Passage of the Day: Chapter/Verse Reference: Job, Chapters 17-20 … To study these chapters, go to this link -
Study Passage: Job 17: [Job to his three critics]
10 "But come on, all of you, try again! I will not find a wise man among you.
Study Passage: Job 18: [Bildad’s reply to Job]
2 "When will you end these speeches? Be sensible, and then we can talk.
3 Why are we regarded as cattle and considered stupid in your sight?
Study Passage: Job 19: Job 19: … [Job’s response to Bildad]
21 "Have pity on me, my friends, have pity, for the hand of God has struck me.
22 Why do you pursue me as God does? Will you never get enough of my flesh?
23 "Oh, that my words were recorded, that they were written on a scroll,
24 that they were inscribed with an iron tool on lead, or engraved in rock forever!
25 I know that my redeemer lives, and that in the end He will stand on the earth.
26 And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God; …
Study Passage: Job 20: [Zophar to Job]
6 Though the pride of the godless person reaches to the heavens and his head touches the clouds,
7 he will perish forever, like his own dung; those who have seen him will say, 'Where is he?'
My Journal for Today: Back and forth it goes [in this case in my reading today between Job and two of his critics]. Job’s so-called “friends” keep coming at poor Job, so beaten down and yet, holding on to his faith. And note that Job still calls these men his “friends” in spite of his frustration and pain from their criticisms. I really don’t think I could have been so charitable. If fact I often refer to these three dudes as “Job’s three stooges,” which is certainly not the Christlike attitude to which I should aspire.
But we have to try to understand that these men held onto the prevailing theological ideas of their day about salvation, redemption, and how God treats sin; and in order for them to understand why Job was being treated – by God – these men simply were expressing the prevailing attitude that God punishes wickedness and sin the way Job was being broken.
But through all of this comes one of the most startling statements of faith in all of the Old Testament. Here was a man, Job, who was bodily broken, … who had lost everything of earthly value to him, … and one who was pushed aside and railed against by his wife and friends over and over again; and a man who was confused by how God seemed to be treating him, … a righteous man (in his own eyes). Actually Zophar’s pronouncement above in Chapter 20 would seem logical … that God was treating Job like human feces. But in the midst of all of this, what was Job’s clarion declaration?
Say it with me (from the emboldened verse above in Job 19: 25a, Job says …
”I KNOW THAT MY REDEEMER LIVES!”
And anything I would blog or journal here would detract from that incredible truth and pronouncement of faith. And so, let me just pray that we all, no matter what our life may be presenting us, can sing along with Nicole C. Mullen, as I listen to her from this You Tube piece, I know that my Redeemer lives! … linked here for your meditation in song.
My Prayer Today: … You live, Lord! HALLELUJAH!!! Amen
Showing posts with label promise of salvation. Show all posts
Showing posts with label promise of salvation. Show all posts
Sunday, January 08, 2012
Saturday, March 19, 2011
March 19, 2011 … Looking Out for Others’ Interests First
Passage of the Day: Philippians 2: 4 [underlined] - Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. 4 Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.
My Journal for Today: In our fast-paced, self-indulgent, and information-flooded world and culture, it is very easy for anyone, including Christians, to get wrapped up in doing “our own thing” or putting our selves #1 in our own world. One can’t help but speculate that this is a deliberate battle strategy of our enemy to let the “tyranny of the urgent” or “the power of the personal” overcome and/or interfere with the priorities we should be setting based on our desire to walk in worthiness with Christ (again see Eph. 4: 1 – 2).
However, this was probably also the case in Paul’s day as well; and in today’s verse, we read him exhorting believers to avoid such a self-centered focus. I must admit that it’s all too easy to become enveloped in one’s own goals, projects, and even ministry efforts, … to the exclusion of considering the aspirations, interests, and yes, even the needs, of brothers/sisters in Christ or the ultimate needs of the lost Christians, who are headed to hell if we don’t let God use us to consider their horrible fate.
Paul’s words in the highlight passage for today have me GUILTY AS CONVICTED by God’s Spirit to open up my heart and mind, as well as my plans/actions, to include more consideration for the “interests of others.” I need to pray that God will prick my heart with more sensitivity … that I will slow down and put out my spiritual antennae … and that I will take action when I see any unmet need or a hurting soul, especially in the lives of fellow believers (see Galatians 6: 9 – 10 [linked for review]).
