my soul? And why have you become disturbed within me? Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him, The help of my countenance and my God. Psalm 10:17 O LORD, You have heard the desire of the humble; You will strengthen their heart, You will incline Your ear Psalm 86:5 For You, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive, And abundant in lovingkindness to all who call upon You. Genesis 35:2,3 So Jacob said to his household and to all who were with him, "Put away the foreign gods which are among you, and purify yourselves and change your garments; • and let us arise and go up to Bethel, and I will make an altar there to God, who answered me in the day of my distress and has been with me wherever I have gone." Psalm 103:2 Bless the LORD, O my soul, And forget none of His benefits; Psalm 116:1-4 I love the LORD, because He hears My voice and my supplications. • Because He has inclined His ear to me, Therefore I shall call upon Him as long as I live. • The cords of death encompassed me And the terrors of Sheol came upon me; I found distress and sorrow. • Then I called upon the name of the LORD: "O LORD, I beseech You, save my life!" 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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