Colossians 1:16-17
"For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.” Every time that God intervenes in our lives it should be a reminder of Who He is. “…by him…” His actions speak for themselves, but He is the only One Who’s Words truly speak louder than His actions. In His Word, we learn Who He is, what He has already done, what He is doing right now, and what He has promised He will do. His Word always makes the difference. It continually tells us Who He is. He is Creator. Every part of God’s creation was created by Him. John 1:3 “All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.” God spoke and things appeared. Every intricate detail of His creation, including us, was put into place the moment He uttered the Words. What power He displayed by simply speaking! Almighty power…which only comes from Him. “…by him…” All throughout the Scriptures, we can see His presence dwelling with His children. Every example that is left for us with the pages of the Word of God is there to remind us of Who He is and how only “…by him…” can things happen. The same Almighty power that created the earth in which we live, the same Almighty power that breathed the breath of life into Adam and created the Woman from his rib…is available to us today through His Word. What has He created in your life? Allow every circumstance to remind you of Who He is. Bible Reading: 2 Kings 19-20 | Ephesians 4
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1 Corinthians 2:10
"But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God." Like a shining thread woven intricately in a remnant of tapestry, two words are frequently found together throughout the pages of Scripture. These two words are without a doubt intentionally placed in many verses all throughout both the Old and New Testaments…perhaps to continually remind us of the Truth that is found within them. “But God…” Two words, and just six letters…yet unending mercy and grace. Search the Scriptures to find the Truths connected to these two words. He intervenes. He protects. He directs. He promotes. He abides. He redirects. He delivers. He provides. He defends. He interjects. He redeems. He fights. He strengthens. He judges. He overthrows. He rebukes. He prepares. He forgives. He reproves. He knows. He heals. He loves. He confounds. He reveals. He gives. He destroys. He calls. He mediates. He forbids. He tries. He quickens. He is Faithful. 1 Corinthians 10:13 “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” He is Merciful. Ephesians 2:4-5 "But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)" Every moment, every circumstance, every sweet and every bitter situation, He is working for our good and His glory. No matter how dark, God has a purpose. No matter how bright, God has a plan. “But God…” Let Him intervene in your life today. Bible Reading: 2 Kings 17-18 | Ephesians 3 Exodus 10:26
“Our cattle also shall go with us; there shall not an hoof be left behind; for thereof must we take to serve the LORD our God; and we know not with what we must serve the LORD, until we come thither.” In 1907, Baden-Powell, an English soldier, devised the Scout motto: Be Prepared. He wrote that to Be Prepared means “you are always in a state of readiness in mind and body to do your duty.” More than a century later, preparedness is still a cornerstone of Scouting. Moses was leading the children of Israel to be prepared for whatever lied ahead. “…for thereof must we take to serve the LORD our God; and we know not with what we must serve the LORD, until we come thither.” He was preparing to take with them whatever may be necessary to serve and worship the Lord. Take To Serve…Be Prepared…Consider this motto in reference to our walk with the Lord…we should always Be Prepared for what He has in store. But how can we do that? Seek To Be Prepared Psalm 34:10 “The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the LORD shall not want any good thing.” Study To Be Prepared 2 Timothy 2:15 “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” Submit To Prepared Romans 12:1 “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.” The most important aspect of being ready to serve Him is yielding unto Him. If we try to accomplish anything in our own strength or abilities, it will return void and be fruitless. John 15:4 “Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.” It is Him working in and through us that makes a difference in eternity. We need only prepare ourselves to allow Him to do so. Bible Reading: 2 Kings 15-16 | Ephesians 2 Esther 4:16
“Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast likewise; and so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish.” Esther was willing to do what was not only unlawful, but deadly. She knew the consequences, but the life of her people was at stake. Esther 4:14 “…who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” God had placed her there for a reason. Have you ever considered that God has you where you are right now for a specific purpose? She encouraged others to contribute, because she knew she could not to do this on her own. They fasted for her while she fasted in faith that He would provide. Sometimes, we must use extraordinary measures to seek the Lord and His provision. Mark 9:29 “And he said unto them, This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting.” She had faith to do what she could. “…and so will I go…” She was willing to die for her faith. “…and if I perish, I perish.” Whatever happened, she knew God had a plan. She only desired to follow Him. On the third day, Esther put on her royal apparel, and stood in the court of the king in faith that God would intervene. Esther 5:2 “And it was so, when the king saw Esther the queen standing in the court, that she obtained favour in his sight: and the king held out to Esther the golden sceptre that was in his hand. So Esther drew near, and touched the top of the sceptre.” God’s timing is everything. He knows who, what, when, where, and how something or someone is needed. Esther’s faith enabled her to be used by the Lord in such a special way; but she is not the only one He desires to use for His glory. God has you where you are for such a time as this. There are no coincidences to what you are facing. Acts 20:24 “But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.” Seek the Lord for guidance, and when He directs…yield to Him, regardless of the consequences. Bible Reading: 2 Kings 13-14 | Ephesians 1 Esther 4:14
