Trust God Instead of Yourself

Thus saith the Lord; cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and taketh 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.

Jeremiah 17: 5-7

Commentary:

Do you do for yourself, for others, or for God? What do you trust? In these verses the Lord is writing about those who trust in themselves and those who trust in Him. If you are like the people of Judah and trust in yourself then you are like a waterless tree – barren and unfruitful. In contrast, those who trust in God flourish like a tree planted by water. In times of trouble, those who trust in human beings will be impoverished and spiritually weak. But those who trust in Jesus Christ will have abundant strength, not only for themselves, but for the needs of others. Are you satisfied with being unfruitful, or do you, like a well watered tree, have strength for the time of crisis and even some to share as you bear fruit for the Lord? Plant yourself in his pool.

Faith Has Greater Worth Than Gold

Scripture: 1 Peter 1: 3-7

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade – kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith – of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire – may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory, and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.

Scripture Commentary: Our faith has greater wealth than gold!

Do you need encouragement? Peter’s words offer joy and hope in times of trouble, and he bases his confidence on what God has done for us in Christ Jesus. Our faith has greater wealth than gold!

We’re called into a living hope of eternal life. Our hope is not only for the future. Never-ending life commences when we trust Christ and join God’s family. No matter what pain or trial we face in this life, we know that it is not our final experience.

Christians can look forward to a family inheritance in the eternal city of God. God has reserved the inheritance; it will never fade or decay; it will have no stain of sin. The best part is that you have an inheritance if you have trusted Christ as your Savior. Place yourself in the Hands of Jesus Christ and see His glory.

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1 Peter Chapter 1

Know God’s Truth

Have ye not seen a vain vision, and have ye not spoken a lying divination, whereas ye say, the Lord saith it; albeit I have not spoken? Therefore thus saith the Lord God; Because ye have spoken vanity, and seen lies, therefore, behold, I am against you, saith the Lord God. And mine hand shall be upon the prophets that see vanity, and that divine lies: they shall not be in the assembly of my people, neither shall they be written in the writing of the house of Israel, neither shall they enter into the land of Israel; and ye shall know that I am the Lord God.

Ezekiel 13: 7-9

Commentary:

We today have false prophets before us who are telling us words not of God. They are seeking popularity and speaking for God. The words they say are to make people happy and tell them the lives they live are okay with God. When these people say you may marry man to man or woman to woman, this is not God’s words. Read Romans 1: 25-28 – God says to this false mind, “God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient.” False people do not care about the truth, but we – the children of God – know the truth. All we have to do is go to his word in the Bible. The Bible is God’s word and we can not twist it to fit anything else.

Recognize God’s Work in You

By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain. For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the scriptures, and that he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve. After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born. For I am the last of the apostles and do not even deserve to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the Church of God.

1 Corinthians 15: 2-9

Commentary:

Churches contain people who do not yet believe. Some are moving in the direction of belief, and others are simply pretending. The Good News about Jesus Christ will save us if we firmly believe it and faithfully follow it. Paul had been an enemy of the Christian Church even to the point of capturing and persecuting believers. Thus he felt unworthy to be called an apostle of Christ. He knew that he had worked hard and accomplished much. But only because God had poured kindness and grace upon him. True humility is not convincing yourself that you are worthless, but recognizing God’s work in you. Because Christ rose from the dead as he promised, we know that what he said is true – he is God. Because he rose, our sins are forgiven, as he forgave Paul’s he will forgive yours. Put yourself in the hands of Christ and trust him.

Learning From Adversity – Isaiah 30: 20-21

Scripture: Isaiah 30: 20-21

And though the Lord give you the bread of adversity, and the water of affliction, yet shall not thy teachers be removed into a corner anymore, but thine eyes shall see thy teachers: and thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left.

Scripture Commentary – Learn from Adversity – Discover What the Lord Wants to Teach You

When the people of Jerusalem departed from God’s path, he would correct them, as he will correct you today. The Lord gives us the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, but he promises to be with us to guide and teach during difficult times. God expects a lot from us, and many times following him can be painful but he always acts out of his love for us.

To learn from adversity is challenging. The next time you are going through difficult times, try to learn what God wants to teach you. Look at the beginning of your hard time and then look at how far the Lord has taken you. See the love he has for you. God shows his love by patiently walking with you through the hard times. When you hear his voice of correction, be willing to listen and follow it. God’s voice is the voice of love for you.

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Isaiah Chapter 30

To Know the Gospel is Different From Living it

Today

Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow? What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.” As it is, you boast and brag. All such boasting is evil. Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do, but doesn’t do it, sins.

