Whom Shall We Fear?

The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? (Ps. 27:1).

Today, just as in yesterday’s devotion, David knows well of what he is speaking. There were many times in life that he had much reason to be fearful for his own life. It would have been easy to cower in fear from Goliath as Israel’s army did, but David knew the Lord was in control.

Who are we, as believers, to be fearful? What thing is there in the world that those that belong to Christ cannot stand against? There is no person or thing in this world that we need to be fearful of. For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind (II Tim. 1:7).

The scripture is clear on the fact that fear is an enemy to the believer. The devil uses fear to coerce mankind into doing his will. He desires people to be afraid of him. Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour (I Pet. 5:8). The Scripture tells us here to keep our thoughts clear in order to avoid being deceived into being fearful of the devil. We belong to Christ. The Holy Spirit lives inside our hearts. The devil cannot overcome us. Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world (I John 4:4).

There is only one person of whom the believer needs to be fearful. That is the Lord. This fear we should have for the Lord should be a reverent type fear. We need to have great respect for the Lord and His authority.

Those who are not believers should have this same fear as well. However, the fear that the sinner has should be even more intense. The believer has the assurance of salvation from the Lord. The unbeliever is one breath away from judgment. Their only hope is in Christ and His free offer of salvation. Dying without Christ is truly something of which you can be fearful. With his verses, he expressed his faith in this mighty God and gave us his reason why it is only reasonable to trust in such a God.

And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear Him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell (Matt. 10:28).

-sbc.net

Thought for Today:

True wisdom will teach us that, like sheep, we need the Good Shepherd.

 

Where Your Treasure Is

For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (Luke 12:34)

What you value most is your treasure. Where you spend your time and your money is your treasure. Whatever dominates your conversation is what you treasure. What others know you for is a good indication of what your treasure is.

Most Christians are quick to claim that God is their first priority. Yet often their actions reveal that their treasure is not God but things of this world. Some Christians find it difficult to discuss their relationship with God, but they can chatter easily about their family, friends, or hobbies. Some find it impossible to rise early in order to spend time with God, but they willingly get up at dawn to pursue a hobby. Some find it difficult to give an offering to God but readily spend lavishly on recreation. Some boldly approach strangers to sell a product, yet they are painfully timid in telling others about their Savior. Some give hundreds of hours to serve in volunteer organizations but feel they have no time available to serve God.

If you are unsure of where your treasure is, examine where you spend your available time and money. Reflect on what it is you most enjoy thinking about and discussing. Ask your friends to tell you what they think is most important to you. Ask your children to list the things most valuable to you. It may surprise you to know what others consider to be your treasure.

-BMI devotion

What is a Fool?

To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good (Ps. 14:1).

Webster’s dictionary defines a “fool” as “a person lacking in judgment or prudence”. This is the definition for a person that denies the existence of God. This verse clearly defines such a person as a “fool” and Webster gives the definition of a “fool”.

In looking at the definition, the person who does not believe in God lacks judgment. The lack of judgment would mean the making of decisions would prove very difficult. This person would find it very hard to make a right choice in life.

This really is not so hard to believe. The believer has the guidance of the Holy Spirit and the Word of God readily available to them to aid in every choice they must make. Those who have placed their trust in Christ do not have to just hope for the best. They serve and belong to the Best. Because of this, helpful guidance is there for them when needed. Howbeit when He, the Spirit of truth, is come, He will guide you into all truth: for He shall not speak of Himself; but whatsoever He shall hear, that shall He speak: and He will shew you things to come (John 16:13). Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path (Ps. 119:105).

The Word of God goes on to describe the one who denies God as “corrupt”. This is not to say that every person that does not believe in God is a criminal or dangerous person. For some of them, the only person they are a danger to is themselves. Their decision in denying the existence of God will doom their soul for all eternity.  How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard Him (Heb. 2:3).

It is sometimes too easy to look at those who deny the truth that God is real and forget to have compassion for them. It is sometimes even said “they are getting what they deserve”.  Who can say they deserve heaven without Jesus? There are none that can. It is only through Christ that we are made worthy. Therefore, let us always pray that the Lord will continue to work on the hearts of those who do not believe so that they might trust in Him.

That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved (Rom. 10:9).

-sbc.net

Thought for Today:

Since Christ Jesus was resurrected, we too share that same blessed hope.

 

Hidden Dangers

Ps 119:133

Direct my steps by Your word,

And let no iniquity have dominion over me.

