Water for the Thirsty

“I will pour water upon him that is thirsty.”—Isaiah 44:3.

When a believer has fallen into a low, sad state of feeling, he often tries to lift himself out of it by chastening himself with dark and doleful fears. Such is not the way to rise from the dust, but to continue in it. As well chain the eagle’s wing to make it mount, as doubt in order to increase our grace. It is not the law, but the gospel which saves the seeking soul at first; and it is not a legal bondage, but gospel liberty which can restore the fainting believer afterwards. Slavish fear brings not back the backslider to God, but the sweet wooings of love allure him to Jesus’ bosom. Are you this morning thirsting for the living God, and unhappy because you cannot find him to the delight of your heart? Have you lost the joy of religion, and is this your prayer, “Restore unto me the joy of Thy salvation”? Are you conscious also that you are barren, like the dry ground; that you are not bringing forth the fruit unto God which He has a right to expect of you; that you are not so useful in the Church, or in the world, as your heart desires to be? Then here is exactly the promise which you need, “I will pour water upon him that is thirsty.” You shall receive the grace you so much require, and you shall have it to the utmost reach of your needs. Water refreshes the thirsty: you shall be refreshed; your desires shall be gratified. Water quickens sleeping vegetable life: your life shall be quickened by fresh grace. Water swells the buds and makes the fruits ripen; you shall have fructifying grace: you shall be made fruitful in the ways of God. Whatever good quality there is in divine grace, you shall enjoy it to the full. All the riches of divine grace you shall receive in plenty; you shall be as it were drenched with it: and as sometimes the meadows become flooded by the bursting rivers, and the fields are turned into pools, so shall you be—the thirsty land shall be springs of water.

-C.H. Spurgeon

It Should All Fit

2 Corinthians 4:1-2

Therefore, since through God’s mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart. Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God.

I’m the type of person that has never been good at putting together puzzles. Often times, I would get frustrated and give up. I would last longer than my seven year old granddaughter though. I’ve tried to put puzzles together with her, and after just a minute or so, she would get bored and want to do a different game. What about you? Do you have patience to work on a puzzle until the entire picture is complete?

Today at work, I helped the Quality Manager do a task that I had never done before. We opened up my boss’s computer and changed out the mother board. There were several different wires and connections that we had to take apart (that was the easy task). Then we had to put the connections back together on the new mother board. It felt like doing a puzzle as we had to make sure that we put everything back in the correct spot. I was proud of our work when we were finished. Everything seemed to fit together perfect and I was confident that the computer would be “like-new”. Let’s just say though that before we took the computer apart, it would turn on and work for a little while and then shut off without warning. After we had done our surgery on it though, it wouldn’t even turn on.

The Bible can be somewhat viewed as a big puzzle. Each verse and chapter needs to be considered as part of the entire context in order to see the big picture…and each piece fits! After Jesus was arrested and his Jewish opponents were trying to figure out who he was, Jesus was explaining from the Old Testament scriptures how many people were called “gods”. It was at this time, that Jesus told the Jews that “Scripture cannot be broken” (NASB); “Scripture cannot be set aside” (NIV); “Scriptures cannot be altered” (NLT) John 10:35. If we want to understand who Jesus is, who Jehovah is, and what God’s plans are for man, then we must study the Bible with the intent of understanding the entire picture. Everything must fit together to make sense and we must not get frustrated in trying to see truth.

This reminded me of what my friend had told me before.

“The Bible is like a puzzle; say a 1000 piece puzzle. Even if we are not skilled at puzzles, given enough time, we can put it all together. Some aspects of the assembly may be easy, usually the border. Then it may become difficult as we try to fill in everything inside. But as more pieces are added to the picture, it can become easier again.

If the picture is to be completed, we can never give up. If we give up, depending on when, there will be some or the majority of the pieces that are not fitted. If we do not give up, despite enduring great frustration sometimes, eventually the picture will be complete.

Those who work these types of puzzles occasionally, may say that they know, absolutely know, that there are pieces that just won’t fit; and then they quit.

Experienced puzzlers (if there is such a word) will say that there seems to be times when the pieces just cannot fit. They know this probably isn’t so. They just keep trying to fit the pieces in. Eventually they all will go.

