HE’S NEAR - REALLY

READING: DEUTERONOMY 30:11-20 

Verse 14: “But the word is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart, that you may do it.”

Committed Christians desire in their hearts to faithfully respond to God’s directions and commands. To some this seems to be a difficult goal to achieve. For them attempts to be responsive daughters and sons of the Heavenly Father are challenging and sometimes frustrating. There is the sense that this kind of faithfulness is an impossible demand. It is as though it is all mysterious and far off. There is encouragement for those who experience these feelings. Actually it is encouragement that is good for all of us. Deuteronomy 31:11 informed the Israelites that his commandment to them was not too mysterious or far off. Because of our salvation and the presence of the Holy Spirit, that promise is even more true for us today. Further, as quoted above, we have the added promise of the nearness of the Lord and of His empowerment for us. The solid reality of this nearness is for all of God’s children, but it can’t be earned or controlled. It is a gift from the Lord that can be received only by accepting it from Him as the Giver. This gift comes to all who turn to Jesus believing and expecting. The Holy One is truly near and ready to impart just as the scriptures promise. That’s a thought – about God’s Word.

RESPONSE

1. When do you most strongly sense the nearness of the Lord?

2. Why does God give to us so freely?

NICE THINGS? – MAYBE NOT

READING: GENESIS 3:1-6

Verse 6: “So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate...”

People get deceived by things that superficially seem nice, but which are actually traps set by the devil. They say, “It would be nice to” and add to that statement something that seems pleasant. Then, too quickly for them to understand what really happened, they are actually doing that nice thing. The problem is that this nice thing has never been examined to determine if it meets godly standards, or conforms to the will of the Lord. Because of that, this thing that seems to be nice could actually be a temptation from the evil one. As described above, it happened just that way to Eve. The devil knew that if he could get her to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, Eve would be in rebellion against God. All Eve considered was that the fruit looked good, and that it seemed desirable to use it to become wise. There is another way to describe her reaction. She thought it would be nice. Instead of being nice, her choice became the most destructive decision that has ever been made. How desperately we need to learn this lesson well, so that the people of God will consistently determine the will of the Lord before acting. We must remember what a serious matter this is as defined by Proverbs 14:12. “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.” That’s a thought – about God’s Word.

RESPONSE

1. What was Eve’s first step into trouble?

2. What percentage of your decisions do you examine by godly standards?

THE PRICE OF ADMISSION

READING: ISAIAH 1:10-20

Verse 16: “Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean; put away the evil of your doings from before my eyes. Cease to do evil.”

Janet was very pleased with her son Harry. She particularly enjoyed and encouraged his participation in sports. However, one day Harry went so far as to exceed even motherly grace. Having played rugby on a rainy day, he was very, very muddy. In his excitement, Harry rushed into the family room in his muddy condition. When mom saw him, he abruptly learned he was not welcome there with his mud. Janet loved Harry, but she had just cleaned the room and did not accept his mud. It was the same with the nation of Judah before God. The people went to the Lord offering sacrifices and acts of worship, but they were covered with sin and unrighteousness. Much like Harry did in his experience, they found they were not welcome in their condition. God loved them but did not accept their sin.  Harry needed to be cleaned up. The people of Judah needed to be cleansed. That speaks to us today. In order to be welcomed and accepted by the only Holy God, we must be washed by the blood of the lamb, Jesus our Savior and Lord. That’s a thought – about God’s Word.

RESPONSE

1. How are we different before God from the people of Judah?

2. How often do we in these days need to be cleansed?

GOOD OR BAD AND UGLY

READING: 1 SAMUEL 15:13-23

Verse 23: “For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, He also has rejected you from being king.”

There is a phrase in the verse above that has shocked and convicted people who have been in rebellion. This is the phrase that states rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft. Those who are convicted by this statement because they are serious about being Christians, accept it and repent from rebellion without any further explanation. However, there are also understandings that serve to reinforce this scriptural truth. Following is a little of that understanding regarding how rebellion and witchcraft are alike. Rebellion is defined as “active opposition to authority.” In other words, a rebellious person tries to do what he or she decides regardless of directions, instructions or rules. The practice of witchcraft is also a person’s attempt to do or obtain what they want. In this case it is being attempted by engaging in occult practices. Both behaviors involve people giving priority to their will and, in the process, disregarding established constraints. Rebellion and witchcraft are both efforts to be in control, and that is the essence of sin. They are foolish activities because they oppose God’s order. How much better it is to instead submit to the authority of the Lord, and to experience loving reward rather than condemnation! That’s a thought – about God’s Word.

