GEMS OF ENCOURAGEMENT FOR SATURDAY MARCH 1, 2014
PROVERB:
If you are wise, your wisdom will reward you; if you are a mocker, you alone will suffer. Proverbs 9:12.
PROMISE:
Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit will reap eternal life. Galatians 6:7-8.
PRAISE:
For great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; He is to be feared above all gods. For all the gods of the nations are idols, but the Lord made the heavens. Psalm 96:4-5
March 2, 2014
Longing: February 28, 2014
TODAYS WORD FOR FRIDAY FEBRUARY 28, 2014
LONGING
DEFINITION:
Prolonged earnest desire.
SCRIPTURE:
I am hard pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better. Philippians 1:23
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:
Paul is sharing with the Church at Philippi, in this verse, his struggle in his mind as to where he would rather be at that moment. He is relating that he has equal pressure that is being exerted from both sides. Here he is speaking of his personal desires and not necessarily that which the Lord would desire. He makes it clear that his personal will is to be swallowed up in the sweet and perfect will of God.
At the time he wrote Philippians Paul was in prison. It was not where he longed to be. Paul is longing to be with Christ but he knows that his mission on earth is not complete. The centerpiece of this entire dialog from Paul is Christ. In verse 21 Paul says simply and concisely, “For to me to live is Christ.” As long as the Lord had a purpose for him to live, even if it was in prison, he would accept that.
There are many examples in life today where children and adults face longings in their lives. How many children have you heard about that go on their first overnight camping experience and in the middle of the night they had a longing for mother and father at home?
There were times in our lives before we were married living 2000 miles apart that we faced a longing to see one another. We needed to look beyond that longing anxiously waiting the day we knew we would see one another again. It is normal to long to be with those that we love.
Paul looked at life differently than those who do not know God. For those who are apart from God life here on earth is all there is. Their passion in life is to gain worldly treasures such as money, fame, power, popularity, and pleasure. Paul’s passion in life was to become more like Christ and serve Him.
Paul spoke out boldly for Christ, suffered persecution, and imprisonment for it. Whether he lived or died Paul wanted to exalt Christ. Dying would be better for him because he would be removed from his earthly troubles and he would be with his Savior he loved. Yet for Paul to live meant he was to have fruitful labor. (Philippians 1:27). Paul’s fruitful labor was to bring people to Christ and build up the believers in their faith.
Many times we have talked to or heard about friends who were fighting sickness, economic struggles or strained relationships and they had a longing to call it quits and go to heaven and leave their troubles behind.
In times of suffering it is natural for us as believers to think longingly about being with Jesus, just as Paul did. As God’s children we know that this world will never truly be home to us. Paul loved serving Christ, as we should, but a part of him longed to be with the Savior as we do. It is comforting to know that being with Jesus in our eternal home will be far better than being here on earth.
We, as believers, can be confident that when we face those moments of longing to be free of life’s struggles we have strength that comes from our Lord. He will give us all we need to step up and live above our worldly longings. As Paul said, for him to live was Christ and was all he needed and longed for. This is what the Lord wants to be our reason for living. When we put our trust in Jesus, He will take our worldly longings away. What do you long for? Do you long to be with Jesus who loves you so much that He was willing to die for you?
LEARNING:
Our memory verse for this week is found in I John 1:3.
That which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ.
PRAYER:
Help me to live above any worldly longings that I face today. Thank You for the longing that I do have to spend an eternity with You. Until that day comes give me the strength daily to serve and love You with all my heart.
LONGING
DEFINITION:
Prolonged earnest desire.
SCRIPTURE:
I am hard pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better. Philippians 1:23
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:
Paul is sharing with the Church at Philippi, in this verse, his struggle in his mind as to where he would rather be at that moment. He is relating that he has equal pressure that is being exerted from both sides. Here he is speaking of his personal desires and not necessarily that which the Lord would desire. He makes it clear that his personal will is to be swallowed up in the sweet and perfect will of God.
At the time he wrote Philippians Paul was in prison. It was not where he longed to be. Paul is longing to be with Christ but he knows that his mission on earth is not complete. The centerpiece of this entire dialog from Paul is Christ. In verse 21 Paul says simply and concisely, “For to me to live is Christ.” As long as the Lord had a purpose for him to live, even if it was in prison, he would accept that.