All the pieces must fit; no cheating by trimming the ones we don’t see fitting at the time. Patience and determination will always overcome that frustration.

Understanding the Bible is similar. When we overcome our frustration(s) by being diligent, it starts to become simple to understand. God did not give us the Bible to frustrate us. He gave it to us so we may be enlightened.”

-RB

2 Corinthians 4:3-9

And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For what we preach is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ. But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.

Adversities

James 1:2-4

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

Today on my 10 mile bike ride I encountered many of the same adversaries that I normally do. There was the large dogs behind the fence, snarling and licking his chops as if he knew that I was a fried chicken eaten Baptist Preacher, with chicken grease still on my fingers. Then there is the little yippers who charge and nip at my heals. There is only one adversary that normally comes at me head on and that is the dreadful hills. The only thing that makes them worse is, my phone always seems to ring as I’m climbing them. Yes I must answer it.

Today’s main adversary caught me by surprise! Often times he has sneaked up behind me, and assisted me in my ride. NOT TODAY! He appeared to be angry! He charged me head on with great fury, at times almost making me fall. He would try to stop my bike and keep me from going forward. I became quite angry with him and was almost ready to give up on the ride because he was so aggravating. I prayed and I said Lord give me strength to overcome this adversary. I peddled harder and harder and the adversary picked up his force. He stayed opposing me for almost the entire trip. In the end I coasted into my driveway and he had suddenly disappeared. I said to myself, “Now where did that WIND GO?”

The Lord then spoke to my heart and said, “The wind was your helper even when you thought it was your adversary.” I looked down at my track keeper and it showed that because of the extra resistance I had burned a great deal more calories than normal on this same ride. So in the end I was able to make Lemonade out of that Lemon experience.

Many times when we face adversities we need to ask the Lord to give us strength and help us to see the good in them.

-Pastor Danny

1 Peter 5:6-11

Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.  Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.  Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world.  And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.  To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Matthew 20:25-28

Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them.  Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave— just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

According to Scripture, work is to be part of the believer’s life. We all have daily tasks, and many Christians hold jobs outside the home. Some people view these as drudgery. Others wake up excited to face the day’s challenges. What is your outlook?

There is an important biblical principle to follow if you are going to enjoy your work: View yourself as a servant. This might be hard if you feel unappreciated or your coworkers are difficult. But consider the example that the Lord set for us. He was rejected, tortured, and crucified. Yet Jesus was willing to serve even His tormentors with His attitude and, ultimately, with His life. Colossians 3:23-24 states, “Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men . . . It is the Lord Christ whom you serve.”

When I was in college, this proved to be a valuable perspective. I worked in the bleachery, which was the hottest and most uncomfortable job at the local textile mill. At first, I focused on how much I disliked this position. But I decided to change my attitude and look for opportunities to serve Jesus through my work. For the first time, the heat did not bother me. In fact, I was eager to share my faith with those around me. People listened and responded because they noticed my demeanor.

No job is perfect; each position has negative aspects. But we can find joy and excitement even in the most menial task when we decide to work for God. Choose to serve Christ in all you do. After all, why face each day with dread when you could experience excitement and anticipation?

-Dr. Charles Stanley

Go Again

“And the Lord said to me, ‘Go again, love a woman who is loved by another man and is an adulteress, even as the Lord loves the children of Israel, though they turn to other gods and love cakes of raisins.” Hosea 3:1

Years ago I stood on a foreign mission field and said to God, “Get me out of this place, I will never be here again.”  My reason for saying this was simple, “The place was filthy and the people would require a great sacrifice on my part.”  Thankfully God did not listen to my prayer!  The place (Romania) and the people (Romanians) have become very dear to my heart.

Question, “Is the Lord dealing with your heart about a place where He wants you to invest your life in the gospel?”

God was dealing with Hosea’s heart.  Here the man of God followed the will of God by marrying a prostitute.  This woman gave him three children, but now she has returned to her former life.  In this setting God says, “Go again and get this woman.”  So down to the slave market he goes and buys this woman back (Redeems her).

Think it through:

Hosea’s life is a picture of how God loves Israel.  Israel is pictured as the prostitute who turns from God.  Chapter 4 describes the depths of Israel’s rebellious heart, “For a spirit of whoredom has led her astray.”

