Passage of the Day: Reference of Today’s Chronological Bible Study: Deuteronomy, Chapters 8-10 … To study these chapters, go to this link -
Deuteronomy 8: 10-14: … [Beware the Good Times!] … 10 When you have eaten and are satisfied, praise the LORD your God for the good land he has given you. 11 Be careful that you do not forget the LORD your God, failing to observe his commands, his laws and his decrees that I am giving you this day. 12 Otherwise, when you eat and are satisfied, when you build fine houses and settle down, 13 and when your herds and flocks grow large and your silver and gold increase and all you have is multiplied, 14 then your heart will become proud and you will forget the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.
My Journal for Today: As I was reading through my directed chronological read in God’s word this morning [Chapters 8-10 of Deuteronomy], there were a number of lessons about which I could blog. However, the issue of being aware of blessing struck me as the one on which I should journal because it’s a matter which hangs me up frequently; and that is why I’m calling this entry “The Red Flag of Blessing.”
In all of Deuteronomy 8 (upon which you can study/meditate by the link above), Moses is trying to get God’s people to remember that God takes His children through the tough times to prepare them for the good times. And Moses clearly reminds his people that as God took them through all those years in the wilderness, the Lord provided everything they needed … even though the times seemed so hard. But one warning God lays out through Moses can be found in the highlight passage I’ve copied above from Deut. 8: 10-14; and that has to do with watching out for what is produced when we are led through life when “the good times roll.”
In our culture, and especially our Christian culture, we have a tendency to think of “blessings” as all the warm and fuzzies and goodies which come during those “good times” in life. It’s when we feel “blessed” by abundance, good health, and well being. But when we’re in times of privation, problems, or pain, it’s very hard to feel and acknowledge that we’re being BLESSED by those hard times.
So, as Christians do we really take to heart what Moses writes about for God’s people in Deuteronomy 8; and in our internalization of these truths, as well as passages in God’s New Testament, for example Romans 8: 28, do we see the tough times as times of “blessing?”
AND … when we’re being blessed by the warm and fuzzy times, when God is allowing us to see “the good times roll,” are we duly grateful, openly expressing our thanks to God for all of what is easy to see as “blessings?” … No, … I think Moses nails it in the section of Scripture which I’ve emboldened and underlined above in Deut. 8: 12-14. When the good times roll, with our deceitful hearts (see Jer. 17: 9), we have a tendency to default to becoming prideful; and we generally think we – our SELVES – have created the good times rather than acknowledging Jehovah Jireh, our Lord and Provider.
Hence, I call attention to the “RED FLAG OF BLESSING;” and I hope we can take heed from the teachings of Deuteronomy 8, … that the tough times teach us humility and the good times call for that humility to recognize – with gratitude – from Whom all “blessings” flow – good times and bad.
And in that regard may I link you to a wonderful song, written and performed by Laura Story, whose personal witness is found in the lyrics. Here’s the link: … and then I want you to hear Laura’s story at this link. And when you hear Laura Story’s song and witness about “blessings,” you will see that she has experienced the “blessings” of the tough times as well as the gratitude for seeing God’s “blessings” in the good times.
I pray that we all can see the truth and believe Paul’s words in Romans 8: 28 and live in all the “blessings” of this life – the tough times and the good times as the Prophet Moses wrote about for us in Deuteronomy 8.
My Prayer Today: … Thank you for all your “blessings,” Lord … the good times and the tough times. Amen
Showing posts with label blessing from God. Show all posts
Showing posts with label blessing from God. Show all posts
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
Thursday, February 02, 2012
February 2, 2012 … God In the Humility Business
Passage of the Day: Reference of Today’s Chronological Bible Study: Exodus, Chapters 10-12 … To study these chapters, go to this link -
Exodus 12: 31-32 … 51-52: … [Broken and Believing] ... 31 During the night Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron and said, "Up! Leave my people, you and the Israelites! Go, worship the Lord as you have requested.32 Take your flocks and herds, as you have said, and go. And also bless me."
… 50 All the Israelites did just what the Lord had commanded Moses and Aaron. 51 And on that very day the Lord brought the Israelites out of Egypt by their divisions.
My Journal for Today: Reading through Chapters 10-12 of Exodus in my chronological Bible reading plan this morning, I was struck by how deep was the pride of Pharaoh and how patient, yet relentless, was God in doing what it took to show Pharaoh that his pride was the only human element which kept God from getting what the Lord desired – i.e., freedom for His people, the children of God’s covenant promise.
My friend, … do we get this message? God is God; and we are not!! And the only way God is going to prevail in our lives – giving us the blessings of His promises – will only happen when (or IF) we’re willing to yield to His will in humility. Perhaps you remember that little saying my friend, Loretta, who’s now with the Lord, used to say to my wife and me. We called it “Loretta 1: 1,” and she would say, “First obedience, … then the blessing.” And to me, that’s the simple – but very hard to learn – lesson from today’s reading. At least it’s tough for this chronically prideful heart to learn this lesson, which all too often has to be broken by God’s humility training in life. How many times have I had to redo God’s humility lessons, teaching me that it’s so much better – and less painful – for me to CHOOSE, on the front end, to be humble, receiving God’s enlightening, enabling, and empowering grace, freely offered by God to allow me to find and carry out His will for my life? And when I do humble myself, freely and willingly, God is so willing to pour out His grace into my life.