There are many examples in life today where children and adults face longings in their lives. How many children have you heard about that go on their first overnight camping experience and in the middle of the night they had a longing for mother and father at home?
There were times in our lives before we were married living 2000 miles apart that we faced a longing to see one another. We needed to look beyond that longing anxiously waiting the day we knew we would see one another again. It is normal to long to be with those that we love.
Paul looked at life differently than those who do not know God. For those who are apart from God life here on earth is all there is. Their passion in life is to gain worldly treasures such as money, fame, power, popularity, and pleasure. Paul’s passion in life was to become more like Christ and serve Him.
Paul spoke out boldly for Christ, suffered persecution, and imprisonment for it. Whether he lived or died Paul wanted to exalt Christ. Dying would be better for him because he would be removed from his earthly troubles and he would be with his Savior he loved. Yet for Paul to live meant he was to have fruitful labor. (Philippians 1:27). Paul’s fruitful labor was to bring people to Christ and build up the believers in their faith.
Many times we have talked to or heard about friends who were fighting sickness, economic struggles or strained relationships and they had a longing to call it quits and go to heaven and leave their troubles behind.
In times of suffering it is natural for us as believers to think longingly about being with Jesus, just as Paul did. As God’s children we know that this world will never truly be home to us. Paul loved serving Christ, as we should, but a part of him longed to be with the Savior as we do. It is comforting to know that being with Jesus in our eternal home will be far better than being here on earth.
We, as believers, can be confident that when we face those moments of longing to be free of life’s struggles we have strength that comes from our Lord. He will give us all we need to step up and live above our worldly longings. As Paul said, for him to live was Christ and was all he needed and longed for. This is what the Lord wants to be our reason for living. When we put our trust in Jesus, He will take our worldly longings away. What do you long for? Do you long to be with Jesus who loves you so much that He was willing to die for you?
LEARNING:
Our memory verse for this week is found in I John 1:3.
That which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ.
PRAYER:
Help me to live above any worldly longings that I face today. Thank You for the longing that I do have to spend an eternity with You. Until that day comes give me the strength daily to serve and love You with all my heart.
Future: February 27, 2014
TODAYS WORD FOR THURSDAY FEBRUARY 27, 2014.
FUTURE
DEFINITION:
Yet to come or happen; relating to a later time.
SCRIPTURE:
If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that. James 4:15.
For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Jeremiah 29:11
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:
Jeremiah was a prophet chosen by God to bring a gloomy message to Judah of the coming destruction of Jerusalem, in the very near future, unless they repented of their sins. Judah rejected Jeremiah’s warning and Jerusalem was destroyed and the people were taken captive to Babylon. The exiles had no hope for the future. The 29th chapter of Jeremiah is a text of Jeremiah’s letter he sent to the captives. It was a word of hope from God assuring them of a future because God controls the future and He has plans to bring them back from captivity. (Jeremiah 29:14)
Time magazine in a 1992 issue had an article titled “BEYOND THE YEAR 2000”. This article was sharing with their readers what to expect in the future -- the new millennium. In this article they wrote: “The first rule of forecasting should be that the unforeseen keeps making the future unforeseeable.”
James states it this way: “Now listen you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money. Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow’”. We don’t know what will happen tomorrow much less in the future. (James 4:13-14)
Time magazine’s article acknowledges that no one knows what the future will bring and that man has no control over the future. No one can foresee the future, but we can know the one who not only foresees the future but controls the future. Any plans we make that omit God are foolish. Put God’s desires at the center of your planning and He will honor them.
Many people begin a statement that they may make about the future with -- “The Lord willing.” This is a clear and concise message acknowledging that God’s overruling hand controls the future. James tells us that we should daily say that “If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.” (James 5:15). As we look ahead to the future as believers in Jesus we need to keep God firmly in view. We can face the future with confidence when we include Him in our plans. Our plans will disappoint us if we leave God out of them.
Those of us who know Jesus Christ as our Savior can face the future with complete joy. The future of the human race is in God’s hands. We have a choice. We can confidently place our own hands in the outstretched hands of God or we can run from Him and turn our backs on Him.