Certainly, as I go about my day-to-day life, my eyes are going to encounter the eyes of others who are lost and destined for hell unless someone, like yours truly is used by God to break through and help them see their need for the Lord. One of my favorite contemporary Christian songs is People Need the Lord [linked here for your viewing on You Tube]. Perhaps in this quiet moment as you’ve come to read what I’ve shared here today, you’ll take just a few moments, click on that link, and let God’s Spirit speak to yours in this video.
My Prayer Today: Lord, help me to slow down and to see more clearly the needs of others, especially to those who need You, Lord. Amen
My Journal for Today: In our fast-paced, self-indulgent, and information-flooded world and culture, it is very easy for anyone, including Christians, to get wrapped up in doing “our own thing” or putting our selves #1 in our own world. One can’t help but speculate that this is a deliberate battle strategy of our enemy to let the “tyranny of the urgent” or “the power of the personal” overcome and/or interfere with the priorities we should be setting based on our desire to walk in worthiness with Christ (again see Eph. 4: 1 – 2).
However, this was probably also the case in Paul’s day as well; and in today’s verse, we read him exhorting believers to avoid such a self-centered focus. I must admit that it’s all too easy to become enveloped in one’s own goals, projects, and even ministry efforts, … to the exclusion of considering the aspirations, interests, and yes, even the needs, of brothers/sisters in Christ or the ultimate needs of the lost Christians, who are headed to hell if we don’t let God use us to consider their horrible fate.
Paul’s words in the highlight passage for today have me GUILTY AS CONVICTED by God’s Spirit to open up my heart and mind, as well as my plans/actions, to include more consideration for the “interests of others.” I need to pray that God will prick my heart with more sensitivity … that I will slow down and put out my spiritual antennae … and that I will take action when I see any unmet need or a hurting soul, especially in the lives of fellow believers (see Galatians 6: 9 – 10 [linked for review]).
Certainly, as I go about my day-to-day life, my eyes are going to encounter the eyes of others who are lost and destined for hell unless someone, like yours truly is used by God to break through and help them see their need for the Lord. One of my favorite contemporary Christian songs is People Need the Lord [linked here for your viewing on You Tube]. Perhaps in this quiet moment as you’ve come to read what I’ve shared here today, you’ll take just a few moments, click on that link, and let God’s Spirit speak to yours in this video.
My Prayer Today: Lord, help me to slow down and to see more clearly the needs of others, especially to those who need You, Lord. Amen
Friday, December 24, 2010
2010 – December 24 – Hope As an Anchor
Study from God’s Word… Hebrews 6: 13 – 10: 18 … Passage for Reflection: Hebrews 6: 17, 19a [underlined in context] … NIV 17 Because God wanted to make the unchanging nature of his purpose very clear to the heirs of what was promised, he confirmed it with an oath. 18 God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope set before us may be greatly encouraged. 19 We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, 20 where our forerunner, Jesus, has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.
My Journal for Today: To what do you attach your anchor of faith and hope? In the 19th century, shipping was the primary method of distribution and commerce of the day; and a ship could not drop anchor unless the Captain knew that his anchor chain was solid … and when used, was attached to a solid rock on the ocean floor, especially when his ship encountered rough seas or heavy storms. In the 19th century, Priscilla Owen wrote a hymn, which has become a standard, entitled, We Have An Anchor; and the first verse and chorus go like this …
Will your anchor hold in the storms of life,
When the clouds unfold their wings of strife?
When the strong tides lift and the cables strain,
Will your anchor drift, or firm remain?
Refrain:
We have an anchor that keeps the soul
Steadfast and sure while the billows roll,
Fastened to the Rock which cannot move,
Grounded firm and deep in the Savior’s love.
And in this hymn, we have the essence of the hope we have that the anchor of our faith/hope is eternally affixed to the solid Rock, Who is Christ. And our Lord and Savior has given us the promise of His New Covenant, upon which we can attach our anchor of faith. God has sworn to us, by the shedding of His own blood and He demonstrated His truth by His resurrection, … so that we can be saved by eternally affixing our anchor of hope to Him. And when we do, He will bring our ship into eternal relationship with Himself in heaven. That is the promise … the Rock-solid promise of the New Covenant.
My friend, to whom – or should I say, “to Whom” – do you affix your anchor of hope? Is it the promises of man; or are you banking your eternity on the promises the world can offer? I doubt the latter; because no matter how good or strong another person or worldly institution in your life might be, that entity is fallible; and we could never put down our anchor of life, let alone the anchor to eternal life, and know, beyond doubt, that it would hold by depending on the promises of mankind. But when our anchor of faith is affixed to Jesus and His sacrifice as the Lamb of God, shedding His blood for the remission of our sin, we know that our anchor will hold eternally.
