August 31 – Go & Do.
Deuteronomy 27:10 “Thou shalt therefore obey the voice of the Lord thy God, and do his commandments and his statutes, which I command thee this day.” Sacrifice. Exodus 5:17 “But he said, Ye are idle, ye are idle: therefore ye say, Let us go and do sacrifice to the LORD.” We are not to be idle in our work or service for the Lord. When we remain idle we cannot yield fruit or give glory to God. We can sacrifice our time for Him. How long do we spend wasting time on other things when we could spend it at His feet? Serve. 1 Kings 17:13 “And Elijah said unto her, Fear not; go and do as thou hast said: but make me thereof a little cake first, and bring it unto me, and after make for thee and for thy son.” Think of the blessing that the Widow of Zarephath would have missed if she had neglected to obey and serve Elijah. Not only would she have missed the miracle, she wouldn’t have managed to survive. God not only sustained her and her son, but He allowed them to witness a miracle each day of their lives until the famine was over. What miracles have we missed in our lives because we neglected to serve and obey? Show Mercy. Luke 10:37 “And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.” We want to be shown mercy when we have done wrong or disregarded something that was our responsibility; yet, when the tables are turned are we as willing to show mercy as we are to receive it? If we want to obtain mercy, we must show mercy to others. Forgive. Let go of the bitterness or anger. Have compassion. May we go & do as He has said today. Sacrifice. Serve. Show Mercy. Bible Reading: Job 41-42 | Revelation 5 | Psalm 32
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Colossians 1:9-12
“For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness; Giving thanks unto the Father…” No doubt the Lord has blessed your life with some special people. Take a moment to reflect on those that have made a difference in your life. The greatest thing you can do for someone you care about is to pray for them. “Prayer opens the way for God Himself to do His work in us and through us. Let our chief work as God's messengers be intercession; in it we secure the presence and power of God to go with us." – Andrew Murray Intercessory prayer is vastly important. If we desire others to pray for us, we must have a burden to pray for others. What a privilege it is to go before the throne of grace and bear the burdens of our loved ones. In the first chapter of Colossians we find a strategy for praying with purpose for the people in our lives. Pray for them often. Colossians 1:3 “We give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you,” Pray for them to obtain knowledge & wisdom. Colossians 1:9 “For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;” Pray for them to be fruitful. Colossians 1:10 “That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;” Pray for them to be strengthened. Colossians 1:11 “Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;” Pray for them with a thankful heart. Colossians 1:12 “Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:” “We never know how God will answer our prayers, but we can expect that He will get us involved in His plan for the answer. If we are true intercessors, we must be ready to take part in God’s work on behalf of the people for whom we pray.” – Corrie ten Boom Who are you praying with purpose for today? Bible Reading: Job 39-40 | Revelation 4 | Psalm 31 Psalm 71:15-18
“My mouth shall shew forth thy righteousness and thy salvation all the day; for I know not the numbers thereof. I will go in the strength of the Lord God: I will make mention of thy righteousness, even of thine only. O God, thou hast taught me from my youth: and hitherto have I declared thy wondrous works. Now also when I am old and greyheaded, O God, forsake me not; until I have shewed thy strength unto this generation, and thy power to every one that is to come.” When we go forth to pursue the calling that God has placed on our lives we do not have go alone or under our own ability. We can confidently press on through His strength! Psalm 73:26 “My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.” Our strength will fail us and cause us to doubt the decision we have made to follow Him. From the small details to the big events, if we go forth on our own power we will be disappointed every time. It is in those times when we must stop and ask God for His help in all that we do. Psalm 71:9 “Cast me not off in the time of old age; forsake me not when my strength faileth.” We must remind ourselves how frail we are without the Lord. We can only truly show His strength when we yield our own strength to His. Don’t allow your flesh to delay or prevent you from fulfilling the Lord’s purpose for your life. If you submit your will to Him today, rest assured you will not be disappointed. Have you ever heard of someone who has ever fully given his or her life to be used by God and regretted it? Nope. Let God use your life for His glory. Wherever the Lord has placed you, strive to show His strength and power to everyone around you. If you aren’t exactly sure where God would have you to serve, do not fret. Start where you are. Bible Reading: Job 37-38 | Revelation 3 | Psalm 30 Matthew 25:40
“And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.” The Truth must be told to all those around us. When we comfort them by doing good works, even sharing a cup of water, we are showing the love of Christ. In this passage we find several examples of good works we can do unto others. Feed the hungry. Give a cup of water to the thirsty. Clothe the naked. Sit with the sick. Visit the prisons. Christ said that when we do these things we have done them unto Him. Similar to our passage today, in Matthew 10, Jesus sent the disciples out to preach the Gospel. He told them to go even though their needs weren’t met ahead of time. He wanted them to go by faith and without fear. He wanted His disciples to trust that God would supply their need through those around them. We see missionaries leave their home for the place where they are called to spread the Gospel and reach “the least of these”. They answer the call that God has placed on their lives and willingly go by faith that He will supply their needs. God often uses those around us to supply our needs! After the missionaries leave home, the place where they were sent becomes home because they are where God would have them to be. Home is wherever God places us because He is there! Where has God called you to reach “the least of these”? It may be across the world on another continent, or across the country in another state. It may be across town where you work, or within the walls of your own household. Wherever God has placed you, remember that even giving a cup of water can be done for Christ. God can use you if only you will give your life to Him. Matthew 10:39 “He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.” Bible Reading: Job 35-36 | Revelation 2 | Psalm 29 Romans 10:13