Even if we choose to flee from Him now, we never will be able to escape His hand. At a future time, His hand will hold the gavel of judgment. If we place our hand in His now in trust and faith we will never fear that gavel of judgment.
Our future has been secured by Christ’s death on the cross and His resurrection from the grave. He is alive and all who believe and receive Him will spend their future in eternity with Him. Nothing can change that.
LEARNING:
Our memory verse for this week is found in I John 1:3.
That which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ.
PRAYER:
Thank You for dying on the cross for me so that I can spend the future in my heavenly home with You. May the practical words of wisdom that I read in James be accepted by my family to guide us to live lives pleasing to You. Help us to grow together in our love for You and may we desire to serve and honor You with all our plans for the future.
FUTURE
DEFINITION:
Yet to come or happen; relating to a later time.
SCRIPTURE:
If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that. James 4:15.
For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Jeremiah 29:11
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:
Jeremiah was a prophet chosen by God to bring a gloomy message to Judah of the coming destruction of Jerusalem, in the very near future, unless they repented of their sins. Judah rejected Jeremiah’s warning and Jerusalem was destroyed and the people were taken captive to Babylon. The exiles had no hope for the future. The 29th chapter of Jeremiah is a text of Jeremiah’s letter he sent to the captives. It was a word of hope from God assuring them of a future because God controls the future and He has plans to bring them back from captivity. (Jeremiah 29:14)
Time magazine in a 1992 issue had an article titled “BEYOND THE YEAR 2000”. This article was sharing with their readers what to expect in the future -- the new millennium. In this article they wrote: “The first rule of forecasting should be that the unforeseen keeps making the future unforeseeable.”
James states it this way: “Now listen you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money. Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow’”. We don’t know what will happen tomorrow much less in the future. (James 4:13-14)
Time magazine’s article acknowledges that no one knows what the future will bring and that man has no control over the future. No one can foresee the future, but we can know the one who not only foresees the future but controls the future. Any plans we make that omit God are foolish. Put God’s desires at the center of your planning and He will honor them.
Many people begin a statement that they may make about the future with -- “The Lord willing.” This is a clear and concise message acknowledging that God’s overruling hand controls the future. James tells us that we should daily say that “If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.” (James 5:15). As we look ahead to the future as believers in Jesus we need to keep God firmly in view. We can face the future with confidence when we include Him in our plans. Our plans will disappoint us if we leave God out of them.
Those of us who know Jesus Christ as our Savior can face the future with complete joy. The future of the human race is in God’s hands. We have a choice. We can confidently place our own hands in the outstretched hands of God or we can run from Him and turn our backs on Him.
Even if we choose to flee from Him now, we never will be able to escape His hand. At a future time, His hand will hold the gavel of judgment. If we place our hand in His now in trust and faith we will never fear that gavel of judgment.
Our future has been secured by Christ’s death on the cross and His resurrection from the grave. He is alive and all who believe and receive Him will spend their future in eternity with Him. Nothing can change that.
LEARNING:
Our memory verse for this week is found in I John 1:3.
That which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ.
PRAYER:
Thank You for dying on the cross for me so that I can spend the future in my heavenly home with You. May the practical words of wisdom that I read in James be accepted by my family to guide us to live lives pleasing to You. Help us to grow together in our love for You and may we desire to serve and honor You with all our plans for the future.
Wisdom: February 26, 2014
TODAYS WORD FOR WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 26, 2014.
WISDOM
DEFINITION:
Understanding what is true, right or lasting. The ability to make good use of knowledge and forming a sound judgment; discernment; ability to recognize right from wrong.
SCRIPTURE:
Seek wisdom as silver, and search for her as for hidden treasures. Proverbs 2:4.
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:
Solomon in about the 10th century before Christ recommended having a serious commitment when pursuing wisdom. In the definition of wisdom that we put above, understanding what is true, right, or lasting, is critical if we want a life that glorifies our Holy God.
