Author: thegospelmailman@yahoo.com

God’s Compassion Never Fails

Scripture: Lamentations 3: 1, 20-24

I am the man that hath seen affliction by the rod of his wrath.(1)  My soul hath them still in remembrance, and is humbled in me.  This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope.  It is of the LORD’S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.  They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.  The LORD is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him.(20-24)

Scripture Commentary: God is full of compassion, grace, truth and mercy*

In Jeremiah’s darkest hours, his hope was strengthened with this assurance: God had been faithful and would continue to be so.  Because of God’s great love, you are not consumed.  His compassion never fails.

Have you given up on the Lord, or do you think the Lord has given up on you?

Our Lord Jesus Christ will never give up on you so do not give up on Him.  When you don’t live in a godly way and are disobedient to God’s will, He may chastise you  out of love.

Jeremiah knew from personal experience about God’s promise that punishment would follow disobedience, and it did.  But God also promised future restoration and blessing, and Jeremiah knew that God would keep his promise.

When you ask God for help and promise Him you will do better, do you keep that promise?  You must not complain about being disciplined by God; you must learn and trust in Him.

We must allow God’s correction to bring about the kind of behavior in our lives that pleases Him.

Read the Entire Chapter:
Lamentations Chapter 3

*Additional reading:
Psalms Chapter 86

 

 

You Can Overcome Temptation with God

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 10: 12-14

Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.  There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.  Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry.

Scripture Commentary: Paul gives us guidance on how to resist temptation

If we acknowledge our human weakness and let God in our lives to guide us, we will see that the only way is His way.  God can help us through any trial and temptation if we lean on Him.

Today’s pressures make it easy to ignore or forget the lessons of those who have gone before us.  This is why we must study the Bible.  It tells the mistakes and lessons that those who have gone ahead of us have learned.  Through them, we can avoid repeating the same mistakes.

In 1 Corinthians 12, Paul gave us strong encouragement about how to resist temptation.  He tells us that by turning to God, we will make it through our trials and temptations.

We must give Jesus Christ our full allegiance.

When God is the guiding force of our principles, then everything we do is glorifying God.  He has saved us, so we now can serve Him.

Read the Entire Chapter:
1 Corinthians Chapter 10

 

How Should God Reward You?

Scripture: Job 34: 32-37

 “Teach me what I cannot see; if I have done wrong, I will not do so again.’ Should God then reward you on your terms, when you refuse to repent? You must decide, not I; so tell me what you know.  “Men of understanding declare, wise men who hear me say to me,  ‘Job speaks without knowledge; his words lack insight.’  Oh, that Job might be tested to the utmost for answering like a wicked man! To his sin he adds rebellion; scornfully he claps his hands among us and multiplies his words against God.”

Scripture Commentary:  What should we do and how should we be before God?

There are many things we should do, say, be.  Ask God to show you what you aren’t able to see.  Learn what you are doing wrong and make correction.

We can:

  • Turn to God for understanding, endurance, and deliverance
  • Ask important questions we might not take time to think about in our normal routine
  • Prepare to identify with and comfort others who suffer
  • Open ourselves to helping others
  • Obey God’s Word
  • Be ready to learn from a trustworthy God
  • Realize we can identify with what Christ suffered on the cross for us and be sensitized to the amount of suffering in the world

That, OR we can:

  • Become hardened and reject God
  • Refuse to ask any questions and miss any lessons that might be good for us
  • Allow ourselves to be self-centered and selfish
  • Withdraw from the help that others can give
  • Reject the fact that God can bring good out of calamity
  • Accuse God of being unjust and perhaps lead others to reject Him
  • Close ourselves to any changes in our lives

God is still concerned even though He does not intervene all the time.  God will always execute justice.  He loves us.

Read the Entire Chapter:

Job 34

Lead and Teach Me Your Ways, O Lord

Scripture: Psalms 25: 1, 4-7

Unto thee, O LORD, do I lift up my soul.(1)  Shew me thy ways, O LORD; teach me thy paths.(4)  Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day.(5)  Remember, O LORD, thy tender mercies and thy lovingkindnesses; for they have been ever of old.(6)  Remember not the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions: according to thy mercy remember thou me for thy goodness’ sake, O LORD.(7)

Scripture Commentary:  Teach me how I should be; lead my life according to your ways, Lord

David asked God to keep his enemies from overcoming him.  He asked God to lead, teach, and show him mercy.

