God’s Justice Comes in God’s Time

Scripture: Jeremiah 12:1

Righteous art thou, O Lord, when I plead with thee: yet let me talk with thee of thy judgements: Wherefore doth the way of the wicked prosper? Wherefore are all they happy that deal very treacherously?

Scripture Commentary: Looking for God’s Justice When Other Do You Wrong

Life was extremely difficult for Jeremiah, despite his love for and obedience to God. Jeremiah knew that God’s justice would ultimately come, but he was impatient. He wanted justice to come quickly. Are you patient? Can you wait on God?

God didn’t give Jeremiah a doctrinal answer; he gave him a challenge. If Jeremiah couldn’t handle this how would he handle the injustices ahead?

It is natural for us to demand fair play and cry for justice against those who take advantage of others. If you call on God for relief, God may reply, “If you think this is bad, how are you going to cope when it gets really tough?” Not all of God’s answers to prayer are nice or easy to handle. When we call for justice, we must realize that God gave each of us what we truly deserve.

Do not ask for vengeance. Pray for forgiveness, love, and understanding. Commit to God in everything you do in life, because God is committed to you.

Read the entire chapter:
Jeremiah Chapter 12

Tame Your Tongue – Watch What You Say

Scripture: James 3: 6, 8

And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell … But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.

Scripture Commentary: Ask the Lord for the Strength to Tame Your Tongue

Words are often contradictory and puzzling. At times your words are right and pleasing to God. At other times they are violent and destructive. The tongue exposes aspects of your basic human nature. It is a powerful weapon. How hard is it to tame your tongue when irritated or stressed? God made us in his image, but we fell into sin.

Satan uses the tongue to divide people, pitting them against each other. Idle, hateful words can be damaging because they spread destruction quickly. No one can stop the results once they are spoken. We dare not be careless with what we say, thinking we can apologize later. The scars will last longer than any apology. Words spoken in a moment of anger can destroy a relationship that took years to build. It is better to avoid setting a fire than to go around trying to put it out.

Remember that you are not fighting the tongue’s fire in your own strength, for your strength is not your own if you have given yourself to the Lord Jesus Christ. He will increase your power to monitor and control what you say. Before you speak, ask the Lord to give you the words. He will. Otherwise, satan may give you the words if you don’t ask the Lord to help you.

Let the Holy Spirit remind you of God’s love. Let that love prevent you from reacting in a harmful, hateful manner.

Read the Entire Chapter:
James Chapter 3

Can Others See the Temple of God in You?

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 3: 11, 16-17, 23

For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are. And ye are Christ’s; and Christ is God’s.

Scripture Commentary: Can Others See The Temple of God in You?

We are the temple that God made. Our lives are a series of actions we do in the name of God. How do you live your life? Can others see God in you? Or do they see Satan in you?

If we act ungodly we are not building the temple of Jesus Christ for others to see. How can we show the love of God by acting ungodly? We can’t. The Spirit of God is in us if we let it dwell in us. God has given us the choice to follow and live as close to Him as possible. He knows we alone are weak. If we follow Christ we will become strong.

We, as followers of Christ fear nothing, for not even death has a hold on us. Nonbelievers can only fear death. We are God’s children, His temple, and if we are and do His work the day that He calls us to be with him will be the day of eternal glory.

Read the Entire Chapter:
1 Corinthians Chapter 3

God is Slow to Anger, We Are Slow to Find Him

The Lord is a jealous and avenging God; the Lord takes vengeance and is filled with wrath. The Lord takes vengeance on his foes and maintains his wrath against his enemies. The Lord is slow to anger and great in power; the Lord will not leave the guilty unpunished. His way is in the whirlwind and the storm, and clouds are the dust of his feet. He rebukes the sea and dries it up; he makes all the rivers run dry. Bashan and Carmel wither and the blossoms of Lebanon fade. The mountains quake before him and the hills melt away. The earth trembles at his presence, the world and all who live in it. Who can withstand his indignation? Who can endure his fierce anger? His wrath is poured out like fire; the rocks are shattered before him.

Nahum 1: 2-6

Commentary:

People avoid God because they see evildoers and hypocrites in the church. They don’t realize that God’s slowness to anger gives his true followers time to share his love and truth with the evildoers. Judgement will come to those against God; he will not allow sin to go unchecked forever. People wonder why God doesn’t punish evil immediately. Remind them that if he did no one would be here. We can all be thankful that God gives people time to turn to him. Don’t defy God; he will be here forever with greater power than any nation. The relationship you have with God is up to you. What is your relationship with him right now?

Servant of Christ: Can Outsiders See Christ in You?

Scripture: Ephesians 3: 8-13

I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace given me through the working of his power. Although I am less than the least of all God’s people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things. His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, according to his eternal purpose which he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence. I ask you, therefore, not to be discouraged because of my sufferings for you, which are your glory.

Scripture Commentary: Jesus had the heart of a servant; Make yourself available to God as his servant

God will give you opportunities to tell others about Christ. It doesn’t matter if you’re an apostle or an evangelist. With opportunities he will provide ability, courage, and power. Make yourself available to God as his servant.

You may feel your role is minor. You may be right. Don’t forget the difference God makes. Draw on his power and do your part. Faithfully perform the special role God has called you to play. God has chosen us to be Christ’s representatives on earth. Paul challenges us to live lives that are worthy of being called Christ’s very own.

People are watching your life. Can they see Christ in you?

Read the Entire Chapter:
Ephesians Chapter 3

Avoid Sexual Sin: Steps to Take

Scripture verses from Proverbs 7

Proverbs 7: 1

My son, keep my works, and lay up my commandments with thee.

