Proverbs 11:30-31
“The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise. Behold, the righteous shall be recompensed in the earth: much more the wicked and the sinner.” Many times the Bible refers to fruit as something that is reproduced as a result of something or someone else. In the Garden of Eden and just after the Flood, God spoke the same message to His people. Genesis 1:28 “And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply…” Genesis 9:1 “And God blessed Noah and his sons, and said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth.” The righteous possess Wisdom that can be shared without ever running out. When we give others the Gospel of Jesus Christ, we multiply what He has done within our hearts. When we win souls for Him, we are sharing Wisdom with others. Christ told of the Source of the fruit. John 15:4-5 “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. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.” Christ told us of our purpose. John 15:16 “Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.” Christ commissioned us to tell the world about Him. Mark 16:15 “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” A soul winner brings forth fruit for the glory of the Christ…fruit that remains. Bible Reading: 2 Chronicles 29-30 | Titus 3
0 Comments
Proverbs 11:3
“The integrity of the upright shall guide them: but the perverseness of transgressors shall destroy them.” God gives us an example within the Scriptures of how the integrity of the upright shall guide us if only we yield to Him in wisdom. Job 2:3 “And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? and still he holdeth fast his integrity, although thou movedst me against him, to destroy him without cause.” Job was such an upright man, and full of integrity, that the Lord asked Satan if he had considered him while walking to and fro upon the earth. God had faith in Job that he would remain faithful despite the persecutions upon his life. Do we have enough integrity for God to recommend us? Job 2:9 “Then said his wife unto him, Dost thou still retain thine integrity? curse God, and die.” Job even stayed faithful when those closest to him advised him to give up. He refused to give in to Satan’s attacks, and remained full of integrity all his days. Job 27:5 “God forbid that I should justify you: till I die I will not remove mine integrity from me.” Job 31:6 “Let me be weighed in an even balance, that God may know mine integrity.” Allow the Word of God to teach and guide you today, for it is only with those Pages that integrity is found. Bible Reading: 2 Chronicles 27-28 | Titus 2 Romans 7:18-20
“For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.” Tying a string on your finger is a way of remembering to do something that you may otherwise forget. We are a forgetful people; often forgetting to do those things we should, and remembering only to do that which we should not. The Apostle Paul admitted this trait in his letter to the Romans. He confessed that his flesh often got in the way of what his new nature desired. Acknowledging and depending on the power of the Word of God is the only one way to resolve the conflict between our flesh and our spirit. Three times throughout the Book of Proverbs it is written to “bind them” upon ourselves. Proverbs 3:3-4 “Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart: So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man.” An ornament is often placed around the neck for safekeeping and held close to the heart with special meaning. What are you keeping in your locket? Proverbs 6:21 “Bind them continually upon thine heart, and tie them about thy neck.” The heart of the person is displayed in their actions. What is written on your heart? Proverbs 7:3 “Bind them upon thy fingers, write them upon the table of thine heart.” We must do whatever is necessary to remember what the Word of God has to say in order to apply the Truth to our lives. What is tied upon your fingers? Psalm 119:105 “Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.” Binding His Word upon our lives is imperative to fulfilling our God given purpose. Bible Reading: 2 Chronicles 25-26 | Titus 1 Proverbs 21:1
“The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will.” No matter who holds the highest governmental position in the land, they are still at the footstool of the King of Kings. Matthew 5:34-35 “But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God's throne: Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King.” No matter how many votes are cast, God in His Wisdom chooses who is elected. They may hold a position, but it is God Who controls what will or will not occur for they are in His hand. Daniel 2:20-22 “Daniel answered and said, Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever: for wisdom and might are his: And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding: He revealeth the deep and secret things: he knoweth what is in the darkness, and the light dwelleth with him.” God controls everything by His Wisdom, yet offers to give us Wisdom if only we would ask. James 1:5 “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.” Proverbs 2:6-7 “For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding. He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous: he is a buckler to them that walk uprightly.” Thank Him today for all He has given you, and remember that He is in control. Daniel 2:23 “I thank thee, and praise thee, O thou God of my fathers, who hast given me wisdom and might, and hast made known unto me now what we desired of thee: for thou hast now made known unto us the king's matter.” Bible Reading: 2 Chronicles 23-24 | 2 Timothy 4 Jeremiah 9:23-24
“Thus saith the LORD, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches: But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD.” What are you glorying in today? In other words, what do you consider beautiful and meaningful? Each season of life brings our focus on something different; but no matter our experience, we choose where our attention is given. If we truly examine ourselves in light of what the Word of God has to say about us, we have but only one choice in what to glory in. 2 Corinthians 10:17-18 “But he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord. For not he that commendeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord commendeth.” Galatians 6:14 “But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.” Sometimes, the Lord uses pain in our lives to bring Himself glory. When we are wronged, we have to choose how we will react to the affliction. Our choice will determine how much glory we take from or give to Him. Matthew 5:38-39 “Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.” When we choose to turn the other cheek, it may allow the opportunity for another hit, but more than that it allows Christ to fight the battle for us. Our wounds do not compare to what He endured for us or to the glory that will be revealed in us when we suffer willingly for Him. Romans 8:18 “For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.” Bible Reading: 2 Chronicles 21-22 | 2 Timothy 3 Hebrews 9:27