In Proverbs 2, Solomon mentions several ways to describe our needed efforts to gain wisdom. He said, “Incline your ear,” “apply your heart,” “cry out,” “lift up your voice,” “seek her,” and “search for her.” If we put the same effort into seeking wisdom as many do in seeking silver and hidden treasures, God will give wisdom to all those who earnestly seek it.
Seeking wisdom takes effort. It is gained through a constant process of growing. Many scholars take years of schooling to get wisdom. Wisdom does not come from schooling or books. In Proverbs 2:6-7, Solomon tells us: “For the Lord gives wisdom; from His mouth comes knowledge and understanding.” True and sound wisdom comes from the Lord.
To gain wisdom we must trust and honor God and realize that the Bible reveals God’s wisdom to us. If we seek wisdom we can do as Solomon did and pray and ask God for wisdom and then obey God’s instruction to us given in His Word. The Bible teaches us to know what is right and what is wrong which enables us to make right choices and avoid moral pitfalls. If we seek God’s wisdom He will give it to us as He has promised.
Solomon who was the author of most of the sayings recorded in Proverbs was not only worldly wise but also personally insightful but he acknowledged what he needed most was wisdom that comes from God. As Solomon was preparing to ascend to the throne of Israel, God offered him anything he desired. He asked God for a wise and understanding heart to lead the people of God. This request revealed deep personal wisdom but wisdom alone would prove fruitless unless it was permeated by the wisdom of God, which He gave to Solomon in unusual measure.
The book of Proverbs approaches life for us from the position that God has all the answers. He is all-wise and all-knowing. Nothing is hidden from His knowledge. He understands all of the mysteries of life and has every answer to the riddles of life we each face from day to day. Therefore the beginning of wisdom for us is to revere and fear God. (Proverbs 1:7)
We are to remember to seek God with all of our heart because He is the source of all wisdom for our lives. You can acquire much knowledge in life but true wisdom only comes from God.
LEARNING:
Our memory verse for this week is found in I John 1:3.
That which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ.
PRAYER:
Help me to seek Your wisdom with all my heart so that I will not rely on worldly knowledge but on the true wisdom that only You can give.
WISDOM
DEFINITION:
Understanding what is true, right or lasting. The ability to make good use of knowledge and forming a sound judgment; discernment; ability to recognize right from wrong.
SCRIPTURE:
Seek wisdom as silver, and search for her as for hidden treasures. Proverbs 2:4.
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:
Solomon in about the 10th century before Christ recommended having a serious commitment when pursuing wisdom. In the definition of wisdom that we put above, understanding what is true, right, or lasting, is critical if we want a life that glorifies our Holy God.
In Proverbs 2, Solomon mentions several ways to describe our needed efforts to gain wisdom. He said, “Incline your ear,” “apply your heart,” “cry out,” “lift up your voice,” “seek her,” and “search for her.” If we put the same effort into seeking wisdom as many do in seeking silver and hidden treasures, God will give wisdom to all those who earnestly seek it.
Seeking wisdom takes effort. It is gained through a constant process of growing. Many scholars take years of schooling to get wisdom. Wisdom does not come from schooling or books. In Proverbs 2:6-7, Solomon tells us: “For the Lord gives wisdom; from His mouth comes knowledge and understanding.” True and sound wisdom comes from the Lord.
To gain wisdom we must trust and honor God and realize that the Bible reveals God’s wisdom to us. If we seek wisdom we can do as Solomon did and pray and ask God for wisdom and then obey God’s instruction to us given in His Word. The Bible teaches us to know what is right and what is wrong which enables us to make right choices and avoid moral pitfalls. If we seek God’s wisdom He will give it to us as He has promised.
Solomon who was the author of most of the sayings recorded in Proverbs was not only worldly wise but also personally insightful but he acknowledged what he needed most was wisdom that comes from God. As Solomon was preparing to ascend to the throne of Israel, God offered him anything he desired. He asked God for a wise and understanding heart to lead the people of God. This request revealed deep personal wisdom but wisdom alone would prove fruitless unless it was permeated by the wisdom of God, which He gave to Solomon in unusual measure.