HOWEVER, when, like Pharaoh, I buck up an attitude of pridefulness, thinking, in my mind, “Hey, God, I can handle this one (whatever the life circumstance might be),” I’m in for troubles, testing, and all the tribulations God will have bring into my life before I can get God’s lessons of Prov. 3: 34, James 4: 4-6, and 1st Peter 5: 5-7 [and I really hope, if you don’t have these passages memorized, you will go to them and meditate on them].
Unfortunately, Pharaoh never had the benefit of having learned those lessons, which I have so freely available to me from God’s word (and His truth). But Pharaoh learned – the hard way – that God is seriously into the humility business; and the Egyptian king finally moved from brokenness to belief – through all those plagues and problems – learning to be humble and yield to God’s way and His will.
I hope we all – you and me – learn this lesson from God’s truth and we CHOOSE to obey God’s will and His way, which we most often get from His word, BEFORE we have to be humbled by God’s lessons of trials, tribulations, and temptations, … all those fires of life God often has to use to get our attention and to purify us for His purposes in life. I don’t know about you, my dear one; … but I plan to get in on that obedience business as early and as often as I can so that I can receive – willingly – God’s blessings for my life.
My Prayer Today: … Lord, the more I know of Your will for my life from Your word, I will walk humbly and obediently in Your way. Amen
Exodus 12: 31-32 … 51-52: … [Broken and Believing] ... 31 During the night Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron and said, "Up! Leave my people, you and the Israelites! Go, worship the Lord as you have requested.32 Take your flocks and herds, as you have said, and go. And also bless me."
… 50 All the Israelites did just what the Lord had commanded Moses and Aaron. 51 And on that very day the Lord brought the Israelites out of Egypt by their divisions.
My Journal for Today: Reading through Chapters 10-12 of Exodus in my chronological Bible reading plan this morning, I was struck by how deep was the pride of Pharaoh and how patient, yet relentless, was God in doing what it took to show Pharaoh that his pride was the only human element which kept God from getting what the Lord desired – i.e., freedom for His people, the children of God’s covenant promise.
My friend, … do we get this message? God is God; and we are not!! And the only way God is going to prevail in our lives – giving us the blessings of His promises – will only happen when (or IF) we’re willing to yield to His will in humility. Perhaps you remember that little saying my friend, Loretta, who’s now with the Lord, used to say to my wife and me. We called it “Loretta 1: 1,” and she would say, “First obedience, … then the blessing.” And to me, that’s the simple – but very hard to learn – lesson from today’s reading. At least it’s tough for this chronically prideful heart to learn this lesson, which all too often has to be broken by God’s humility training in life. How many times have I had to redo God’s humility lessons, teaching me that it’s so much better – and less painful – for me to CHOOSE, on the front end, to be humble, receiving God’s enlightening, enabling, and empowering grace, freely offered by God to allow me to find and carry out His will for my life? And when I do humble myself, freely and willingly, God is so willing to pour out His grace into my life.
HOWEVER, when, like Pharaoh, I buck up an attitude of pridefulness, thinking, in my mind, “Hey, God, I can handle this one (whatever the life circumstance might be),” I’m in for troubles, testing, and all the tribulations God will have bring into my life before I can get God’s lessons of Prov. 3: 34, James 4: 4-6, and 1st Peter 5: 5-7 [and I really hope, if you don’t have these passages memorized, you will go to them and meditate on them].
Unfortunately, Pharaoh never had the benefit of having learned those lessons, which I have so freely available to me from God’s word (and His truth). But Pharaoh learned – the hard way – that God is seriously into the humility business; and the Egyptian king finally moved from brokenness to belief – through all those plagues and problems – learning to be humble and yield to God’s way and His will.
I hope we all – you and me – learn this lesson from God’s truth and we CHOOSE to obey God’s will and His way, which we most often get from His word, BEFORE we have to be humbled by God’s lessons of trials, tribulations, and temptations, … all those fires of life God often has to use to get our attention and to purify us for His purposes in life. I don’t know about you, my dear one; … but I plan to get in on that obedience business as early and as often as I can so that I can receive – willingly – God’s blessings for my life.
My Prayer Today: … Lord, the more I know of Your will for my life from Your word, I will walk humbly and obediently in Your way. Amen
Saturday, July 30, 2011
July 31, 2011 … The Blessings of Assurance
Passage of the Day: 2nd Peter 1: 10 [NIV] … 10 Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never fall, …
2nd Peter 1: 10 [NASB] … 10Therefore, brethren, be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you; for as long as you practice these things, you will never stumble; …
My Journal for Today: We’re closing out this month’s discussion on the assurance of salvation by studying the passage from Peter’s second epistle [i.e., in 2nd Pet. 2: 1]. And today, this last day of the month in our study, we can see Peter writing (see bold portion above) an exhortation to obedience. The phrase “… if you do these things [i.e., the character disciplines of the faith which Peter listed],” is translated “… for as long as you practice these things” in the NASB. And after challenging the believer with this charge, Peter gives Christians a powerful promise from God, writing, (again from the NASB) “… you will never stumble.”
