Day: February 17, 2017

by

Correct!

Behold, happy is the man whom God corrects; therefore do not despise the chastening of the Almighty. Job 5:1

The dictionary defines the verb correct as “to set right, to remove errors from.” Job 5:17 says the happy person is the one whom God corrects. Hebrews 12:9 says, “We have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live?” And according to 2 Timothy, God has two tools He often uses to correct us—our teachers and His Word.

Paul told Timothy, “…a servant of the LORD must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, in humility correcting those who are in opposition” (2 Timothy 2:24-25). And in the next chapter, we read: “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16).

Human fathers corrected their children for earthly reasons, but our heavenly Father corrects His children for eternal reasons, and He often does it using godly teachers and His holy Word. What needs correcting in your life today? Let’s ask God to set us right and remove all errors from our hearts.

Discipline is the divinely ordained path to a deepening relationship with God and a growing love with him…Thus to refuse discipline, is to turn our back on growth and love. R. Kent Hughes

by

How to Avoid an Empty Life

Psalm 16:11

In public, most people appear happy and confident. But beneath the surface, many feel empty. In fact, it is possible to be in a large crowd and yet still feel alone.

A lot of men and women see no meaning or purpose in life. Attempting to overcome the emptiness, some become busy, others turn to drugs or alcohol, and still others strive for more money, power, or love. Though pleasure exists for them, it is usually short-lived.

There’s a reason why life can feel empty: Man was created with a yearning that God alone is able to satisfy. Individuals cannot be fulfilled until they experience His transforming and unconditional love. Jesus said, “I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly” (John 10:10). In other words, the Lord wants us to feel complete, which can happen only through a relationship with Him.

However, even a person who is saved can feel empty. This could result from disobedience: A slight detour in one’s walk with the Lord can become a way of life, depriving a believer of deep satisfaction. It’s also possible for Christians to live according to God’s Word without fully surrendering their desires to Him. For example, many believers still try to fill up their own void with achievements, wealth, or relationships. When aspirations like these are given higher priority than the Lord, they are a form of idolatry.

We can live a full life only when we seek God above all else. Pray for His guidance as you search your heart. Confess any sin, and ask God to fill your life as only He can do.

by

Praise of the Generations

“That the generation to come might know them, even the children which should be born; who should arise and declare them to their children.” (Psalm 78:6)

Each generation of people tends to regard its own times as the most significant of all, toward which all past history has been merely a preparation. The fact is, however, that God has “been our dwelling place in all generations” (90:1), and He is equally concerned about any generations yet to come.

This is why He stresses repeatedly that the great truths concerning God’s creation, His character, His great work of salvation, and His long-range plans for the ages to come be transmitted faithfully from one generation to another. “One generation shall praise thy works to another, and shall declare thy mighty acts” (145:4).

Our modern scientific generation almost idolizes new research, new gadgets, new discoveries. The God of eternity, however, is not so concerned that we develop new ideas as that we not lose what He already has given us. “For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven. Thy faithfulness is unto all generations: Thou hast established the earth, and it abideth” (119:89-90).

Christ said: “That which ye have already hold fast till I come.” “Hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown” (Revelation 2:25; 3:11).

The great principle of true education is given by Paul in 2 Timothy 2:2: “The things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.” The great account of Christ’s crucifixion and resurrection, especially, is to be taught forever. “They shall come, and shall declare his righteousness unto a people that shall be born, that he hath done this” (Psalm 22:31). HMM

by

“I the world ye shall have tribulation.”

Genesis 37:2-14, 18-24, 28, 31-35

Joseph was Jacob’s best loved and most tried son. Whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth. This chapter opens a long scene of suffering.

Genesis 37:2-4

His piety led him to protest against the wrongdoing of his brethren. He would not join them in evil, nor aid them by concealing their evil deeds.

Genesis 37:9-11

Whom God favours the ungodly are sure to dislike. The evil hate the righteous.

Genesis 37:34, 35

This was a very painful transaction, but let us. not forget that the Lord overruled it for the highest good.

 

Crosses and changes are their lot,

Long as they sojourn here;

But since their Saviour changes not,

What have his saints to fear?

 

by

Don’t Put Out The Spirit’s Fire!

1 Thessalonians 5:19

Have you ever sensed the Holy Spirit leading you to do something, but because of fear you were afraid to do it? Even though you were sure it was God’s Spirit who was speaking to you, did you grit your teeth, dig in your heels, and decide that you would not do what He was leading you to do or say?

If the answer is yes, it’s time for you to stop doing that! The Holy Spirit is trying to use you to help someone or to accomplish some feat according to His plans and purposes. Don’t let the devil or a spirit of fear talk you out of experiencing the joy of being used by the Holy Spirit. This is exactly why Paul admonished us, “Quench not the Spirit” (1 Thessalonians 5:19).

The word “quench” in this verse is taken from the Greek word sbennumi. The word sbennumi means to extinguish, smother, suppress, douse, put out, snuff out, or to quell. It most often means to extinguish a fire by dousing it with water. In some places, it means to evaporate or to dry up.

