Woe to Leaders Who Scatter God’s Flock

Scripture: Jeremiah 23: 1-2

Woe be unto the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! Saith the Lord. Therefore thus saith the LORD God of Israel against the pastors that feed my people; Ye have scattered my flock, and driven them away, and have not visited them: behold, I will visit upon you the evil of your doings, saith the LORD.

Scripture Commentary: False prophets scatter and destroy

Leaders are responsible for those entrusted to their care. How does a nation become corrupt? False prophets have, do, and will play a large role is misguiding innocent people. We like to hear what makes us feel comfortable; whether it is the truth or not.

A person like Jeremiah will have a message from God that will be unpopular among many people because it shows how corrupt we are. Whether we speak from a pulpit, teach in a class, or share with friends, we are entrusted with accurately communicating and living out God’s word.

True prophets and false prophets are as different as straw and grain. Straw is useless for food and cannot compare to the nourishing value of grain. False prophets may appear to speak God’s message, but they do not live according to God’s principles. They will water down God’s message in order to make it more palatable, often subtly encouraging their listeners to disobey God. These false prophets tend to be arrogant and self serving.

As you share God’s Word people will look at you and see God in you. Unless it has changed you, why should they listen to your godless talk?

Read the Entire Chapter:
Jeremiah Chapter 23

Behold, the Day Cometh

Scripture: Malachi 4: 1-2

For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the Lord of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch. But unto you that fear my name shall the Son of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall.

Scripture Commentary:

Behold, are you prepared to receive our Lord Jesus Christ today? Malachi closes his messages by pointing to the final day of judgment. For those who are committed to God, judgment day will be a day of joy, the day eternity in God’s presence begins. Those who have ignored God will not like judgment day.

If you have ignored God, you must change your way of living. Turn to Jesus and ask for forgiveness. In asking for mercy you must repent; change your sinful way of living.

Christians must help by being faithful to the love, honor, and respect in teaching others the ways of our Lord. God is our healing warmth. His warmth will never burn out.

Malachi ends the Old Testament by calling us to turn to God and prepare the way for others to serve him as he has served you.

Read the Entire Chapter:
Malachi Chapter 4

Plead Your Case Before the Mountains

Scripture: Micah 6: 1-3

Hear ye now what the LORD saith; Arise, contend thou before the mountains, and let the hills hear thy voice. Hear ye, O mountains, the LORD’S controversy, and ye strong foundations of the earth: for the LORD hath a controversy with his people, and he will plead with Israel. O my people, what have I done unto thee? and wherein have I wearied thee? testify against me.

Commentary: The people built pagan altars in the mountains

God called to the mountains to confirm the people’s guilt. The mountains would serve as excellent witnesses, for it was in the high places that the people had built pagan altars and had sacrificed to false gods.

Can you say God has done something wrong? Can you say you have done no wrong?

God has been patient with you, as he had been patient with the people. He always loves and guides you, providing every opportunity to return to him.

Do not be like the people in Micah’s day. They forgot the covenant and its benefits. They turned away from God. God continued to be kind to these forgetful people, but their memory made them forget his kindness.

Do not forget God’s mercy. Turn to him.

Read the Entire Chapter:
Micah Chapter 6

Teach Me, Lord, and Order My Steps in Your Word

Scripture: Psalms 119: 129-136

PE. Thy testimonies are wonderful: therefore doth my soul keep them. The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple. I opened my mouth, and panted: for I longed for thy commandments. Look thou upon me, and be merciful unto me, as thou usest to do unto those that love thy name. Order my steps in thy word: and let not any iniquity have dominion over me. Deliver me from the oppression of man: so will I keep thy precepts. Make thy face to shine upon thy servant; and teach me thy statutes. Rivers of waters run down mine eyes, because they keep not thy law.

Scripture Commentary: Be prepared for change as you apply God’s Word

Double-minded people cannot make up their minds between good and evil. But when it comes to obeying God, there is no middle ground; you must take a stand. Either you are obeying Him or you are not. Either you are doing what He wants or you are undecided. Have your ordered your steps in His Word?

Faith comes alive when we apply Scripture to our daily tasks and concerns. We need discernment so we can understand and we need the desire to apply Scripture where we need help.

The Bible is like medicine in that it goes to work only when we apply it to the affected areas. As you read the Bible, be alert for lessons, commands, and examples that you can put into practice.

Read the Entire Chapter:
Psalms Chapter 119

Rejoice, Be Glad for God is Good

Scripture: Psalms 118: 24-29

This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it. Save now, I beseech thee, O LORD: O LORD, I beseech thee, send now prosperity. Blessed be he that cometh in the name of the LORD: we have blessed you out of the house of the LORD. God is the LORD, which hath shewed us light: bind the sacrifice with cords, even unto the horns of the altar. Thou art my God, and I will praise thee: thou art my God, I will exalt thee. O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.

Scripture Commentary: The psalmists’ prayers often ended in rejoicing!

There are days when the last thing we want to do is rejoice. Our mood is down, our situation is out of hand, and our sorrow or guilt is overwhelming. We can relate to the writers of the Psalms who often felt this way.

No matter how the psalmists felt, they were always honest with God. As as they talked to God, their prayers ended in praise.

Often we don’t feel like rejoicing. Be sure to tell God how you truly feel. You will find that God will give you a reason to rejoice.

God has given you this day to live and to serve Him – be glad!