“For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Whosoever: whatever person; anyone; no matter who. Whosoever does not exclude anyone. All are welcome. It’s that simple. Whosoever appears in 163 verses in the Bible. Many of which describe anyone that is able or willing to do something. Anyone Can Believe. John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” Once you see yourself as a sinner, if you will simply “call upon the name of the Lord”, you can be saved from spending eternity in the Lake of Fire separated from God forever. You may said…”It’s not for me.” or “I’ll never be good enough.” But God said…Whosoever. God is not willing that any should perish. That includes you. No call for salvation goes unheard. When Peter was sinking in the water the Lord heard him cry, “Lord, save me”, and rescued him. When the Blind Man cried out, “Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy on me“, the Lord heard him and healed him. If you will call upon His Name today He’ll save you too. This also encourages us that anyone we share the Gospel with can be saved. It is our responsibility to share the Truth of the Gospel with those around us and allow God to work in their hearts for salvation. Share the Whosoever. message with someone today. Bible Reading: Job 33-34 | Revelation 1 | Psalm 28 Mark 13:10
“And the gospel must first be published among all nations.” As the disciples noticed the great buildings around the temple, Christ began to disclose what will happen during the end times. Peter, James, John and Andrew then asked Jesus privately to explain how they would know the time was near. Reading through the next passage of Scripture, the descriptions that Christ gives are very similar to those of today. “wars and rumours of wars...nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom...earthquakes in divers places...famines and troubles” Does this not sounds familiar? Jesus then begins to describe the religious persecution that Christians in the last days will face. We hear even today about beatings, beheadings, and crucifixions of Christians in the Middle East who chose to take a stand for their faith. If these things are already happening, how close are we to Christ calling His church home? However before the end can occur, Jesus Christ promises that “the Gospel must first be published among all nations.” When we trusted Christ as our Saviour, He did not immediately take us to Heaven because He has given us an ultimate purpose for our lives…to publish the Gospel. The Great Commission is not limited to the men of God called to be preachers, or those called to full-time Christian service. In order to reach “every creature” every Christian must “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel”. To preach is not just to get behind a pulpit during a service, but to proclaim the Name of Jesus Christ and His finished work on Calvary so that all can be saved. What are you doing to proclaim the Good News? How can you publish the Gospel? Live The Gospel. Not only should we proclaim the Gospel to others, but we should also live the Gospel. Our lives should be an image of what Christ did for us. His death, His burial, and His resurrection should be visible in us. We must die to ourselves. We must bury our pride and our own will in exchange for His. We must live again through him by dying to ourselves, showing we are born again as a new creature. I Corinthians 9:14 “Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel.” Give The Gospel. Pray for opportunities to tell others of the Gospel of Christ. Ask the Lord for an open door to witness to a friend, family member, or a total stranger. Nothing is more valuable than talking with someone about how their eternity can be changed. Be bold, and give the Gospel by telling others what Christ did for you. Ephesians 6:19-20 “And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel, For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.” Leave The Gospel. When speaking about the Good News is not ideal, you can leave the Gospel with others. A Gospel tract can speak boldly to a person when a verbal conversation isn’t possible. Tracts preach the Gospel after you leave. When the Word of God is printed and given, Seeds are sown. Only Heaven will reveal the fruit that has been yielded through the printed Word of the Gospel. Hebrews 4:12 “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” It is up to us to publish the Gospel among all nations. Fulfill your purpose today, and reach someone with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Bible Reading: Job 31-32 | Jude | Psalm 27 Isaiah 43:1-2
“But now thus saith the Lord that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine. When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.” Isn’t comforting to be reminded of just how much the Lord has done for us? When we slow down and take the time to remember all that He has given and sacrificed for us, how can we not be encouraged? From the foundation of the world, God had a plan that included us. As He spoke the rivers and mountains into existence, we were on His mind. As He saw His Son walk to Calvary to give His life as a ransom for many, we were on His mind. Our verses today remind us of how much that the Lord has given, and the comforting promises that He will continually provide. He Redeemed Us. I Peter 1:18-19 “Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:” He Called Us. 2 Timothy 1:9 “Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,” We Are His! 2 Timothy 2:19 “Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his…” He knows His children, and regardless of our situation He will never leave us. When we face adversity, He promises that He will be with us. Whether we face rain, rivers, or a raging fire, He is right there beside us each step of the way. We may get wet, but we will not drown. We may feel the heat of the flames, but we will not get burnt. When we trust in Him, our Saviour will rescue us no matter what circumstance we face. Whatever you are facing today, have no fear! Trust Him to guide you each step of the way as you walk by faith. Remember that God has redeemed you by the precious Blood of His Son. Remember that He has called you for His purpose and glory. Remember that you are His, and He loves you like you are His only child! Take time today to remember the Lord’s comforting promises. Bible Reading: Job 29-30 | III John | Psalm 26 Proverbs 24:10
