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

Believe … Even Thomas The Doubter Believed

Scripture: John 20: 29, 31

Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.

But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through His name.

Scripture Commentary: Blessed Are They Who Believe Without Seeing

Believe in Our Lord Jesus Christ. He is in every breath we take, and in every day we live when we are living for him.

When you want to talk to Jesus, open your Bible. By opening your Bible and reading the Gospel – His Gospel – He talks to us. He will answer you every time.

Some people think they would believe in Jesus if they could see a definite sign or miracle. Jesus says we are blessed when we can believe without seeing. When you have doubts, as Thomas did, Jesus will not be hard on you. He loves you and will wait for you despite your skepticism.

Some people doubt before they believe. If you are in doubt, ask questions. Questions lead to answers. When those questions are answered, and you accept those answers, your doubt has done a good work by bringing you to Christ.

It is when doubt becomes stubbornness and stubbornness becomes a lifestyle of doubt that harms your faith. Let doubt deepen your faith as you continue to search for the answer. When you study the Gospel of Jesus you will find answers to your questions . God will be there for you.

Read the Entire Chapter:
John Chapter 20

Don’t Be Afraid To Speak About God

Scripture: Ezekiel 2: 1, 6

And he said unto me, Son of man, stand upon thy feet, and I will speak unto thee. And thou, son of man, be not afraid of them, neither be afraid of their words, though briers and thorns be with thee, and thou dost dwell among scorpions: be not afraid of their words, nor be dismayed at their looks, though they be a rebellious house.

Scripture Commentary: Don’t Be Afraid to Do What God Asks of You

Is God telling you, as he told Ezekiel, not to be afraid and rebel, but to speak his words whether or not people will listen?

It is amazing that God chooses to work his divine will on earth through finite, imperfect beings. God addressed Ezekiel by calling him son of man, emphasizing the distance between them.

God made us from the dust of the ground. He chooses to place his life and breadth within us, and he asks us to serve him. God doesn’t expect us to understand everything about him. He asks that we be his willing and obedient servants. He wants us to be faithful to what we know is his will.

We can lay aside our fear of rejection or ridicule when God’s Spirit is within us. God’s strength is powerful enough to help us live for him, even under the heaviest criticism. God always gives us the strength to accomplish what he asks us to do.

What is God asking you?

Read the Entire Chapter:
Ezekiel Chapter 2

When I Want to Do Good, Why is Evil There With Me?

Scripture: Romans 7: 21-24

So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God – through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God’s law but in the sinful nature a slave to the law of sin.

Scripture Commentary: We Cannot Overcome Our Sinful Nature and Do Good Without Christ’s Help

We have all said something like this at one time or another: “The devil made me do it.” “I didn’t do it, the sin in me did it.”

Even though these sound like good excuses, we are still responsible for our actions. We must never use the power of sin or Satan as an excuse because both are defeated enemies.

The “law at work in the members of my body” is the sinful nature deep within each of us. This is our vulnerability to sin. It refers to everything within us that is more loyal to our old way of selfish living than to God.

This inward struggle with sin was as real for Paul as it is for us. Whenever Paul felt lost, he would return to the beginning of his spiritual life, remembering that he had already been freed by Jesus Christ.

Without Christ’s help, sin is stronger than we are, and sometimes we are unable to defend ourselves against its attacks. That is why we should never stand up to sin alone. Jesus Christ, who has conquered sin, promises to stand by our side.

Read the Entire Chapter:
Romans Chapter 7

Thank Jesus For His Goodness … and Talk About it!

Scripture: Psalms 107: 1-3, 5-9

O Give thanks unto the Lord, for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever. Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy; And gathered them out of the lands, from the east, and from the west, from the north, and from the south.(1-3)

Hungry and thirsty, their soul fainteth in them. Then they cried unto the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them out of their distresses. And he led them forth by the right way, that they might go to a city of habitation. Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men. For he satisfieth the longing soul, and fillets the hungry soul with goodness.(5-9)

Scripture Commentary: We need to thank Jesus for what he’s done for us … and tell others about his goodness

When was the last time you told anyone what Jesus has done for you? Did you thank him and praise him when you were distressed and needed help and he rescued you?

We, who have been redeemed, need to thank God and tell others how he saved us. Jesus wants us to tell our story of how he has taken us out of darkness and put us in the light.

This is our declaration, that when we live in God’s presence we will not be able to keep this glorious experience to ourselves. We do have a lot to be thankful for, so tell someone.

We are free from sin because God sent his son to free us. If God did this while we were captive to sin, how much more merciful is he now that we are his followers?

We are no more wanderers or prisoners, and we are not sick. How wonderful is that? What has Jesus Christ done for you? Is there someone you can tell?

Read the Entire Chapter:
Psalms Chapter 107

Husband and Wife: Keep God in Your Marriage

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 7: 27

Art thou bound unto a wife? Seek not to be loosed. Art thou loosed from a wife? Seek not a wife.

Scripture Commentary: Men, a wife won’t solve your problems. Likewise to women, a husband won’t solve yours.