The book of Proverbs approaches life for us from the position that God has all the answers. He is all-wise and all-knowing. Nothing is hidden from His knowledge. He understands all of the mysteries of life and has every answer to the riddles of life we each face from day to day. Therefore the beginning of wisdom for us is to revere and fear God. (Proverbs 1:7)
We are to remember to seek God with all of our heart because He is the source of all wisdom for our lives. You can acquire much knowledge in life but true wisdom only comes from God.
LEARNING:
Our memory verse for this week is found in I John 1:3.
That which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ.
PRAYER:
Help me to seek Your wisdom with all my heart so that I will not rely on worldly knowledge but on the true wisdom that only You can give.
Enemy: February 25, 2014
TODAYS WORD FOR TUESDAY FEBRUARY 25, 2014
ENEMY
DEFINITION:
One who opposes or seeks to inflict injury upon another; foe; one who is against another.
SCRIPTURE:
Love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return. Luke 6:35.
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:
Jesus in Luke 6:27-36 gives us, as believers a definitive statement on how we are to deal with enemies. Jesus starts His comments by saying. “But I say to you who hear.” He states it this way because He knows that many believers do not want to hear how He expects us to deal with our enemies. No one likes to hear anything that requires something difficult for us to do.
Jesus begins by telling us to love our enemies and to do good to them that hate you. Jesus is initiating here the most revolutionary lifestyle ever known in the history of mankind. No religion in the world can remotely compare with this. If you study other religions including Buddhism and Islam, they have absolutely no principles even close to this.
In verse 31, Jesus gives us what we know today is the golden rule. He says just as you want men to do to you, you also do to him likewise. Jesus was restating for the believers today what the law taught as recorded in Leviticus 19:18: You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself.
The natural reaction today is to return good for good and evil for evil. Think of how you have reacted at times when someone does something evil that has hurt you. You immediately want to do something hurtful to get back at that person.
When our children were young they would be playing nicely when suddenly a small war would break out and they would treat one other as their enemy. If one hit the other they would hit back. It would continue until the one losing the battle called for parental intervention.
So often a divorce results in spouses becoming bitter enemies. Sadly, children are used as pawns for one spouse to get back at the other spouse. In most cases in trying to get back at an enemy, no thought is given to who else might be hurt.
Consider how painful it was for Adam and Eve when Cain killed his brother all because he considered him an enemy (Genesis 4:8). Joseph’s older brothers considered Joseph their enemy and hated him so much they sold him into slavery. We are told how painful this was for Joseph’s father, Jacob, when his sons lied and said Joseph was dead. Jacob said he would go to his grave in mourning for his son (Genesis 37:34).
It is natural to think that evil would not be returned for good, but often evil is returned for good, especially to anyone who is perceived to be an enemy. In Genesis 16:6 we read about Hagar and Sarah. Hager was a good and obedient servant to her mistress Sarah but they became enemies and Sarah treated Hager so harshly that Hager had to flee from Sarah.
David also did good serving King Saul, bringing victory to King Saul over the Philistines. It would be expected that Saul would feel grateful to David. Instead Saul felt jealous of David and considered him an enemy and plotted to kill him.
In Luke 6:32 Jesus says it is no credit to us if we love those who love us. Even sinners do that. Jesus wants us as believers in Him (verse 33) to do the hard thing and love our enemies. Jesus goes on to say that when we give good we should give it with an attitude of not expecting anything in return. The Lord will repay us as is written in Proverbs 19:17: He who has pity on the poor lends unto the Lord; and that which he has given will He (God) repay him again.
Jesus asks us to follow His example and love our enemies and show love and mercy to others just as He does.
LEARNING:
Our memory verse for this week is found in I John 1:3.
That which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ.
PRAYER:
Help me and my family to always do good in return for any hate that may come our way. Help us by Your grace to love those that hate us always praying that they will soon return to You.
ENEMY
DEFINITION:
One who opposes or seeks to inflict injury upon another; foe; one who is against another.
SCRIPTURE:
Love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return. Luke 6:35.
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:
Jesus in Luke 6:27-36 gives us, as believers a definitive statement on how we are to deal with enemies. Jesus starts His comments by saying. “But I say to you who hear.” He states it this way because He knows that many believers do not want to hear how He expects us to deal with our enemies. No one likes to hear anything that requires something difficult for us to do.
