FROM THE INSIDE OUT

READING: 2 Corinthians 4:16-18

Verse 16: “Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day.”

For many people there is a great deal of stress these days about aging. Immense amounts of funds are being spent in attempts to retard or reverse the process of getting older. The Bible provides encouragement for anyone who is overly concerned about the effects of accumulating years. 2 Corinthians 4:16 as quoted above, provides wise counsel. In that verse we are advised against being too greatly involved with the external and to concentrate on the internal. This is because what is seen is temporary, but what is not seen is eternal. This is a lesson that definitely applies to aging bodies. Many people direct their focus primarily on what is seen outwardly as they grow older, however these efforts will eventually fail them. However, those who give that level of quality attention to the unseen things of the Spirit can expect double benefit. They will avoid much anxiety in their lives on the earth, and then be blessed with an eternal heavenly reward. That’s a thought - about God’s Word.

RESPONSE

1. What title would you choose for the thought you just read?

2. What do you think about your balance between the inward and the outward?

IT’S BETWEEN GOD AND YOU

READING: PSALM 34:1-22

Verse 1: "I will bless the LORD at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth.”

The attitude expressed in verse 1 above carries on in verse 3 which says “Oh magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt His name together.” Both of these verses demonstrate a praiseful attitude toward God. What could be expected in the life of a person with such an attitude? The verses that follow in Chapter 34 respond to that question. Such a person is promised to be heard by God. Then upon hearing, the Lord will deliver from all fears and save from all troubles. Such a person will not be ashamed, will be protected by the angel of the Lord, and shall not lack any good thing. None of those who trust in Him shall be condemned. There is much rich reward from a proper attitude toward the Lord. It is that attitude between God and you that connects you, draws you and establishes you. Psalm 31:23 sums it up. “Oh love the Lord all you saints, for the Lord preserves the faithful... and He shall strengthen your heart, all you who hope in the Lord.” That’s a thought - about God’s Word.

RESPONSE

1. Can you recall a recent time when you experienced victory as the result of a praiseful attitude toward the Lord?

2. Can you identify a trend toward either more or less godly reward in your life and if so, can you relate your experience to your attitude toward God?

NO MATTER WHAT – HE CAN SAVE

READING: 1 SAMUEL 14:6-14

Verse 6: “Then Jonathan said to the young man who bore his armor, ‘Come, let us go over to the garrison of these uncircumsised; it may be that the LORD will work for us. For nothing restrains the LORD from saving by many or by few.”

Jonathan, the son of King Saul along with his armor bearer, although vastly outnumbered, were preparing to attack an enemy garrison. As they departed from their position, Jonathan expressed his faith in the Lord as quoted above. To him the battle before them was not a matter of the numbers of combatants. He was not considering the relative weakness of two men compared to many at the garrison. He was convinced that God could save the army of Israel using only the two of them. It was not a question of neither their ability, nor the numerical odds they faced. For him it was strictly a matter of what God could do! We need attitudes like Jonathan’s. When we face situations for which the resources available seem inadequate, as Christians we don’t have to fear or become discouraged. At such times, we can believe in the manner that Jonathan did. We can respond with faith that our Lord can save under any condition. That’s a thought – about God’s Word.

RESPONSE

1. As you read this scripture and the thought offered above, what opinion do you form about Jonathan?

2. We should not neglect the armor bearer. What do you think of him?

BETTER THAN YOUR BEST GUESS

READING: 1 Samuel 8:1-22

Verse 6: “But the thing displeased Samuel when they said, ‘Give us a king to judge us.’ So Samuel prayed to the LORD.”