NKJV

          If you have spent much time on a riding lawn mower, then I’m sure it has happened to you.  It happened to me twice this past Saturday morning.  I was cutting around the little blowup pool in the backyard.  As I drove past the ladder that the kids use to climb in and out of the pool, “SUUMP – SCREECH – SCREECH”.  I turned off the engine as quick as I could and jumped off the mower to see what in the world I had run over.  As it turns out, I had sucked an old nasty muddy throw rug up into the deck of the mower.  It was one that we had placed at the bottom of the pool ladder last year.  Talk about nasty, that thing was nasty, and now it was wrapped tighter than a banjo string around the mower hub.  After several minutes of pulling and fighting, I finally pulled it free.

Ten minutes later, I was mowing up around the storage building when I heard, “WHACK – SLAP – SMACK – SMACK”.  Once again I turned the mower off as quickly as I could.  What was it this time?  I just ran over the temporary power cord that I had run to the outbuilding!  What a frustrating morning!  As I got back on the mower after picking up little pieces of wire, a thought occurred to me.  In my rush to get the grass cut before my softball game, I skipped the most important step in the lawn cutting process!  I usually walk through the yard, removing toys, garden hoses, nasty old rugs, power cords, stuffed animals, pool toys, trash, etc.  I had failed to identify and remove the hidden dangers that lurked in my path!

How many times do we do that with our spiritual lives?  We fail to spend the time required to intentionally identify and remove the hidden dangers in our lives.  Maybe you should slow down and consider your path.  Consider the road you are on.  Are there traps there in your path that have the potential to ruin your life?  How about your TV?  How about your relationships?  What about your desire for material things?  Sometimes it can be a lustful eye or a prideful heart.  If we fail to remove the Potential Hazards, they are sure to cause Painful Havoc in our lives!

-BP

Prov 28:22

A man with an evil eye hastens after riches,

And does not consider that poverty will come upon him.

NKJV

The Evil Day

Exodus 40:36-38

In all the travels of the Israelites, whenever the cloud lifted from above the tabernacle, they would set out; but if the cloud did not lift, they did not set out—until the day it lifted.  So the cloud of the LORD was over the tabernacle by day, and fire was in the cloud by night, in the sight of all the Israelites during all their travels.

As I’ve been reading through Exodus, I’ve spent quite a long time now going through all of the different requirements that God was giving the Israelites for the tabernacle, the priests, and the purification processes.  In my reading tonight, the above verses jumped out to me as something to think about.  I find it fascinating to think about what this would have looked like to the Israelites.  Imagine each day not knowing if you get to stay in an area or if you would have to pack up your things and move.  I imagine that the Israelites did not get completely settled in places by building big things that could not be carried, but instead had to keep things simple and their belongings easily accessible for packing as they focused on following Jehovah.

Thinking about the preparations that would have to be done on “the day” that Jehovah would signal for them to move by the lifting of the cloud, I thought of my friend that has been preparing for “the day”.   As you read this, today is “the day” for him.  He is having surgery and radiation treatments to remove cancer.  A week earlier, he had to go to the hospital for his pre-op…dictionary definition is “adjective referring to the logistics of preparing for a surgical procedure/operation.”  They had to run different tests on him to make sure that he is ready for the operation and that he is prepared.  Today, he had to leave work in order to go get some bananas as he was told to eat bananas and spinach to try to increase his potassium.

Tonight at church, Sheriff Donnie Pope was our guest speaker.  He had about six men from the police department in uniform sitting up front with him.  He also had a table set-up with the special gear and equipment that a police officer would need for certain intense situations.  He had Jeremiah Hicks, one of our teenage boys, go up front and put on all of the heavy and expensive gear.  Sheriff Pope explained that just as he would want his men to be fully suited and ready to face the opposition, so God also wants us to be fully suited and prepared to face the enemy.  Therefore, we must take steps to ensure that we are prepared for the “day of evil” (Ephesians 6:13).  I’ve looked this scripture up before and did some research on it. I had thought at first that the “day of evil” was a specific day such as the Lord’s Day.  However, what I’ve learned is that the “day of evil” is every day.  Today is “the day”.  Are you prepared for it?  Have you armed yourself against Satan’s attacks?  Are you ready to follow God where he is leading?

-RB

Ephesians 6:10-13

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.  Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.  For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.  Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.