Brothers and sisters, every person is born with such a spirit.  We go astray from the beginning.  It is God who comes to us and redeems us (Colossians 1:14) from the slavery we are in.

This morning I could not keep from praising the God who brought me out of the slave market!!!

Our response:

What does God have to say about the redeemed ministry to others?  Here is one suggestion:  “The people around us are dying because no one is telling them there is another way.”

God spoke through Hosea to the people in 4:6, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.”  

God’s chosen people (Priests) had failed to share the Word of God.  It is often the same way today.

10 years ago I was standing on foreign soil with the Word of God in my head and heart.  But I was trying to leave.  There God broke my heart for people who had never heard.  Today, there is a thriving ministry center that is daily sharing the gospel.

Could it be that God is wanting to do the same with you today?

-Pastor Keith Joseph

He That is Without Sin

So when they continued asking Him, He lifted up Himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her (John 8:7).

A woman who had been caught in the very act of adultery was taken to Jesus and forced to stand before Him while the scribes and Pharisees hurled their accusations saying, Moses in the Law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest Thou? (8:5).

Spiritual darkness had covered this woman’s life, but now she stood before the Light of the World (8:12). The religious leaders who had insisted on keeping the Law slipped away when the Light exposed their sin, too. As we stand before Jesus, we all fall short of what He intended for us to be. Sometimes, we want to be just like those who were bringing judgment on this woman. It is fairly easy to make ourselves look good when we think about who we are being compared to. However, always remember in the end it is Jesus, the one who is perfect, with whom we will be compared. How will we match up then? We will be compared like everybody on that day. It is only through Jesus that any of us are righteous. Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in His blood, to declare His righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God (Rom. 3:25).

Jesus did not suggest that what she had done was not a serious sin. No, He merely said, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her (John 8:7). She had indeed sinned, and according to the Law, she should have been stoned. But it is important to remember that she was not the only sinner present that day. All those that stood in the crowd except for the Son of God had transgressed the Law. For the Law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ (John 1:17). Notice the double emphasis, truth and grace. Truth says, “Stone her!” but grace says, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more (8:11).

To share His grace we must do more than say, “I will forgive, but I will never forget,” or “I trusted you once, but I will never trust you again!” We must have a spirit of continual forgiveness. We are called to forgive just as forgiveness is given to us by the Lord. This is not always easy. Sometimes hurts linger on for years and years. It is important to realize that forgiveness helps bring healing to all involved including the one doing the forgiving.

Be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you (Ephesians 4:32).

-sbc.net

Thought for Today:

We receive as much grace from the Lord as we are willing to show others.

 

Seeking First

Matthew 6:28-33 (NIV)

“And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

We make choices all of the time. Sometimes the answers to the choices are really obvious. This became apparent to me this week at work as business has been really slow. It is during the slow times, that it becomes easier for me to prioritize my work load.

Let me give you an example. One of the days this week at work while I was cutting up strawberries in the kitchen, my boss came upstairs and asked me to check out an R&R customer and collect his money. I asked him, “Is that more important than cutting strawberries?” He answered emphatically, “Yes!”

Another time, I was in the kitchen as well. My boss told me after lunch that we had a pallet of units ready to ship to a customer and he wanted me to put in the paperwork and schedule a freight pickup. I asked him, “Is that more important than washing dishes?” And again he confidently answered, “Yes!”

There are many choices that we make daily that are also obvious as to what we should and shouldn’t do. In the same way as I do at work, we too must also base our decisions on what is important to us. Jesus told the disciples in his famous “Sermon on the Mount” what their number one priority is. “Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness” (vs 33).

There are many choices that we must make though that are not so obvious and that’s where true “seeking” really comes in. In order to be able to seek God’s perfect kingdom above man’s and above the things of the world around us, we must read about his kingdom in the Bible. Kingdom denotes a government system in which Jehovah is sovereign. It is invisible now, but it should be placed above everything else that we seek. Jesus spoke of this higher power while he was arrested by an earthly kingdom:

John 18:36-37 (NIV)

Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leaders. But now my kingdom is from another place.”

“You are a king, then!” said Pilate.

Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. In fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.”

We must seek God’s righteousness. This righteousness speaks of the perfect justice of Jehovah. Therefore, it is not something that we can attain while being in our sinful state. However, we must continue to seek it and strive after it.