Jesus begins by telling us to love our enemies and to do good to them that hate you. Jesus is initiating here the most revolutionary lifestyle ever known in the history of mankind. No religion in the world can remotely compare with this. If you study other religions including Buddhism and Islam, they have absolutely no principles even close to this.
In verse 31, Jesus gives us what we know today is the golden rule. He says just as you want men to do to you, you also do to him likewise. Jesus was restating for the believers today what the law taught as recorded in Leviticus 19:18: You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself.
The natural reaction today is to return good for good and evil for evil. Think of how you have reacted at times when someone does something evil that has hurt you. You immediately want to do something hurtful to get back at that person.
When our children were young they would be playing nicely when suddenly a small war would break out and they would treat one other as their enemy. If one hit the other they would hit back. It would continue until the one losing the battle called for parental intervention.
So often a divorce results in spouses becoming bitter enemies. Sadly, children are used as pawns for one spouse to get back at the other spouse. In most cases in trying to get back at an enemy, no thought is given to who else might be hurt.
Consider how painful it was for Adam and Eve when Cain killed his brother all because he considered him an enemy (Genesis 4:8). Joseph’s older brothers considered Joseph their enemy and hated him so much they sold him into slavery. We are told how painful this was for Joseph’s father, Jacob, when his sons lied and said Joseph was dead. Jacob said he would go to his grave in mourning for his son (Genesis 37:34).
It is natural to think that evil would not be returned for good, but often evil is returned for good, especially to anyone who is perceived to be an enemy. In Genesis 16:6 we read about Hagar and Sarah. Hager was a good and obedient servant to her mistress Sarah but they became enemies and Sarah treated Hager so harshly that Hager had to flee from Sarah.
David also did good serving King Saul, bringing victory to King Saul over the Philistines. It would be expected that Saul would feel grateful to David. Instead Saul felt jealous of David and considered him an enemy and plotted to kill him.
In Luke 6:32 Jesus says it is no credit to us if we love those who love us. Even sinners do that. Jesus wants us as believers in Him (verse 33) to do the hard thing and love our enemies. Jesus goes on to say that when we give good we should give it with an attitude of not expecting anything in return. The Lord will repay us as is written in Proverbs 19:17: He who has pity on the poor lends unto the Lord; and that which he has given will He (God) repay him again.
Jesus asks us to follow His example and love our enemies and show love and mercy to others just as He does.
LEARNING:
Our memory verse for this week is found in I John 1:3.
That which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ.
PRAYER:
Help me and my family to always do good in return for any hate that may come our way. Help us by Your grace to love those that hate us always praying that they will soon return to You.
Perfect: February 24, 2014
TODAYS WORD FOR MONDAY FEBRUARY 24, 2014.
PERFECT
DEFINITION:
Complete in every detail; without defect; flawless; exact; precise; conforming absolutely to the description or definition of an ideal type.
SCRIPTURE:
There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was blameless and upright, and one who feared God and shunned evil. Job 1:1
Keep back Your servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me. Then I shall be blameless (perfect) and I shall be innocent of great transgression. Psalm 19: 13.
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:
In the verse above from Job we looked at the Hebrew word for “perfect” as used in this verse. It is TAMAN and has several meanings. First, it means consumed. Job was in deep sorrow and exhausted after losing all of his family and his possessions but he remained consumed (perfect) in his trust in God.
Job is a wonderful example for us. Often in times of great loss or suffering, doubts about God creeps in and our perfect trust in the Lord grows weak. Just when we need the Lord the most, we turn away from the Lord. Job’s faith in God never wavered. When our faith grows weak the first thing we should do is get back to reading God’s Word and praying. When we seek the Lord we will find Him.
TAMAN also means upright. The psalmist writes in Psalm 19:7: “The law of the Lord is perfect restoring the soul.” God’s law is perfect because it keeps us away from sin and directs us to conform to God’s will which is to do His work of righteousness in us to make us perfect. TAMAN also means to be complete, without blemish and blameless. This was Job’s status when we read about him in Job 1.
