Bible League: Living His Word LORD, I am in deep trouble,so I am calling to you for help. There aren't many atheists in foxholes. When people encounter extreme danger, whether in a foxhole during war or in any perilous situation of any kind, many of them turn to God for help. There have been scientific studies that have shown that a significant percentage of people under severe stress turn to God. Some ethnologists have even made the claim that this is a worldwide, universal phenomenon. From the biblical point of view, the existence of this phenomenon is less than surprising. One of the reasons for this can be found in Paul's letter to the Romans. In Romans, Paul says that everyone knows God. Although people may not honor Him as God or thank Him for anything, they know of His existence and nature (Romans 1:21). It makes sense, then, that when they encounter extreme danger some of them turn to Him for help. The psalmist in our verse for today was in deep trouble and he turned to God. He knew God and he knew what God is like. He knew that God is the one you turn to in times of trouble. He knew that you must call out to God and ask Him to listen to your cry for help (Psalm 130:2). When real trouble comes along the impotence of the false gods people ordinarily rely upon is revealed and they turn to the one that can actually do something. They surrender their pride and stubbornness and humbly request the help of God. The psalmist also knew that God is a forgiving God. He knew that God would listen to his cry for help despite his sin. He said, "LORD, if you punished people for all their sins, no one would be left alive" (Psalm 130:3). We may come before God and ask for help in our times of trouble because God is willing to forgive the penitential heart. He is worthy, therefore, of our fear and respect. He is worthy of the great praise and worship that He receives. Today, you may find yourself in deep trouble. You may find that everything you had originally counted on to sustain you and help you is totally unreliable. Today may be the day to surrender your pride and stubbornness. Today may be the day to call to God for help. Bible in a Year Old Testament ReadingSong of Solomon 1, 2, 3 Song of Solomon 1 -- The Song of songs, which is Solomon's. NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Song of Solomon 2 -- I am a rose of Sharon, a lily of the valleys NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Song of Solomon 3 -- By night on my bed, I sought him whom my soul loves NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB New Testament Reading 2 Corinthians 12 2 Corinthians 12 -- Paul's Vision, Thorn, and Concern for Corinthians NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Reading Plan Courtesy of Christian Classics Etherial Library. Tyndale Life Application Daily Devotion So let's stop condemning each other. Decide instead to live in such a way that you will not cause another believer to stumble and fall.Insight Both strong and weak Christians can cause their brothers and sisters to stumble. The strong but insensitive Christian may flaunt his or her freedom and intentionally offend others' consciences. The scrupulous but weak Christian may try to fence others in with petty rules and regulations, thus causing dissension. Paul wants his readers to be both strong in the faith and sensitive to others' needs. Challenge Because we are all strong in some areas and weak in others, we need constantly to monitor the effects of our behavior on others. Morning and Evening by Spurgeon Jeremiah 32:41 I will rejoice over them to do them good.How heart-cheering to the believer is the delight which God has in his saints! We cannot see any reason in ourselves why the Lord should take pleasure in us; we cannot take delight in ourselves, for we often have to groan, being burdened; conscious of our sinfulness, and deploring our unfaithfulness; and we fear that God's people cannot take much delight in us, for they must perceive so much of our imperfections and our follies, that they may rather lament our infirmities than admire our graces. But we love to dwell upon this transcendent truth, this glorious mystery: that as the bridegroom rejoiceth over the bride, so does the Lord rejoice over us. We do not read anywhere that God delighteth in the cloud-capped mountains, or the sparkling stars, but we do read that he delighteth in the habitable parts of the earth, and that his delights are with the sons of men. We do not find it written that even angels give his soul delight; nor doth he say, concerning cherubim and seraphim, "Thou shalt be called Hephzibah, for the Lord delighteth in thee;" but he does say all that to poor fallen creatures like ourselves, debased and depraved by sin, but saved, exalted, and glorified by his grace. In what strong language he expresses his delight in his people! Who could have conceived of the eternal One as bursting forth into a song? Yet it is written, "He will rejoice over thee with joy, he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing." As he looked upon the world he had made, he said, "It is very good;" but when he beheld those who are the purchase of Jesus' blood, his own chosen ones, it seemed as if the great heart of the Infinite could restrain itself no longer, but overflowed in divine exclamations of joy. Should not we utter our grateful response to such a marvellous declaration of his love, and sing, "I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation"? Daily Light on the Daily Path Romans 8:28 And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.Psalm 76:10 For the wrath of man shall praise You; With a remnant of wrath You will gird Yourself. Genesis 50:20 "As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive. 1 Corinthians 3:21-23 So then let no one boast in men. For all things belong to you, • whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or things present or things to come; all things belong to you, • and you belong to Christ; and Christ belongs to God. 2 Corinthians 4:15-17 For all things are for your sakes, so that the grace which is spreading to more and more people may cause the giving of thanks to abound to the glory of God. • Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day. • For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, James 1:2-4 Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, • knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. • And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. 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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