God, please show us in the easy and hard decisions what our priorities should be so that we can make the right choices. Please help us to seek your kingdom and righteousness FIRST above everything else even when those decisions go against what man and this worldly system deems as correct. Show us in your Word what the true righteousness is. Thank you for the many examples of men of faith that help us live the life that you would want. Help us to be faithful soldiers for you that long for and seek righteousness.

-RB

Hebrews 11:24-27 (ESV)

By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the reward. By faith he left Egypt, not being afraid of the anger of the king, for he endured as seeing him who is invisible.

 

They Knew Not

“And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away: so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.”—Matthew 24:39.

UNIVERSAL was the doom, neither rich nor poor escaped: the learned and the illiterate, the admired and the abhorred, the religious and the profane, the old and the young, all sank in one common ruin. Some had doubtless ridiculed the patriarch—where now their merry jests? Others had threatened him for his zeal which they counted madness—where now their boastings and hard speeches? The critic who judged the old man’s work is drowned in the same sea which covers his sneering companions. Those who spoke patronizingly of the good man’s fidelity to his convictions, but shared not in them, have sunk to rise no more, and the workers who for pay helped to build the wondrous ark, are all lost also. The flood swept them all away, and made no single exception. Even so, out of Christ, final destruction is sure to every man of woman born; no rank, possession, or character, shall suffice to save a single soul who has not believed in the Lord Jesus. My soul, behold this wide-spread judgment and tremble at it.
How marvelous the general apathy! they were all eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, till the awful morning dawned. There was not one wise man upon earth out of the ark. Folly duped the whole race, folly as to self-preservation—the most foolish of all follies. Folly in doubting the most true God—the most malignant of fooleries. Strange, my soul, is it not? All men are negligent of their souls till grace gives them reason, then they leave their madness and act like rational beings, but not till then.
All, blessed be God, were safe in the ark, no ruin entered there. From the huge elephant down to the tiny mouse all were safe. The timid hare was equally secure with the courageous lion, the helpless cony as safe as the laborious ox. All are safe in Jesus. My soul, art thou in Him?

-C.H. Spurgeon

Joy in the Lord

Habakkuk 3:17-18

¹⁷Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls: ¹⁸Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation.

         Have you ever had “one of those days”?  I have!  Sometimes it seems like everywhere you look and everywhere you turn, nothing is blooming, nothing is growing, nothing is producing fruit.  This is obviously where Habakkuk found himself.

What if we were able to say what Habakkuk did in the midst of his drought: “I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation.”  Maybe you need to stop right here and right now and simply say these words and meditate on them.  As believers in Christ, we have been given an indescribable inheritance, let your relationship with Jesus Christ be your joy!  He is enough!

 I Sam. 30:6

⁶And David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him, because all the people were bitter in soul, each for his sons and daughters. But David strengthened himself in the Lord his God.

The Lord Hears

Then those who feared the LORD spoke to one another, And the LORD listened and heard them; So a book of remembrance was written before Him For those who fear the LORD And who meditate on His name. (Malachi 3:16)

God has designed His kingdom so that Christians with kindred spirits join together. It is exciting when you find another Christian who shares the same concerns and burdens that you do! Often, God will graciously bring another believer alongside you who will undergird you in the work and concerns God has placed on your heart. God releases a powerful dimension of His presence to His children when they unite in heart and mind regarding His kingdom. The Bible says that when two or more Christians meet and reverently discuss matters concerning the Lord, God is pleased to listen to them and to respond to their concerns. When two or three believers agree in prayer, God chooses to respond to their unity by making His powerful presence known in their midst (Matt. 18:19–20). When two people walked together and discussed the confusing events of Christ’s crucifixion, Jesus joined them and helped them understand the events of their day (Luke 24:13–32).

If you are carrying concerns about your family or your church or your friends, ask God to bring like-minded believers around you to share the burden with you in conversation and in prayer. Don’t attempt to bear your load of cares on your own. You may pray about them, but you will miss the blessing of uniting together with a group of believers who join together to intercede for one another and to enjoy God’s presence. Everything God has woven into the fabric of His kingdom promotes interdependence, not individualism. As you face your concerns, deliberately seek out other believers with whom you can stand and share your load.

-BMI devotion