RESPONSE

1. Is either of the two behaviors above worse than the other?

2. How do people choose condemnation over loving reward?

YOUR CUTTING EDGE

READING: PROVERBS 27:17-22

Verse 17: “As iron sharpens iron, so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend,”

In order for sharpening to occur as described in the verse above, the two irons must intersect in the right way. If friction is applied on the side of the cutting edge, an instrument can be sharpened. If friction is applied directly on the cutting edge, it won’t be sharpened. The edge will be worn down  and dullness and ineffectiveness will result. As Christians we encounter friction as the world presses against us. If we meet that friction using just our human resources, we become worn down, dull and ineffective. Instead of that, when we accept the leadership and provision of the Lord Jesus, we meet the friction of the world in ways that cause us to be sharpened. If a Believer is feeling worn down, dull and ineffective; that person needs a change. There should not be any more pressure received directly on that cutting edge. The angle of intersection needs to be adjusted, and that is achieved when that person turns to Jesus. Then, guided by the Lord, worldly resistance and opposition will be met in ways that will actually sharpen that man or woman of God. The devil’s attempts to make that person dull and ineffective will only result in increased sharpness and Kingdom value. What is intended for evil is made to work for good. That’s a thought – about God’s Word.

RESPONSE

1. What comes to your mind as a time when adversity produced spiritual growth or increase?

2. How spiritually sharp are you?
Low 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Hi

WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE?

READING: PROVERB 9:6-12

Verse 10: “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding...” 

Two young women, Edna and June, found out about an elderly woman who was desperately lonely, and they decided to help her. They faithfully served the old lady and she grew to love them. After three years the woman’s life ended and Edna and June became millionaires. They were the only heirs of the lady’s great wealth. Edna quickly concentrated on the money she received and multiplied it. Unfortunately, her focus on finances consumed her entire life and nothing else mattered. Ironically, 40 years later it was Edna who had become the lonely old woman. During the intervening years she never gained true understanding. On the other hand, June concentrated on knowing the heart of God regarding her life, including the use of the money she had received. She used all of her money for godly purposes. Therefore, in contrast to Edna, June’s older years were vibrant and fulfilled. She was no longer rich monetarily, but she was wealthy in understanding. What is the understanding June had that Edna didn’t? It is identified in Proverbs 9:10, which informs us that knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. A life lived in Christ made the difference! That’s a thought – about God’s Word.

RESPONSE

1. How does a person obtain knowledge of the Holy One?

2. What kind of understanding results from knowledge of the Holy One?

POSITIONED FOR VICTORY

READING: 2 CHRONICLES 20:20-30

Verse 20: “So they rose early in the morning and went out into the Wilderness of Tekoa; and as they went out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, ‘Hear me, O Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem: Believe in the Lord your God, and you shall be established; believe His prophets, and you shall prosper.’”

Jehoshaphat and the people of Judah were being threatened by a great multitude of the enemy. The Lord had promised them they would not have to fight. They just needed to position themselves, and He would be with them to save them. Considering those instructions, it would be easy to conclude that they needed to be in the right position on the battlefield in order to be victorious. However, that was not Jehoshaphat’s conclusion. Instead, his top priorities were as follows: They were to believe in the Lord and the prophets of the Lord, to appoint people to sing to the Lord, and to praise the beauty  of holiness. The king realized that the essential requirement was not their physical deployment on the battlefield. Instead, it was for them to be positioned spiritually. His priorities were in order and as the result, God did win the battle for them. The implication is clear. We also need to be positioned spiritually. We too should believe in the Lord and those He sends to bless our lives, sing to Him in acknowledgment of His Lordship, and praise our God. He is with us to grant us victory today just as certainly as He was faithful to Jehoshaphat and the nation of Judah. That’s a thought – about God’s Word.

RESPONSE

1. Is there a message for you today about being positioned?

2. What made Jehoshaphat able to hear from the Lord?