Our Lord and Savior is perfect and as believers He has set the standards in life that we need to strive for in our lives. In Psalm 18:30 we read that as for God, His way is perfect; the Word of the Lord is proven; He is a shield to all who trust Him. What a wonderful promise of assurance this is for us as believers. We are not perfect nor has anyone in our world been perfect after Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden. It is only by the blood of Jesus that we can be made perfect. When we get to heaven we will be made completely perfect.
In Matthew 19:16-22 we read when Jesus counsels the rich young ruler. In verse 21 Jesus tells him, “If you want to be perfect, go, and sell what you have and give to the poor and you will have treasure in heaven; and then come and follow Me.”
This might seem to be an unreasonable request. Jesus knows our true heart and saw that the man’s god was his wealth. He loved himself and his possessions more than God. Jesus said we are to “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind” Matthew 22:37.
To be perfect we must follow Jesus’s commandments and give God first place in our life. We must not let anything, any sin, or anyone stand between us and God. If there is something in your life today that stands between you and God, are you willing to give it up and allow God to do His perfect work in you? Ask the Lord to “Make you perfect in every good work to do His will, working in you that which is well pleasing in His sight through Jesus Christ” Hebrews 13:21.
LEARNING:
Our memory verse for this week is found in I John 1:3.
That which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ.
PRAYER:
Dear Lord, I desire to be found perfect and upright in Your sight as Job was. Keep me from allowing sin to have dominion over me and enable me to always give You first place in my life so that You can do Your perfect work in me.
PERFECT
DEFINITION:
Complete in every detail; without defect; flawless; exact; precise; conforming absolutely to the description or definition of an ideal type.
SCRIPTURE:
There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was blameless and upright, and one who feared God and shunned evil. Job 1:1
Keep back Your servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me. Then I shall be blameless (perfect) and I shall be innocent of great transgression. Psalm 19: 13.
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:
In the verse above from Job we looked at the Hebrew word for “perfect” as used in this verse. It is TAMAN and has several meanings. First, it means consumed. Job was in deep sorrow and exhausted after losing all of his family and his possessions but he remained consumed (perfect) in his trust in God.
Job is a wonderful example for us. Often in times of great loss or suffering, doubts about God creeps in and our perfect trust in the Lord grows weak. Just when we need the Lord the most, we turn away from the Lord. Job’s faith in God never wavered. When our faith grows weak the first thing we should do is get back to reading God’s Word and praying. When we seek the Lord we will find Him.
TAMAN also means upright. The psalmist writes in Psalm 19:7: “The law of the Lord is perfect restoring the soul.” God’s law is perfect because it keeps us away from sin and directs us to conform to God’s will which is to do His work of righteousness in us to make us perfect. TAMAN also means to be complete, without blemish and blameless. This was Job’s status when we read about him in Job 1.
Our Lord and Savior is perfect and as believers He has set the standards in life that we need to strive for in our lives. In Psalm 18:30 we read that as for God, His way is perfect; the Word of the Lord is proven; He is a shield to all who trust Him. What a wonderful promise of assurance this is for us as believers. We are not perfect nor has anyone in our world been perfect after Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden. It is only by the blood of Jesus that we can be made perfect. When we get to heaven we will be made completely perfect.
In Matthew 19:16-22 we read when Jesus counsels the rich young ruler. In verse 21 Jesus tells him, “If you want to be perfect, go, and sell what you have and give to the poor and you will have treasure in heaven; and then come and follow Me.”
This might seem to be an unreasonable request. Jesus knows our true heart and saw that the man’s god was his wealth. He loved himself and his possessions more than God. Jesus said we are to “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind” Matthew 22:37.
To be perfect we must follow Jesus’s commandments and give God first place in our life. We must not let anything, any sin, or anyone stand between us and God. If there is something in your life today that stands between you and God, are you willing to give it up and allow God to do His perfect work in you? Ask the Lord to “Make you perfect in every good work to do His will, working in you that which is well pleasing in His sight through Jesus Christ” Hebrews 13:21.
LEARNING:
Our memory verse for this week is found in I John 1:3.
That which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ.
PRAYER:
Dear Lord, I desire to be found perfect and upright in Your sight as Job was. Keep me from allowing sin to have dominion over me and enable me to always give You first place in my life so that You can do Your perfect work in me.
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