“If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small.” Although we do not like to think about it, our times of adversity are just as much appointed by God as times of prosperity. When it is our turn to partake in the sufferings of Christ, we must remind ourselves that the trials and afflictions make us more like Him. It is comforting to know that our times of adversity are not described as years or even days, but rather a “day”. Though it may not seem like a short time while we are facing the challenge, in light of eternity it is sure to be only a day. Our affliction is but for a moment! 2 Corinthians 4:16-17 “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;” We read that, for the Christian, suffering persecution is something we can count on. When we live our lives in service to God we are sure to suffer just as Christ did when He walked on this earth. It is not a matter of if, but rather when we shall face adversity. 2 Timothy 3:12 “Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.” Though we suffer, we can renew our strength by relying on the Lord to carry us through our troubles. When we yield our weakness to His strength we can run and walk boldly with Him. We can face the adversity in our lives through His power and strength. Isaiah 40:28-31 “Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding. He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.” If we faint in our day of adversity it is because we are relying on our strength instead of His. Don’t give in to the desire to faint or quit. Renew your strength today by waiting on the Lord to defeat the adversity you are facing. Bible Reading: Job 27-28 | II John | Psalm 25 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.” Be Strong! We can be strong when we admit our weakness and allow it to be replaced by His strength. We must realize that we have no strength in and of ourselves. Ask the Lord to strengthen your hands as you work for Him. Isaiah 35:3-4 “Strengthen ye the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees. Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold, your God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompence; he will come and save you..” Be Courageous! When the Lord gives us a task we can courageously press on knowing that He will provide the ability and power needed to accomplish it. God can give us a boldness to carry us through every day of our lives. 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.” Be Fearless! Even when many enemies seem to be surrounding you, do not be discouraged or intimidated. With the Lord our side, we have no reason to fear! 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.” The Lord has promised to not only go with us, but to fight for us! We can be strong, courageous and fearless because He desires to fight our battles for us, if only we will let Him. Deuteronomy 20:4 “For the LORD your God is he that goeth with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you.” Our flesh tends to get in the way and try to convince us that we can take care of ourselves. This is a tactic of none other than the devil himself. When we fight our battles alone, we will surely lose. God wants us to stand still and allow Him to fight for us. Exodus 14:14 “The Lord shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.” Allow God to fight your battle today. Allow Him to carry you through even the most difficult circumstance. Be strong. Be courageous. Be Fearless. Bible Reading: Job 25-26 | I John 5 | Psalm 24 Psalm 143:1
“Hear my prayer, O Lord, give ear to my supplications: in thy faithfulness answer me, and in thy righteousness.” Praise the Lord that we serve a God Who answers prayer! His ears are always open to our cry. He is never too busy to hear us, and He desires to hear from us often. When we pray…God always answers. A Direct Answer. Isn’t it amazing when the Lord answers just like we prayed? It is encouraging to see our prayers answered in just the way we asked. God allows our specific requests to be delivered to encourage us to keep on asking. No detail is too small to pray about. No circumstance is too large that the Lord cannot deliver. Ask Him today for the small details and the big situations. A Different Answer. Sometimes the Lord answers in a totally different way than what we asked for or expected. He always has a greater plan. He may answer in an unexpected way that may have seemed impossible at the time, for He is God. There is no impossibility or nothing too hard for Him. Allow God to use the different answers to your prayers to reveal His glory in your life. A Denied Answer. Sometimes the Lord says “No”. Though it may not be the answer we desire, He has still answered our prayer. When He says “No” it is always for our good, for He always know what is best. Be satisfied and thankful even when your request is denied. “God always gives His best to those who leave the choice to Him.” Clarence Sexton A Delayed Answer. It may seem like He is four days late, but the Lord is always on time. Mary and Martha thought that all hope was lost when their brother died before Christ arrived in Bethany. Jesus was heartbroken at the loss of His friend, but He knew that it wasn’t the end. Four days after he had died, Lazarus was raised from the dead. Sometimes the Lord allows time to pass and all hope seems gone so that He can work a miracle in our lives. If your answer seems delayed have no fear, He is always right on time. God always answers, so why do we not always pray? Let your requests be made known unto Him today. He will answer! Bible Reading: Job 23-24 | I John 4 | Psalm 23 |
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