“For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father's house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” When we venture into uncharted territory by faith, there inevitably comes a point where we must make another decision of whether to continue on or abandon the mission. Sometimes, what the Lord leads us to do goes against the rules. Esther told Mordecai it was unlawful for her to do what he suggested. Esther 4:11 “All the king's servants, and the people of the king's provinces, do know, that whosoever, whether man or woman, shall come unto the king into the inner court, who is not called, there is one law of his to put him to death, except such to whom the king shall hold out the golden sceptre, that he may live: but I have not been called to come in unto the king these thirty days.” If she did what he asked, she would literally have to risk her life. Mordecai knew the danger before he charged her to go in unto the king. But he had faith that God would intervene somehow. Esther could hold her peace and miss the opportunity for God to use her to protect His people, or carry on in faith that He would direct and provide. “…who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” The time is now. We make choices throughout every day of whether or not we will allow the Lord to use us for His glory. Sometimes we yield to Him, and sometimes we miss out on what He had planned. Missing out may give us safety, but is it worth missing the rewards He has in store? The rewards that are not for a trophy shelf but are what we will cast at His feet. The rewards are not for us, they are for Him. Choose today to follow the Word of the Lord, and nothing else. Allow Him to direct your path. Yield to His direction, no matter where it may take you. Colossians 3:23-24 “And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.” No task is too small or too great if it is for His glory. Bible Reading: 2 Kings 11-12 | Galatians 6 Joshua 3:4
“Yet there shall be a space between you and it, about two thousand cubits by measure: come not near unto it, that ye may know the way by which ye must go: for ye have not passed this way heretofore.” Unprecedented times cause us to react in one of two ways…fight or flight. We can choose to stay and venture by faith through the unknown, or we can run and hide away in fear. They had not been in this place or situation before. Joshua was used of the Lord to lead the children of Israel after the death of Moses. His response to his uncharted territory is an example of how we should also conduct ourselves in uncertain times. Joshua 3:5 “And Joshua said unto the people, Sanctify yourselves: for to morrow the LORD will do wonders among you.” His first two words made all the difference. He knew that they must set themselves apart to seek the Lord and allow Him alone to lead them. The people followed Joshua because He followed the Lord. The Lord blessed his leadership because it was solely focused on what the Lord would have them to do and where He wanted them to go. Joshua 3:7 “And the LORD said unto Joshua, This day will I begin to magnify thee in the sight of all Israel, that they may know that, as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee.” The Lord was with Him. Joshua yielded himself to the Lord, which allowed Him to do great things in and through him. “…Sanctify yourselves: for to morrow the LORD will do wonders among you.” When we are in uncharted territory, may we realize there is opportunity for the Lord to do great things. Bible Reading: 2 Kings 9-10 | Galatians 5 Joshua 2:10
“For we have heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red sea for you, when ye came out of Egypt; and what ye did unto the two kings of the Amorites, that were on the other side Jordan, Sihon and Og, whom ye utterly destroyed.” They say news travels fast. This is especially in our modern-day world with all the technology we have at our fingertips. Something can happen across the globe, and we will likely receive a notification about it in a matter of minutes. News begins to travel in one of two ways. Those who experienced it, and those who witnessed it. How did Rahab hear of the Lord drying up the Red Sea for the children of Israel? This news traveled fast and had an effect on those who heard it. Joshua 2:11 “And as soon as we had heard these things, our hearts did melt, neither did there remain any more courage in any man, because of you: for the LORD your God, he is God in heaven above, and in earth beneath.” When the Lord does something miraculous, that news should be spread faster than any media broadcast cycle. Notice how Rahab phrased her statement about knowing what the Lord had done: “we have heard how the Lord…________________...for you” Consider for a moment what would be applicable for you to put in that blank. For You. Have people heard what the Lord has done for you? If we were to take a notepad and begin writing out every single thing the Lord has done for us, there would not be enough paper at our disposal to do so. Why? Because that is how much He loves us. The love of God is inexhaustible and unexplainable. Every single thing He does for us is out of that love. Yes, it begins with our salvation…but it does not stop there. Salvation is only the beginning of our story. His love brings purpose to our lives, and when we yield ourselves to Him there is no telling what He has in store. Rahab had heard what the Lord had done for the two spies, and her faith in that He could do the same for her changed her life as well. What have people heard that the Lord has done for you? Start telling them today. It could change their life too. Bible Reading: 2 Kings 7-8 | Galatians 4 Exodus 18:23