God’s word is solid; and His promises are His rock; and I don’t know about you, but my anchor line of faith is affixed to the Rock, and He will hold my ship through any storm, keeping me always and eternally anchored to Himself. I don’t have to depend upon the promises of man; because I only depend upon the promises of God through His word. And my anchor will always hold.
My Prayer for Today: Lord, my anchor of faith is affixed to You. You are my Rock. Amen
My Journal for Today: To what do you attach your anchor of faith and hope? In the 19th century, shipping was the primary method of distribution and commerce of the day; and a ship could not drop anchor unless the Captain knew that his anchor chain was solid … and when used, was attached to a solid rock on the ocean floor, especially when his ship encountered rough seas or heavy storms. In the 19th century, Priscilla Owen wrote a hymn, which has become a standard, entitled, We Have An Anchor; and the first verse and chorus go like this …
Will your anchor hold in the storms of life,
When the clouds unfold their wings of strife?
When the strong tides lift and the cables strain,
Will your anchor drift, or firm remain?
Refrain:
We have an anchor that keeps the soul
Steadfast and sure while the billows roll,
Fastened to the Rock which cannot move,
Grounded firm and deep in the Savior’s love.
And in this hymn, we have the essence of the hope we have that the anchor of our faith/hope is eternally affixed to the solid Rock, Who is Christ. And our Lord and Savior has given us the promise of His New Covenant, upon which we can attach our anchor of faith. God has sworn to us, by the shedding of His own blood and He demonstrated His truth by His resurrection, … so that we can be saved by eternally affixing our anchor of hope to Him. And when we do, He will bring our ship into eternal relationship with Himself in heaven. That is the promise … the Rock-solid promise of the New Covenant.
My friend, to whom – or should I say, “to Whom” – do you affix your anchor of hope? Is it the promises of man; or are you banking your eternity on the promises the world can offer? I doubt the latter; because no matter how good or strong another person or worldly institution in your life might be, that entity is fallible; and we could never put down our anchor of life, let alone the anchor to eternal life, and know, beyond doubt, that it would hold by depending on the promises of mankind. But when our anchor of faith is affixed to Jesus and His sacrifice as the Lamb of God, shedding His blood for the remission of our sin, we know that our anchor will hold eternally.
God’s word is solid; and His promises are His rock; and I don’t know about you, but my anchor line of faith is affixed to the Rock, and He will hold my ship through any storm, keeping me always and eternally anchored to Himself. I don’t have to depend upon the promises of man; because I only depend upon the promises of God through His word. And my anchor will always hold.
My Prayer for Today: Lord, my anchor of faith is affixed to You. You are my Rock. Amen
Thursday, October 14, 2010
2010 – October 14 – From Birthright to a New Birth
Blogger’s Note: Today is my last day of daily study in the Old Testament; … tomorrow it’s off into the New. And it reminds me of the promise in a paraphrase of 2nd Cor. 5: 17 … the old has gone, … the new is coming!
Study from God’s Word… 1st Chronicles, Chapter 4 - 9 … Passage for Reflection: 1st Chronicles 5: 1 2 … NIV 1 The sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel (he was the firstborn, but when he defiled his father's marriage bed, his rights as firstborn were given to the sons of Joseph son of Israel; so he could not be listed in the genealogical record in accordance with his birthright, 2 and though Judah was the strongest of his brothers and a ruler came from him, the rights of the firstborn belonged to Joseph) - …
My Journal for Today: Today is my last day of study in the Old Testament from The Daily Bible in Chronological Order, with my devotionals being led by Dr. F. LaGard Smith, the Author of The Daily Bible Devotional. Tomorrow we will turn to devotionals from the New Testament; and I’m excited about that. Thus far this year, it has been a rewarding and discipline-building exercise to go through the Old Testament – in chronological order; and I’m looking forward with expectation to branching off into the New Testament for the remainder of 2010.
And this last highlight verse from the Old Testament today is a most interesting reference, imbedded in the chronicles listed in God’s Old Covenant where all of God’s people were so carefully listed. In today’s verse we read this parenthetical reference to REUBEN, the firstborn of “Israel” (i.e., Jacob), whose birthright was altered and given to the sons of Joseph rather than Reuben, who had wickedly squandered the birthright due to his unworthiness in the way he treated Joseph. But Reuben’s loss was our gain as Gentiles; because what we read in that little parenthetical description above, pictures how God would give His birthright and glory from His kingdom from His “firstborn” to any/all who are willing, as was Joseph, to receive this birthright from another – later – “Joseph,” who would come in the form of the Son of God, The Messiah, to save, not only those who were promised the birthright (i.e., the Jews) but also those who would believe in and receive God’s glorious grace-gift of salvation.
