IN PLAIN SIGHT

READING: GENESIS 3:8-13

Verse 8: “And they hear the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and Adam and his wife hid themselves form the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden.”

Following their sin, the response to God by Adam and Eve was to attempt to hide from Him. They didn’t want the Lord to see what they had done. It is easy to be critical in reading about their behavior. It may be, however, that our behavior as Christians these days is not much different. Many of us do things in the privacy of our homes that we would not want anyone from our churches to see. All of us entertain private thoughts. We would be ashamed if anyone else would come to know of some of these secret activities of our minds. If we have those reactions to people gaining knowledge of our private moments, what about God knowing of them? More or less we do act as though He, like other people, doesn’t see or know. It is easy to clearly conclude that Adam and Eve were foolish to hide. Maybe it would help us with our righteousness if we would be just as clear that that we are no different in our lives before the Lord. We can’t hide our sins either. It will be great if that fact will motivate us to more often take time before we act and consider that our Holy God is fully aware. That’s a thought – about God’s Word.

RESPONSE

1. Is there a personal response for you to this reading?

2. How many out of every ten Christians considers God’s awareness of their behaviors?

GET IT ON

READING: EPHESIANS 6:10-18

Verse 11: “Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the enemy.”

There are some situations that are just plain hard to imagine. Think of a person completely preparing and stuffing a large turkey, and then roasting it for only 15 minutes. What about someone who does a great deal of reading, but only reads the first two chapters of each book? These scenarios are difficult to grasp because, to an extreme degree, they represent only partial completion. It is true, however, that there are Christians who consider themselves thoroughly protected from the devil and his servants by one week an hour in church. Others assume that their prayer of salvation alone is sufficient to thoroughly shelter them from the reach and influence of the enemy. The Bible verse above brings clarity that identifies these as dangerously mistaken behaviors. In order to be protected from the kingdom of darkness, partial measures will not do. Every Christian must put on the whole armor of God. It is only by using the whole armor that we will be able to stand against the wiles of the enemy. That’s a thought – about God’s Word.

RESPONSE

1. How does a person put on the armor of God?

2. Is the armor put on once or more frequently?

UP FOR IT

READING: JOHN 21:1-8 

Verse 4: “But when the morning had now come, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know it was Jesus."

 The words “when the morning had now come” constitute a compelling phrase which is full of hope and anticipation. When that statement is made, a person of Christian optimism will likely expect that some improvement or refreshment is about to take place. That is because Christians know that the Bible identifies mornings as times when special blessings are granted. For example, God’s word tells us that His mercies are new in the morning; that joy comes in the morning; that God’s lovingkindness is declared in the morning; and that the glory of the Lord shall be seen in the morning. That is just a sampling of many such encouragements. It is no wonder that so many biblical personalities rose early in the morning. They experienced so many supernatural goodnesses in those early times, that they came to expect it to happen. Blessings are still available and waiting when morning comes. When we are in place and expectant, we too can consistently receive the blessings of morning delights in the presence of the Lord. That’s a thought – about God’s Word.

RESPONSE

1. What is it in the morning that causes special opportunities?

2. What gets in the way of these morning blessings?

BECAUSE OF THE LORD

READING: DEUTERONOMY 20:1-9

Verse 1: “When you go to war against your enemies, and see horses and chariots and people more numerous than you, do not be afraid of them, for the LORD your God is with you, who brought you up from the land of Egypt.”

This verse is an assurance given by God to the Israelites many years ago regarding their enemies. Today we experience adverse conditions, situations and occurrences. They are unavoidable aspects of life in this world. These are our enemies. At times they seem as powerful against us as the horses, chariots and armies seemed to the Israelites. Examples of these modern enemies are debts, sickness, abuse, anger, abortion, crime, addictions and depression to name a few. When these enemies are encountered, they can cause in us the same responses that the Israelites experienced. We are blessed that the ancient assurance given by the Lord for His people of that day, also applies to we who are His people of this day. We are charged to not be afraid of these enemies because the Lord our God is with us. Even today Almighty God remains supreme over all of our challenges, and the resolution of all our fears. That’s a thought – about God’s Word.

RESPONSE

1. What can we expect from God regarding our enemies?

2. Is there any confession you need to make to the Lord regarding fear?

CHRIST ALONE

READING: JOHN 5:31-40

Verse 39: “You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me.”
Verse 40: “But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life.”

Jesus made the statement quoted in verse 39 above to the Jewish leaders of His time. The Lord had given the Law of God to the Hebrews so they could be instructed regarding relationship with Him. He wanted them to know Him and to have eternal life in relationship with Him. However, there was a problem. They had taken what was intended to be the means to that end, and made it an end unto itself. In effect, they regarded the Law of God with attitudes of regard, worship and expectation that should have been reserved for the Law-Giver, God Himself. The Church today is not free of that error. There are some who regard and worship the things of God with a fervor that should be only for the Lord. Instead of looking to the Father for direction, answers and security, they can be found entirely focused on doctrine, theology, or the latest book on godly responses. The result of that is misuse of what should connect people with the Lord just like the priests and scribes did, or even religious abuses. According to verse 30, before placing confidence in what is from God, we must be willing to go to the Lord Himself. Then we may have life. There is no source of eternal life in glory but He and He alone! That’s a thought – about God’s Word.

RESPONSE

1. Why did Jesus say the Scriptures did not have eternal life?

2. What advantages do we have over the Hebrews?

NOT JUST FOR SCOUTS

READING: 2 TIMOTHY 2:1-7

Verse 3: “You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.”

Here are a couple of thoughts about what the verse above seems to imply. One is that a quality exists which makes soldiers able to endure hardship. Another implication is that this same quality can also help people to be faithful Christians. One quality that could contribute to both is preparedness. Being prepared for hardship increases a person’s ability to endure when it is encountered. Armies give a high priority to training so that soldiers will be prepared for the intense hardships associated with combat. Using the military analogy in this verse, Paul is preparing Timothy for hardships that were certain and predictable. Given the continuing nature of the opposition that exists against Christianity and Christian men and women, this advice about hardship is not for Timothy only. It is for all who serve the Lord! Therefore, so that we like Timothy will be able to fight the good fight, we too should seek and receive the quality of preparedness. May each of us be “...a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work.” (2 Timothy 2:21). That’s a thought – about God’s Word.

RESPONSE

1. How can you grow in preparedness?

2. How much preparedness do we need?

SUCCESSFUL

READING: LUKE 14:25-33

Verse 33: “So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple.”

In this verse the Lord Jesus sets an exceptionally high standard of expectation. However, it is a standard that 11 of the 12 disciples met. They did indeed faithfully forsake all they had. Here are three confirmations of that. Luke 5:11 says that James and John forsook all and followed Him. Luke 5:25 tells us that Matthew left all, rose up and followed Him. Matthew 4:20 states that Peter and Andrew immediately left their nets and followed Him. There were no contracts, no negotiations and no conditions. They simply stopped their lives and followed Him. They were with the Lord through sermons, teachings, healings, deliverances, prayers, dangers, triumphs, discomforts, miracles and confrontations. They left nothing undone! By their sacrifice and commitment, those disciples provide us with the ultimate model of giving all. In these days as we live our lives before the Lord, may we come to be worthy of their admirable example. That’s a thought – about God’s Word.

RESPONSE

1. What can you do at this time in your life to emulate the disciples?

2. If you could speak to one of these faithful men, what would want to ask?