I have a dear friend who often says, “First obedience, then God’s blessing.” And it’s true that God blesses the Christian who lives and practices within the assurance of his/her salvation AND with God’s blessing of enabling grace. I have experienced this; and if you’ve been walking in what Peter wrote about in 2nd Peter 1: 5 – 10 for any length of time, you likely have experience the power that Christians are given by God to be fruitful as you have walked in obedience to God’s word.
John MacArthur in his devotional, Strength for Today, on this date, writes that our salvation, being sure, provides the believer with …
----------------
>>> The motivation to praise and thank God (see this truth in many of the Psalms) …
>>> Purpose and power during the trials of life (Rom. 8: 28 and 2nd Tim. 1: 7) …
>>> Victory in temptation, trials, tests, and/or tribulations (1st Cor. 10: 13) …
>>> Direction and power to be in continual obedience (Prov. 3: 5,6 and Luke 9: 23) …
>>> Contentment for life’s challenges (Phil. 4: 11 – 13) …
>>> And the elimination of the fear of death (2nd Cor. 5: 6 – 10).
----------------
When we know – truly KNOW – that, as sinful creatures, God, in His grace, was freely willing to give us His mercy and sacrifice His Son to save us (see Rom. 5: 8), the genuine born-again Christian is predestined to be completed unto Christlikeness (see Rom. 8: 29, Eph. 2: 10, and Phil. 1: 6). And I also pray that you, as a believer, have discovered that the more intimately you know God in your relationship with the Savior, the more you will be aware of your transformation into the image of our Savior and have confidence in your salvation.
As Fanny Crosby, the physically blind Christian songwriter wrote, so insightfully, wrote in her 19th century hymn …
Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine.
Oh what a foretaste of glory divine …
This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Savior, all the day long!
Join me in the contemplation of our salvation … with praise for our glorious Lord, Jesus, who saved us with His grace and now enables us to have a covenant and eternal relationship with Him.
My Prayer Today: Oh, yes! I praise you, my Lord! Amen
2nd Peter 1: 10 [NASB] … 10Therefore, brethren, be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you; for as long as you practice these things, you will never stumble; …
My Journal for Today: We’re closing out this month’s discussion on the assurance of salvation by studying the passage from Peter’s second epistle [i.e., in 2nd Pet. 2: 1]. And today, this last day of the month in our study, we can see Peter writing (see bold portion above) an exhortation to obedience. The phrase “… if you do these things [i.e., the character disciplines of the faith which Peter listed],” is translated “… for as long as you practice these things” in the NASB. And after challenging the believer with this charge, Peter gives Christians a powerful promise from God, writing, (again from the NASB) “… you will never stumble.”
I have a dear friend who often says, “First obedience, then God’s blessing.” And it’s true that God blesses the Christian who lives and practices within the assurance of his/her salvation AND with God’s blessing of enabling grace. I have experienced this; and if you’ve been walking in what Peter wrote about in 2nd Peter 1: 5 – 10 for any length of time, you likely have experience the power that Christians are given by God to be fruitful as you have walked in obedience to God’s word.
John MacArthur in his devotional, Strength for Today, on this date, writes that our salvation, being sure, provides the believer with …
----------------
>>> The motivation to praise and thank God (see this truth in many of the Psalms) …
>>> Purpose and power during the trials of life (Rom. 8: 28 and 2nd Tim. 1: 7) …
>>> Victory in temptation, trials, tests, and/or tribulations (1st Cor. 10: 13) …
>>> Direction and power to be in continual obedience (Prov. 3: 5,6 and Luke 9: 23) …
>>> Contentment for life’s challenges (Phil. 4: 11 – 13) …
>>> And the elimination of the fear of death (2nd Cor. 5: 6 – 10).
----------------
When we know – truly KNOW – that, as sinful creatures, God, in His grace, was freely willing to give us His mercy and sacrifice His Son to save us (see Rom. 5: 8), the genuine born-again Christian is predestined to be completed unto Christlikeness (see Rom. 8: 29, Eph. 2: 10, and Phil. 1: 6). And I also pray that you, as a believer, have discovered that the more intimately you know God in your relationship with the Savior, the more you will be aware of your transformation into the image of our Savior and have confidence in your salvation.
As Fanny Crosby, the physically blind Christian songwriter wrote, so insightfully, wrote in her 19th century hymn …
Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine.
Oh what a foretaste of glory divine …
This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Savior, all the day long!
Join me in the contemplation of our salvation … with praise for our glorious Lord, Jesus, who saved us with His grace and now enables us to have a covenant and eternal relationship with Him.
My Prayer Today: Oh, yes! I praise you, my Lord! Amen
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