Proverbs 7: 4-5

Say unto wisdom, Thou art my sister; and call understanding thy kinswoman: That they may keep thee from the strange woman, from the stranger which flattereth with her words.

Proverbs 7: 7

And beheld among the simple ones, I discerned among the youths a young man void of understanding.

Scripture Commentary: Steps to Avoid Sexual Sin

People argue it’s okay to break God’s law against sexual sin if nobody gets hurt. Somebody is always hurt; spouses devastated, children scarred. Partners can escape disease and unwanted pregnancy, but they lose their ability to fulfill commitments, feel sexual desire, trust, and be entirely open with another person. God’s laws are not arbitrary. They apply to all.

There are definite steps you can take to avoid sexual sin. First, guard your mind. Don’t read books, look at pictures, or encourage fantasies that stimulate the wrong desires. Second, keep away from settings and people that tempt you to sin. Third, focus on the future, not the present moment. God’s law doesn’t forbid good clean fun. God warns us against destroying ourselves through unwise actions or running ahead of his timetable. Running ahead means running into the timetable of Satan.

Read the entire chapter:
Proverbs Chapter 7

Where is the Wise? Search for Wisdom

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 1: 19-20

For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this world? Hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?

Scripture Commentary: Knowledge vs. Wisdom

We can spend a lifetime accumulating knowledge attending school, memorizing facts, and learning to apply data to our daily lives. We can do all of this yet not gain the wisdom that comes from a personal relationship with God.

Our society worships earthly power, influence, and wealth. Jesus came as a humble, poor servant. He offers his kingdom to those who have faith, entering into a personal relationship with him. Faith is more important than all of our good deeds and worldly things.

Come to the crucified and risen Christ to receive eternal life and the joy of a personal relationship with our Savior. Others often refer to people as “foolish” when they simply accept Christ’s offer. These “foolish” people are actually wisest of all. They alone will live eternally with God.

Skill and knowledge do not get a person into God’s kingdom. Simple faith does this. No one can boast that their achievements earned them eternal life with Our Lord Jesus Christ. There is nothing we can do to earn our salvation; we need only accept what Jesus has already done for us.

Read the entire chapter:
1 Corinthians Chapter 1

God Knows You in Your Entirety

Scripture verses from Isaiah Chapters 29 and 30

Isaiah 29: 15

Woe unto them that seek deep to hide their counsel from the Lord, and their works are in the dark, and they say, Who seeth us? and who knoweth us?

Isaiah 30: 1

Woe to the rebellious children, saith the Lord, that take counsel, but not of me; and that cover with a covering but not of my spirit, that they may add sin to sin.

Scripture Commentary: God Knows You – He Cares About Who You Are and What You Do

If you go about your life doing good or bad and think God will not know what you are doing, you are making a big mistake.

Our God is omniscient, omnipresent, and omnipotent. God knows who you are, what you do, and why you are doing what you do.

We are told in Psalms 139 that God has examined us and knows everything about us. Do not be like the obstinate people of Judah, who rebelled against God. The people of Judah sought advice from =everyone but God.

When we are driven by fear, we tend to search everywhere for comfort, advice, and relief, hoping to find an easy way out. All we have to do is to put our concerns in God’s hands and he will take care of it. When you give over your concerns to him, leave them there. Doing anything else says to God that you do not trust him.

Read the Entire Chapter:
Isaiah Chapter 29
Isaiah Chapter 30
Psalms Chapter 139

Repent and Be Baptized

Scripture: Acts 2: 38-40

Then Peter said unto them, “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are far off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.” And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, “Save yourselves from this untoward generation.”

Scripture Commentary:

Peter said repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. He will pardon our sins so that we can receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

If we do not ask God to forgive us, how can we do the work for him? God knows our weaknesses. He is willing to forgive. If we go to Jesus, ask for forgiveness and repent, He will remove the yoke that we have been carrying.

We must turn to Christ and depend on him for forgiveness, mercy, guidance, and purpose. We cannot save ourselves, only God can save us. When we are baptized we identify ourselves with Christ. We become part of a community of believers. We are saying, “I am a child of God. He is my Lord and Savior.

Go into the world and tell your story of how God has worked in your life. He is using you to build up His church.

Read the Entire Chapter
Acts Chapter 2

Trust God Who Can Do All Things

Scripture: Jeremiah 17: 5-7

Thus saith the Lord; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the Lord. For he shall be like the heath in the desert, and shall not see when good cometh; but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land and not inhabited. Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord, and whose hope the Lord is.

Scripture Commentary: Trust the Lord and Flourish Like A Tree Planted By Water

When you are doing well, and your life is bubbling over, do you thank the Lord Jesus Christ or do you take full credit and thank yourself? Do you rely on God or only on yourself? Why are you here, and what are you doing with your life?

God tells us “Cursed be the man that trusteth in man.” When you trust yourself or another person to do for you, it will be short lived. The only trust you can have is in God. Trust in the Lord and you will flourish like a tree planted by water.

Do not be like a fool and continue to cherish sin knowing the eternal consequences of it. A sinful life is short, a sinless life is for eternity with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. When you put your life in His hands you will see all the good in life. When you put your trust in human man, impoverishment and spiritual weakness will be upon you when trouble comes.

We are weak and have a deep tendency to sin, but God’s love can redeem us. Trust in the Lord and have abundant strength, not only for your needs, but others, and God will remove temptation when it comes.

Read the Entire Chapter:
Jeremiah Chapter 17