“If thou shalt do this thing, and God command thee so, then thou shalt be able to endure, and all this people shall also go to their place in peace.” Endurance does not come naturally or automatically. It is a skill that must be learned and earned through diligence and hard work. We cannot put on a pair of brand-new running shoes and go run 26.2 miles to earn a sticker for the back of our vehicle when we have not ran even a block in five years. It simply does not work that way. God did not create our bodies to automatically handle such pressure or strain. If we desire to run a marathon, we must train and prepare. The same is true in our spiritual lives. As we walk with the Lord on a daily basis, He enables within us an endurance to withstand the race set before us. Paul endured, and the Lord delivered him. 2 Timothy 3:11 “Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me.” Abraham patiently endured. Hebrews 6:15 “And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise.” What an example of how we should wait…yet so often we choose to be impatient while we bear the trial we are facing. Although there are many examples throughout the pages of Scripture of how the Lord can enable us to endure what comes our way, there is One Who is truly the Ultimate Example. Hebrews 12:2 “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” We can endure whatever comes before us, simply because He chose to endure the cross for us. The key to enduring is choosing to willingly obey what God commands. The Lord promised Moses that if he would do that, He would enable him to endure, and give them peace. There is peace available to us as He enables us to endure whatever may come…if only we will first choose to do what the Word of God says. Bible Reading: 2 Kings 5-6 | Galatians 3 Psalm 40:1
“I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry.” Have you ever been talking with someone and you know they do not hear you? Or perhaps they hear your voice, but it is obvious they are not listening to your words. Whether stranger, friend or family… this happens from time to time in our daily conversations because we are all flesh. Sometimes distractions get in the way. But there is One… He is never too busy. He is never distracted. He is never not listening. (Yes, double negative, but its true.) He hears us. So much so that over and over again we see this promise throughout His Word. He reminds us that He will hear us, if only we will call upon Him. He hears our call, our cries, our complaints, our burdens, our rants, and even our ramblings. Psalm 3:4 “I cried unto the LORD with my voice, and he heard me out of his holy hill. Selah.” Psalm 18:6 “In my distress I called upon the LORD, and cried unto my God: he heard my voice out of his temple, and my cry came before him, even into his ears.” Psalm 34:4 “I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.” Jonah 2:2 “And said, I cried by reason of mine affliction unto the LORD, and he heard me; out of the belly of hell cried I, and thou heardest my voice.” He hears us. Simply because He cares for His children. Every promise with the pages of Scripture are rooted in the fact that He loves and cares for us. The promises that He hears us should cause us to desire to call upon Him. Jeremiah 33:3 “Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.” In order for Him to answer, He must first hear our call. Bible Reading: 2 Kings 3-4 | Galatians 2 Joshua 1:5
“There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.” Joshua had a new chapter in his life that included new responsibilities. He was commissioned to do go forth and lead others. Can you imagine the weight on Joshua’s shoulders as he heard this? His flesh must have swelled in pride only to be crippled by fear. How could he do this on his own? The Lord comforted Joshua by giving him the same promise He gave to Moses. Deuteronomy 31:6 “Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.” The Lord never leaves, fails or forsakes His children. Over and over again this same promise is shown through the testimonies of the children of the Lord. As He was with Moses… Exodus 13:21-22 “And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night: He took not away the pillar of the cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night, from before the people.” As He was with Joshua… Joshua 1:9 “Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.” As He was with David… 1 Chronicles 28:20 “And David said to Solomon his son, Be strong and of good courage, and do it: fear not, nor be dismayed: for the LORD God, even my God, will be with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee, until thou hast finished all the work for the service of the house of the LORD.” As He was with Israel… Isaiah 41:10 “Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.” As He was with ____________________... …so He will be with us. How many examples of His faithfulness to do we need in order to believe what He says? Hebrews 13:5 “Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” He promises to abide with His children. Bible Reading: 2 Kings 1-2 | Galatians 1 |
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