Proverbs 27:1
“Boast not thyself of to morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.” We have no way of knowing what tomorrow holds. On September 10th, 2001, thousands of Americans had no idea that their lives would end or be forever changed the next day when our country was attacked by terrorists. You may receive a phone call today that will completely change your tomorrow, or you may not see tomorrow at all. We are not promised tomorrow. As depressing as those realities are, we can take comfort in the fact that God inhabits eternity. He is already in our tomorrow. God is already aware of what we will face tomorrow. He sees what we cannot see. We are to trust Him at all times, regardless of how bleak our surroundings may look to us. We do not know what tomorrow holds, but we do know Who holds tomorrow. I don't know about tomorrow It may bring me poverty But the One Who feeds the sparrow Is the One Who stands by me And the path that be my portion May be through the flame or flood But His presence goes before me And I'm covered with His blood. Many things about tomorrow I don't seem to understand But I know Who holds tomorrow And I know Who holds my hand. Ira Stanphill He’s already in our tomorrow, while He is also right by our side today. Bible Reading: Song of Solomon 7-8 | Revelation 15 | Psalm 42
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I Corinthians 10:12
“Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.” When pride gets involved, we are in trouble. Just when we think we have arrived or are doing something right, God has a way or reminding us Who we must rely upon. Paul writes of the children of Israel and their falling in the wilderness as an example to us today. I Corinthians 10:11 “Now all these things happened unto them for examples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.” We are to read and learn from the result of their prideful spirit. Proverbs 16:18 “Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.” God hates pride. Proverbs 8:13 “The fear of the Lord is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.” Despite our fleshly desire to let pride creep into our lives, we must remember that God hates our pride. We must fear the Lord in all we do, and remind ourselves that we are not above the chastening hand of God. Romans 11:20-21 “…Be not highminded, but fear: For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee.” No one is exempt from falling. We all have a tendency to let pride creep in, but it is how we react to our pride that matters. We can choose to exalt or humble ourselves. James 4:10 “Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.” Anything we achieve is because of the Lord Jesus Christ working in us and through us. We have not arrived, for we are nothing without Him. Bible Reading: Song of Solomon 5-6 | Revelation 14 | Psalm 41 Acts 5:28-29
“Saying, Did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man's blood upon us. Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.” In a day when our religious liberty is declining, regardless of what society says we must take a stand for what is right! Religion is typically welcomed all around us, but not when it involves the Name of Jesus. The day has come and will continue to occur that we are rebuked for teaching in His Name. There is just something about that Name! Any religion outside of Christianity is tolerated, and even some “forms” of Christianity as well…those that do not pray in the Name of Jesus Christ. May we continue to take “Go, stand and speak” just as the angel of the Lord told disciples when they were in prison. They obeyed, and so should we. Though persecution from the government or our fellow citizens may come, we must remember, “We ought to obey God rather than men.” Regardless of what anyone else tells you, obey God. You may suffer persecution, but you can never go wrong when you obey God! He will deliver you! 2 Timothy 3:11 “…what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me.” Bible Reading: Song of Solomon 3-4 | Revelation 13 | Psalm 40 Proverbs 11:30
“The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.” "It is the greatest pleasure of living to win souls to Christ." D.L. Moody Dwight Lyman Moody was saved on April 21, 1855, while working in a shoe store in Downtown Boston. His Sunday School teacher, Edward Kimball, visited him and explained to him the Gospel once more. That Sunday School teacher did not know what fruit would come from his visit that day. D.L. Moody would go on to reach countless souls for Christ and train his disciples to reach others. Moody’s Sunday School teacher was a soulwinner. He planted the Seed of the Gospel week by week, and ended up seeing the increase of his labour for Moody’s soul that day he stopped in the shoe store. He led one of the greatest soulwinners to the Lord. Moody would go on to reach two continents with the Gospel, and win countless souls for the cause of Christ. Think of the fruit his Sunday School teacher obtained because of him using his time wisely that day in Boston. During Moody’s ministry, a man named Wilber Chapman accepted Christ. Chapman later became an evangelist preaching meetings across the country. A professional baseball player named Billy Sunday attended one of Chapman’s meetings, and realized his need for Christ that night. Sunday would later quit baseball, and also begin preaching evangelistic meetings. Think of the thousands that came to know the Lord as a result of one Sunday School teacher’s faithfulness to give the Gospel to his students. This story is just one example of how “The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.” What will your tree of souls look like? How many generations of people will hear the Gospel because of your faithful planting of the Seeds of the Gospel to those around you? Be wise today, and share the Gospel with someone. Bible Reading: Song of Solomon 1-2 | Revelation 12 | Psalm 39 Hebrews 4:2
“For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.” Many people, even in our churches today, know a great deal about Jesus Christ, yet they do not have a personal relationship with Him. They know of Him, but they do not know Him. To know Christ is to combine our knowledge of Him with faith in His finished work on Calvary. We must believe in Him and put our faith into action as we read, hear and learn more about Him. Romans 10:17 “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” The Word of God must be preached to be heard, and once heard must be mixed with faith to be profitable. Those around us cannot express faith in Christ if we do not first proclaim the Gospel to them. Isaiah 55:11 “So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.” God has promised that when the Word is sent out, It shall prosper and accomplish what the Lord pleases. We can rest assured that when we proclaim the Gospel, God will bless our effort. Bible Reading: Ecclesiastes 11-12 | Revelation 11 | Psalm 38 Mark 2:5
