Making A Difference Daily

Today’s Passages – Romans 4 – 6; (Click on the references to listen to the audio – click here to view the text from the Blue Letter Bible website)

(Second Milers also read –Psalms 126 – 130; Proverbs 26)

Listen to this morning’s Scripture song – Psalm 47:1

Read the “1126 Evening and Morning“ devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon.

Check out a previous post from this passage – “Imputed Righteousness“

“What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?” (Romans 6:1-2)

Romans, chapter six, answers the question that would naturally be on the minds of many who are studying this wonderful Letter and who are trying to get their heads wrapped around the doctrine of justification. If we are saved by grace, and secure by grace, can we then do whatever we want to do, including willfully sinning in order to satisfy our lusts. Paul answers the question very clearly here in this chapter – God forbid! He clarifies this instruction further in vs 12 – 14:

“Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.” (Romans 6:12-14)

We are to yield to the indwelling Holy Spirit within us, instead of obeying the lusts that are still within our sinful flesh. Our flesh is not redeemed, but our spirit, which was dead in trespasses and sins, has been brought back to life by God and is the home of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit wants to direct my life in obedience to the will and Word of God. The flesh still cries out to get its way, but I now have a choice not to listen. I can yield to God.

Since the time of Christ, there have periodically been movements within  Christianity that have taught that God is now OK with sin, because of His grace. They have got as far as to say that the more we sin, the more grace will be manifested. While it is true that there is no sin that the Christian can commit that could undo the work of grace in his heart, God still expects us to live our lives as Spirit-filled and Bible-obedient Christians. Grace not only saves us from the penalty of past and future sins, it also helps us to live separated and surrendered lives.

“For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;” (Titus 2:11-12)

We will never be sinless as long as we live in these fleshly, mortal bodies; but, we can live our lives yielded to the Holy Spirit of God within us, and, if we do, our conduct will be pleasing to our Heavenly Father. The secret to winning the battle against the flesh is not to try to fight it head on in a battle of the wills. The key is to yield to (walk in) the Spirit.

“This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. … If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.” (Galatians 5:16, 25)

 

Today’s Reading – Job 22 – 26 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – Click here to view the passage from Blue Letter Bible)

(Second Milers Read – 1 Thessalonians 1 – 5; Psalms 51 – 55; Proverbs 11)

Listen to this morning’s Scripture song – Psalm 61:1 – 3

Read the “0611 Evening and Morning” devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon.

“Oh that I knew where I might find him! That I might come even to his seat! … Behold, I go forward, but he is not there; and backward, but I cannot perceive him:” (Job 23:3 and 8)

Job is going through the worst trial he has ever been through. He has lost everything including his wife, because she is struggling just as he is. They are going through this, not together, but separate. Now Jobs friends eager to help attempt to give clarity and understanding, however sound their advice might be (to someone who had sinned against God, and done something in need of God’s punishment), it just isn’t the case for Job. They tried to understand and even thought they did, but in the end they were only doing damage. They were in reality bringing Job to a place of even more loneliness. The cherry on top, is when Job expresses his deepest pain. In v. 3, he says: “Oh that I knew where I might find him! That I might come even to his seat!, and then in v. 8: “Behold, I go forward, but he is not there; and backward, but I cannot perceive him:” Job in essence feels absolute loneliness. He doesn’t have anyone to talk to, or have anyone that might encourage him. He even says in v. 9 that God “hideth himself on the right hand, that I cannot see him:” What hopelessness Job must feel.

Have you ever felt alone? Ever felt as though God was hiding from you? You looked to your spouse and they are too broken to help you, and your friends are too sure of themselves to grasp your confusion and pain. It seems as though noone understands and even more importantly, you don’t understand. The largest question in the midst of trials is “why?” Job makes mention of this in v. 5: “I would know the words which he would answer me, and understand what he would say unto me.” Why would an answer from God help? He says in v. 6: “he would put strength in me.” It gives us a bit of strength to simply understand. It’s been said that people can handle bad news better than no news. The anticipation gives great agony. Though Job doesn’t get an answer, the bit of encouragement he does find is that, though none of us understand, God does. Verse 10 states: “But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.” This is the place God must bring us to, in order to build our faith in Him. He puts us in the fire to purify his gold. He is using us for which we were designed……to bring Him glory. God has a way of bringing us down to one… “The One”. God is our only hope! We know it with the head everyday, but with our hearts is the question. 

“That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:” (1 Peter 1:7)

Today’s Reading – Esther 6 – 10 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – Click here to view the passage from Blue Letter Bible)

(Second Milers Read – 2 Corinthians 9 – 13, Psalms 16 – 20; Proverbs 4)

Listen to this morning’s Scripture song – Psalm 25

Read the “0604 Evening and Morning” devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon

When I came to know Jesus as my Lord and Savior, like so many, everything in my life changed. I looked back at my life before and could see God’s hand in every little thing and every big thing. I realized that luck or chance wasn’t a thing. Reading these verses, I can’t help but think God put the book of Esther in the Bible to remind us that God is in total control of everything. There is no such thing as luck. Esther wasn’t lucky to be queen; God made her to be queen for His purpose. Mordecai wasn’t lucky to have overheard the assassination plot; God put him in that spot at that moment for His purpose. It wasn’t luck or by chance that put Haman in the courts at that moment, God knew what He was doing. It wasn’t luck that dropped Esther to her knees to plead for her people, God used her greatly for His purpose. And it was definitely not luck that saved God’s chosen people. God exalted the Jews and Mordeceai, not by luck, but for His good. God knew exactly what he was doing.