There’s no doubt about what Paul is trying to tell us. If we ignore the Holy Spirit’s voice long enough and often enough, eventually we will become spiritually hardened and will no longer be able to hear Him when He does try to speak to us. It will be like His voice evaporates or dries up, and we will hear it no more.

You need to know that your own actions, fears, insecurities, and disobedience to the voice of the Holy Spirit can thwart the plan of God for your life! The Holy Spirit is willing and ready to give you a divine assignment, but you hinder His wonderful plans by ignoring and denying His right to use you time and time again.

If you’ve ever seen a campfire, you know that its flames can burn very bright and hot. But what happens if someone keeps throwing water on the coals? Initially it will only dampen the heat of the flames. But if the person continues to throw water on the flames, eventually that water will quench, smother, or put out the fire altogether.

Has the Holy Spirit been speaking to your heart, tenderly directing you to do something? Have you obeyed Him and done what He has prompted you to do—or have you turned a deaf ear to His voice? Let me encourage you:

  • Don’t ignore the Holy Spirit’s leading!
  • Don’t disregard His voice!
  • Don’t close your ears when He is speaking to you!
  • Don’t pass up an opportunity for the Holy Spirit to use you!
  • Don’t avoid moments when God wants to pour His power through you!
  • Don’t throw water on the flames until you quench the Spirit!

Instead of continually shutting your ears to the Holy Spirit’s voice and dousing the flames of the Spirit in your heart, it’s time for you to say, “Yes, Lord, I’ll do what You say. I’ll go where You send me. I’ll obey what You tell me to do!” When you adopt this attitude, you start putting fuel back on the fire again! Every time you say, “Yes, Lord,” and follow through with obedience, you stoke the coals and cause the Holy Spirit’s fire to burn more brightly in your life.

The primary reason we don’t obey the prompting of the Holy Spirit is that we are afraid of what may or may not happen if we step out in faith to do what He has asked us to do. But we need to learn to trust the Holy Spirit. He will never lead us to do something that is wrong or harmful; He will never fail us or let us down.

Determine in your heart today to obey whatever the Spirit of God tells you to do. As you stay true to that decision, you’ll see God do marvelous things through you. He will use you to set people free from whatever holds them in bondage—all because you determined to do what the Holy Spirit led you to do!

MY PRAYER FOR TODAY

Lord, help me to quickly obey when the Spirit of God prompts me to do something. The last thing I want to do is throw water on the flames of the Spirit in my heart. Forgive me for suffocating the life of the Holy Spirit in me by refusing to do what He tells me to do. From this point onward, I make the choice to quickly obey, but I need Your strength to do this. So today I am asking You to fill me anew with brand-new courage to step out in faith, to quickly obey, and to leave the results with You!

I pray this in Jesus’ name!

MY CONFESSION FOR TODAY

I confess that I am quick to obey the voice of the Holy Spirit. When He tugs at my heart, pointing me in a specific direction or leading me to minister to a certain person, I do not hold back, hesitate, or resist. Instead, I say, “Lord, I’ll do whatever You want me to do!” I then step out in faith and watch as His power is demonstrated to me and through me!

I declare this by faith in Jesus’ name!

QUESTIONS FOR YOU TO CONSIDER

  1. Can you think of a time when the Spirit of God prompted you to do something, but you dug in your heels and refused to do it?
  2. How did you feel afterwards, knowing that you had resisted the voice of the Holy Spirit?
  3. How will you respond the next time the Holy Spirit tells you to do something?

Instead of continually shutting your ears to the Holy Spirit’s voice and dousing the flames of the Spirit in your heart, it’s time for you to say, “Yes, Lord, I’ll do what You say. I’ll go where You send me. I’ll obey what You tell me to do!”

 

by

On Caring Enough To Confront

A few years ago my wife and I spent the evening in the home of friends who were highly respected in the Christian community. While backing the car out of their driveway, I commented to her that I felt there was something amiss in the family.

Then I second-guessed myself with, “Well, I could be wrong… it’s just an impression. Besides, we shouldn’t meddle in other people’s lives.” Soon we were home and the thought dismissed.

Two years later the couple was divorced: The culmination of years of deep-seated, but well-hidden family problems. The wife and children were left devastated and desolate.

The question I must ask myself when faced with friends who may be in trouble is, “Do I care enough to confront them?”

Or am I more worried about their rejection of me? About being wrong? Or about “getting too involved?”

Jesus cared enough to confront. When challenged by Peter to not go to the cross He retorted,

“Get behind Me, Satan… you are not setting your mind on God’s interests, but man’s.” (Matthew 16:23)

Pretty stiff confrontation, wouldn’t you say? Yet Christ’s love for Peter is unquestioned.

James, the half brother of Jesus writes,

“If anyone has slipped away from God and no longer trusts the Lord and someone helps him understand the Truth again, that person who brings him back to God will have saved a wandering soul from death, bringing about the forgiveness of his many sins.” (James 5:19, 20 – Life Application Bible)

The opposite of love may not be hate but indifference. Therefore, when I choose to not confront a brother who may be in trouble, it is possible that I simply do not care… at least enough to confront?

That kind of indifference is not evidence of Calvary love.