Many people naively think that marriage will solve their problems. Here are some problems marriage won’t solve: loneliness, sexual (and other) temptations, satisfaction of one’s deep emotional needs, and elimination of life’s difficulties.

Marriage alone does not hold two people together. Commitment does – commitment to Christ and to each other despite conflicts and problems. As wonderful as marriage is, it does not automatically solve everything.

Whether married or single, we must be content with our situation and focus on a relationship with Christ before we can pursue a successful relationship with others.

Paul urges believers not to regard marriage, home, or financial security as the ultimate goals in life. As much as possible, we should live unhindered by the cares of this world, such as burdensome mortgages, budgets, investments, or debts that might keep us from doing God’s work.

A married man or woman must take care of earthly responsibilities, but they should make every effort to keep them modest and manageable. Keep Jesus in your marriage. God bless you both.

Read the Entire Chapter:
1 Corinthians Chapter 7

The Conclusion is to Know God

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 12: 12-14

And further, by these, my son, be admonished: of making many books there is no end; and much study is a weariness of the flesh. Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgement, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.

Scripture Commentary: No matter what happens in life, the final conclusion is to recognize God as first in your life

These final three verses of Ecclesiastes Chapter 12 tell us that no matter what the mysteries and apparent contradictions of life, the final conclusion is that we must aim to know God.

Solomon shows us that we should enjoy life, but this does not exempt us from obeying God’s commandments. We should acknowledge the evil, foolish, and unjust parts of life, yet maintain our faith in God. Oftentimes we see our human endeavors as not for God, but for ourselves.

One day all of us will stand before God and be judged for what we did in this life. What will you say during your judgment? Remember this, you cannot use life’s inconsistencies as an excuse for not living as God mandated.

God is first in your life. Recognize that human effort apart from God is futile, not Godly. Everything good is a gift from God. Realize that God will judge the quality of your life; He will judge both the good and the evil.

How strange that people that do not know God spend their lives striving for the enjoyment of life that God gave freely as a gift.

Read the Entire Chapter:
Ecclesiastes Chapter 12

Let Christ Set You Free

For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sin, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death. But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter.

Romans 7: 5-6

Commentary:

Sinners are condemned by the law, the law keeper can’t live up to it, and the person with the new nature finds his or her obedience to the law sabotaged by the effects of the old nature. When a person dies to the old life and belongs to Christ, a new life begins. Unbeliever’s mindsets are centered on their own personal gratification. Those who don’t follow Christ have only their own self determination as their source of power.

People try to earn their way to God by keeping a set of rules, attending church, doing good deeds, and obeying commandments. All they earn for their efforts is frustration and discouragement. Keeping the rules, laws, and customs of Christianity doesn’t save us. Jesus Christ will free you to serve him out of love and gratitude. Christ’s love will truly set you free, from merely any external code. We now serve not by obeying a set of rules, but out of love for God. Let the reality of Christ’s power lift you up to real victory over sin. Christ who has conquered sin, promises to fight by our side.

Use God’s Gifts to You

My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee; So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding. Then shall thou understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God.

Proverbs 2: 1,2,5

Commentary:

To know God is to seek Him. We don’t seek Him only when we need his help, we seek God because we want to be with him. God has given us the gift of wisdom, but we have the choice of how we use it. If we are rebellious and foolish, it will take a great effort on our part to find and use. When we are on the path, we discover that true wisdom is in God and that he will guide us and reward our sincere and persistent search.

God gives us wisdom and victory, but not for drifting through life or acting irresponsible with his gifts and resources. If you do not use your gifts that God gave you, then you lose them, and Satan begins to work on you to become one of his workers. If we are faithful and keep his purpose in life, God will keep us from the things that will lead us astray. We gain wisdom through a constant process of growing. By studying the Word of God we are better to evaluate courses of action and consequences. We are the children of God and he has given us His gift. Use it for his glorification.

The Holy Spirit Will Guide You to Understanding

“In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me.” Some of his disciples said to one another, “What does he mean by saying, ‘In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me,’ and ‘Because I am going to the Father’?” They kept asking, “What does he mean by ‘a little while’? We don’t understand what he is saying.”

John 16: 16-18

Commentary:

Jesus was referring to his death, now only a few hours away, and his resurrection three days later. What a contrast between the disciples and the world! The world rejoiced as the disciples wept, but the disciples would see him again (in three days) and rejoice. The world’s values are often the opposite of God’s values. This can cause Christians to feel like misfits, as some may feel today. Remember, until Jesus died and was raised from the dead, we did not have direct access to God the Father. The disciples didn’t fully understand the promise Jesus made until the Holy Spirit came after Jesus’ death and resurrection. Then the Holy Spirit revealed truths to the disciples that they wrote down in the books that now form the New Testament.

In the New Testament it is the Holy Spirit guiding us in the truth about Jesus Christ. The Spirit also helps us through patient practice to discern right from wrong. Christ’s death made a personal relationship with God possible.