Your enemies not only oppose you.  They also oppose God and how He wants you to live.

You are opposite to God’s laws when you place money, success, prestige, and lust in your life.  When you let these things overcome you, then you are living as Satan wants.  If you begin to live this way, then you’re lost.  And your family and friends may think that living for God is futile.

You must keep the Lord Jesus Christ in your life at all times so that your enemies will not succeed

Pray for guidance.  Place yourself in His hands.  Let God guide you in the path of righteousness.

Your first step is to want to be guided and to realize that God’s primary guidance is in His word.  Read Psalms 119.  It tells of the endless knowledge found in God’s Word.

Do not be tempted to demand answers to all of your questions.  You should be prepared for direction and guidance.

Seek and you will find the path that God has prepared for you.

Read the Entire Chapter:
Psalms Chapter 25

Additional Reading:
Psalms Chapter 119

Lord, Cleanse Me for I Have Sinned

Scripture: Psalms 51: 1-4

Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.  Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.  For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.  Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.

Scripture Commentary:  We have all sinned against God

Although David sinned with Bathsheba, David said that he had sinned against God.  When someone slanders, steals, or murders, it is against someone.  There is a victim.

Like David, our sinful actions can and do hurt many people, but most of all, our actions hurt our Lord.  Sin offends God because sin in any form is a rebellion against how God wants us to live.  David repented for his sins, and God mercifully forgave him.

No sin is too great to be forgiven!

God can and will forgive you of any sin.  While God forgives us, He does not always erase the natural consequences of our sin.  David’s life and family were never the same as a result of what he had done.

When Satan tempts you to do wrong, remember that you will be sinning against God.  Ask God to strengthen, protect and guide you.  God is here to protect you from harm with His love.

Read the Entire Chapter:
Psalms Chapter 51

Live the Rest of Your Life for God

Scripture: 1 Peter 4: 1-6

Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.

For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries: Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you: Who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead.

For  this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.

Scripture Commentary:

Some people will do anything to avoid pain.  As Christ’s followers, we should live the rest of our time willing and prepared to do God’s will, and suffer for it if necessary.  Sin loses its power to defeat us in our suffering if we focus on Christ and what He wants us to do.

When our bodies are in pain or our lives are in jeopardy, our real values show up clearly.  Sinful pleasures seem less important.  If anyone suffers for doing good and still faithfully obeys in spite of suffering, that person has made a clean break with sin.

The basis of salvation is our belief in Jesus but the basis for judgement is how we have lived

Believers, however, have nothing to fear because Jesus will be the final judge of all.  In the end, we will all stand before God.

Read the Entire Chapter:
1 Peter Chapter 4

These Things I Have Spoken Unto You

Scripture: John 16: 1-4

These things have I spoken unto you, that ye should not be offended.  They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service.  And these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father, nor me.  But these things have I told you, that when the time shall come, ye may remember that I told you of them. And these things I said not unto you at the beginning, because I was with you.

Scripture Commentary: Jesus tells us many things so we will be prepared

Jesus told disciples things that will come after He is gone.  This message is still pertinent today.  We hear news stories of people being killed because they are following Jesus Christ.  As Christians, we know that there will be continuing tension with an unbelieving world.

Satan is not finished; His goal is to destroy our faith

He is going to use anybody or anything he can to battle God.  Satan and his forces are motivated by bitter hatred for Jesus Christ and His children.  And we are His children.

Jesus warned His disciples and us of persecution, punishment and even death in His name.  He knew what was to come and He did not want the disciples, or our faith, to be shaken or destroyed.

Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to convince the world that they are living in sin, reveal the true way to live a Godly life, and demonstrate Christ’s judgement over Satan.

God is telling us that we are not alone

We have the Holy Spirit to comfort us, to teach us the truth, and to help us.  This is a comfort to those who are persecuted.