James 4: 13-17

Commentary:

It is good to have goals, but goals will disappoint us if we leave God out of them. Do not make plans as though God does not exist, the future is in his hands. Christians make great claims but are often guilty of belying them with their actions. Professing to trust God and to being his people, they cling tightly to the world and its values. Possessing all the right answers, they contradict the gospel with their lives. It is not enough to talk the Christian faith, we must live it. What good is it if we claim to have faith but have no deeds? Genuine faith will inevitably produce good deeds.

God is trying to tell you something?

Now the word of the Lord came unto Jonah, the son of A-mit’-tai, saying, “Arise, go to Nin-‘e-veh, that great city, and cry against it; for their wickedness is come up before me.” But Jonah rose up to flee unto Tar’-shish from the presence of the Lord, and went down to Jop-‘pa; and he found a ship going to Tar’-shish: so he paid the fare thereof, and went down into it, to go with them unto Tar’-shish from the presence of the Lord.

Jonah 1: 1-3

Commentary:

We know the story of Jonah and the fish, but what is God telling us? God told Jonah to do something, and he did not. What is God telling you to do? Are you listening? Jonah did not like the Assyrians and did not want them to receive God’s mercy. Are their people in your life you – for whatever reason – dislike, and you will not pray for them? If so, you are not doing what God tells you to do. Because of Jonah’s disobedience, God has shown us how he took non-believing sailors and made them believers. Jonah was in the fish for three days, Christ was in the grave for three days, and when they both came up they preached the Word. God wants us to be concerned for all his children, the ones that are saved and especially the lost ones.

Spread the Good Truth

Scripture: Matthew 28: 11-15

The Guard’s Report

While the women were on their way, some of the guards went into the city and reported to the chief priests everything that had happened. When the chief priests had met with the elders and devised a plan, they gave the soldiers a large sum of money, telling them, “You are to say, ‘His disciples came during the night and stole him away while we were asleep.’ If this report gets to the governor, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble. So the soldiers took the money and did as they were instructed. And this story has been widely circulated among the Jews to this very day.

Scripture Commentary: Jesus Lives

Jesus’ resurrection was already causing a great stir in Jerusalem. A group of women were moving quickly through the streets, looking for the disciples to tell them the amazing news that Jesus was alive. At the same time a group of religious leaders were plotting how to cover up the resurrection. They were bribing the guards to give a false report.

Today there is still a great stir over the resurrection, and there are still only two choices; to believe that Jesus rose from the dead, or to deny, ignore, or explain away the truth.

God gave Jesus authority over heaven and earth. With this same authority, Jesus still commands us to tell others the Good news and make them disciples of the kingdom.

Matthew Chapter 28

Be True in Your Repentance

The Lord

“Even now,” declares the Lord, “return to me with all your heart, with your fasting and weeping and mourning.” Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity. Who knows? He may turn and have pity and leave behind a blessing – gain offerings and drink offerings for the Lord your God. Blow the trumpet in Zion, declare a holy fast, call a sacred assembly.

Joel 2: 12-15

Commentary:

God told the people to turn to Him, while there was still time. Destruction would soon be upon them. Time is also running out for us. Because we don’t know when our lives will end we should trust and obey God now while we can. Don’t let anything hold you back from turning to your Lord. Deep remorse was often shown by tearing one’s clothes but God didn’t want an outward display of penitence without true inward repentance. Be sure your attitude toward God is correct, not just your outward actions. Without God, destruction is sure. Those who have not personally accepted God’s love and forgiveness will stand before him with no appeal. Be sure to call on God’s love and mercy while you have the opportunity.

Spiritual Wealth

For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, holiness, faith, love, patience, and meekness.

1 Timothy 6: 7-11

Commentary:

When we look at TV or read an account of a great Egyptology find of artifacts of an Egyptian civilization we don’t always take into account the fact that the Egyptians thought they were taking the treasures they buried into the afterlife with them. We today can act the same way. We come into this world because God loves us, and we can go throughout life showing God how we love Him. One day we are going to leave here, so why not leave working for Our Lord Jesus Christ?

God gave Jesus as a sacrifice for us. Why be foolish, disregarding this fact, and live a life of foolishness, lust, and destruction? Put God in your life, let Him be in control, and Jesus will help you. We have needs to live here on Earth, but make sure you are pursuing needs and not wants. Money and materialistic values are not the path to true happiness, they are temporary. Being with Jesus is eternal. Even if we don’t have material wealth, we have spiritual riches from the fountain of God’s love and mercy.