Jeremiah 17:10
“I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.” When investigating to find the truth of a matter, most detective start with the visual evidence before them. They evaluate each and every piece of material left behind. They can only search out what they see. The Lord works in a completely different way. While men look on the outward appearance of things to determine the truth, He looks upon our hearts. He sees what you and I cannot see. 1 Samuel 16:7 “But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.” He looks beyond the façade that we create and portray to those around us. He looks straight into the heart of our souls. On their own, the state of our hearts is quite depressing. Jeremiah 17:9 “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” We are desperately wicked on our own. Yet, we have the option of trading our deceitfulness for His righteousness. After salvation, He searches our hearts according to our fruit. Who our hearts trust in determines the fruit of our lives. We have only two choices… Trust in People Jeremiah 17:5-6 “Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD. For he shall be like the heath in the desert, and shall not see when good cometh; but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land and not inhabited.” Trust in the Lord Jeremiah 17:7-8 “Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is. For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit.” What a clear difference there is in these outcomes, and it all depends on Who we choose to trust. Search your heart today. Evaluate who your trusting. The best way to truly know this is to simply examine the fruit of your life. Psalm 139:23-24 “Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” Use the mirror of the Word of God to show the intentions of your heart today. 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.” Bible Reading: Job 23-24 | 1 John 4
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Exodus 17:12
“But Moses' hands were heavy; and they took a stone, and put it under him, and he sat thereon; and Aaron and Hur stayed up his hands, the one on the one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun.” Moses stood on top of the hill and held the rod of God in his hand. That rod is a picture of the Word of God. Exodus 17:11 “And it came to pass, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed: and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed.” When we put down the Word, the flesh will prevail. Oftentimes, when we are serving the Lord our hands will get heavy. Especially when we are so busy in service that we neglect to spend time within the Word to strengthen our hearts. We cannot pour from an empty cup. Thankfully, the Lord often places people within our lives to help us carry the burdens that come with living a life faithful to Him. Galatians 6:2 “Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.” The Lord had Moses take Aaron and Hur with him up on that hill because the Lord knew that he would need them. When Moses’ hands were heavy, Aaron and Hur took a stone for Moses to sit and rest. He never put his hands down, yet he was able to sit upon the stone to regain his strength. What a picture of the Rock of Ages that we have to rest upon! While Moses was sitting upon the stone, Aaron and Hur stayed up his hands so that they could remain steady in the fight. Each of these men were placed there by the Lord for a specific purpose. Moses was to hold the rod of God up. Aaron and Hur were to help him carry out the purpose the Lord had for him. Sometimes our hands get heavy, and we need an Aaron and a Hur to hold us up. Sometimes, we need to recognize the Moses in our lives and be willing guide them to the Rock of Ages and do all we can to help them keep their hands up in the battle. Romans 15:1 “We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves.” Whether you find yourself as a Moses or an Aaron/Hur today…ask the Lord to strengthen your heart and your hands in order to fulfill whatever the purpose the Lord has in store. Colossians 1:9-11 “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;” Heavy hands can be strengthened when we faithfully and purposefully pray for them. Bible Reading: Job 21-22 | 1 John 3 Jeremiah 10:23
“O LORD, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps.” Jeremiah prayerfully acknowledges a Truth that is so often the difference in living in victory or defeat. We are conditioned to believe that we create our own purpose, decide our own way, determine our own future. The culture around us continually preaches that we should follow our heart and do whatever makes us feel good at the time. This is not the Biblical way to live. In fact, it is completely contrary to not only what God intends for us, but it is impossible to take away that power from Him. Our freewill to choose does not negate His sovereignty. Divine providence. Divine direction. Divine deliverance. Divine persecution. Divine correction. Divine wrath. All are directly from Him. Everything is filtered by Him. Jeremiah 10:24 “O LORD, correct me, but with judgment; not in thine anger, lest thou bring me to nothing.” We are incapable of directing our own steps. The creation must be directed by the Creator. He simply desires that we submit ourselves to Him. He delights to order our steps according to His will. Psalm 37:23 “The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.” When we choose His way, we find true delight as we delight in Him. Bible Reading: Job 19-20 | 1 John 2 John 11:40
“Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?” God is Able…but He often asks for one thing from us in order to see Him do the impossible. “…if thou wouldest believe…” Jesus had already asked Martha if she believed in Him. John 11:25-26 “Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?” She said she believed…and then went her way. Now, here they stood at the grave of Lazarus, the brother of her and Mary. Jesus said for the stone to be taken away from the grave, and Martha immediately has something negative to say. “…if thou wouldest believe…” She was about to see the glory of God with her own eyes, and yet she still doubted. John 11:41-43 “Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me. And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me. And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth.” Lazarus was alive, and Martha is not mentioned again in the chapter. The next time we find her she is once again serving, setting the table where Lazarus sat to eat supper with Jesus. The glory of God sat before her at the table she was serving. The Lord desires to do the impossible in our lives…He only asks that we simply believe that He is Able. What do you need Him to do in your life today? “…if thou wouldest believe…” Bible Reading: Job 17-18 | 1 John 1 2 Corinthians 9:8
“And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:” The phrase “God is able” is found five times throughout the pages of Scripture. Each time it is directly related to something that only God can do. Matthew 3:9 “And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.” Luke 3:8 “Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and begin not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, That God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.” Romans 11:23 “And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be graffed in: for God is able to graff them in again.” The Jews rejected Christ, which made way for the Gospel to be sent to the Gentiles. Yet, the Lord still has open arms for anyone who chooses to dismiss their unbelief and by faith trust Him. God is Able to save anyone who comes to Him. He is not willing that any should perish, but that all would come to repentance. Romans 14:4 “Who art thou that judgest another man's servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand.” God is Able to cause you to stand. He can enable you to have the strength to stand when you feel like giving up. He can enable you to have the courage to stand when no one else does. We do not stand or fall because of the judgment of someone else, for it is only the Lord’s judgment that truly matters. Allow Him to hold you up today. 2 Corinthians 9:8 “And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:” The context of this passage in 2 Corinthians 9 is all about giving back to God. The more we sow, the more we will reap. He loveth a cheerful giver. God is able to make all grace abound toward us, when we give to Him. What a promise that entails! Think for a moment of how powerful the grace of God is. It is His grace that bringeth salvation. It is by His grace that we are saved. And yet, He reminds us that He is Able to give us all grace if we will simply give what we have to Him. He gave us everything we have, the least we can do is give it back for Him to use for His glory. Whatever your need is today, God is Able. What seems impossible to you, is possible with Him. He is Able. Bible Reading: Job 15-16 | 2 Peter 3 Joshua 24:14
“Now therefore fear the LORD, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the LORD.” Joshua had given the people reason after reason to keep their eyes on the Lord. Joshua 23:3 “And ye have seen all that the LORD your God hath done unto all these nations because of you; for the LORD your God is he that hath fought for you.” He pleaded with them to have courage to continue in the Truth. Joshua 23:6 “Be ye therefore very courageous to keep and to do all that is written in the book of the law of Moses, that ye turn not aside therefrom to the right hand or to the left;” He reminded them to love Him above all else. Joshua 23:11 “Take good heed therefore unto yourselves, that ye love the LORD your God.” Now it was up to the people to make their choice. “Now therefore…” We have the same choice to make. Are we serving Him? If so, are we doing it out of obligation or sincerity? The only way to serve the Lord in sincerity and in truth is to remove anything that hinders our walk with Him. With all that He has done for us, the least we can do is serve Him in sincerity and truth. 1 Samuel 12:24 “Only fear the LORD, and serve him in truth with all your heart: for consider how great things he hath done for you.” Bible Reading: Job 13-14 | 2 Peter 2 Luke 1:1
“Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us,” Lies should remind us of the necessity of declaring the Truth. What do you most surely believe today? What are you certain of? If any answers to those questions are not based upon the Truth found in the pages of the Word of God, we are asking for trouble. Luke mentions that there are “many” who have “taken in hand…those things which are most surely believed”. They were confident in what they believed because they saw the evidence for themselves. They were eyewitnesses of the Truth. They walked with Him. They spoke with Him. They learned from Him. And now, they knew that it was up to them to declare the Truth. If they didn’t, who would? Luke believed the things that were “most surely believed” ought to be taught to others. He was burdened to speak the Truth so that others could also believe. Luke 1:4 “That thou mightest know the certainty of those things, wherein thou hast been instructed.” What do you believe today? What are you certain of? Do you believe the Gospel? Do you believe God can do the impossible? Are you certain about your belief in Him? Then declare it to others. Bible Reading: Job 11-12 | 2 Peter 1 Jeremiah 7:8
“Behold, ye trust in lying words, that cannot profit.” Jeremiah was standing in the gate of the Lord’s house. Jeremiah 7:2 “Stand in the gate of the LORD'S house, and proclaim there this word, and say, Hear the word of the LORD, all ye of Judah, that enter in at these gates to worship the LORD.” He was proclaiming the Word of the Lord, begging for people to enter into house of the Lord. But there was a problem. Jeremiah 7:3 “Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, Amend your ways and your doings, and I will cause you to dwell in this place.” They must first amend their ways. They had made the Word of the Lord a reproach unto themselves. They had no delight in the Word. They had chosen not to stand in the old paths. They had chosen not to walk in the good way. They had rejected the Words of the Lord. So, the Lord sent stumblingblocks. Jeremiah 6:21 “Therefore thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will lay stumblingblocks before this people, and the fathers and the sons together shall fall upon them; the neighbour and his friend shall perish.” Stumblingblocks can cause us to trust in things that are untruthful. Jeremiah 7:4 “Trust ye not in lying words, saying, The temple of the LORD, The temple of the LORD, The temple of the LORD, are these.” Even people who portray themselves to be spiritual Christians, can become stumblingblocks to our walk with the Lord. Proverbs 6:16-19 “These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.” The Lord hates these things, yet so often we find ourselves trusting those who are consumed by them. James 1:8 “A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.” There is no profit is putting our trust in lying words. Instead, may we choose to only trust the Lord. Psalm 2:11-12 “Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.” Bible Reading: Job 9-10 | 1 Peter 5 2 Corinthians 12:7
“And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.” Paul was perhaps the greatest disciple to walk the face of the earth. He never forgot what the Lord had delivered him from. He had a pedigree of accolades, yet he remained humble. 2 Corinthians 12:6 “For though I would desire to glory, I shall not be a fool; for I will say the truth: but now I forbear, lest any man should think of me above that which he seeth me to be, or that he heareth of me.” God allowed a thorn of the flesh to remind Paul of his need for Him. Although he besought the Lord to remove it, he chose to allow his infirmity to make his faith stronger. 2 Corinthians 12:9 “And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” Paul gladly chose the pain of his thorn in the flesh so that the Lord’s strength could be shown through his weakness. We are faced with the same choice today. Will we allow a thorn of the flesh to hinder our service to Him? May we admit our weaknesses and allow the Lord to show His strength in us. 2 Corinthians 12:10 “Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.” Bible Reading: Job 7-8 | 1 Peter 4 Judges 2:3
“Wherefore I also said, I will not drive them out from before you; but they shall be as thorns in your sides, and their gods shall be a snare unto you.” We have all experienced someone being “a thorn in our side”. It’s likely there is a face, or perhaps many faces, showing up in your mind. Have we ever stopped to consider the purpose of that thorn? Often, we do not give it much thought, other than the annoyance the person causes us. At this point within the children of Israel’s journey, these thorns were sent by the Lord Himself. Yes, you read that right. The people had directly disobeyed what the Lord told them to do. Judges 2:2 “…but ye have not obeyed my voice: why have ye done this?” How many times has the Lord said and asked the same thing about us? When God sends us thorns, He is trying to teach us a lesson. Sometimes, that even involves allowing our adversary to have his way. 1 Peter 5:8 “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:” Thorns can lead us to repentance. They can cause us to admit our sin and allow us to weep and worship the Lord. Judges 2:4-5 “And it came to pass, when the angel of the LORD spake these words unto all the children of Israel, that the people lifted up their voice, and wept. And they called the name of that place Bochim: and they sacrificed there unto the LORD.” Whatever or whoever your thorn is today, choose to allow it to bring you closer to Him. Bible Reading: Job 5-6 | 1 Peter 3 |
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