“When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee.” It wasn't the faith of the one who had the problem that was mentioned. “Jesus saw their faith” Jesus saw the faith of the others, the ones who got actively involved in helping their friend. How much faith do you have that the Lord can meet someone else’s need? If it is possible to help someone, do you jump in and offer assistance or do you just sit back and watch someone go through something? We have a choice to pass them by or be the Good Samaritan and get involved. What are you doing to demonstrate your faith within someone else’s life? Galatians 6:2 “Bear ye one another’s burdens…” When we stop and evaluate how much faith we display in the lives of those around us we may be disappointed. In today’s society, we tend to get so caught up in our own problems and circumstances that we neglect to show our friends how much we care. Would you be willing to climb up the side of someone’s house and tear the roof off if that was required in order to get your friend help? Sounds drastic, doesn’t it? It was for the friends that wanted to see their friend healed by Jesus. These friends put aside their own issues and focused on their hurting friend’s need. Can we not do the same? Do you have a friend who is ill? Visit or call them. Do you have a friend who is discouraged? Send them a card or text. Do you have a friend who is grieving? Make them smile or laugh. Remind your friend you are praying for God to help them. It’s the little things that matter the most. Show your faith that God will provide whatever the need, then watch and rejoice and the Lord shows up. Bible Reading: Ecclesiastes 9-10 | Revelation 10 | Psalm 37 Galatians 6:2
“Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.” It is a privilege to bear the burdens of others and help those you are closest with what they are going through. Sometimes we can actively get involved. Remember the friends who climbed up the side of the house and ripped off the roof in order to get their friend to Jesus? They were determined to get their friend the help he needed. Mark 2:5 “When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee.” Our friend may not need us to rip the roof off a house for them, but how far are we willing to go in order to help those we care about? Sometimes all we can do is pray for them and the situation. Prayer is the greatest thing we can do for someone else. Intercession prayer is probably one of the most neglected resources today. To intercede at the Throne of Grace for someone else is to follow Christ’s example. Did He not pray for others? He not only prayed for His disciples, He even prayed for those that persecuted and crucified Him. Job 42:10 “And the LORD turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: also the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before.” Even though his friends had wronged him, he prayed for them. When Job began to intercede for his friends, God turned the tide of Job’s situation. He not only restored all that Job had lost, but He blessed Job with twice as much as he had before. It is a blessing to pray for others! If a friend or family member is in need right now, make an effort to help them bear their burden. If the situation does not allow for you to actively be involved in the solution, take the time to persistently pray for them and their need. God is sure to intervene and as He provides the solution, you will be blessed at how the Lord has delivered. Bible Reading: Ecclesiastes 7-8 | Revelation 9 | Psalm 36 Judges 17:6
“In those days there was no king in Israel, but every man did that which was right in his own eyes.” Is this not much like the world we live in today? People today seem to think they have all the answers as to what is right as long as it feels good at the time. We are advised all the time to “Follow your heart!” when trying to make a decision. But what does the Bible say about our heart? Jeremiah 17:9 “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” We can clearly see that our hearts cannot be trusted. We are wicked on the inside, desperately wicked. Our flesh wants to please itself no matter the cost. This is why we have the inner struggle between our old nature and the new creature we have become through Christ. It is a daily battle that we all have to deal with, but thankfully we do not have to fight it alone. Proverbs 12:15 “The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise.” Ask the Lord to give you the counsel you need. The Bible should be our first and final authority for all that we say or do. Then, we are to seek Godly counsel by our trusted pastors and friends. We are wise when we have a multitude of counselors around us. Proverbs 21:2 “Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the Lord pondereth the hearts.” We look on the outward appearance of people and make our own opinion of them, but God looks upon our hearts. We are desperately wicked without Him. Instead of doing what we think is right, may we consult the Word of God in all that we do. Base your life choices upon the Bible and you can never go wrong. Trust in the Lord. Seek His will for your life, and allow Him to direct your path to what is right for you. Rather than doing what seems right within our own eyes, may we seek to follow Him. Bible Reading: Ecclesiastes 5-6 | Revelation 8 | Psalm 35 Psalm 46:1
“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” God is Our Refuge. Psalm 62:7-8 “In God is my salvation and my glory: the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God. Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. Selah.” God is Our Strength. 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 “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. 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.” God is Our Present Help. Hebrews 13:6 “So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.” If only when could remember these Truths when trouble comes. When a phone call, text or meeting delivers unexpected news, where do we turn? Our first instinct is usually to panic or plea for help from a friend…but what if we paused and consulted the Friend Who is ready and able to help regardless of the circumstance? He is our Refuge. He is our Strength. He is our Present Help. If you’re in trouble today, all you have to do is come to Him! Hebrews 4:16 “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” Bible Reading: Ecclesiastes 3-4 | Revelation 7 | Psalm 34 John 16:33
“These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” Even in the midst of our trials and tribulations, we can be of good cheer! Why? Jesus Christ has overcome the world! Through Him we can always be victorious no matter what our circumstances. Be of Good Cheer… Because our sins are forgiven! Matthew 9:2 “And, behold, they brought to him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed: and Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsy; Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee.” Because our Saviour is with us! Matthew 14:26-27 “And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear. But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.” Because we can believe what God has said! Acts 27:25 “Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me.” Despite your situation, remember you can be of good cheer today! Bible Reading: Ecclesiastes 1-2 | Revelation 6 | Psalm 33 |
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