Furthering the Gospel

But I want you to know, brethren, that the things which happened to me have actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel. (Philippians 1:12)

There are two ways to look at every situation: How it will affect you, and how it will affect God’s kingdom. The apostle Paul was always concerned with how his circumstances might aid the spreading of the Gospel. When he was unjustly imprisoned, he immediately looked to see how his imprisonment might provide God’s salvation to others (Phil. 1:13; Acts 16:19–34). When he was assailed by an angry mob, he used the opportunity to preach the Gospel (Acts 22:1–21). When Paul’s criminal proceedings took him before the king, his thoughts were on sharing his faith with the king! (Acts 26:1–32). Even when Paul was shipwrecked on an island, he used that opportunity to share the gospel there. Regardless of his circumstance, Paul’s concern was how he could use his current situation to tell others of God’s good news of salvation.

Often when we encounter a new situation, our first thoughts are not about God’s kingdom . When we face a crisis, we can become angry or fearful for our own well-being, rather than looking to see what God intends to do through our circumstances. If we remain self-centered we will miss so much of what God could do through our experiences, both for us and for those around us.

Ask God to make you aware of how He could use your present circumstances to bless others. Perhaps someone around you needs to see the difference Christ’s presence makes in your life. Are you willing for God to use your circumstances to demonstrate His saving power to those around you?

-BMI devotion

Kingdom Greatness

“For who is greater, he who sits at the table, or he who serves? Is it not he who sits at the table? Yet I am among you as the One who serves.” (Luke 22:27)

The measure of greatness in the kingdom of God differs vastly from that of the world. Our society idolizes the rich, the powerful, the beautiful, and the athletic. We even make celebrities out of those who brazenly flaunt their immorality. The world claims it is demeaning to serve others. However, God’s kingdom completely rejects the world’s measure for esteem, giving the greatest honor to the one who serves most. The person who serves selflessly, lovingly, without complaint, and without seeking recognition is highly regarded in the kingdom of God.

When Jesus and His disciples entered the upper room, the disciples looked for a prominent place to sit; Jesus looked for a place to serve. As they awkwardly waited to be served, Jesus took a towel and basin and washed their feet (John 13:1–15). We Christians like to refer to ourselves as servants, but we are seldom content to be treated as servants! We are tempted to adopt the world’s evaluation of importance. But when we look to Jesus as our model, we see that it takes a far more noble character to serve than to be served.

The world will estimate your importance by the number of people serving you. God is more concerned with the number of people you are serving. If you struggle to be a servant, your heart may have shifted away from the heart of God. Ask Jesus to teach you selflessness and to give you the strength to follow His example. Watch for Jesus’ invitation to join Him in serving others. It will come.

-BMI devotion

Willing to Receive

 said, Days should speak, and multitude of years should teach wisdom. But there is a spirit in man: and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding. Great men are not always wise: neither do the aged understand judgment (Job 32:7-9).

Elihu had listened as the other friends of Job had accused and verbally assaulted him. He had also heard Job’s response to all that had been said to him. Elihu had waited to speak out of respect for the others as they were his elders.

This is not the focus of today’s reading. However, there should always be respect shown for those older than you. Many discredit the elderly because of their age. Yet it is because of their long life on earth that they might have something to offer. If you take time to listen, you might be surprised to find there is something to be learned from them. Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble (I Pet. 5:5).

Elihu is angered at Job because he feels Job was justifying himself instead of God. However, his anger was also directed towards the other three friends of Job. He felt they had condemned Job without being able to give a cause. It should be said here that many instantly fault Elihu for his anger. The Word of God teaches us that we can be angry to certain levels. Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath (Eph. 4:26). As this verse teaches, we simply must not allow our anger to lead us into sin. It would be difficult to determine the level of the Elihu’s anger.

Elihu speaks the truth in these verses, even though it may seem contradictory to what was said earlier. However, there is no reason that both can’t be accurate. It is true that our elders should and do at times offer much wisdom, but, just because a person is older is no guarantee they are right. Job’s three friends are proof of that. This is what Elihu is stating here. Simply, he is saying God gives wisdom and understanding. He gives it to those willing to receive it.

Regardless of our age, we should be open to allowing God to teach us. We can do this by hearing from God Himself through His Word. He may also teach us out of the mouths of other believers as they share what God has taught them.

But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in My name, He shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you (John 14:26).

Thought for Today:

Remember, when you feel your prayers are unanswered, Jesus said to pray, “Thy will be done.”

 

I Will Not Remove my Integrity

God forbid that I should justify you: till I die I will not remove mine integrity from me. My righteousness I hold fast, and will not let it go: my heart shall not reproach me so long as I live (Job 27:5-6).