“And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:” Judgment Day is coming…and not the Arnold Schwarzenegger kind. The Word of God warns us about this Truth. We are appointed to die, and to be judged by God. Where we will be judged is dependent upon our choice of where we will spend eternity. His children will appear before Him at the Judgment Seat of Christ, and the unsaved will be at the Great White Throne. 2 Corinthians 5:10 “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.” Revelation 20:11 “And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.” The ungodly may scorn and scoff at their forthcoming judgment, but that not excuse them from their impending appointment. We all have an appointment to keep. Romans 10:13 “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Revelation 20:15 “And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.” Every single person will be one of two whosoevers. Make your choice now, before you do not have a choice of where you will spend eternity. If you have already made this decision, consider those around you who still have an appointment awaiting them. Will you tell them before it’s too late? Make the choice today to share the love of Christ and His glorious Gospel. Bible Reading: 2 Chronicles 19-20 | 2 Timothy 2 Genesis 41:52
“And the name of the second called he Ephraim: For God hath caused me to be fruitful in the land of my affliction.” Throughout most of the life of Joseph, that we have to learn from, he is away from his father. This was the root of his affliction. Later on, in Genesis 49, we see that despite his affliction Joseph was fruitful. Genesis 49:22 “Joseph is a fruitful bough, even a fruitful bough by a well; whose branches run over the wall:” Affliction is simply misery, trouble or depression. Joseph found himself there many times, but he never let it stop him. He could have stayed in that pit. He could have wallowed in the prison. He knew God had a purpose and greater plan. Our affliction can make us miserable or we can choose to allow the Lord to make us fruitful in the midst of our misery. Psalm 119:50 “This is my comfort in my affliction: for thy word hath quickened me.” Allow your misery to point you to the Word of God. Psalm 119:71 “It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes.” Any misery we endure can be worth it, if we allow it to make us fruitful. 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 “For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.” Bible Reading: 2 Chronicles 17-18 | 2 Timothy 1 Genesis 41:51
“And Joseph called the name of the firstborn Manasseh: For God, said he, hath made me forget all my toil, and all my father's house.” Every day we live we endure hardships and situations that make us want to complain. It is in those times that we fail to remember all the good, and instead choose to focus on all that seems to be going wrong. If anyone had a right to complain, it was Joseph. He expected a birthright from his father. His brothers literally put him in a pit, and then sold him into slavery. He was no stranger to family drama. Joseph experienced firsthand many toils that we likely will never face. Yet, through it all, he knew God was Faithful. He chose to name his firstborn Manasseh as a constant reminder of how God had delivered him from all his toil, and made him forget all the sorrow and wearisome trouble that he endured. Psalm 30:5 “For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.” Through the Lord’s providence, we too can forget it all by choosing to focus on His goodness and grace. Psalm 103:1-2 “Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name. Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:” Joseph allowed the Lord to use any wrong someone tried to do against him for His glory. Genesis 50:20 “But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.” We can forget it all when we remind ourselves that He is working it all together for our good and His glory. Romans 8:28 “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” Whatever toil you face today, God has allowed it and He has a purpose. Focus on the One Who is Faithful, and He will help you to forget it all. Bible Reading: 2 Chronicles 15-16 | 1 Timothy 6 Joshua 14:12
“Now therefore give me this mountain, whereof the LORD spake in that day; for thou heardest in that day how the Anakims were there, and that the cities were great and fenced: if so be the LORD will be with me, then I shall be able to drive them out, as the LORD said.” How often do we just depend on ourselves to get something done? The number of times we are successful at that cannot be too high. We fail in our own strength because we are limited creatures. Yet, if we would only look to our Creator for strength, the possibilities are endless. Caleb realized this. He was 85 years old and declared himself as strong as he was 45 years ago…simply because he knew the Source of his strength. “…if so be the LORD will be with me …” His presence makes all the difference. The three Hebrew boys displayed this same Truth in hearts before they were thrown into the fiery furnace. They knew God was able to deliver them. Daniel 3:17 “If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king.” We have read and heard what God has done for others. We can even remember what He has done for us in the past. “…if so be the LORD will be with me, then I shall be able…” When we acknowledge Him in all things, we are able to see Him do all things through us. Romans 8:31 “What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?” Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” Bible Reading: 2 Chronicles 13-14 | 1 Timothy 5 Numbers 14:34
“After the number of the days in which ye searched the land, even forty days, each day for a year, shall ye bear your iniquities, even forty years, and ye shall know my breach of promise.” We have often heard the phrase “Sin will take you farther than you want to go, and cost you more than you want to pay.” How true. Perhaps we’ve seen it in our own personal lives or the lives of our loved ones. The children of Israel were no different. So much can be learned from the examples that are preserved in the Word of God for us to glean. Their lives were like rollercoasters. Many highs and many lows. Twists and turns that were mostly as a result of their disobedience and disregard for what the Lord said. Their unbelief cost them greatly time and time again. Sound familiar? They spent 40 years wandering in the wilderness as a result of the 40 days they searched the land. Ten men brought an evil report upon the land and made all the congregation to murmur and slander. Numbers 14:26-27 “And the LORD spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying, How long shall I bear with this evil congregation, which murmur against me? I have heard the murmurings of the children of Israel, which they murmur against me.” What if every day we delay our obedience led to a year of delay of God’s blessings? Many of the children of Israel died in the wilderness. Many did not get to come into the promised land. The children of the people that murmured suffered because of their parents’ decisions. They bore the repercussions and reproaches. They wandered aimlessly for 40 years bearing their parents’ iniquities. Sin has consequences. How long will you wander? Will your children be reproached because of your decisions? Murmuring hurts not only those whose lips are moving, but those whose ears hear it. One day’s decision is not worth a year of regret and despair. Choose to obey today. Bible Reading: 2 Chronicles 11-12 | 1 Timothy 4 |
Archives
January 2021
Philippians 4:17Copyright © 2020
Delight Thyself Design Ministries, Inc. All rights reserved. |