Read the Entire Chapter:
Psalms Chapter 118

Idols Cannot Speak, See, Hear or Help You

Scripture: Psalms 115: 1-9

Not unto us, O LORD, not unto us, but unto thy name give glory, for thy mercy, and for thy truth’s sake. Wherefore should the heathen say, Where is now their God? But our God is in the heavens: he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased. Their idols are silver and gold, the work of men’s hands. They have mouths, but they speak not: eyes have they, but they see not: They have ears, but they hear not: noses have they, but they smell not: They have hands, but they handle not: feet have they, but they walk not: neither speak they through their throat. They that make them are like unto them; so is every one that trusteth in them. O Israel, trust thou in the LORD: he is their help and their shield.

Scripture Commentary: Don’t place idols above the intangible realities of God

The psalmist asked that God’s name, not the nation’s, be glorified. Too often we ask God to glorify His name with ours. We may pray for help to do a good job so that our work will be noticed. Or we may ask that a presentation go well so we get the applause. There is nothing wrong with looking good or impressing others. The problem comes when we want to look good no matter what happens to God’s reputation in the process. Many people worshiped idols: statues of wood, stone or metal. They took pride in what they could see and had contempt for what they couldn’t see.

Today we still may value tangible objects rather than intangible realities. Those who spend their time obtaining tangible objects are as foolish and empty as the idols themselves.

There are times when we feel isolated, alone and abandoned, even by God. Be encouraged when depressed by problems or struggling with self-worth. God keeps you in His thoughts.

Do you have the faith to trust God? Will you place yourself in His hands?

Who will get the credit when God answers your prayer? Because He will respond.

Read the Entire Chapter:
Psalms Chapter 115

Christ Is a Great Light Piercing the Darkness

Scripture: Isaiah 9: 2, 6

The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.(2) For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.(6)

Scripture Commentary: His life is the light that shines through the darkness*

In a time of great darkness, God promised to send the light to shine on everyone living in the shadow of sin and death. During times of gloom and despair, we fear that our sorrows and troubles will never end.

Take comfort in this certainty: although the Lord may not always take us around our troubles, if we follow Him and if we believe wholeheartedly, He will bring us safely through.

Do you really believe in Our Lord Jesus Christ?

He is both “Wonderful Counselor” and “The Mighty God.” God wants to protect us from bad choices, but he still gives us the freedom to choose.

When will you listen to God?

Must we be like Judah and suffer calamities before we will listen to the Word of God? Consider what God is telling you, and obey Him before your time runs out. Open your heart and soul and you will hear Him clearly telling you that He loves you.

Read the Entire Chapter:
Isaiah Chapter 9

*John 1: 5 (New International Version)

How Would You Answer the Call, “Whom Shall I Send?”

Scripture: Isaiah 6: 8-10

Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me. And he said, Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not. Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert, and be healed.

Scripture Commentary: Isaiah was willing to answer the Lord’s call, “Whom shall I send?”

The more clearly Isaiah saw God, the more aware Isaiah became of his own powerlessness and inadequacy to do anything of lasting value without God. But he was willing to be God’s spokesman. Isaiah was willing to answer the Lord’s call, “Whom shall I send?”

God told Isaiah that the people would listen but not learn from his message because their hearts had become calloused beyond repentence. How is your heart? Are you so into yourself that when God calls you can’t hear Him?

God’s patience with their chronic rebellion was finally exhausted. His judgment was to abandon them to their rebellion and hardness of heart.

Why did God send Isaiah if he knew the people wouldn’t listen? Although the nation itself would not repent and would reap judgment, some individuals would listen. God is merciful even when He judges.

We can gain encouragement from God’s promise to preserve his people. If we are faithful to Him, we can be sure of His mercy. Consider what God may be telling you, and obey Him before time runs out.

Read the Entire Chapter:
Isaiah Chapter 6

Place Your Confidence in God Who Can Do All Things

Scripture: Psalms 118: 1-9

O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: because his mercy endureth for ever. Let Israel now say, that his mercy endureth for ever. Let the house of Aaron now say, that his mercy endureth for ever. Let them now that fear the LORD say, that his mercy endureth for ever. I called upon the LORD in distress: the LORD answered me, and set me in a large place. The LORD is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me? The LORD taketh my part with them that help me: therefore shall I see my desire upon them that hate me. It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man. It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in princes.

Scripture Commentary: Where do you place your confidence?

Airline pilots put confidence in their planes. Commuters place confidence in trains, cars, or buses. Each day we must put our confidence in something or someone.

If you are willing to trust a plane or car to get you to your destination, are you willing to trust God to guide you here on earth and to your eternal destination?

Do you trust Him more than any human being? How futile it is to trust anything or anyone more than God.

Put your life in the hands of Jesus Christ, for He is the truth and the light to everlasting life.

Read the Entire Chapter:
Psalms Chapter 118

Praise God For All He Has Done For You

Scripture: Psalms 117: 1-2

O praise the LORD, all ye nations: praise him, all ye people. For his merciful kindness is great toward us: and the truth of the LORD endureth for ever. Praise ye the LORD.

Scripture Commentary: Praise the Lord!

Praise the Lord our God! When was the last time you praised Him? Have you ever thanked Him for all He has done for you?

If you are reading this, you should be praising Him. He woke you up this morning, and gave you the ability to learn, to read, and to understand.

We can go through life and take things for granted and not thank God, and not tell anyone what He has done for you.

This Psalm is not only the shortest chapter in the Bible; it is also the middle chapter.

Paul quotes from this psalm in Romans 15:11 that God’s salvation is for all people, not just the Jews. This psalm gives us reasons for praising God, His great love toward us, His faithfulness, and His grace and mercy.

Think about your life today. Where would you be without God in it, and what would you be doing? If He did nothing else for you, He would still be worthy of your highest praise.

Read the Entire Chapter:
Psalms Chapter 117