As Christians, we must always know that we are not lucky; God is in control. God most definitely sees what is going on in this world right now. His people must stand firm; we need not to worry or be anxious. Pray for God to show you how you can be an Esther or Mordecai in these times. Go to scripture and be reminded that God is in control.

“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.” ​(Isaiah 41:10)

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” ​(Psalm 46:1)

“Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6-7)

“There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear; because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.” (1 John 4:18)
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“In the multitude of my thoughts within me thy comforts delight my soul.” (Psalm 94:19)
“The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall i fear? the Lord is the strength of my life;of whom shall i be afraid?” ​(Psalm 27:1)

“And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not I am the First and the Last.” (Revelation 1:17)

We as Christians are blessed to know the end of the story. God wants us to be brave like Esther and Mordecai. Step in faith and get the gospel to all the lost that dont know that God is in control. There is no such thing as luck.

Today’s Passage – 1 Kings 12 – 14 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – Click here to view the passage from Blue Letter Bible)

(Second Milers also read – Mark 13 – 14; Proverbs 21; Psalms 101 – 105

Listen to this morning’s Scripture song – Psalm 121

Read the “0421 Evening and Morning” devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon

“And king Rehoboam consulted with the old men, that stood before Solomon his father while he yet lived, and said, How do ye advise that I may answer this people? And they spake unto him, saying, If thou wilt be a servant unto this people this day, and wilt serve them, and answer them, and speak good words to them, then they will be thy servants for ever. But he forsook the counsel of the old men, which they had given him, and consulted with the young men that were grown up with him, and which stood before him:” (1 Kings 12:6-8)

Most of the sermons, devotions, and Sunday school lessons I’ve listened to or read about Rehoboam have dealt with the issue of his pride, that he was an all around bad guy, and that during his reign“…Judah did evil in the sight of the LORD, and they provoked him to jealousy with their sins which they had committed, above all that their fathers had done.” (1Kings 14:22).  And, that’s all true. We need to heed the warnings of those messages. However, every time that I come across this passage, my first thought is, “What happened?”. How did we go from Pop-pop David, a man after God’s own heart, to wicked, prideful, rug-rat Rehoboam? How did an entire nation go from loving and serving God, to doing more evil than ever before? It’s a sobering thought, and it scares me. It scares me to think that in a few generations, you can go from one end of the spectrum to the other. 

Rehoboam made all of his own choices. He chose to live and lead the way he did. But I think all of this might have started with his father, Solomon. When I read this story, I think of Solomon. Again, Rehoboam made his own choices, but he learned how to live, and how to lead, from his dad. Which is what scares me. God has given me a great responsibility as a parent. My kids will learn how to live, how to love, and how to lead – from me. Solomon started well. He loved God, feared God, and was humble. But that changed. 

Here’s a few things I think we can learn from the story of Solomon and Rehoboam:

1 – Stay Focused. 

God has given all of us a purpose. It’s different for all of us. Solomon’s purpose was to lead the people as a king. He was to seek God’s wisdom in leading and guiding the kingdom. As a father, he was to lead his family. He was to love them, and teach them how to love, and to one day lead. But Solomon got off track. He became enamored with doing everything person could possibly do. In Ecclesiastes, he tells how he experienced all the things that anyone could possibly imagine would bring pleasure. I’m sure not all of the things he experienced were bad things. But while he was doing those things, he was not focused on being a king or a father. His focus became pleasure. His focus became getting all the things, and doing all the things that made him happy…and guess who was watching? Rehoboam. Do those following you know that you care about your purpose? Because if you don’t, why should they? Stay focused.

2 – Stay Humble.

When Solomon first became king, God let him choose anything he wanted. All he had to do was ask. Solomon knew that he needed God more than anything if he would be effective as a king, so he asked God for wisdom. He was humble. He leaned on God for everything. But somewhere along the way, Solomon aloud himself to think that he was ok on his own, and started doing whatever he thought was right. One of my saddest memories from growing up was a phrase that my dad would say to me often. Its makes me sad, because at the time, I hated hearing it, but now I know he was right. Every stinkin’ time. He would say, “Do what you want to do Phil, ‘cuz that’s what you’re gonna do anyway.” Now that I’m a dad, and I see the other side of it, I get a sick feeling in my gut when I think about how my pride so often caused my mom and dad to grieve. They knew what was best for me, but I thought I was right, so I did my own thing. Somewhere along the line, this is how Solomon started acting with God. And guess who was watching? Rehoboam. Stay humble.

I started out by saying that this passage scares me. It does. It scares me to think that my choices, my actions, and my pride can have such a huge impact on those following me. I am so thankful that God gave me parents who were focused and humble. Perfect? Not even close! 🙂 But real. I pray everyday for God to give me wisdom. I want my kids and those following me to see someone with a genuine love for God, someone who is focused on what God has given them, and someone who is humble. And I’ll pray for you too. We need the next generation to go farther for God than we can imagine. But they’re watching us.