In 1 Samuel 8, the Bible describes the elders of Israel who were in the process of going to Samuel the great prophet with a complaint. They wanted to have a king so they could be like the other nations around them. It says that Samuel was displeased with their request, so he prayed to the Lord. The difference in responses between the elders and Samuel, demonstrates two styles of decision making. The elders made a decision based on their observations of those around them and their desire to be like the neighboring nations. They reached a conclusion based on some degree of logic, but for the most part guided by their feelings. There was some emotion involved for Samuel also. The Bible states he was displeased with the elders. He could have been displeased enough for him also to act upon his feeling. Samuel’s choice, however, was to not permit his feeling to rule. Instead, he prayed to the Lord. The remainder of Chapter 8 confirms the godliness that resulted from Samuel’s choice, which opened the situation to the leadership of the Lord. Like Samuel, it is best for us also to pray to the Lord so that godliness will result in our decision making. That’s a thought – about God’s Word.

RESPONSE

1. Is your decision making enough like the elders that change is needed? If so, how should you change?

2. Are you more like Samuel in your decision making? If so, what does that indicate to you regarding future decisions?

SAID AND DONE

READING: GALATIANS 5:13-18

Verse 16: “I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.”

Paul has instructed Christians to walk in the Spirit in order to not be subject to the flesh. On the surface this seems to be a pretty simple expectation. However, walking in the Spirit is much more easily said than done. Therefore, people either consciously or unconsciously use behaviors other than walking in the Spirit in their attempts at godliness. These other behaviors only create the impression of avoiding the lust of the flesh. These people may seem to be following Paul’s direction, but they may be missing an important requisite for truly walking in the Spirit. We must as stated in 1 Corinthians 2:12 be received “not of the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God...”. It is only by this Spirit and His impartation, that we truly overcome the lust of the flesh. That’s a thought – about God’s Word.

RESPONSE

1. How did you respond the last time you were tempted by a lust of the flesh? Did you resist with your will or did you call on the Lord?

2. Are you walking in the Spirit, do you need to study or recommit to walking in the Spirit?

BY APPOINTMENT ONLY

READING: 2 CORINTHIANS 5:17-21

Verse 20: “Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God.”

Paul identified himself as an ambassador for Christ. His self perception fully agrees with the dictionary definition of an ambassador. An ambassador temporarily resides in a foreign place. Paul considered living on the earth as being in a foreign place because heaven was home. Ambassadors represent their governments to other nations. Paul represented his heavenly government to all the tribes, tongues and nations of the world through his teaching and living the Gospel. An ambassador is a diplomatic agent of the highest rank. The Apostle Paul was certainly a representative of the Kingdom of Heaven and of its King, who was achieved of the highest order. The power and authority of Paul’s ministry is more than adequate proof of his status. It may be that no one else will ever match the world changing magnitude of Paul’s calling. However, even so, we too are called to be ambassadors for Christ. That’s a thought – about God’s word.

RESPONSE

1. In your Christian living, how much do you identify with Paul’s status of ambassador?

Low 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 High

2. Are there people in your life to whom you are called to be an ambassador?

NOT BY POWER OR MIGHT

READING: COLOSSIANS 3:1-13

Verse 12: “Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness,longsuffering;”

This verse informs Christians, as the elect of the Lord, to receive godly qualities. Those who are serious about godliness are eager to obey, but sometimes don’t see how to get there. Some are worn out, frustrated, or defeated from their attempts at obedience. These people need to know that a successful response to this scripture is accomplished by the power of God, and not by human effort or striving. The scriptural prescription to accomplish this and all spiritual goals is given in scriptures such as Luke 11:9 – “...ask and it will be given to you...”; John 14:14 – “if you ask anything in my name I will do it”; and James 4:2 – “...you do not have because you do not ask”. As we desire to be merciful, kind humble, meek and longsuffering; we can trust the Lord’s promise to freely give us all things. It is His gifting and provision that complete the work. That’s a thought – about God’s Word.

RESPONSE

1. Is your process of putting on the qualities described above properly balanced between what you expect of God and what you expect of yourself.

2. In terms of the bumper sticker that was popular years ago, is the Lord your co-pilot, or do you regard Him as your pilot.