Wrath: February 5, 2016

TODAY’S WORD FOR FRIDAY FEBRUARY 5, 2016.

WRATH

DEFINITION:

Strong, stern or fierce anger; rage; vengeance; deeply resentful; punishment; extreme displeasure.

SCRIPTURE:

Cease from anger, and forsake wrath. Psalm 37:8.

He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe in the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him. John 3:36.

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:

Yesterday we shared with you some thoughts on WRATH. We are using the same word today as we did yesterday, the same definition and the same scriptures as noted above. You will see that below we will use more scriptures that will help you understand what God wants from us.

In Psalms 37 we read about David and the struggles that he had in his young life running from the wrath of King Saul and his armies who sought to kill him to keep him from becoming king of Israel.

David would be the first to tell you that life for him was unfair. He had to live in caves and run from people and even armies. He had reason to be angry and to want to respond in wrath. Yet he was able to advise us in this Psalm to cease from anger and forsake wrath (Psalm 37:8). He saw that anger only leads to evil. He always survived because he put his trust in the Lord.

Take a moment now and let us look together at Psalm 37. David, in this Psalm, gives us a remedy for surviving in the midst of a world of wrath.

• In verse three we read that first and foremost, we must trust in the Lord.

• In verse four we read we are to delight our self in the Lord.

• In verse five we are told we are told to commit our way to the Lord.

• In verse seven David, we are told to wait on the Lord.

• In verse eight it reads that we are to refrain from anger and forsake wrath.

• And in verse nine it reads that those who wait upon the Lord will inherit the earth

David had to learn to trust in the Lord, to wait on the Lord, to refrain from anger and to commit every step of his life’s journey to the Lord.

In Ephesians 6:4 we have another admonition concerning wrath. We are admonished by the apostle Paul, as parents, not to provoke our children to wrath. Very simply Paul points out that the lack of love, uncontrolled anger and constant harassment in the home will provoke children to wrath.

Wrath in our lives arouses our desire to retaliate. Paul tells us in Romans 12:19 and 21, “For it is written, vengeance is mine, and I will repay, do not overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”

The key for us as believers is to control the intent of our hearts. We are to cease from anger, forsake wrath at all costs, and wait patiently on the Lord. Remember that revenge restrained is a victory gained. Learn to turn the other cheek and see what God will do.

LEARNING:

Our memory verse for this week is found in Jeremiah 17:9.

The heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately sick; who can understand it?

PRAYER:

Give me the opportunity today to share with someone the importance of not acting out of anger in our lives. May each person I meet today realize that if they do not accept You as their Savior that they will receive the wrath of God and will spend eternity in hell.

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Wrath: February 4, 2016

TODAY’S WORD FOR THURSDAY FEBRUARY 4, 2016.

WRATH

DEFINITION:

Strong, stern or fierce anger; rage; vengeance; deeply resentful; punishment; extreme displeasure.

SCRIPTURE:

Cease from anger, and forsake wrath. Psalm 37:8.

He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe in the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him. John 3:36.

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:

John the Baptist used the word wrath in Matthew 3:7 when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to see him as he was preaching and baptizing. John the Baptist called them a “generation of vipers” and asked them “who warned them to flee from the wrath to come?”

The “wrath of God” that John the Baptist is talking about is the wrath of God toward sin. People like their concept of God to be a God of love, kindness, and peace. The wrath of God is seldom talked about. Many non-believers ask the question, “How can a God that is holy get angry and still be holy? But we need to understand that it is God’s holiness that requires Him to be a God of wrath. God cannot tolerate sin and be holy.

God hates sin and therefore must condemn it and judge it. It is because God is a God of love that He has provided for all a way of escape from the wrath of His judgment through His gift of salvation that He provided through the sacrifice of His Son on the cross for all of our sins. Yes, God is a God of love and kindness and is so patient with the ungodly and the wicked that He gives them every opportunity to repent of their sins and accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior.

The words in the verse we have put above from John gives us an insight into what the reality is of God’s wrath. In this passage, John tells us that all who do not believe in the Son of God will experience the wrath of God and not only spend eternity with God but will spend eternity in hell.