Job could have used all the things happening to him as an excuse to sin. Sometimes, in the reading of scripture, it would seem that the friends of Job might have been more content if they had found him in open sin. This would have justified the assault they had launched on him. They would not have had to speculate about any hidden sin that Job might be concealing.

When it came to matters such as sin, Job had taken the high road through all that had happened. He did not allow himself to go in that direction. He held true to his upright walk before God. Jesus answered, Are there not twelve hours in the day? If any man walk in the day, he stumbleth not, because he seeth the light of this world (John 11:9).

A careful look at Job 27:5-6 shows how serious Job is about maintaining his witness. He first calls out his friends that we spoke of before. Job tells them he would never do anything to allow their accusations to be truth. Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God (Rom. 6:13).

Job spoke that he would not allow integrity to leave him. This is something that is truly lacking in the world today. It is not easy to find someone willing to hold so close to their integrity. In today’s society, many compromise their integrity every day. There was a time when you might have heard the phrase “a man is only as good as his word”. In those days, there was many a business deal conducted on a handshake alone. People of integrity could be trusted to do what they said they would do.

This is not to say there are not people today who value their reputation. There are many who do. However, you will find just as many who see no problem in telling a “little white lie” as long as it doesn’t hurt anyone. The problem is deception is deception regardless of the size or value of it. Deception always harms someone. The character of the person telling the lie will be damaged for sure.

For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty (I Tim. 2:2).

-sbc.net

Thought for Today:

Although our flesh is weak, God gives strength during our times of testing.

 

Fear ye Not, Stand Still

Exodus 14:8-9

And the LORD hardened the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and he pursued after the children of Israel: and the children of Israel went out with an high hand.

But the Egyptians pursued after them, all the horses and chariots of Pharaoh, and his horsemen, and his army, and overtook them encamping by the sea, beside Pihahiroth, before Baalzephon.

As my husband and I found ourselves once again digging mud out of our ditch this weekend, we kept talking about how impatient we are in wanting to build our new house.  Here we want to start building and finish a log cabin, and instead, it is taking us several weeks just to finish the driveway.  We have found ourselves at the mercy of the weather.  It keeps raining and making a mess of our mud, but we can’t get the loader in there to finish the work so we can get the gravel, until everything dries out.

In my Bible reading in Exodus, the Israelites have finally been set free from Egypt; however, Pharoah and “all the horses and chariots of Pharoah” went after them again while they were in an area trapped in.  Once again, they found themselves facing opposition.  “And when Pharaoh drew nigh, the children of Israel lifted up their eyes, and, behold, the Egyptians marched after them; and they were sore afraid: and the children of Israel cried out unto the LORD” (vs. 10).

As my husband and I think about all of the steps that will still have to be done before we can even start building, it can seem so hard and almost not worth it.  It would be so much easier if we just stay where we’re at.  This is the attitude that the Israelites took when they too were facing opposition.  “Is not this the word that we did tell thee in Egypt, saying, Let us alone, that we may serve the Egyptians? For it had been better for us to serve the Egyptians, than that we should die in the wilderness.”  (vs 12).  God had performed many miracles in setting them free, yet the Israelites are looking back at their old life thinking they had been better off.  In the same way for us, God has performed many miracles in the work of Jesus to set us free from sin…let’s not look back at our enslaved life of sin and flesh and think that we were better off.  Let’s keep trusting God to deliver us.

We all know the story of the parting of the Red Sea and that God does come through and rescue them once again.  However, one thing that jumped out to me in my reading today is that the Israelites still had to be patient while they were facing opposition and being trapped.  I had it pictured in my mind that Moses had lifted up his hands towards the Red Sea and that God instantly parted the waters and made a dry path, but that’s not how it happened.  “And the angel of God, which went before the camp of Israel, removed and went behind them; and the pillar of the cloud went from before their face, and stood behind them: And it came between the camp of the Egyptians and the camp of Israel; and it was a cloud and darkness to them, but it gave light by night to these: so that the one came not near the other all the night.”  (vs 19-20).  Notice that they had to wait all night to be rescued.  “And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the LORD caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided.” (vs 21).

You may not be digging red mud out of a ditch, but what is your Red Sea?  Whatever oppositions we may be facing and whatever struggles we may have, let’s not give up or get impatient.  Let’s not get disheartened, but trust in God alone to rescue us in his timing.

-RB

Exodus 14:13-14

And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will shew to you to day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more for ever. The LORD shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.