Read the Entire Chapter:
John Chapter 16

You Will Die in Your Sins If You Reject God

Scripture: John 8: 21-30

Then said Jesus again unto them, I go my way, and ye shall seek me, and shall die in your sins: whither I go, ye cannot come.  Then said the Jews, Will he kill himself? because he saith, Whither I go, ye cannot come.  And he said unto them, Ye are from beneath; I am from above: ye are of this world; I am not of this world.  I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.

Then said they unto him, Who art thou? And Jesus saith unto them, Even the same that I said unto you from the beginning.  I have many things to say and to judge of you: but he that sent me is true; and I speak to the world those things which I have heard of him.

They understood not that he spake to them of the Father.  Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things.  And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him.  As he spake these words, many believed on him.

Scripture Commentary: Your sins separate you from God; accepting Jesus is the key to eternal life

You will die in your sins if you reject Christ.  Jesus rescues you from your sins.   Sadly, many people are taken up with the values of this world. They are blind to the priceless gift Christ offers.

Where are you looking?  Don’t focus on this world’s values and miss what is the most valuable thing of all: eternal life with God.

Jesus is the truth that sets you free.  He is the source of trust, the perfect standard of what is right.  Jesus frees you from the consequences of sin and from Satan’s deception.

As you seek to serve God, Jesus’ perfect trust frees you to be all that God meant for you to be.

Accept Jesus!

Read the Entire Chapter:
John Chapter 8

The Gain From Sin Lasts But A Moment

Scripture: Job 20: 1-8

Then Zophar the Naamathite replied: “My troubled thoughts prompt me to answer because I am greatly disturbed. I hear a rebuke that dishonors me,  and my understanding inspires me to reply. “Surely you know how it has been from of old, ever since mankind was placed on the earth, that the mirth of the wicked is brief, the joy of the godless lasts but a moment.  Though the pride of the godless person reaches to the heavens and his head touches the clouds, he will perish forever, like his own dung; those who have seen him will say, ‘Where is he?’  Like a dream he flies away, no more to be found, banished like a vision of the night.

Scripture Commentary:  The joy from doing wrong lasts but a moment but the long term effect destroys your eternity

Although Zophar was wrong to direct his tirade against Job, he was correct in talking about the final end of evil people.  At first sin seems enjoyable and attractive.  But “the mirth of the wicked is brief, the joy of the godless lasts but a moment.”

Lying, stealing and oppressing others often brings temporary gain to the perpetrator.  Some live a long time with ill-gotten gain.  But in the end, God’s justice prevails.

What Zophar missed is that judgement for these sins may not come during the sinner’s lifetime.  Punishment may be deferred until the last judgement when sinners will be eternally cut off from God.

Some people think that that they are Christians because they go to church, pray, and act pious.  By earthly standards they are successful but they are living a sinful life.

We shouldn’t be impressed with the success and power of evil people.  No one will escape God’s judgement.  You can lie to yourself but not to God.

Read the Entire Chapter:
Job 20

Lord, I Want to Follow You Now

Scripture: John 13: 36-37

Simon Peter said unto him, Lord, whither goest thou? Jesus answered him, Whither I go, thou canst not follow me now; but thou shalt follow me afterwards.  Peter said unto him, Lord, why cannot I follow thee now? I will lay down my life for thy sake.

Scripture Commentary:  Follow Jesus’ example and have a servant’s heart

Will you hear the Lord’s voice when He calls you?  Each day that you don’t follow Him, you are denying Him.  How many times has the cock crowed in your life?

We go through life not really thinking about what we are doing to either spread His word or distort it.  When we are spreading His word, we are representing Him. And in doing so, we are brought to a higher level.

Jesus was the model servant showing the disciples – and us – how to behave.  If God in the flesh is willing to serve, we as His followers must also be servants.  We must be willing to serve in any way that glorifies God.

John 13 may be hard for leaders who don’t think of themselves as followers.  But if we are to serve Jesus, we must get on our hands and knees and become servants.

Read the Entire Chapter:
John Chapter 13