There is a difference between the wrath of God and human wrath. Our wrath seems to always be vindictive. God’s wrath is untainted and tempered by mercy. God does not want anyone to die. Many people today say that life is unfair and they blame God. Nevertheless the wrath of God is real but in His mercy He has made it possible for us to escape. We only need to accept Jesus as our Savior in order to escape the wrath of God and spend eternity with God in heaven. It is our choice. We will continue to talk about wrath tomorrow. Do not miss the thoughts we will share with you.

LEARNING:

Our memory verse for this week is found in Jeremiah 17:9.

The heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately sick; who can understand it?

PRAYER:

Give me the courage and strength to be an example to my family and friends by showing them through my actions a loving heart and through my words the love that God has for them.

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Steadfastness: February 3, 2016

TODAY’S WORD FOR WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 3, 2016.

STEADFASTNESS

DEFINITION:

Firm and resolute in purpose, faith and adherence; unwavering.

SCRIPTURE:

Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain. I Corinthians 15:58.

For though I am absent in the flesh, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ. Colossians 2:5.

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:

Being steadfast in your faith is a difficult assignment in our world today. Christians are under attack for being “politically incorrect” for their moral beliefs. For young people there are many outside pressures and influences on them continually to compromise their Christian beliefs and standards. When we were raising our children we regularly felt the responsibility to teach them from God’s Word and to be consistent in encouraging them to be steadfast (firm) in their faith.

Believers need to understand that their steadfastness in their faith will be evident by their obedience to God’s Word which will govern the way they live. It is steadfastness of our faith in Christ that gets us through times of uncertainty we will face daily in our lives.

In the above verse from I Corinthians, the apostle Paul was talking to the believers at the church of Corinth. His words to them need to be taken seriously by us today. He challenged them to be steadfast, immoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord. If we live according to this challenge from Paul, we will be a shining light in a dark and evil world to all who know us. Paul closes out this verse by reminding us that when we are steadfast in our faith that our labor for Him will not be in vain.

Do not get discouraged if at times you do not see results from the work you do for your Lord. Remember anything done for the Lord, a good word; a good deed is never useless. Whatever is done to honor the Lord will have eternal results. God will reward us in His perfect timing and the reward we will get in heaven will be greater than anything we could obtain on this earth that we live on today.

In the second verse we have put above Paul is speaking to the believers in the church at Colossi. He has heard that they are walking with the Lord and daily working on establishing their faith. He is congratulating them for their steadfastness in remaining strong in their faith. Their unwavering faith caused the apostle Paul to rejoice.

Is it your desire as a believer in Jesus to stay steadfast in your faith? You need to work at it daily and the result will be that our Lord will rejoice. Our desire should be to hear Jesus say to us, “Well done good and faithful servant.”

LEARNING:

Our memory verse for this week is found in Jeremiah 17:9.

The heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately sick; who can understand it?

PRAYER:

Help me and my family to grow daily in the grace and knowledge of the Lord. May we be steadfast, firm and resolute in our stand for our Lord.

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Popularity: February 2, 2016

TODAY’S WORD FOR TUESDAY FEBRUARY 2, 2016.

POPULARITY

DEFINITION:

The quality of being regarded with approval or affection by people in general.

SCRIPTURE:

For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? Mark 8:36-37.

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:

In the verse we have put above, what was Jesus saying to us? He was bringing to our minds the simple equation of profit and loss. He is reminding us that our soul is worth more than all the popularity, all the riches and all the pleasures of this world. No matter how much you have of what the world offers you, if you do not have salvation in Jesus Christ you are eternally bankrupt (profit or loss). What would you consider giving in exchange for your soul? Your soul is eternal and worth more than anything this world has to offer.

Popularity is not a bad trait if it comes to a person for the right reasons and from the right actions. It is when popularity becomes an obsession that it is dangerous because it often leads to compromising one’s character. The desire for popularity is one of Satan’s tools. Many people have sold their souls to the devil to gain popularity.