Pardon me, while I intervene here with what my heart is feeling in this moment, by saying, a resounding, “HALLELUJAH!!!”
But Dr. Smith’s sobering question to close his devotional entry for today, rings like a clarion bell of truth, when he asks: ”Am I living worthily of the glorious inheritance I have been promised (in Christ)?” And immediately God’s Spirit, from my past disciplines of Scripture memory, bubbles up in my consciousness that exhortation from Paul to the Christians at Ephesus, these challenging words: (see Eph. 4: 1 – 2) … As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. And this returns me to Smith’s poignant question, … “am I worthy” of the calling of what I call myself – i.e., “CHRISTIAN?!”
I pray – and I do so pray today – that I am being true to my inheritance of one who has given my life – as much as I’m aware (see Romans 12: 1-2) as a living sacrifice to my Lord and Savior, Jesus, … the One who came and died, as I’m about to study onward into the New Testament for the rest of this year.
For those who’re reading and meditating along with me, I hope you’re as expectant as I as we move into the study of the life and times of the One Who came to us as God’s Lamb, to live, to die, and to be re-glorified to sit at the Right Hand of the Father, interceding for those of us who’ve come to know Him as Lord and Savior.
My Prayer for Today: Oh, LORD, My God, how Glorious is Your Name!!! Again … I shout out … HALLELUJAH!!! Amen
Study from God’s Word… 1st Chronicles, Chapter 4 - 9 … Passage for Reflection: 1st Chronicles 5: 1 2 … NIV 1 The sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel (he was the firstborn, but when he defiled his father's marriage bed, his rights as firstborn were given to the sons of Joseph son of Israel; so he could not be listed in the genealogical record in accordance with his birthright, 2 and though Judah was the strongest of his brothers and a ruler came from him, the rights of the firstborn belonged to Joseph) - …
My Journal for Today: Today is my last day of study in the Old Testament from The Daily Bible in Chronological Order, with my devotionals being led by Dr. F. LaGard Smith, the Author of The Daily Bible Devotional. Tomorrow we will turn to devotionals from the New Testament; and I’m excited about that. Thus far this year, it has been a rewarding and discipline-building exercise to go through the Old Testament – in chronological order; and I’m looking forward with expectation to branching off into the New Testament for the remainder of 2010.
And this last highlight verse from the Old Testament today is a most interesting reference, imbedded in the chronicles listed in God’s Old Covenant where all of God’s people were so carefully listed. In today’s verse we read this parenthetical reference to REUBEN, the firstborn of “Israel” (i.e., Jacob), whose birthright was altered and given to the sons of Joseph rather than Reuben, who had wickedly squandered the birthright due to his unworthiness in the way he treated Joseph. But Reuben’s loss was our gain as Gentiles; because what we read in that little parenthetical description above, pictures how God would give His birthright and glory from His kingdom from His “firstborn” to any/all who are willing, as was Joseph, to receive this birthright from another – later – “Joseph,” who would come in the form of the Son of God, The Messiah, to save, not only those who were promised the birthright (i.e., the Jews) but also those who would believe in and receive God’s glorious grace-gift of salvation.
Pardon me, while I intervene here with what my heart is feeling in this moment, by saying, a resounding, “HALLELUJAH!!!”
But Dr. Smith’s sobering question to close his devotional entry for today, rings like a clarion bell of truth, when he asks: ”Am I living worthily of the glorious inheritance I have been promised (in Christ)?” And immediately God’s Spirit, from my past disciplines of Scripture memory, bubbles up in my consciousness that exhortation from Paul to the Christians at Ephesus, these challenging words: (see Eph. 4: 1 – 2) … As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. And this returns me to Smith’s poignant question, … “am I worthy” of the calling of what I call myself – i.e., “CHRISTIAN?!”
I pray – and I do so pray today – that I am being true to my inheritance of one who has given my life – as much as I’m aware (see Romans 12: 1-2) as a living sacrifice to my Lord and Savior, Jesus, … the One who came and died, as I’m about to study onward into the New Testament for the rest of this year.
For those who’re reading and meditating along with me, I hope you’re as expectant as I as we move into the study of the life and times of the One Who came to us as God’s Lamb, to live, to die, and to be re-glorified to sit at the Right Hand of the Father, interceding for those of us who’ve come to know Him as Lord and Savior.
My Prayer for Today: Oh, LORD, My God, how Glorious is Your Name!!! Again … I shout out … HALLELUJAH!!! Amen
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