Popularity inflates the ego and changes one’s heart. This happened in the life of Saul. After Saul became King over Israel, he obeyed God and God gave him great victories over Israel’s enemies. The success of Saul made him very popular with the people but this popularity changed him. He not only did not give God the glory for his victories but in I Samuel 15:12 we are told that he turned away from God and he had a monument built in his honor.

Jesus gained popularity while He was on this earth because He was God. His loving compassion, Godly wisdom, consistent teaching and healing touch made Him someone special and the crowds came to listen to Him. He was popular because His teachings changed lives. He always honored God and gave His Father the glory and many were convinced to believe in Him as the Son of God.

Popularity is not what God wants us to strive for in life. God has a higher goal for us. He desires that we seek a close relationship with Jesus and then allow Him to work through us. If through this popularity comes our way then it is of God. We are then to bring glory to His name through all that we do.

LEARNING:

Our memory verse for this week is found in Jeremiah 17:9.

The heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately sick; who can understand it?

PRAYER:

Keep me from seeking popularity from the world and draw me into a close relationship with You. May I strive to make people see Christ through me so that they will desire to turn away from the evil attractions of the world they live in.

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Lazy: February 1, 2016

TODAY’S WORD FOR MONDAY FEBRUARY 1, 2016.

LAZY

DEFINITION:

Adverse to or disinclined to work or exertion; slow; sluggish; lack of interest or drive.

SCRIPTURE:

But the Lord answered and said to him. You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed.
Matthew 25:26.

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:

Many people are considered lazy. A lazy person never learns to make good use of their time and finds little purpose in life. They spend most of their free time watching hours of television, going to many movies, surfing the internet, eating and sleeping. They basically sit and accomplish nothing. Laziness leads to lost opportunities.

God has given all of us the gift of time and He expects us to use our time to His glory. Many believers do not understand this or if they do they just ignore God and respond by doing nothing that honors Him.

In the parable of the talents that we read about in Matthew 25, Jesus gave to each of three servants the number of talents determined by their ability. He gave them no more than what He thought they could handle. When the servants came back to report on how they invested their talents, the master responded to the servant that received five talents and doubled them saying, “Well done good and faithful servant.” The same response was given to the servant that received two talents and doubled them. But the servant who received one talent told his master that he was afraid of what the master might do to him if he lost the talent given to him. He said that he hid it in the ground. The master said that he was just a wicked and lazy man.

Notice that the two servants who were diligent and made good use of what they were given were a blessing to their master and were rewarded.

God gives us gifts of talent, time and resources according to what He feels our ability is to handle them. He expects us to use what He gives us wisely and productively. Laziness makes us unproductive. When we are too lazy to use the gifts that God has given us we are like the lazy servant who buried the talent he was given.

It does not matter how much God has given us but how well we use what He has given us. Those of us that are diligent in using the abilities given us to serve the Lord will be rewarded and those of us who are lazy will receive God’s condemnation.

Matthew 25:26 (above) links laziness and wickedness. Being lazy means one is basically accomplishing nothing in life to honor the Lord. Living a lazy life usually leads to self-centeredness and activities that are wicked in God’s sight.

Proverbs 10:4 reads that “lazy hands make a man poor, but diligent hands bring wealth.” Proverbs 12:24 reads that, “The lazy man will be put to forced labor and the hand of the diligent rule.” In Proverbs 13:4 we are told that the lazy man desires and gets nothing. For the lazy there is no satisfaction in life. And finally, in Proverbs 24:30-31 we are told that when one goes by the field of a lazy man you will find it over grown with weeds and thorns.

Take a moment right now and evaluate how you are using the talents that God has given you. You might teach a Sunday school class, sing in the choir, pack food boxes for the poor or whatever God has called you to do. We urge you to enlarge your vision today and begin to serve God in places you have not served before. When we are ready to serve God, He will find a way to use us.

LEARNING:

Our memory verse for this week is found in Jeremiah 17:9.

The heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately sick; who can understand it?

PRAYER:

Help me to acknowledge that my time and my talents are a gift from You. Help me to use them wisely and productively for Your glory. Increase my vision and open doors for me to serve You. Help me to begin at home and then reach out to a hurting and evil world that needs to know You as their Savoir.

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